MEA November 2017

28 MEA MARKETS / November 2017 , Stratasys and e-Xstream Engineering Cooperate to Offer Customers Predictive Simulation Tools for Improved Process, Material and Part Performance Collaboration aims to enable appropriate mechanical properties and faithful part functionality to deliver ‘print right, first time’ capability - supporting improved cost and time efficiencies for customers. Customers also set to benefit from increasedmaterial understanding and greater dimensional accuracy of 3D printed parts. On the 14th November, Stratasys Ltd., a global leader in applied additive technology solutions, announced at formnext 2017, that it is collaborating with e-Xstream engineering, a world leader in multi-scale modelling of composite materials and structures, to deliver high performance process modelling and structural analysis numerical tools for Stratasys additive manufacturing solutions. The combination of Stratasys additive manufacturing solutions with e-Xstream’s accurate, effective numerical tools is designed to offer customers high-performance design and validation capabilities. These include increased material understanding and greater dimensional accuracy of 3D printed parts to optimize output results and expand the aperture of applications. By doing so, our aim to increase the adoption of Stratasys 3D printing technology in key manufacturing sectors, including aerospace and automotive, is further facilitated. “Stratasys recognizes the importance of simulation and modelling as a way for customers to optimize part production by designing with additive in mind, while ensuring that the material and process will deliver ‘print right the first time’ assurance,” said Scott Sevcik, VP Manufacturing Solutions at Stratasys. Central to the collaboration is the objective to develop predictive simulation solutions for Stratasys’ Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) technology to enable the production of tighter tolerance, higher performance parts. This is aimed at being achieved in conjunction with e-Xstream engineering’s standalone material modelling platform, Digimat, which offers a self-contained module to enable a flexible interface that is accessible for basic to advanced level designers, as well as other users across multiple manufacturing based workflows. Core functions of the collaboration comprise: • Process simulation applied to the design-to-3D-print workflow to achieve the high accuracy and repeatability required by manufacturing users. Advanced numerical