Traditional design approaches don’t make the most of new manufacturing methods, like additive manufacturing, which are removing design constraints and opening up new possibilities. The optimal shape of a part is often organic and counterintuitive, so designing it requires a different approach.
Topology optimization lets you specify where supports and loads are located on a volume of material and lets the software find the best shape.
Kick off the year by learning about one of the most exciting advancements in modern design and manufacturing. Join experts from PADT and nTopology for an interactive roundtable discussion on the ins and outs of topological optimization.
If this is your first time registering for one of our Bright Talk webinars, simply click the link and fill out the attached form. We promise that the information you provide will only be shared with those promoting the event (PADT).
You will only have to do this once! For all future webinars, you can simply click the link, add the reminder to your calendar and you’re good to go!
Ansys Sherlock automated design analysis software is the only Reliability Physics/Physics of Failure (PoF)-based electronics design analysis software that provides fast and accurate life predictions for electronic hardware at the component, board and system levels in early design stages. A unique, powerful capability of Sherlock is its revolutionary ability to rapidly convert electronic CAD (ECAD) files into CFD and FEA models with accurate geometries and material properties.
Through its powerful parsing engine and embedded libraries containing over 500,000 parts, Sherlock reduces pre-processing time from days to minutes and automates workflows through its integration with Ansys Icepak, Ansys Mechanical and Ansys Workbench.
With its extensive parts/materials libraries, Sherlock automatically identifies your files and imports your parts list, then builds an FEA model of your circuit board in minutes. It also produces a holistic analysis that is critical to developing reliable electronics products. It enables designers to simulate each environment, failure mechanism and assembly that a product might encounter over its lifespan.
Join PADT’s Systems Application & Support Engineer Josh Stout for an introduction to this powerful tool along with a look at what new features and updates have been added in the Ansys 2020 R2 version.
If this is your first time registering for one of our Bright Talk webinars, simply click the link and fill out the attached form. We promise that the information you provide will only be shared with those promoting the event (PADT).
You will only have to do this once! For all future webinars, you can simply click the link, add the reminder to your calendar and you’re good to go!
In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by PADT’s Pam Waterman and Robert McCathren for a discussion on how Ansys Granta can be used to help optimize hardware selection for additive manufacturing. The Senvol Database details 1,000 AM machines and more than 850 compatible materials. Using this tool within Granta Selector, you can search and compare materials based on properties, type, or compatible machines.
If you would like to learn more about the Ansys tool and it’s applications for additive, check out our webinar on the topic here: https://bit.ly/2SAZN8G
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for the next episode, shoot us an email at podcast@padtinc.com we would love to hear from you!
In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by 3D Printing Applications Engineer Pamela Waterman and Advatech Pacific’s Engineering Manager Matt Humrick for a discussion on real world applications for topology optimization, and it’s value when it comes to creating parts though additive manufacturing.
If you would like to learn more about this topic and what Advatech Pacific is doing, you can download our case study covering these topics here: https://bit.ly/38Bqu2b
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for the next episode, shoot us an email at podcast@padtinc.com we would love to hear from you!
In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by Lead Mechanical Engineer Doug Oatis for a discussion on the latest advancements in simulation for additive manufacturing and topology optimization in ANSYS 2020 R1.
If you would like to learn more about what this release is capable of, check out our webinar on the topic here:
https://www.brighttalk.com/webcast/15747/384528
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for the next episode, shoot us an email at podcast@padtinc.com we would love to hear from you!
Taking risks attempting to capture design intent at the end of the process requires a lot of post-processing (coloring, assemblies, a mix of technologies, etc.) – when its too time consuming, expensive and late to make changes or correct errors. Stratasys PolyJet 3D printing technology is developed to elevate designs by realizing ideas more quickly and more accurately and taking color copies to the next level.
By putting realistic models in a designer’s hands earlier in the process, companies can promote better decisions and a superior final product. Now, with the Stratasys J8 Series, the same is true for prototypes. This tried and tested technology simplifies the entire design process, streamlining workflows so you can spend more time on what matters –creating, refining, and designing the best product possible.
PADT is excited to introduce the new StratasysJ826 3D printer
Based on J850 technology, the J826 supplies the same end-to-end solution for the design process and ultra-realistic simulation at a lower price point. Better communicate design intent and drive more confident results with prototypes that realistically portray an array of design alternatives.
