Materialise adding Ansys simulation tools to Magics
Materialise Magics users will gain integrated access to Ansys Additive Suite in 2024
Users of Magics, the data and build preparation software from Materialise, will soon have access to a range of industry-leading simulation tools for metal additive manufacturing thanks to a new partnership between Materialise and engineering simulation specialist Ansys.
Previewed at Formnext 2023 and set to arrive in Q2 2024, the joint software solution will see Ansys Additive Suite and its industry-leading simulation tools integrated into the Magics software package, shortening AM workflows by allowing users to combine two previously separate processes into one. The companies say the software integration will enable faster time-to-market, removing the need for data transfer between separate applications.
“Improving accessibility to simulation is an important step to support our customers in their metal 3D printing,” says Bart Van Der Schueren, chief technology officer, executive vice president at Materialise. “Our goal is to enable a smooth design process by empowering users to seamlessly run valuable and efficient detection and correction simulations in tandem with build and data preparation.”
Materialise Magics offers CAD and mesh tools for making designs 3D printable. Technology-neutral, the software provides features like advanced nesting configurations, automatic repair, and automatic support generation. The addition of Ansys Additive Suite, which is suitable for powder bed fusion, directed energy deposition, and metal sintering technologies, will furnish the software with additional tools such as process simulation, build failure prediction, and structural and thermal analysis.
“Simulation changes the way we perceive our interactions with the world,” said Shane Emswiler, senior vice president of products at Ansys. “Whether it be understanding the behaviour of new material or revisiting standardised product configurations, the adoption of Ansys technology into the AM workflow signifies the necessity and utility of simulation throughout all levels of the product life cycle.”
Ansys’ simulation tools will be available to all Materialise Magics users, and the companies plan to explore “further opportunities” for simulation in the AM process in the future.
Materialise has also used Formnext 2023 to introduce its CO-AM Quality & Process Control (QPC) system, an AM quality and process control software solution for certified manufacturing that forms part of the broader Materialise CO-AM Software Platform.
