Renishaw and Materialise team up to increase efficiency of metal 3D printing

Renishaw is partnering with 3D printing software and services company Materialise to increase efficiency and productivity for manufacturers using its additive manufacturing (AM) systems.

Metal AM production.
Metal AM production.

Through the partnership, Renishaw system users will benefit from Materialise's next-generation build processor software tailored to the RenAM 500 series of metal AM systems. They will also have access to Magics, Materialise's leading data and build preparation software. This will enable users of Renishaw's AM systems to build a seamless workflow from design to 3D printed part, control and customise their 3D printing process, reduce production time, and increase the efficiency of their AM operations.

Manufacturing companies are increasingly adopting additive manufacturing to produce metal parts on an industrial scale. A significant technology for industrial 3D printing is laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), which offers users the ability to adapt print parameters for increased productivity. However, LPBF can be challenging for inexperienced users, so additional training may be required to get the most from the technology. Software allows manufacturers to unlock the full potential of the technology by optimising the 3D printing process and streamlining the workflow.

“Working with Materialise enables us to support Renishaw users deploying 3D printing in a host of different manufacturing applications,” said Matt Parkes, AM Strategic Development Manager at Renishaw. “Their next-generation build processors, in combination with their software portfolio, complement our recent technology updates. We're pleased to be collaborating on the tools needed to support the industry as metal 3D printing becomes an essential piece of the manufacturing puzzle.”