Materialise is proud to announce the launch of the latest Mimics Innovation Suite of Software and Services including Mimics16 and 3-matic8. The Suite is an industry standard for processing and editing anatomical data from CT and MRI scans. Engineering on Anatomy™ has never been easier! This release focused heavily on adding new features and functionalities that increase efficiency and overall capabilities.

For over twenty years, Materialise has been leading the way in evidenced-based R&D with Mimics. We strive to remain on the cutting-edge through market-driven improvements with each release. Now 3D PDF files can be generated directly from the Mimics Innovation Suite allowing you to publish your 3D medical models in a universal file format for viewing, navigating and interacting. We also improved the traceability of the segmentation process by incorporating a log that’s saved in your project file or as a separate document for training or recommending a workflow for similar cases.

In addition, new measurement tools have been added including the ability to quantify elliptical shapes to export for advanced analyses, multi planar re-slice for comparing common clinical measurements from specific anatomical planes, curve planar re-slice to easily quantify a narrowing in a tubular structure, as well as exciting enhancements to the centerline tools.

For cardiovascular professionals, whether you are designing stents, valves, CRM devices or benchtop models; beginning with image data is helpful and the Mimics Innovation Suite’s new capabilities make it easier than ever before. With this release, you can save time and increase consistency with semi-automated coronary segmentation tools and the mask morphing technology for 4D segmentation. In addition you can improve visualization with a link between 3D view and fluoroscopy angles and perform TAVI/TAVR valve sizing and planning.

For orthopaedic and cranio-maxillofacial professionals, we are committed to driving the future of evidence based solutions by continuously improving our segmentation capabilities and developing design tools for your anatomy based workflow. With the new Smart Expand tool, segmenting bones and muscles from MRI data is even more efficient. You can also now design a patient-specific cage, generate ‘production ready’ custom plates, or create base plates for patient specific instruments.

For more information, visit: biomedical.materialise.com/mimics-innovation-suite-latest-release

For companies that try to engineer better products, 3D Printing is becoming more and more interesting. But identifying the parts that can truly benefit from this technology is often a struggle. That’s why Materialise is proud to announce the launch of the 3D Print Barometer: an application to test different parts according to size, functionality, series size, etc., and score the added benefit that 3D Printing can offer. The 3D Print Barometer aims to cut through the hype surrounding 3D Printing and identify where this technology can really be of benefit.

The 3D Print Barometer helps manufacturers identify plastic components that can benefit from 3D Printing. The app can be used online through a browser or can be downloaded for use on the iPad.

With its headquarters in Leuven, Belgium, and branches worldwide, Materialise has been playing an active role in the field of additive manufacturing since 1990. In addition to having one of the the world’s largest capacities of Additive Manufacturing equipment, Materialise also enjoys a stellar reputation as a provider of innovative software solutions. The advantages of Additive Manufacturing have been used by Materialise to develop unique solutions that make a world of difference for its many customers with their prototyping, production, and medical needs. These customers range from large companies in the automotive, consumer electronics and consumables sectors; to famous hospitals, research institutes and clinicians; to individual consumers interested in bringing their own unique creations to life or who want to purchase a celebrated .MGX design.

For more information, visit: www.3DPrintBarometer.com

With the introduction of the Build Processor (BP), Materialise’s Magics and Streamics software now connects to all EOS systems in a machine-specific way, allowing EOS users to get the best out of their machines. By a tighter integration between Materialise and EOS systems, new technical possibilities for true manufacturing solutions are enabled.

Capable of handling large data e.g. for design optimization

The tighter integration between machine and 3D software enables the user to manufacture parts beyond the scope of today’s possibilities. Additive Manufacturing is a great technology to produce complex and freeform shapes. However, the .stl data format was somewhat limiting this applicability. With the new EOS build processor, Materialise software is capable of communicating in slices with the machine thereby enabling the design and the production of complex parts such as 3D patterns, textures and lightweight or optimized structures.

