From post processing FAQs to emerging technology discussion panels, these are the 3D printing talks at IMTS you don’t want to miss.
The International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) is less than a week away and anticipation within the industry is practically palpable. With over a million square feet of exhibit space and almost a hundred thousand attendees, IMTS has been compared — not unreasonably — to drinking from a firehose.
In addition to all the booths and exhibits spread out over Chicago’s expansive McCormick Place, the show includes literally hundreds of educational sessions, including workshops, presentations and discussion panels. We’ve combed through the list to pull out the ten most interesting and informative sessions on additive manufacturing (AM) this year, conveniently organized by date and time. So, grab your calendar (or the IMTS 2024 mobile app) and read on.
Frequently Asked Questions about AM Post Processing
Date: Tuesday, September 10
Time: 11:00 – 11:55am (CT)
Location: West Building, W192-A
The first session on our list involves one of the last steps in additive manufacturing: post processing. While post processing is an important and often necessary part of 3D printing components, it also tends to be overlooked. Hosted by Bill Barker from Michigan-based Rosler Metal Finishing, this session will cover the what, why and how of post processing for 3D printed components. Barker has been involved in the surface finishing industry for over three decades and has extensive experience with aerospace and turbine engine finishing applications, making him an ideal resource to answer your most pressing questions about AM post processing.
The Benefits of Using 3D-printing-designed Metal Alloys for Your Parts
Date: Tuesday, September 10
Time: 2:15 – 3:10pm (CT)
Location: West Building, W192-B
The transition from conventional manufacturing processes, such as casting or CNC machining, to additive manufacturing can be challenging. One of the reasons for this is that manufacturers may base their material selections for AM on these conventional processes. In this session, Zach Detweiler, VP of technology at Velo3D, will highlight alloys designed for metal AM and compare them to more conventional alloys that can also be 3D printed. More specifically, the presentation will cover the copper alloy GRCop-42 and the aluminum alloy Aheadd CP1. With a PhD in chemistry from Princeton, you can bet that Detweiler will have some deep technical insights to share on this topic.
Additive Manufacturing for Production: Why Repeatability Matters, and How To Get There
Date: Wednesday, September 11
Time: 9:00 – 9:55am (CT)
Location: West Building, W192-A
Don’t sleep in and miss this session with three experts covering one of the most pressing topics in additive manufacturing today: repeatability. Covering the major contributing factors to repeatability issues — geometry and materials — the presentation will explain how to mitigate the uncertainty and unpredictability of 3D printing errors using intelligence software and an understanding of photopolymer behavior. Featuring Michal Diga, P3 Origin product director at Stratasys, Christopher Shipman, R&D/product development engineer at TE Connectivity and Mark Savage, founder of 3D Printing Consultancy Services, this session boasts over 60 years of combined industry experience from its presenters.
Platform and Parameter Influences in Laser Powder Bed Fusion Additive Manufacturing
Date: Wednesday, September 11
Time: 10:15 – 10:45am (CT)
Location: West Building, W190-B
As with any trade show, there are plenty of sessions at IMTS that are little more than superficially disguised sales pitches. This is most definitely not one of them. Presenter Joy Gockel is an associate professor of mechanical engineering at the Colorado School of Mines, with research interests spanning multiple areas of AM. Her session will focus on key processing and platform parameters associated with microstructure and tensile behavior in 316L stainless steel, with an aim toward helping engineers transition from one laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) platform to another with a minimum of requalification. This promises to be a highly technical session with practical takeaways for engineers working with PBF-LB.
PANEL – Additive Manufacturing “What’s to come”
Date: Wednesday, September 11
Time: 11:45am – 12:15pm (CT)
Location: West Building, W190-B
Though the details on this session are scant, the first panel discussion in our list promises to be a riveting one based on the participants alone. Joy Gockel, mentioned in the previous session, will be joined by SJ Jones, principal manufacturing engineer at Northrup Grumman and Eric Stiles, applications and operations manager at Precitec, which specializes in laser materials processing. Moderated by Eliana Fu, industry manager for aerospace and medical at TRUMPF, expect deep technical knowledge and perspicacious visions of the future of AM from this discussion.
Navigating the Challenges of Additive Manufacturing Qualification: A Case Study in Submarine Industrial Base Readiness
Date: Wednesday, September 11
Time: 3:00 – 3:30pm (CT)
Location: West Building, W194-B
Qualification is another hot topic in AM and there’s no better way to come to grips with it than through actual case studies. This session tackles the complex topic by way of the US Navy’s 1+2+Sustainment Columbia and Virginia class submarine initiatives. Based on the Navy’s own technical publication for powder bed fusion, the workshop will illustrate how process qualification frameworks were developed to guide the creation of technical data packages for the Submarine Industrial Base. Hosted by James O’Toole, VP of engineering and sales at Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing and Ankit Saharan, senior manager for metal technology at EOS North America, this session offers a glimpse at one of the fastest growing industries for AM applications.
Should I Print, Mold, or Machine This Part?
Date: Thursday, September 12
Time: 11:00 – 11:55am (CT)
Location: West Building, W192-A
What engineer hasn’t asked this question at some point in their career and who better to help answer it than Greg Paulsen? As director of applications engineering and marketing at Xometry, an on-demand industrial parts marketplace, Paulsen has a unique perspective on choosing the best path from prototyping to production. With an overview of each process and advice for how to compare them, this session aims to help engineers understand how molding, machining and 3D printing affect unit costs at scale as well as the value of taking parallel paths in product development to benefit from their respective strengths.
How to 3D Print the Audacious
Date: Thursday, September 12
Time: 12:30 – 1:00pm (CT)
Location: TBA
Ten years ago, a group of individuals and organizations 3D printed a full-size operative car on the floor of IMTS 2014. This session will explain how they made that happen and what lessons engineers today can draw from it to apply to their own manufacturing challenges. The practically star-studded line up of speakers includes consultant Rick Neff, CEO and co-founder of Haddy John “Jay” Rogers, VP of strategic content and partnerships at AMT Bonnie Gurney, fellow at Sandia National Laboratories Lonnie Love, group lead of disruptive manufacturing systems development at Oakridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Brian Post; and writer at shinymetalboxes.net Gary Vasilash. Don’t miss this look back on one of the most ambitious projects ever to hit the IMTS show floor.
Faster Setups in CNC Machining Using 3D Printed References
Date: Thursday, September 12
Time: 2:15 – 2:45pm (CT)
Location: West Building, W196-A
Back to practicalities, this intriguing presentation demonstrates CNC machining of additively manufactured preforms. Presented by Tony Schmitz, professor and ORNL joint faculty at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, the session will cover several applications of this approach. These include structured light scanning for stock model identification and tool path generation, a fused filament fabrication apparatus to attach temporary fiducials to the preform for coordinate system definition, preform and tool tip frequency response measurements enabling milling parameter selection; and post-manufacturing measurements of geometry, surface finish and structural dynamics. Hopefully, your machinists will thank you for attending this one.
Expert Panel on Additive Manufacturing Services
Date: Thursday, September 12
Time: 2:45 – 3:15pm (CT)
Location: West Building, Booth #433010
Last but certainly not least, this panel discussion will focus on what’s often touted as the best way to get started with AM: service bureaus. Moderated by Rick Neff and featuring Xometry’s Greg Paulsen, as well as Ken Burns, VP commercial at GKN Additive Forecast 3D and Michael Parks, co-founder of GZERO Additive, this panel will cover the benefits of using AM service bureaus as well as advice for accessing the range of available services and getting the AM parts you need while learning the ins and outs of 3D printing on an industrial scale.
