Meltio has brought together 12 software companies, mainly CAM developers, in Meltio’s Engines Software Partner ecosystem. At the same time, the engineers have defined 9 levels of complexity that cover a large portion of the geometry of industry AM workpieces. For this purpose, 9 advanced slicing strategies are available through the software ecosystem.
Behind the scenes, these parties, including Siemens, Hexagon and Open Mind, have been working together for a year now. The manufacturer of wire-laser metal 3D printing technology developed 14 evaluation points, 9 of which related to the toolpath strategy. The most diverse production issues of customers can be met via the software ecosystem. With the formal launch of the ecosystem, the Spanish manufacturer sends a signal to the market that users of Meltio’s AM technology can rely on certified software for the metal printing process. “With this agreement with key software development companies, we continue our strategic goal to facilitate and democratize additive metal manufacturing. Ease of use and technology are key for us,” says Meltio CEO Ander Llavero.
Software ecosystem lowers the threshold for Meltio AM technology
Take advantage of the open platform
Meltio offers an open platform, both for hardware and software. This means that the Meltio Engine Robot Integration works with multiple robot systems and the Meltio Engine CNC Integration with various CNC machines. To avoid extra work between end customer and software supplier, for example for developing a post processor, Meltio has created a process to technically validate the software. In addition to post-processors, this can also be software to use the two materials in the same part (Dual-Wire), one of the options of the Meltio technology.
slicing strategies
Meltio engineers have further identified the technical requirements for developing slicing strategies for most of the parts required by the industry. This led to the definition of 9 levels of complexity, including sample geometries that help both customers and developers understand the diversity of parts. The new software ecosystem provides tools to 3D priont a variety of parts through advanced slicer functions. These include fixed tool orientation, rotated surfaces, features on non-flat surfaces, simple surface coating, radial coating, 360 features, variable layer deposition, controlled area repair, and non-controlled area repair.
You can see these 9 levels in this diagram.
CAM developers
The 12 partners are SKM DCAM from SKM Informatik; AdaOne from Adaxis; AiSync from AiBuild; Esprit of Hexagon; Fusion 360 from Autodesk; Aplus+Mastercam by Camufacturing and Mastercam; Hypermill from OpenMind; SiemensNX from Siemens; Hy5CAM from 1ATechnologies; RobotStudio 3D Printing PowerPack from ABB and SprutCAM X from SprutCam. The ecosystem is intended for both Meltio’s robot solution and the Engine CNC Integration, which converts a CNC machine into a hybrid machine.