“This new integration strategy between software and hardware brings complex AM technology to a broader range of people and allows professionals greater design freedom and easier interaction between their production software and their machine as they have better access to advanced machine functionalities due to the build processor,” explains Tim Van den Bogaert, Product Manager at Materialise. “The integrated Build Processor enables a user-friendly data preparation process with direct communication between Materialise´s Magics software and the EOS-Laser Sintering system. This improvement is a large step forward in terms of part production directly from 3D-data.” emphasizes Fabian Müller, Product Marketing Manager at EOS GmbH.

Enabling top-end manufacturing

Many technical innovations have helped Additive Manufacturing to evolve from a niche industry to a more mainstream one, making it much more applicable to manufacturing. The new build processor serves as a communication link between Materialise software and EOS systems. It creates a strong connection between Materialise’s AM automation & control system, Streamics and the EOS machines and therefore it is a crucial component for the top-end manufacturing industries such as aviation, orthopedics and many more which need a single, integrated solution that matches their business processes.

Easy upgrades and dedicated

Since the BP Build Processor comes as a dedicated installer, users only need to upgrade if it is really needed taking away the pains of different development cycles at EOS and Materialise. Moreover, Materialise and EOS can bring new technologies easy and fast to the market by an update of the build processor and since the system is dedicated to a selected type of machine it only shows the options and functionality that the user needs.

EOS and Materialise share a mutual vision for the future, which is to take the next step in AM by integrating software solutions and machines, and by laying the foundation for the factory of the future. “We call this an evolution and a revolution,” says Tim. “Bringing this software solution to the market is an evolution for our mutual customers as it encompasses greater functionality but it is a revolution since it enables both companies to work together in integrating more and more benefits to the machine dedicated system. Therefore this is not the end point but the starting point of a revolution in our collaboration with EOS.”

For more information, visit: software.materialise.com

Materialise is proud to announce the launch of Magics17, the latest release of its leading STL file preparation software for Additive Manufacturing professionals.  Now multi-core, for the fastest Magics experience ever, Magics17 also offers new functionalities, as well as new and improved modules.  With Magics17, as with all Materialise software, the aim is to produce the most enjoyable user experience possible and to provide the best tools for 3D Printing and AM production environments.

First launched in 1994, Magics has been providing support to AM professionals for close to two decades.  Enabling users to import a wide variety of CAD formats and export STL files ready for Additive Manufacturing, Magics applications include repairing and optimizing 3D models; analyzing parts; making process-related design changes on STL files; designing fixtures; documenting projects, and planning production.

With Magics17, Materialise’s software developers have taken innovation to a new level.  In addition to a drastically optimized speed, the latest release of Magics provides exciting new functionalities, which allow users to:

• Generate quality measurement reports,
• Detect trapped volumes (for stereolithography),
• Verify nest densities (for laser sintering),
• Integrate Magics with other Materialise software including, Streamics and e-Stage 6.1,
• and much more…
  
  

In addition to the new functionalities, Magics17 is also introducing new and improved modules.  Sintermodule features a multi-core 3D-Nester that automatically nests parts in 3D, in real time.  And by analyzing part geometry, 3D-Nester can maximize the number of parts in a build envelope while simultaneously minimizing build height and powder consumption.  And to ensure users get the most out of the powerful Magics software, Magics17 provides improved Support Generation modules.  Interactive angled supports reduce finishing time and create the best part quality possible.  And for metal customers, a new support type designed specifically for metal sintering is now available.

For more information, visit: software.materialise.com/magics-17-now-multi-core-fastest-magics-experience-ever

How fast can 3D Printing (and stereolithography in particular) go? The answer, according to the 2012 Formula Group T team, is - more than 140 km/h!

Competing in the prestigious Formula Student 2012 challenge, a 16-man strong team of next-generation engineers from Group T have unveiled the world’s first race car created in great part through 3D Printing: the Areion. Named after the divinely-bred, extremely swift, immortal horse of Greek mythology, the Areion is a powerhouse of innovation and green technology. On July 31st, it lived up to its name on the Hockenheim race circuit by going from zero to 100km/h in just 4 seconds and achieving a top speed of 141km/h on the track. Cutting-edge technologies incorporated into their eco-friendly race car included an electric drive train, bio-composite materials, and of course, Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing) on a grand scale with Materialise.   