The Stratasys J826 3D Printer is able to deliver realism, shorter time to market, and streamlined application thanks to a variety of unique attributes that set it apart from most other Polyjet printers:
High Quality – The J826 can accurately print smaller features at a layer thickness of 14µm to 27µm. As part of the J8 series of printers it is also capable of printing in ultra-realistic Pantone validated colors.
Speed & Productivity – Three printing speed modes (high speed, high quality & high mix) allows the J826 to always operate at the most efficient speed for each print. It can also avoid unnecessary down-time associate with material changeovers thanks to it’s built-in material cabinet and workstation.
Easy to Use – A smooth workflow with the J826 comes from simple integration with the CAD format of your choice, as well as a removable tray for easy clean up, and automated support creation and removal.
Are you ready to learn how the new Stratasys J826 provides the same quality and accuracy as other J8 series printers at a lower cost?
Provide the requested information via the form linked below and one of PADT’s additive experts will reach out to share more on what makes this new offering so exciting for the enterprise design world.
As advancements in R&D continue to expand hardware
innovation in almost every industry, 3D printing is playing an increasingly
larger role. For a long time, companies developed prototypes via fabrication in
a machine shop or outsourced to a third party contractor. This process proved
to be costly and slow. With innovations like the Stratasys F123 series,
industrial-grade 3D printers, prototyping is becoming simpler, more cost-efficient,
and faster. PADT is a reseller and support provider for the F123 series and has
seen it used to great success in its customer’s hands.
“Our customers are finding the Stratasys F123 3D
printers to be a great addition to their design floors,” said Rey Chu,
co-founder and principal, PADT. “They have a very minimal learning curve, and a
range of material options that provides flexibility for a wide variety of
parts.”
As some of the most well-rounded 3D printers in the
industry, the Stratasys F123 Series have won numerous awards. It’s easy to
operate and maintain these machines, regardless of the user’s level of
experience, and they are proficient at every stage of prototyping, from concept
to validation, to functional performance.
The printers work with a range of materials – so users
can produce complex parts with flexibility and accuracy. This includes advanced
features like Fast Draft mode for truly rapid prototyping and soluble support
to prevent design compromise and hands-on removal – All designed to shorten
product development cycles and time to market.
All of these different characteristics allow for the
F123 series to provide innovative solutions for manufacturers working with a
wide variety of applications. This vast array of potential use is best seen in
the assortment of companies that have purchased the Stratasys F370, the largest
and most robust model in the F123 line of 3D printers; boasting a 14 x 10 x 14
in. build size, additional software integration, and access to a plethora of
unique materials designed to help ensure prototyping success, all at an accessible
price point. Companies that best represent the diversity of this machine
include:
Juggernaut
Design
PADT client Juggernaut is an authority
in rugged product design, bringing innovation and expertise to products to
survive in challenging environments. Employing the latest tools and technology, this team
of designers and engineers is always looking for the best way to meet their
client’s ever-evolving requirements. 3D printing is one such tool a design firm
like Juggernaut relies on. Covering everything from the development of
prototypes and form studies, to ergonomic test rigs and even functional models,
the need for quick turnaround is relevant at nearly every stage of the design
process. Having physical parts to show to clients also helps to improve
communication, allowing them to better visualize key design elements.
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) focuses on advancing the science and engineering of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies, including marine energy. Follow solarkraft for more information. When it comes to developing the components of a wave energy device that produce power from relative motion induced by the dynamics of ocean waves for example, NREL’s research requires extensive validation before it is ready for commercialization. This process often includes generating sub-scale components for numerical model validation, prototypes for proof of concept, and other visual representations to provide clarity throughout the entire manufacturing process. It’s also important to accurately validate research projects at a more manageable and cost-effective scale before moving beyond the prototype stage.
Recently, NREL has ventured into building parts with
more complex geometries, such as 3D printing hydrodynamically accurate models
that are able to effectively represent the intricacies of various geometry and
mass properties at scale.
Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is a privately held,
advanced technology company providing customer-focused innovative solutions in
the areas of aerospace, aviation, electronics, and systems integration. SNC’s
diverse technologies are used in applications including telemedicine,
navigation and guidance systems, threat detection and security, commercial
aviation, scientific research, and infrastructure protection, among others. SNC
decided to purchase an F370 Stratasys 3D printer to help the company’s
engineering team iterate faster on new application designs. This machine was
specifically attractive due to the reasonable purchase and operational costs of
Stratasys printers, as well as the reduced manufacturing times it provided.
