Software, fool!
The Atomic Layers: S8E6 (00212)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
As you may have noticed, since yesterday, The 3D Printing Journal features the logo of Dyndrite – one of the leading AM software developers in the world. No worries – no one has bought me out; it’s simply an endorsement. Someone (finally) recognized the value of what I’m doing.
Does this mean that from now on, the platform will only publish praise for Dyndrite and its software? Of course not! However, some content related to Dyndrite will occur – but in a reasonable way.
Overall, I plan to shift the focus a bit more toward software. News & Gossip will still be here. Critical articles about the industry and specific companies – when they deserve it – will also remain. But there will be more AM software-oriented topics. Because that’s where the future of the industry lies.
Yes, my dear friends, I’ve thought about this a lot.
Hardware and materials development will continue, but it isn’t and won’t be nearly as dynamic or as crucial as software. Progress in this area will take place on multiple levels, and I’ve already written quite a bit about it:
and finally, Backflip AI – the most talked-about software company of the past three months.
The software evolution will be dynamic. It will involve the increasing implementation of new technologies such as AI, as well as technologies that improve the quality, efficiency and speed of AM. Right now, companies are developing nesting tools that compete to reduce the time required to fill the build chamber of a powder-based 3D printers.
Companies like Dyndrite bringing sophistication to the process, allowing engineers to tailor material and machine parameters to the unique characteristics of each part, for example by using different settings for thin walls or overhangs than say, the core, and optimizing machine tool paths - slower printing for surfaces or overhangs, faster for inside the part.
This isn’t what happens in AM today. A single part gets a single parameter (unless you painstakingly break it into discrete pieces. Then reassemble them within your print prep tool). Parameters should be adjusted for individual features (just as in CAM, where different tools and speeds are used depending on the machining area). I applaud Dyndrite for breaking us free from this lunacy.
Ultimately, the final stage will be a future where you can type a command to a 3D printer, and it will manufacture exactly what you need.
That’s the future of 3D printing. Right now, machines don’t know what they are printing—they simply execute the instructions provided in the control file. This is about to change—3D printers will become "more aware" in this regard.
So, who is this Dyndrite company? Who are they, and what is their mission?
Dyndrite is a Seattle-based AM software developer founded by Harshil Goel in 2016. He’s been recognized by the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in 2020 (a year later Dyndrite itself was recognized by the World Economic Forum).
With a background in mathematics and mechanical engineering, Goel noticed that 3D printing hardware had outpaced software capabilities, resulting in machines that weren’t being used to their full potential.
Users were struggling to print the parts the way they wanted, and were wasting time manually arranging parts on build platforms or adding serial numbers to each component one by one. Goel set out to change that – especially as the AM industry was transitioning from prototyping to full-scale production, demanding new software solutions.
Building a 3D product requires a 3D engine or kernel. Goel realized that everything available at the time was roughly 30 years old and lacked modern computing (multi-threading and GPUs) and modern data types. So the company took a first principles approach and made the Dyndrite Accelerated Computation Engine (ACE) the core technology behind its offerings.
ACE is a GPU-powered geometric engine designed to understand just about any data type - for example native CAD files - and process large 3D models and complex geometries, dramatically faster that anything currently in the market - improving speed and efficiency in AM.
ACE isn’t a traditional operating system, but rather a foundational engine for building advanced AM tools.
Then the company developed the Dyndrite App Development Kit (ADK), allowing other ISVs and OEM manufacturers to create their own custom software for their own processes, or machines.
Dyndrite then built its flagship application - Dyndrite LPBF Pro, their first end-user application. Dyndrite LPBF Pro is aimed at AM scientists, engineers, and technicians working on materials and process development for LPBF, or designing advanced toolpathing processes for metal 3D printing.
Dyndrite’s new found computation performance also gave rise to new features, such as 3D volumetric segmentation, which solves the one part, one parameter limitation by interrogating the 3D geometry and enabling the assignment of print parameters designed for the characteristic or features you’re trying to print.
This allows users to achieve higher-quality prints, be able to print parts that have low overhangs with no supports, and intricate geometries like thin walls or small features. According to Dyndrite, one of its customers achieved the best microstructure they had ever obtained by fine-tuning over 100 parameters per part.
These new capabilities haven’t gone unnoticed by the printer OEMs. Last November Dyndrite announced a strategic relationship with Nikon SLM and announced support for Renishaw and EOS machines.
What makes Dyndrite different from other AM software companies is similar to what Adobe did with PostScript in the early ’80s. Instead of just another application, Dyndrite provides a core computational engine that takes advantage of emerging processing power to improve quality and scalability.
Its end-user application, Dyndrite LPBF Pro, functions much like Photoshop—a professional tool built to fully utilize the underlying engine.
Others can plug-in or build their own tools. This allows manufacturers to maximize machine performance, improve efficiency, and gain greater control over their machine or production processes.
A great example is Impossible Objects, which produces machines based on a proprietary version of the LOM (Laminated Object Manufacturing) process, using polyamide powders and carbon fiber sheets. Thanks to Dyndrite’s solutions, Impossible Objects achieved: 10x faster data processing, 90% reduction in build time, and 20% less manual labor.
So, as you can see, Dyndrite opens up a broad and fascinating range of topics to explore. That’s why I chose this partner for the newsletter.
It’s going to be exciting – you’ll see!
Atomic Layer from the Past:
03-06-2018: Dyze Design launched a successful Kickstarter campaign for a tungsten carbide 3D printer nozzle.
Join AM World Map and fill your country or region with Additive Manufacturing!
News & Gossip:
EOS has released two new nickel-based 3D printing materials: EOS NickelAlloy IN718 API and EOS Nickel NiCP. Designed for Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF), they offer high strength, corrosion resistance, and efficiency.
Bambu Lab introduced CyberBrick, a modular ecosystem combining 3D printing with interactive electronics. The project will be launched via Kickstarter on March 15 with initial kits shipping on April 15. It enables users to create smart gadgets, robots, and remote-controlled vehicles using compact, Bluetooth-connected modules. CyberBrick supports customization through MicroPython scripting and an open platform for sharing and monetization. Users can choose between DIY kits for their own 3D printers or complete sets with pre-printed parts, making CyberBrick accessible to both beginners and advanced makers. More on that after campaign launch.
Some of you may know David Schlawer – an AM influencer who shares 3D printing news on LinkedIn with over 35K followers. He just made a move from Mark3D (a major Markforged distributor in Europe) to BigRep (which needs no introduction). Good luck, David!
It certainly is software and AI that will define the future. Good decision.