Materials company Evonik has launched a new software tool for 3D printing that enables manufacturers to easily determine the optimal additive manufacturing process based on a part’s geometry and material, as well as on a financial analysis. The new software function was developed by Israeli startup Castor.
Back in October, Evonik announced a strategic investment in a small 3D printing software developer, Castor, which caught its eye with an intelligent solution for facilitating AM adoption. In short, Castor has developed a platform that helps manufacturers adopt AM for production by telling them how and when to use the technology.
This capability is achieved through the analysis of a part’s technical and economic feasibility for 3D printing. Because the in-depth analysis is conducted on CAD files, manufacturers can move ahead into production knowing they’ve selected the right parts or assemblies to print. In addition, the software suggests the best printing materials and estimates production cost and lead times, indicating the break-even point for AM compared to traditional manufacturing.
“With the software, broader adoption of 3D printing at a commercial scale is now possible,” said Thomas Große-Puppendahl, head of the innovation growth field additive manufacturing at Evonik. “That will offer us better insights into customer needs and preferences in order to develop new ‘ready-to-use’ materials.”
As a strategic partner, Evonik supported Castor with its materials expertise, helping to make the software accessible for all industries. Evonik’s newly launched software tool based on Castor’s novel technology enables customers to identify what parts should be printed and what materials would be best, such as high-performance polymer powders, filaments and more.
“The release of Evonik’s new software which is powered by Castor’s technology is a key step in expanding our product portfolio,” said Omer Blaier, CEO of Castor. “We are thrilled about the opportunity to solidify the relationship with Evonik and look forward to materializing our vision to increase the amount of end-use parts manufactures using additive manufacturing.”