These use cases provide an example of how the Stratasys F123 series is helping to replace traditional manufacturing to save costs and provide a more efficient in-house, rapid design solution. The Stratasys F123 printers, and specifically the power and size of its flagship model, the F370, are revolutionizing design team’s workflow by providing more flexibility and accessibility than ever before.
To learn more about the Stratasys F123 Series, and find the machine that is right for you, please visit PADT’s Stratasys product page here. And to talk to PADT’s sales staff about a demo, please call 1-800-293-PADT.
Engineering simulation has traditionally been used for new product design and virtual testing, eliminating the need to build multiple prototypes prior to product launch.
Now, with the emergence of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), simulation is expanding into operations. The IIoT enables engineers to communicate with sensors and actuators on an operating product to capture data and monitor operating parameters. The result is a digital twin of the physical product or process that can be used to monitor real-time prescriptive analytics and test predictive maintenance to optimize asset performance.
Join PADT’s Senior Analyst & Lead Software Developer Matt Sutton for an in depth look at how digital twins created using ANSYS simulation tools optimize the operation of devices or systems, save money by reducing unplanned downtime and enable engineers to test solutions virtually before doing physical repairs.
This webinar will include an overview of technical capabilities, packaging for licensing, and updates made with the release of ANSYS 2019 R1.
If this is your first time registering for one of our Bright Talk webinars, simply click the link and fill out the attached form. We promise that the information you provide will only be shared with those promoting the event (PADT).
You will only have to do this once! For all future webinars, you can simply click the link, add the reminder to your calendar and you’re good to go!
Have you ever wondered about choosing a plain versus funky infill-style for filament 3D-printing? Amongst the ten standard types (no, the cat infill design is not one of them), some give you high strength, some greatly decrease material use or printing time, and others are purposely tailored with an end-use in mind.
Highly detailed Insight slicing software from Stratasys gives you the widest range of possibilities; the basic versions are also accessible from GrabCAD Print, the direct-CAD-import, cloud-connected slicing software that offers an easy approach for all levels of 3D print users.
A part that is mimicking or replacing a metal design would do best when built with Solid infill to give it weight and heft, while a visual-concept model printed as five different test-versions may work fine with a Sparse infill, saving time and material. Here at PADT we printed a number of sample cubes with open ends to demonstrate a variety of the choices in action. Check out these hints for evaluating each one, and see the chart at the end comparing build-time, weight and consumed material.
Infill choices for 3D printed parts, offered with Stratasys’ GrabCAD Print software. (Image courtesy PADT Inc.)
Basic Infill Patterns
Solid (also called Alternating Raster) This is the default pattern, where each layer has straight fill-lines touching each other, and the layer direction alternates by 90 degrees. This infill uses the most material but offers the highest density; use it when structural integrity and super-low porosity are most important.
Solid (Alternating Raster)
Sparse Raster lines for Sparse infill also run in one direction per layer, alternating by layer, but are widely spaced (the default spacing is 0.080 inches/2 mm). In Insight, or using the Advanced FDM settings in GrabCAD, you can change the width of both the lines and the spaces.
Sparse Double Dense As you can imagine, Sparse Double Dense achieves twice the density of regular Sparse: it deposits in two directions per layer, creating an open grid-pattern that stacks up throughout the part.
Sparse High Density Just to give you one more quick-click option, this pattern effectively sits between Sparse Double Dense and Solid. It lays rasters in a single direction per layer, but not as closely spaced as for Solid.
Hexagram The effect of this pattern looks similar to a honeycomb but it’s formed differently. Each layer gets three sets of raster lines crossing at different angles, forming perfectly aligned columns of hexagons and triangles. Hexagram is time-efficient to build, lightweight and strong in all directions.
Hexagram
Additional infill styles and the options for customizing them within a part, offered within Stratasys Insight 3D printing slicing and set-up software. (Image courtesy PADT Inc.)
Advanced Infill Patterns (via Custom Groups in Insight)
Hexagon By laying down rows of zig-zag lines that alternately bond to each other and bend away, Hexagon produces a classic honeycomb structure (every two rows creates one row of honeycomb). The pattern repeats layer by layer so all vertical channels line up perfectly. The amount of build material used is just about one-third that of Solid but strength is quite good.
