A Word from the President
Gary Rabinovitz
AMUG President
We are taking AMUG international this month as we head to TCT Live in Birmingham, UK. Graham Tromans and Stefan Ritt, our European liaisons, as well as our newsletter editor, Todd Grimm, will represent us. We will have a booth at the show as well, so please make a point of stopping by Stand C17 and grab some information about our April 2012 conference.
I will personally be attending EuroMold 2011 (Frankfurt, Germany) and look forward to working with both Graham and Stefan in building a strong European connection for the 2012 AMUG Conference. I look forward to seeing many of you late November in Frankfurt.
Now for some really great news…
On July 7, 2011, we officially became the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG). I just received notice; my copy of the CERTIFICATE OF AMENDEMENT of Articles of Incorporation arrived in the mail last week. I would like to thank our treasurer, Guy Bourdeau, for submitting all of the paperwork to make this happen. As you may have noticed, we have removed the header “is in the process of becoming” from the newsletter, but we will still be using “Formerly 3DSUG” as needed in some of our correspondence and on the website (www.am-ug.com).
In October, we will announce the call for papers, so if you would like to take an active part in the first AMUG conference–as a presenter or volunteer-please start thinking about it now. I look forward to hearing from each and every one of you in the near future.
Best Regards,
Gary Rabinovitz
AMUG President
Our Mission: AMUG educates and advances the uses and applications of additive manufacturing technologies.
VP Report
Mark Abshire
Vice President
Exhibitor Expo Opportunities
Expanding AMUG to include all additive manufacturing technologies in the conference means that the annual Exhibitor Expo (Vendor Fair) will be bigger and better than ever. This is a unique opportunity for vendors to display their products and services to a focused market segment, additive manufacturing users.
The exhibition on Sunday evening will be in conjunction with the conference welcome reception. Monday evening the exhibition will be in conjunction with the AM Parts Fair and Technical Awards Competition. Food and beverages will be provided at each of these events for vendors, conference attendees and guests.You can find more information at www.am-ug.com/vendor-information.htm.
Regards,
Mark Abshire & Scott Schermer
2012 Sponsors
AMUG Conference Value
Sheku Kamara
MSOE RPC Lab
Mgr. of Operations
I attended my first SLA users group conference in 1997 and first SLS users group in 2002.
At the SLA conference, I immediately appreciated the power of enthusiastic users ready to share tips and tricks to others. I met Reginald Ponder, a former 3D Systems employee and director of operations at Georgia Tech’s RP lab, at the conference and immediately figured out how to build 0.002-inch (0.05 mm) layers on my SLA-250/50. That was an eye opening experience for me since my default settings were limited to 0.004 inch (0.10 mm).
I shared my own experiences from our RPC lab, when I presented “HeCd Laser Performance Characteristics for SLA-250’s; A Six Year Study“. The presentation focused on the methods used in our lab to extend HeCd laser life while maintaining an average laser power above 20 mW during operation.
The hours offered for software and hardware training at these conferences are invaluable for me since my work involves training undergraduate and graduate students to operate these systems in the lab. Over the years, the wish list session became my favorite as I listened to more-experienced users express ideas they would like to see in new or upgraded systems. These discussions really opened up the potential of what could be possible in our industry. But I’m still waiting on the edible resin– a wish that came up every year but received few votes, most from me.
After attending my first SLS users group, it became evident that I cannot survive in this industry without these conferences. I made an effort to attend every one and made an effort to meet someone new every time.
In preparation for this article, I found documents summarizing conference highlights over the years. This reminded me of how much I have learned, how far the technology has progressed, and how much value there is in attending the AMUG Conference.
Sheku Kamara
Manager of Operations
Objet Gets Quirky
Moving-tile puzzle with QR code on back printed on Objet Connex.
Hundreds gathered for the launch party of the Sundance Channel’s new series, Quirky, a show that follows the process of invention through manufacturing. At the center of the festivities was Objet and its 3D printers.
The program is named for the company that started social product development. Led by founder Ben Kaufmann, Quirky (quirky.com) offers inventors a new way to see their ideas get to market. Using a network of 65,000 collaborators and a team of design and manufacturing professionals, Quirky selects and develops two new products each week. The collaborators participate in the selection and design process.
At the heart of Quirky’s operations are Objet 3D printers; a Connex350 named Bertha and an Objet30 named Bob (the Builder). Soon Big Bertha, a Connex500, will join the team. According to Adam Paskow, product designer for Quirky, “We have Bertha running all the time. She is our lifeline. Without Bertha, we couldn’t run our business the way we do.”
The TV program, which premiered on August 30th, follows Ben and his team as they select and develop two ideas from the thousands submitted. Viewers witness a super-accelerated development process and see the launch of the products. The next episode airs Friday, September 23rd at 10:00 pm.
At the launch party, Objet showed Quirky’s guests what a 3D printer can do. Each received a gift that helped them understand the creative power and potential of 3D printing, a puzzle game with a QR code printed on the back. The puzzle highlighted Objet’s unique ability to produce varying colors and material properties as well as additive manufacturing’s ability to make the entire assembly, with moving tiles, in one operation.
As the Quirky TV party shifted into high gear, Ben Kaufman took the stage to thank his guests. He also gave thanks to Objet and its incredible 3D printers. Watch the video and see for yourself.