Big Ideas Brought to Life with Mammoth Technology

Using Materialise’s appropriately named Mammoth stereolithography machines it is possible to manufacture parts of up to 2100x680x800mm. With a build envelope that massive, the Formula Group T team recognized the possibility to not only print the entire body of the car, but to also integrate some unique features directly into the design. Therefore, working in close collaboration with engineers at Materialise, this is exactly what they achieved: going from initial shell design to a fully finished 3D Printed car body in just three weeks.

The Greatest Shell in Racing since Mario Kart

Starting from Formula Group T’s design for the outer shell, engineers at Materialise quickly got to work. Within a week, Materialise engineers had applied their experience from other projects to the creation of an intelligent 3D Printed car body with integrated clips and connection points. This allows for the easy assembly of the shell and therefore, faster access to the inner workings of the car when maintenance is needed.

Like a Shark through Water

Printed directly onto the nose of the race car is a shark skin texture, similar to that found on high-tech competition swimsuits. As with the swimsuits, the aim of the teeth-like ridges is to reduce drag, increase thrust, and improve performance on race day. Whether or not the texture helped the Areion cut through the air is still to be determined, but one thing is for sure – the shark skin made the nose of the car look great!

The Coolest Side Pods on the Track

Both the right and left side pods were designed and printed with complex cooling channels. Printed into the left side pod are a nozzle behind the radiator and a diffuser, which optimize cooling by creating the ideal flow of air through the radiator. A fan is installed behind the radiator in order to do this even at low speeds and while the car is stationary. In the right side pod, complex channels were developed and printed to create a cyclone effect that removes water and dirt from the air before it enters the engine compartment.

The Results are in

With two races completed, the Formula Group T team is already the proud winner of two awards and an impressive ranking for a first-time team in the competition. While in the UK at the Silverstone racing circuit, the team was honored with the Best Teamwork Award by Airbus and Koen Huybrechts, who was responsible for the drivetrain, won the Craig Dawson most valuable team member award. While in Germany on the Hockenheim racing circuit, the team finished in a well-deserved 11th position and found themselves among other top teams in this international competition.

For more information, visit: www.formulagroupt.be or manufacturing.materialise.com/mammoth-stereolithography-0

As part of the celebrations for TCT Magazine's 20th year in print, readers were invited to nominate and vote for the Top 20 Most Influential Figures in the Additive Manufacturing industry. Now, with all the votes counted, TCT has announced that industry professionals from around the world have selected Materialise’s Wilfried Vancraen as the most influential person in Additive Manufacturing today.

A pioneer in his industry, Wilfried (Fried) Vancraen has been developing breakthroughs in the medical and industrial applications of Additive Manufacturing (AM) at Materialise for more than 20 years. Passionate about AM and firm in his belief that it can help create a better and healthier world, Wilfried is committed to using the technology to make positive changes in people’s lives. By choosing Fried as the most influential figure in AM, other professionals in the industry have acknowledged Fried’s vision for this technology and Materialise’s success in bringing this vision to life under his leadership.   

In the words of TCT Magazine Editor, James Woodcock, “Fried Vancraen is, in my opinion, a worthy winner – having met him several times, I am always struck by his thoughtful nature and quiet manner as much as his vision, passion and commitment to Materialise and the wider industry.”  

Fried had this to say about his first place position on TCT’s Top 20 list, “I am honored to have been chosen the most influential figure in an industry that I have long believed has the power to change the world in a very positive way. To receive this incredible recognition from my peers lets me know that I am on the right path with my vision of changing people’s lives through AM and will motivate me, and in fact all of us at Materialise, to strive even harder to make this vision a daily reality in the work we do.”

