Stratasys Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSYS), a global leader in applied additive technology solutions, announced that it is collaborating with e-Xstream engineering, a world leader in multi-scale modeling of composite materials and structures, to deliver process modeling 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 offers customers design and validation capabilities. These include increased material understanding and greater dimensional accuracy of 3D printed parts.
Central to the collaboration is to develop predictive simulation solutions for Stratasys’ Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology. This will be done in conjunction with e-Xstream engineering’s material modeling platform, Digimat, which offers a self-contained module to enable a flexible interface that is accessible for basic to advanced level designers.
Core functions of the collaboration comprise:
–Process simulation applied to the design-to-3D-print workflow to achieve the accuracy and repeatability required by manufacturing users. Advanced numerical tools predict and mitigate part warpage as well as realize the impact of design decisions on the manufacturing process before the part is produced.
–Material engineering to create a framework and methodology for characterization by understanding the key parameters driving the material’s behavior. This framework will support the accelerated development and optimization of future material system solutions.
–Part performance predictions that complete the engineering workflow for traditional manufacturing processes, providing the product designer with an accurate early design. The extension of Digimat’s structural analysis solution for FDM will predict part performance (stiffness, strength, etc.) as a function of the material and the printing process parameters, such as printing direction or toolpath.
Further to the collaboration, the next release of e-Xstream’s material modeling platform, Digimat, will deliver the first material models of ULTEM 9085 resin, a strong, lightweight thermoplastic meeting aerospace requirements, with a complete process package for the Stratasys Fortus 900mc Production 3D Printer. Customers are provided the numerical tools necessary to perform both process simulation and structural analysis by feeding critical process information from Stratasys’ pre-processing software, Insight, to Digimat’s AM module*.
*Digimat 2018.0 will be available for download at the end of November 2017.
Stratasys Ltd
www.stratasys.com
