Page 45 - Plastics News January 2023

FEATURE

Simulation Can Boost Sustainability in 3DP

Markforged is a 3D printing OEM that
produces printers. Customers can also
subscribe to software that can analyze
the part in the context of the printer
and its available materials.“Our print-
ers and software work in aggregate.
We have a connected suite of print-
ers. If something happens, we can de-
ploy a fix instantaneously,” said Kenik.
“Since we are all connected, we can
make sure printers and software get
the best print possible. Maybe you’ve
been printing five versions, and then
you test each one. Instead, you can
use the simulation so you don’t have
nalyzing a 3D-printed part before meets our requirements.” to print five. You print two. As you’re
Ait’s produced can help users avoid During the software analysis, users can printing, you can inspect the part with
multiple iterations. The goal is to keep see what changes need to be made to a laser. You can tell you if you're in
the actual printing to just the essential the part before it’s produced. “With- spec or out of spec.”
number. Adding simulation capabili- out the simulation, you have to test it As well as building 3DP machines and
ties into existing workflows can also out and see what happens. Now we their accompanying software, Mark-
reduce time to market and improve can see virtually if it works or doesn’t forged also produces the materials
sustainability. With simulation, users work,” said Kenik. “The software will to build the parts. “We are building a
can virtually test the strength and stiff- tell you how to print it for the best portfolio of hardware and materials.
ness of parts within the workflow. outcome. It will let you know if you We develop our own materials. We
The part’s performance can be vali- need a more dense infill here or more have patents around the continuous
dated before you hit the print but- composites there. The result is that fiber. Few companies can print con-
ton. “This can reduce the lengthy and you get a part that meets your re- tinuous fiber to the printer and part
wasteful design-print-break testing quirements without wasting material. strength,” said Kenik. “We sell materi-
cycles,” Doug Kenik, principal prod- That increases the throughput of your als to our customers through our ma-
uct manager at Markforged, told De- machine.” terials ecosystem. We need to make
sign News. “It can also keep users In traditional part production, the sure that everything works together
from overengineering their parts.” part is put through several test ver- software, material, and hardware.”
Users can enter the strength require- sions before it’s clear that it will work.
ments of the part into the simulation “When you print a part, you don’t
software, and the software will de- know how it’s going to perform. So
termine if the current design works. you print it and break it. You do that
“With additive manufacturing, you a bunch of times,” said Kenik. “We
can see if the part you’re going to developed technology to inform peo-
print is exactly what you want,” said ple about whether the part is going to
Kenik. “With simulation, we enter the work. Then we optimize to get the
requirements on how strong it needs minimum print time and the maxi-
to be, and the software tells us – be- mum time in getting a part that works
fore the part is printed – whether it to your specification.”

January 2023 PLASTICS NEWS 45