EOS, one of the world’s leading technology suppliers in the field of industrial 3D printing announced that it launched a new software solution called Amphyon – a simulation based pre-processing software developed to simulate the additive manufacturing building process before it takes place.
Built in collaboration with Germany-based start-up Additive Works, the new software highlights and optimizes possible problematic areas of the part that is to be additively manufactured. Its user-friendly interface also allows users to shape accuracy, increase surface quality as well as increase productivity and stability of the part. All these features of the software allow companies to greatly reduce time and costs when developing additively manufactured components.
How Amphyon Works?
Amphyon predicts the possible build job challenges and automates the know-how based pre-processing steps. This allows companies to optimise the parts earlier in the building process as well as minimise the risks of flaws and ultimately benefit from a successful build process.
Amphyon works on the “ASAP” or the Assessment-Simulation-Adaption-Process principle – a new workflow for Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) job preparation. In addition, it also features a couple of different software modules; Amphyon addresses the application areas part assessment, support optimisation and process simulation.
Above: Amphyon user interface depicting optimization of the build direction by consideration of all possible orientations/Image Credit: Additive Works
At the assessment stage, an examiner module evaluates the geometry of the part and evaluates all the possible build-up orientations. This is manually challenging as the ideal orientation depends on the application in terms of support volume, post processing, build time and part deformation. However, the Amphyon’s design evaluation automatically finds the best part orientation in the build chamber of the 3D printing system.
Also Read: Prodways, Schneider Electric and Platinum 3D Boosting the Development Cycle of Industrial Products
At the simulation stage, there are two modules available. These include the support module, and the Mechanical Process Simulation (MPS) module. With the help of the support module, users can optimise support structures. These structures support the part on the build platform and define the process results.
Amphyon’s innovative optimisation routines adapt the support perforation as well as the interfaces between part and support based on the calculated process loads. This not only helps to reduce time but also helps to reduce costs of manual support generation. On the other hand, the MPS module offers users a fast and intuitive way to simulate process mechanics and to calculate distortions. Such distortions can be compensated easily by the software by exporting and building a pre-deformed STL file. At the end the simulation capabilities of Amphyon help to assure process stability and design accuracy of the application manufactured.
Speaking about how the new software can help unexperienced users of AM, Dr. Nils Keller, CEO at Additive Works states, “Although the AM-technology itself is very mature, especially for un-experienced users it can be difficult to predict if a part will be 3D printed as expected. So when a part is manufactured with issues, e.g. surface defects, it means a waste of machine time and material costs. An answer to this challenge is Amphyon.”
“Using simulation software is standard when it comes to conventional manufacturing methods. With Amphyon, simulation now also becomes a solution for additive manufacturing, underlining the increased use and changing requirements of industrial 3D printing for serial production.”
Offering details of how the new software eases the complicated process of additive manufacturing, Martin Steuer, Head of Product Management Software and Services at EOS explains, “While the vast majority of the public thinks that additive manufacturing allows for the creation of three dimensional objects from a digital design by just clicking a button, users of the technology know that the reality is more complex.
“United by the mission to make Industrial 3D printing even more intuitive and user friendly, EOS is happy to partner with Additive Works on the subject of AM-process-simulation. ‘Simulate before you create’ really is a key factor to ensure a successful laser sintering process with metal materials, right from the start,” concludes Steuer.
About Manufactur3D Magazine: Manufactur3D is an online magazine on 3D Printing. Visit our Tech News page for more updates on 3D Printing Technology News. To stay up-to-date about the latest happenings in the 3D printing world, like us on Facebook or follow us on Google+.