Hexagon
Permeable Triangle A layer-by-layer shifting pattern of triangles and straight lines creates a strong infill that builds as quickly as Sparse, but is extremely permeable. It is used for printing sacrificial tooling material (i.e., Stratsys ST130) that will be wrapped with composite material and later dissolved away.
Permeable Triangle
Permeable Tubular This infill is formed by a 16-layer repeating pattern deposited first as eight varying wavy layers aligned to the X axis and then the same eight layers aligned to the Y axis. The resulting structure is a series of vertical cylinders enhanced with strong cross-bars, creating air-flow channels highly suited to tooling used on vacuum work-holding tables.
Permeable Tubular 0.2 Spacing
Permeable Tubular 0.5 Spacing
Gyroid (so cool we printed it twice) The Gyroid pattern belongs to a class of mathematically minimal surfaces, providing infill strength similar to that of a hexagon, but using less material. Since different raster spacings have quite an effect, we printed it first with the default spacing of 0.2 inches and then widened that to 0.5 inches. Print time and material use dropped dramatically.
Gyroid 0.2 Spacing
Gyroid 0.5 Spacing
Schwarz D (Diamond) This alternate style of minimal surface builds in sets of seven different layers along the X-axis, ranging from straight lines to near-sawtooth waves, then flipping to repeat the same seven layers along the Y-axis. The Schwarz D infill balances strength, density and porosity. As with the Gyroid, differences in raster spacing have a big influence on the material use and build-time.
Schwarz Diamond 0.2 Spacing
Schwarz Diamond 0.5 Spacing
Digging Deeper Into Infill Options
Infill Cell Type/0.2 spacing
Build Time
Weight
Material Used
Alternating Raster (Solid)
1 h 57 min
123.77 g
6.29 cu in.
Sparse Double Dense
1 hr 37 min
44.09 g
4.52 cu in.
Hexagon (Honeycomb)
1 h 49 min
37.79 g
2.56 cu in.
Hexagram (3 crossed rasters)
1 h 11 min.
47.61 g
3.03 cu in.
Permeable Triangle
1 h 11 min.
47.67 g
3.04 cu in.
Permeable Tubular – small
2 h 5 min.
43.95 g
2.68 cu in.
Gyroid – small
1 h 48 min.
38.68 g
2.39 cu in.
Schwarz Diamond (D) – small
1 h 35 min.
47.8 g
3.04 cu in.
Infill Cell Type/0.5 spacing
Build Time
Weight
Material Used
Permeable Tubular – Large
1 h 11 min.
21.84 g
1.33 cu in.
Gyroid – Large
57 min.
20.59 g
1.29 cu in.
Schwarz Diamond (D) – Large
58 min.
23.74 g
1.51 cu in.
Hopefully this information helps you perfect your design for optimal strength or minimal material-use or fastest printing. If you’re still not sure which way to go, contact our PADT Manufacturing group: get your questions answered, have some sample parts printed and discover what infill works best for the job at hand.
PADT Inc.
is a globally recognized provider of Numerical Simulation, Product Development
and 3D Printing products and services. For more information on Insight, GrabCAD
and Stratasys products, contact us at info@padtinc.com.
An industrial 3D printer at a price that brings professional 3D printing to the masses. Introducing the powerfully reliable F120, the newest addition to the Stratasys F123 Series. Stratasys brings their industrial expertise to transform the 3D printing game.
The F120 is everything you have come to expect from Stratasys: Accurate results, user-friendly interface and workflow, and durable 3D printing hardware. Their industrial-grade reliability means there is low maintenance compared to others.
When it comes to touch-time, there is little to no tinkering or adjustment required. The F120 is proven to print for up to 250 hours, uninterrupted with new, large filament boxes, as well as printing 2-3 times faster than competition, making for a fast return on investment.
Worried about lengthy and complicated setup time? Why wait to print – the Stratasys F120 is easy to install and set up, whether you’re new to 3D printing or not. Ease of use comes standard with GrabCAD Print machine control software. Dramatically simplify your workflow and see how the Stratasys F120 sets the standard for ease of use, with no specialized training or dedicated technician required.
