In November 2020, the Digital Industries Software division of the industrial giant Siemens has partnered with 3D printer manufacturer Evolve Additive, as well as service agencies Morf3D and Sintavia, to add new features to the Xcelerator software product portfolio.
Through these industry partnerships, Siemens has introduced new additive manufacturing methods into Xcelerator, while simplifying the entire 3D printing workflow for many customers. It is worth noting that through close cooperation with Evolve Additive, Siemens is also committed to developing a software-hardware solution that is fast enough to drive the widespread adoption of industrial 3D printing.
Xcelerator integrates the entire Siemens digital industrial software product portfolio with embedded tools and databases, and connects them to connect current and future information technology, operation technology and engineering technology environments.
Accelerate the application of 3D printing software
Siemens is a multinational manufacturer with a layout in many industrial fields, but in recent years it has shown a strong interest in 3D printing. Although Siemens has previously invested in 3D printing hardware equipment, it mainly focuses on the software link of additive manufacturing.
Among a series of digital projects invested by Siemens, including data distribution, part digitization and production line procedures, workflow software is the best. The main one is the flagship product Xcelerator, which is built by integrating MindSphere, Cloud Solutions, Mentor and Mendix programs into one platform.
Siemens acquired Atlas 3D in December 2019 and included the company’s print optimization software into the Xcelerator product portfolio
Since the establishment of the Xcelerator ecosystem, Siemens has continued to expand. Before choosing to absorb the print preparation function of the software, Atlas3D was also acquired in December 2019. Similarly, Siemens has launched a three-year project with Sintavia to develop an "end-to-end" 3D printing solution.
Siemens plans to integrate all these applications, Xcelerator, as part of the software package, together with its existing Factory Automation and Edge computing technology for sale. 3D printer manufacturer Nexa3D announced that it will install the technology on every system driven by its QLS starting in 2021.
Through cooperation with Evolve Additive, Morf3D and Sintavia, Siemens will optimize the composition of existing Xcelerator products for new and high-volume 3D printing applications.
3D printing manufacturers' cooperation points with Siemens
In view of the slightly different approaches taken by each Siemens partner, it is not surprising that the Xcelerator software package is used differently.
For example, Sintavia found that using Siemens' technology, it can "connect all stages of the additive manufacturing process" to achieve higher automation and efficiency in the entire production process. Sintavia believes that the partnership with Siemens is beneficial to aerospace customers because the software can be used to 3D print more economical metal parts.
Morf3D uses Xcelerator software to design, engineer and print various metal-based prototype parts for various industries. Using the software's design optimization and part identification functions, Morf3D can ultimately improve 3D printed products and speed up the manufacturing process.
Evolve Additive's STEP technology 3D printing system has been equipped with Siemens' Xcelerator software to optimize the construction preparation steps, such as part slicing and nesting and global production plan execution.
The progress made in the cooperation of these three projects can make Siemens' software very suitable for high-volume 3D printing production applications.