Top 5:

The full TCT Top 20 list can be found at: viewer.zmags.com/publication/201d3163#/201d3163/24

Materialise, world leader in software for additive manufacturing (AM), has made another important advancement in the AM industry. As AM is finding its rightful place in the manufacturing world, additional tools are required to drive efficiency throughout the process.

With the largest AM machine capacity in one location in the world, Materialise is in a very unique position to fully understand the challenges that are currently facing the industry and is working hard to eliminate the bottlenecks through advanced software systems. With the new AM automation and control system, name to be announced at the Materialise World Conference April 18-20 in Leuven, Belgium, AM professionals have control of each step in the work flow from the original order to the moment the piece is delivered to the customer.   

The system offers something for everyone whether your role is managing orders, quoting, preparing files, operating the machines, finishing parts, supervising the teams or several of these responsibilities. The robust database centralizes data, including linked CAD files, and provides you with a simple overview of ‘won’ and ‘lost’ quotes, real-time status of ongoing orders, who is working on the project, etc. The full integration with Magics brings huge advantages of producing the correct parts and the number of parts correctly. In addition, repetitive tasks can be handled ‘in the background’ without no user interaction, allowing you to focus on the files that require insensitive manual interventions.

Another exciting component about the AM automation control system is the build planning component. No matter how you receive files (emails, FTP, discs, etc.), they can easily be integrated into the planning system where you can view the machine availability and begin to set-up builds for the parts that require the same technology, materials and timing.  Managers love the new system for the reporting capabilities which can be completely customized to your information needs.

This exciting enhancement to the world of additive manufacturing will be showcased at the RAPID show in May at a special booth. You will be able to go from station to station and see the benefits for every member of your organization. There will be work stations for the managing orders and quotes, preparing files, planning and operating the machines, finishing parts, and a managerial component showing the traceability and report capabilities.

For more information, visit: software.materialise.com

Objet ltd., the innovation leader in 3D printing for rapid prototyping and additive manufacturing, joins the Materialise World Conference in Leuven, Belgium, as a Platinum Sponsor, this week with two sessions intended to help the audience understand the advantages of 3D printing.

In a presentation entitled ‘Insiders Vision’ as a part of the Additive Manufacturing Summit, Andy Middleton, Objet General Manager for Europe, gives an overview of current trends in the fast-moving world of 3D printing. This session takes place from 16:00 on 19th April.

“The Materialise World Conference provides an excellent opportunity for attendees to understand the 3D printing and additive manufacturing applications that are happening right now and get a real grasp of where the industry is going,” comments Middleton.

Andy Langfeld, Objet European Sales Operations Manager also presents, this time as part of the Medical Innovation Conference, talking on 3D printing and Digital Dentistry. As 3D printing rapidly becomes a standard production tool for dental laboratories, Langfeld describes how – with a combination of oral scanning, CAD/CAM design and 3D printing – dental labs can accurately and rapidly produce a range of dental and orthodontic appliances, thereby increasing accuracy and efficiency, cutting production times and enabling business growth. This session takes place at 12:10 on 20th April.

Materialise hosts the three day annual conference, which brings together experts from around the world to experience and discuss 3D printing and additive manufacturing technology and solutions.

For more information, visit: www.materialise.com/mwc2012 or www.objet.com

To say that Iris van Herpen is a rising star in the world of fashion would be an understatement. Since starting her own label in 2007, Iris has picked up a string of awards, has been elected as guest-member by Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, has seen her clothing worn by trend-setting celebrities such as Björk and Lady Gaga, and has had her 3D printed dresses named as one of the 50 Best Inventions of 2011 by TIME Magazine. Now she is able to add a solo exhibition and a book to her list of achievements and, for most of her collections, she has taken Materialise along for the ride.

From March 25th to September 23rd, 2012, visitors to the Groninger Museum in Groningen, the Netherlands, will be treated to a solo exhibition by Iris van Herpen, which features an overview of her work from 2008 to the present. Among the pieces representing the Crystallization (2010), Escapism (2011),Capriole (2011) and Micro (2012) collections are designs brought to life through 3D Printing at Materialise.

