HP Improves 3D Print Management, Automation

HP announced several new solutions for the management and automation of 3D printing workflows and large-scale additive manufacturing fleets. They include the new HP Universal Build Manager Powered by Dyndrite, which provides increased productivity and efficiency as well as automation to additive build management for leading 3D printing processes. The company also introduced new digital HP 3D Factory Services to provide customers with facilities and equipment analysis, staffing and training, and help implement production processes. In addition, HP announced the new HP Automatic Unpacking Station, developed in partnership with Rösler Group’s AM Solutions, to enable greater automation for post processing.

“Automation, software, and data are key to delivering mass customization of parts and unlocking the full potential of large-scale additive manufacturing,” said Ramon Pastor, GM and Global Head of 3D Printing and Digital Manufacturing, HP Inc. “We are committed to relentlessly improving our capabilities and helping customers optimize and automate workflows, enable compelling new applications, and produce sustainable, high quality parts at scale.”

The new Universal Build Manager leverages proprietary HP software and the Dyndrite Accelerated Geometry Engine. The new additive manufacturing build manager takes advantage of the GPU-accelerated processing and Python scriptability inherent to Dyndrite’s engine. According to the company, this combination enables customers to simplify and automate build preparation across their additive manufacturing technologies at supercharged speeds.

HP is committed to supporting multi-platform additive workflows across machine fleets, including HP Multi Jet Fusion, Binder Jetting (BJT), Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Selective Heat Sintering (SHS), Electron Beam Melting (EBM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), High Speed Extrusion (HSE), Stereolithography (SLA), Digital Light Projector (DLP), Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM) and Composite-based Additive Manufacturing (CBAM).

“We are addressing software challenges in the additive industry that have prevented it from becoming mainstream and are providing capabilities to help customers accelerate the journey to digital manufacturing,” said Ryan Palmer, Global Head of Software, Data and Automation, HP Personalization & Industrial Business. “The new HP Universal Build Manager simplifies, automates, and delivers a digital-first approach to manufacturing. This solution will enable customers to explore new areas of complexity and value, push the boundaries of sustainable production, and automate critical steps in their digital workflow.”

Cobra Aero and Cobra Moto, a family of companies specializing in the design and manufacturing of propulsion systems for racing, fire fighting, aerospace, and surface and underwater vehicles, are deploying the new HP Universal Build Manager solution to simplify and automate workflows across HP Jet Fusion and Renishaw additive manufacturing systems.

“We are committed to producing the highest quality, most precise engine technology across all our businesses,” said Sean Hilbert, President, Cobra. “The demands on our teams are intense and highly complex. Our ability to deliver safe, top notch products relies on optimizing our systems for both productivity and reliability. We believe the new HP Universal Build Manager Powered by Dyndrite will meet our needs, help us push limits and set the standard across our entire additive manufacturing processes.”

According to HP, a number of partners including Aconity3D, Aon3D, Aurora Labs, EOS, Essentium, ExOne, Open Additive, Photocentric, Plural AM, Renishaw, and SLM Solutions have committed to exploring ways for the HP Universal Build Manager to support their 3D print systems. The company says the open-architecture platform is designed to support interoperability with complementary solutions from leading independent software vendors (ISVs) including Ansys.

New Factory Services

To assist in the design and implementation of digital factories featuring HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology, HP’s enhanced 3D Factory Services support the processes necessary for industrial management and production of high-quality parts at scale, the company says. The services include offerings across facilities and equipment assessment, human capital planning and training, and design and implementation of production processes. Among the digital services are HP 3D Application Programming Interface (API), HP 3D Process Control, and HP 3D Center.

Autonomous Manufacturing (AMFG), an MES and workflow software provider, is enabling customers like Henkel to integrate the HP 3D API to help centralize end-to-end-workflows, provide real-time status of their HP Jet Fusion systems and receive critical alerts and information for more efficient processes and less downtime.

“Henkel aims to provide innovative solutions for Additive Manufacturing that are accelerated by reliable partners such as HP and AMFG,” said Chris Liddiard, Market Segment Head for Automotive and Industrial Parts, Adhesive Technologies Group, Henkel Corporation. “With the help of AMFG to connect to our global infrastructure of Application Centers using HP Jet Fusion printers, we are aiding in centralizing the end-to-end workflows, from initial request to final part production. Armed with this important data, Henkel can better understand and interpret data patterns related to machine utilization, failure rate, geometrical specifications and processing parameters, allowing us to provide better manufacturing services for our clients.”

Customers leveraging these new services will be able to tune their HP 3D printing systems for high-repeatability of specific applications, implement industrial-level process and quality controls at scale, and improve sustainability with tracing of raw material and quality of recycled material, the company says.

The new industrial-grade HP Automatic Unpacking Station was developed together with Rösler Group’s AM Solutions. According to the company, it will help customers using HP’s Jet Fusion 5200 systems reduce costs, achieve greater build consistency, and enhance performance across workflows.

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