The Stratasys F120 outperforms the competition. But don’t just take our word for it. Over 1000 hours were spent independently testing a number of key build attributes, including feature reproduction, part sturdiness and surface quality. The Stratasys F123 Series and its engineering-grade materials came out on top.
When considering purchasing a printer; time-to-part, failed print jobs, downtime, repairs, and schedule delays all should be accounted for.
The Stratasys F120 has all the features and benefits of their larger industrial-grade 3D printers, along with the superior speed, reliability, minimal touch-time, and affordable purchase price, giving you the best cost-per-part performance. Print complex designs with confidence thanks to soluble support, and enjoy unrivaled ease of use and accuracy with every print.
Don’t waste time and resources on tools that aren’t up to the task. Enhance your productivity. Make it right the first time with the F120.
Want to learn more about this exciting new tabletop printer that’s blowing away the competition?
Contact the industry experts at PADT via the link below:
Eric Miller, Ted Harris, Tom Chadwick, Sina Ghods, & Alex Grishin
Description:
In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by PADT’s Ted Harris, Tom Chadwick, Sina Ghods, and Alex Grishin, for a round-table discussion on their experience and history with simulation, including what has changed since they started using it and what they’re most impressed and excited by, followed by some prediction and discussion on what the future may hold for the world of numerical simulation.
Thank you again for those of you who have made the past 25 years something to remember, and to those of you who have come to know PADT more recently, we look forward to what the next 25 will bring.
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for the next episode, shoot us an email at podcast@padtinc.com we would love to hear from you!
In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by Sina Ghods from the Simulation Support Team and Judd Kaiser of ANSYS Inc. for a discussion on the latest offering from ANSYS: ANSYS Cloud; a tool that allows you to take advantage of the speed and computing power of ANSYS simulation products, all without the need for expensive hardware. Listen as they discuss the various capabilities and applications for this new tool and share their excitement about what impact this will have on the world of engineering.
Want to learn more about what to expect in ANSYS Cloud? Check out PADT’s webinar covering everything you need to know about the tool’s latest update.
Watch here: https://bit.ly/2U7blzj
If you have any questions, comments, or would like to suggest a topic for the next episode, shoot us an email at podcast@padtinc.com we would love to hear from you!
Engineering simulation has long been constrained by fixed computing resources available on a desktop or cluster. Today, however, cloud computing can deliver the on-demand, high performance computing (HPC) capacity required for faster high-fidelity results offering greater performance insight.
ANSYS Cloud delivers the speed, power and compute capacity of cloud computing directly to your desktop — when and where you need it. You can run larger, more complex and more accurate simulations to gain more insight into your product — or you can evaluate more design variations to find the optimal design without long hardware/software procurement and deployment delays.
Join PADT’s Application & Simulation Support Engineer Sina Ghods for a look at how ANSYS is working to drive adoption by providing users a ready to use cloud service that offers:
If this is your first time registering for one of our Bright Talk webinars, simply click the link and fill out the attached form. We promise that the information you provide will only be shared with those promoting the event (PADT).
You will only have to do this once! For all future webinars, you can simply click the link, add the reminder to your calendar and you’re good to go!
With the substantial growth of more advanced manufacturing technologies over the past decade, the engineering world has seen additive manufacturing lead the way towards the future of innovation.
While the process of additive manufacturing, has proven to yield valuable results that can drastically reduce lead time and overall cost, without an effective design and an in-depth understanding of the process behind it end users of the tool will struggle to achieve the high-quality results they initially envisioned.
PADT’s Principle and Co-Owner Eric Miller sat down with David Budiac of Software Connect to discuss the use of software when it comes to Additive Manufacturing, including integrating MES & QMS into your process, specific steps for ensuring success with AM software.
Check out the blog post featuring notes from their discussion here.
You can also view a recording of PADT’s webinar discussing design for Additive Manufacturing below:
Ted Harris, Joe Woodward, Doug Oatis, Jim Peters, Ahmed Fayed, Eric Miller
Description:
In this episode your host and Co-Founder of PADT, Eric Miller is joined by PADT’s Jim Peters, Joe Woodword, Ahmed Fayed, Doag Oatis and Ted Harris, for a discussion on new and ongoing simulation-related resolutions, as well as a look at how the newly discovered Meltdown and Spectre Hardware vulnerability impact simulation users.