The exhibition opened to great acclaim on the evening of March 23rd, with the event doubling as the official launch of Iris van Herpen’s first book, which is self-titled and soon to be on sale worldwide. The book provides readers with a stunning look at catwalk photos from all of Iris’s collections and includes new photo material by Bart Oomes as well as an essay by fashion journalist Jean Paul Cauvin.

Materialise staff members were on hand for the official opening and you can share their experience in this photo album on Facebook. They can highly recommend both a visit to the Groninger Museum to see the exhibition and the book, which is a must-have for those that truly appreciate fashion as the art form it can be, especially when Iris van Herpen is involved.

For more details about the exhibition visit: www.groningermuseum.nl/en/exhibition/iris-van-herpen

Materialise, world leader in software for additive manufacturing (AM), has made another important advancement in the AM industry. As AM is finding its rightful place in the manufacturing world, additional tools are required to drive efficiency throughout the process.

With the largest AM machine capacity in one location in the world and being the trusted software partner of hundreds of companies within the AM industry, Materialise is in a very unique position to fully understand the challenges that are currently facing the industry and is working hard to eliminate the bottlenecks through advanced software systems. With the new AM Automation and Control System, name to be announced at the Materialise World Conference April 18-20 in Leuven, Belgium, AM professionals have control of each step in the work flow from the original order to the moment the piece is delivered to the customer.

The system offers something for everyone whether your role is managing orders, quoting, preparing files, operating the machines, finishing parts, supervising the teams or several of these responsibilities. The robust database centralizes data, including linked CAD files, and provides you with a simple overview of ‘won’ and ‘lost’ quotes, real-time status of ongoing orders, who is working on the project, etc. The full integration with Magics brings huge advantages of producing the correct parts and the number of parts correctly. In addition, repetitive tasks can be handles ‘in the background’ without no users interaction required, allowing you to focus on the files that require insensitive manual interventions.

Another exciting component about the AM automation control system is the build planning component. No matter how you receive files (emails, FTP, discs, etc.), they can easily be integrated into the planning system where you can view the machine availability and begin to set-up builds for the parts that require the same technology, materials and timing. Managers love the new system for the reporting capabilities which can be completely customized to your information needs.

This exciting enhancement to the world of additive manufacturing will be showcased at the Materialise World Conference. You will be able to go from station to station and see the benefits for every member of
your organization. There will be work stations for managing orders and quotes, preparing files, planning and operating the machines, finishing parts, and a managerial component showing the traceability and report capabilities.

For more information, visit: www.materialise.com

Materialise is proud to announce that its CEO, Wilfried Vancraen, has been selected to speak at the first edition of TEDxLeuven on March 29th, 2012. During his presentation, Wilfried will discuss ways in which 3D Printing is transforming our world, for the better.

It is Wilfried’s strong belief that although 3D Printing technology can also be misused, when used well, it has the power to greatly improve our lives in terms of the products we use, the designs we create, and the medical care we receive. As proof of this, he will provide examples that demonstrate how 3D Printing is already touching the lives of individuals on a much larger scale that many people imagine.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event.

For more information about TEDxLeuven, visit: www.tedxleuven.com

Materialise is proud to announce that the Cadence.MGX pendant lamp by One & Co. has won a 2011 Good Design Award. This marks the fourth time in as many years that our design division, .MGX by Materialise, has been acknowledged by Good Design for outstanding product development. In 2008, it was for both the One_Shot.MGX stool and the Sequence.MGX fruit bowl, and in 2010, the Bloom lamp received the coveted prize.

By transitioning from a rigid pattern to a flexible surface, the Cadence.MGX brings to life an idea once thought impossible to produce in a single material, and showcases the incredible possibilities of 3D printing.

Founded in 1950 by architects Eero Saarinen, Charles and Ray Eames, and Edgar Kaufmann, Jr., Good Design bestows international recognition upon designers and manufacturers for advancing new, visionary, and innovative product concepts, and for stretching the envelope beyond what is considered basic product and consumer design.

