Part 1 of 3
Additive manufacturing (AM) continues to make inroads in metal parts production. Software vendors, service providers, and hardware suppliers are amping up technology to meet needs like design flexibility, limited inventory, and durability.
The April issue of Industrial Print magazine looks at three-dimension (3D) metal printing in detail with a feature article on the topic. We also spoke with vendors in this segment of the market in a webinar held the beginning of April, which is accessible at industrialprintmagazine.com/webinars.
In this three-part series, a software vendor, service provider, and 3D printer manufacture provide real-world examples of 3D metal printing success.
Software Vendor
Authentise offers connected workflow management solutions for the world’s most agile engineering and manufacturing operations. To help enterprises take advantage of emerging opportunities without trying to force standard IT systems on every business unit, Authentise developed an agile platform, Flows AM, for industrial engineering and manufacturing.
Based on modern ideas of distributed, contextual data, the Authentise platform integrates data, information, and processes across an array of enterprise applications such as LMS, PLM, ERP, SCM, MES, MRP; point specific tools on customers’ workflow such as CAD, CAM, CAE; and a simple bridge to other third-party algorithms and mash up tools such as customer specific analytics, or AI/ML routines.
It worked with Ricoh USA, Inc. to establish an agile, distributed, network for industrial engineering and manufacturing. Specifically, Authentise’s software validation tools enabled Ricoh to use its technology as a medical device system. This helped in a significant step forward obtaining 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its craniomaxillofacial and orthopaedic patient-specific anatomic modeling.
Building on previous technology and further integrating other advanced technologies for imaging, Ricoh and its network provides widespread access to patient-specific, additively manufactured models. In other words, manufactured items are matched to the unique anatomy of each individual patient. In addition, healthcare providers can select an on demand option where they order and have customer-specific models printed at a Ricoh facility and shipped directly to them.
Referred to as RICOH 3D for Healthcare, it is an integrated, end-to-end workflow solution that designs and produces 3D-printed anatomic models for patient-specific representations of tissue and bone.
“Ricoh is committed to healthcare innovation that will turn the tide on patient engagement and precision medicine. RICOH 3D for Healthcare does just that—offering a model matched to the unique anatomy of each individual patient,” said Gary Turner, managing director, additive manufacturing, North America, Ricoh USA, Inc.
Authentise arranged a highly integrated set of systems that enabled interaction with Ricoh’s systems to bring data and processes together, enabling quality control and FDA compliance.
Ricoh’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by its peers. Prior to the FDA clearance, Ricoh announced it won the 2022 MedTech Breakthrough Award for Best New Technology Solution for Orthopedics for RICOH 3D for Healthcare.
Meeting Manufacturing Needs
Authentise provided core industrial engineering and workflow management within Ricoh’s production facility to make RICOH 3D for Healthcare a reality.
The next article in this series looks at service provider 3DEO and its work for a U.S.-based Tier 3 aerospace supplier.
May2023, Industrial Print Magazine