Registration for Formnext Forum Austin is open. Join our sister brand, Additive Manufacturing Media, at this conference and expo for industrial 3D printing, August 28-30, 2023.
Additive manufacturing or 3D printing in the plastics industry involves the creation of components without dies or tooling—or the fabrication of tooling itself—for use in prototyping, bridge production, or short-run production. Common types include stereolithography (SLA), selective laser sintering (SLS), fused deposition modeling (FDM), and digital light process (DLP). Learn more at What Is Additive Manufacturing?
How Additive Manufacturing Can Help, not Hinder, Injection Moldability of New Designs
Four cost drivers—design for moldability, mold-base size, internal componentry, polish/custom finishing—dictate the financial and processing success of a molded part design. Learn how 3D printing can assist this process, while also understanding its potential pitfalls.
Additive Manufacturing: Essential Reading
'10 Things We’re Seeing in Machine Shops Right Now'
Metalworking shops and plastics plants make for interesting comparisons of their responses to the COVID-19 challenge.
What You Should Know About Miniature Extrusion Screws
Very small screws have become more common with the growth of additive manufacturing. Designing such screws requires balancing their output requirements with their torque strength.
SPE Schedules First-Ever 'Virtual' ANTEC
Attendees can listen to keynotes and presentations live. Many presentations will also be recorded.
GW Plastics Bets on Metal 3D Printing
Conformal cooling is goal of big investment at U.S. mold facility.
'Engage, Innovate, Evolve': Future-Oriented Culture at Octex Group
Using science, technology, and talent to give high-tech customers unprecedented speed to market.
FAQ: Additive Manufacturing
Do I Need Additive Manufacturing Skills in My Business?
Essentium announced the third in a series of findings from independent global research on the current and future use of industrial 3D printing. The survey found an increasing need for more education, skills, and training across manufacturers’ organizations. Even as the industry moves towards large-scale AM, 28% of manufacturers reported their personnel lacked AM skills.
In recent years, it has become apparent that additive manufacturing—aka 3D printing—is destined to have a role in plastics mold making, owing to cost and lead-time advantages over conventional subtractive manufacturing—CNC machining—and unique abilities to produce complex internal tooling geometries such as conformal cooling channels.
What Is Formnext Forum?
Formnext Forum (formerly The Additive Manufacturing Conference) is an industrial 3D printing conference.
This additive manufacturing conference and expo is in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).
Additive Manufacturing Suppliers
Narrow by Additive Manufacturing Category
- Color Matching/Formulating Systems
- Design of Experiments (DOE) Software
- ISO 9000 Software
- Job Quoting, Cost Estimating and Accounting Systems
- Machining, Routing Software
- Maintenance Management Systems
- Materials Formulating Systems
- Product & Tool Design, Analysis Software (CAD/CAM/CAE)
- Scheduling, MRP, Production and Inventory Management Systems
- Screw Design/Analysis Software
- SPC, SQC Systems
- Troubleshooting, Problem Solving Systems
- Closed-loop Process Control Systems
- Dewpoint Monitors/Moisture Analyzers
- Flow Monitoring/Control Devices (for Liquids)
- Level Sensors and Controls
- Machine Monitoring/Alarm Systems
- Motion or Position Controls
- Pressure Controllers, Monitors
- Pressure Sensors, Transducers
- Sequence Logic Controls
- Recording Instruments
- Speed, Drive Controls
- Temperature Controllers, Monitors
- Temperature Pyrometers, Sensors, Thermocouples
- Timers
- Bending, Heat-forming Equipment
- Clamps, Holding Devices
- Cutting Tools
- Fasteners
- Fluid-jet Cutting Systems
- Lasers (for Cutting, Machining, Welding)
- Machining, Drilling, Routing Equipment
- Ultrasonic Cutters
- Liquid Resin Filtration Materials, Equipment
- Particle Screeners, Classifiers, Separators
- Assembly Robots and EOAT
- General Purpose Robots and EOAT
- Spray Painting Robots and EOAT
- Part or Sprue Removal Robots and EOAT
- Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing/Prototyping Materials)
- Biodegradable, Photodegradable Resins and Compounds
- Core Materials
- Recycled/Reprocessed Materials--Bale or Bulk Form
- Recycled/Reprocessed Materials--Ground Flake Form
- Recycled/Reprocessed Materials--Pelletized Form
- Stock Shapes--Film
- Stock Shapes--Rod, Tube
- Stock Shapes--Sheet
- Automation/Systems Integration
- Consultants - Design, Manufacturing, Purchasing
- Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
- Prototyping Services