The Good Design Awards are conferred annually by The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design together with the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.

For more information, visit: www.mgxbymaterialise.com/component/one/mgxmodel/detail/detail/67

We are on the verge of what many are calling the Industrial Revolution 2.0. During the Materialise World Conference, experts from around the world will be brought together to experience and discuss the technology and solutions needed to make this revolution a reality.

• where designers are empowered to create better products,
• where doctors are empowered to provide better treatment though customized medical solutions,
• where biomedical experts are empowered to take their research to the next level,
• where manufacturers are empowered to better serve and support their customers,
• where consumers are empowered to create something personal through their involvement in the design process.

During the conference, you will be able to interact with specialists from a wide range of backgrounds and learn more about how they are putting AM to use. In addition, specialized tracks will be pursued in the summits below, allowing attendees to get the information most relevant to their needs. Each summit will be comprised of smaller, more focused sessions.

• The Materialise Automotive Summit (April 18-19    From Vision to Precision: Breaking the Mold in the Automotive Industry with AM
• The Materialise Additive Manufacturing Summit (April 18-19) Game Changing in Manufacturing
• The Medical Innovation Conference (April 18-20) Engineering on Anatomy
• The Research & Technology Track (April 20)

Attendance is absolutely free!

Materialise has decided to once more waive the registration fee for all attendees. It is our goal to offer our attendees an open forum where they can interact with each other, share insights, and through open discussions, learn from their peers.

For more information, visit: www.materialise.com/mwc2012

SurgiCase Connect is a free, interactive tool that enables surgeons to upload medical image data and communicate about 3D surgical plans and the design of 3D printed surgical guides. In order to make SurgiCase Connect easier to use than ever, Materialise is proud to announce that there is now a SurgiCase Connect iPad App available for download in European App Stores.

Thanks to this mobile platform surgeons will be able to fit SurgiCase Connect seamlessly into their fast-paced lives. In addition, the fact that they can use their fingers to manipulate 3D models and review surgical plans brings an extra “personal touch” to the planning of patient-specific surgical procedures. Perfection has never been so easy to achieve.

SurgiCase Connect is an interactive tool that allows you to:

* Upload CT images and other case data. Our clinical engineers convert the scanner data into virtual 3D models; you can use the 3D models to examine your patient’s pathology from various angles
* Work as a team to brainstorm the best possible surgical plan
* Receive unique surgical guides along with a physical 3D model of the pathology, designed by your engineer at Materialise.
* Step confidently in the operating room, fully prepared

For more information, visit: www.materialise.com/ortho/connect

A remarkable team of plastic surgeons, led by Prof. Blondeel at the University Hospital of Ghent, have successfully executed Belgium’s first full face transplant. Although it was the world’s nineteenth face transplant, this was the first time that the complex procedure was fully planned using digital planning and 3D printing. During the 20 hour long procedure the patient, who suffered from a large facial defect, received bone, muscles, veins, nerves, and of course skin from a donor who had just died.

Pre-operative planning for both the donor and the recipient was completed in collaboration with Materialise CMF (cranio-maxillo facial) clinical engineers using ProPlan CMF. Using CT data, a digital representation of the patient’s anatomy was created and used in the formation of a detailed plan for this complex procedure. In order to put the surgical plan into action, anatomical models and patient specific surgical guides were 3D printed for use before and during the operation. The anatomical models allowed the surgeons to see below the skin of both the patient and the donor and carry out advanced preparation. The 3D printed guides were used during the procedure itself to aid the surgeons and allow them to realize the surgical plan they had created.

The entire CMF team at Materialise is proud of the contribution they have made to this incredible milestone in Belgian medical history.

Materialise would like to congratulate the team of 65 surgeons and medical staff at the University Hospital of Ghent for successfully completing this remarkable procedure. This is an incredible achievement, even more so given that the patient is already making a recovery that surpasses expectations; regaining the ability to speak only 6 days into recovery.

For those that understand Dutch, a video interview is available outlining the procedure at: www.deredactie.be/permalink/1.1191529