Quirky Launch Party Hosts 3D Printers
Stratasys Selected for Program
Dimension 3D printers to be instrumental in DARPA MENTOR program
Stratasys Selected by Georgia Tech and DARPA MENTOR Program to Provide 3D Printers for High Schools Across U.S
Stratasys has been chosen by the Georgia Institute of Technology to provide its Dimension 3D Printers to select high schools across the U.S. as part of The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Manufacturing Experimentation and Outreach (MENTOR) program.
The DARPA MENTOR program is designed to boost engineering skills for high school students, as well as spark an interest in engineering, design, manufacturing, math and science-related university programs. The four-year program is focused on engaging high school-age students in a series of collaborative design and distributed manufacturing experiments, including using additive manufacturing machines.
“This program will provide students with skills they need to solve future design and engineering challenges, which will aid U.S. industry,” says Dr. David Rosen, professor in mechanical engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology. “3D printers play an important role in the hands-on and ‘minds-on’ learning, which the MENTOR program facilitates. Stratasys FDM technology is instrumental to this program.”
Starting in 2012, 3D printers will be installed in more than 20 high schools selected by the DARPA program as part of the first phase roll-out. Currently, one system has been implemented by a pilot institution to begin developing curriculum for the program. Additional 3D printers will be placed in subsequent phases over a four-year period.
Z Corporation Gives Google Ad Campaign a New Look
You’re an art director making a video ad for one of the coolest brands on the planet. The setting is a quintessential American cityscape. You need a thoroughly original look — artistic, but also real and tangible — and not another CGI animation. What do you do?
You ZPrint it.
That’s what Grow Interactive, one of the country’s hottest digital design studios, did to convey the power of the world’s most advanced mobile search tool, the Google Search app.
Grow used a 3D printer from Z Corporation to create the Main Street for Google’s new AdMob rich media mobile advertising campaign, Uncover Your World, which illustrates the power of Google’s voice, visual and location-aware mobile search capability.
Grow used a ZPrinter® 450 to create all of the ad’s visuals. Every scene and interface element was custom modeled and 3D printed — even the sequence of paint drips that plays back in stop-motion to create a pouring effect. Grow assembled all of the parts into a 10-foot set, which it then used to capture all of the image and video components in stop-motion. Check it out.
See how the commercial was made.
Making “Uncover Your World”
The Sorovetz Report
Tom Sorovetz
Event Manager
I can’t believe that summer is already over. Where does time go? Now that it is September, there are only seven months until the conference, so please start making your plans now to attend. If you require a formal invite or bullet points to help you justify your attendance to your management, please contact Gary Rabinovitz, and he will be more than happy to get you any information you require.
As I stated in previous newsletters, I am showcasing nearby restaurants and attractions that you can visit while in Coast Mesa. This month I am featuring the South Coast Plaza. Incredible shopping just minutes from the Hilton Costa Mesa with free, hotel-provided shuttles to and from this fantastic destination.
But first, a reminder that I am very interested in organizing a few outings for your travel companion, such as a cooking class at a local restaurant (cost not yet determined), wine tasting (cost not yet determined), and a fashion show, to name a few. If you have someone heading to Costa Mesa with you that would be interested in participating, please let me (eventmanager@am-ug.com) know soon so I can start working on it.
South Coast Plaza
250 boutiques, 30 restaurants, 4 performing arts venues.
South Coast Plaza is the crown jewel of shopping on the West Coast. Recognized internationally for its unparalleled collection of over 250 boutiques, award-winning restaurants, and the adjacent world-renowned Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Coast Plaza delivers world-class dining, shopping, and the performing arts in one destination. Its stellar cast of diverse retailers — from Oscar de la Renta, Harry Winston, Hermès, Chanel, Dior, and Louis Vuitton to Tory Burch, DKNY, Michael Korts, J. Crew, H&M and more — makes it Southern California’s premier shopping experience.
9 New Stores Opening in 2011:
Brunello Cucinelli, Diane von Furstenberg, LEGO, Longchamp, lululemon athletica, Madewell, Microsoft Store, Omega, and Soma Intimates
See its Traveler website (traveler.southcoastplaza.com) for details. The site has great features, including:
- Language options in English, Simplified Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Spanish and Vietnamese
- Extensive content highlighting top area hotels, resorts, dining options, attractions, and cultural destinations
- Downloadable Traveler brochure and fact sheet
- Personalized travel suggestions and discounts
- VIP savings passport voucher
- Downloadable directory of stores and restaurants
- List of attractions and travel incentives
Luxury Amenities
South Coast Plaza’s commitment to world-class shopping, dining, and entertainment extends to every level of customer service including:
- Valet parking
- Multi-lingual concierge
- Personalized concierge services
- Access VIP suite
- Exclusive shopping services
- VIP savings passport for travelers
- Foreign language translation
- Currency exchange
So, if time permits, grab the free shutttle (don’t forget to tip the driver) and head on over to South Coast Plaza.
Until next month,
Thomas A. Sorovetz
From the Editor
Todd Grimm
Editor
As you can see from the newsletter posts, your board of directors is building the best event possible for you, the user.
What makes a great users group conference?
- Great venue: Check
- Great food: Check
- Great activities: Check
- Lots of sponsors: Well on our way
- To keep your cost low
- Lots of exhibitors: Just getting started
- Plenty of solutions to your daily challenges
- Informative sessions: Call for speakers coming soon
- Build on others’ successes
But the most important thing for a great conference is you. AMUG’s users make the conference a not-to-be-missed event. The board will build a fantastic conference; will you be there to make it exceptional?
Todd Grimm
Editor
