What Does the Future Hold for Metal AM Production: Insights from the 6K Additive Survey
Creality Unveils K1C: The New Champion of Speed and Skill
3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: January 28, 2024
Additive Manufacturing in the Energy Sector: Market Analysis & Forecast
January 26, 2024
Report # –
Polymers Market Data: Q3 2023
December 12, 2023
Report #
Metals Market Data: Q3 2023
December 12, 2023
Report #
MARKETS
Additive Manufacturing in the Energy Sector: Market Analysis & Forecast
January 26, 2024
Report # –
Additive Manufacturing for Military and Defense: Market Analysis and Forecast
November 08, 2023
Report # AMR-AMMILITARY2023-1123
3D Printed Electronics 2023: Market Study & Forecast
October 13, 2023
Report # AMR-3DP-ELECT-1023
Additive Manufacturing in the Energy Sector: Market Analysis & Forecast
January 26, 2024
Report # –
Polymers Market Data: Q3 2023
December 12, 2023
Report #
Metals Market Data: Q3 2023
December 12, 2023
Report #
Dig Deeper, Search Our Message Board 3dprintboard.com
Head of Engineering
Senior AM Materials and Process Engineer
Feature Your Job Posting Here
Velo3D
October 27, 2021
Innovator’s Roundtable
September 23, 2021
Elkem Silicones
June 10, 2021
In-Vision
May 27, 2021
Article Series
A curated collection of industry and product deep-dives.
Exclusive Content
Videos, podcasts, product reviews and free downloadable resources.
What Does the Future Hold for Metal AM Production: Insights from the 6K Additive Survey
Creality Unveils K1C: The New Champion of Speed and Skill
3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: January 28, 2024
What Does the Future Hold for Metal AM Production: Insights from the 6K Additive Survey
Creality Unveils K1C: The New Champion of Speed and Skill
3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: January 28, 2024
Share this Article
Since it announced its departure from the 3D printing industry in September, Sigma Additive Solutions has revealed who is buying its in-process quality assurance (IPQA) technology. The buyer is Divergent Technologies, Inc., well-known for the additive manufacturing (AM) of hypercars and, more recently, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for General Atomics. This decision came alongside Sigma’s announcement of its acquisition of NextTrip Holdings, Inc., a travel technology company.
Divergent Technologies, known for its Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS), is a pioneer in industrial digital manufacturing. The company has already made waves in the automotive, aerospace, and defense sectors, providing an end-to-end software-hardware production system.
Divergent’s move comes at a time when the company has already received a $100 million investment from Hexagon AB to boost its 3D printing and automated assembly technology. Divergent seems poised to further its leadership in additive manufacturing, not only in the automotive sector but potentially in other industries requiring high-quality, complex structures.
Sigma’s technology, named PrintRite3D, employs sensors and software to monitor the intricate operations of metal laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) machines. Until now, Sigma had been directly collaborating with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and aerospace entities, offering a service in an area where internal access for monitoring could void warranties or require complicated interventions.
Lukas Czinger, COO and Co-Founder of Divergent and Czinger Vehicles, said: “This strategic acquisition is of great significance as Divergent deploys DAPS structures across the automotive, aerospace, and defense industries. Sigma’s foundational IP centered on in-process monitoring will be integrated into and expanded on within the Divergent portfolio. The core software will be seamlessly applied to our additive manufacturing module and will further enhance Divergent’s industry leading additive manufacturing quality management system. Ultimately, this acquisition further supports our confidence in supplying structures for safety-critical and mission-critical applications.”
Divergent’s DAPS system is already known for its artificial intelligence-driven generative design and automated assembly by industrial robots. The integration of Sigma’s in-process monitoring technology is expected to bring substantial improvements in quality assurance, enabling Divergent to offer safer and more reliable products. It also complements Hexagon’s software, which can be used anywhere along the workflow, from design and material characterization to part and process simulation, as well as QA.
The acquisition of Sigma’s technology and patents, could be key for Divergent and Hexagon to round out a complete manufacturing ecosystem. Because QA for metal AM is a very small segment, Divergent essentially acquired one of the only operators in the space. QA is also obviously essential for mass production, to ensure parts meet specifications at scale. This signals the firm’s intent to truly establish itself as a mass manufacturer, whether that’s in automotive or aerospace.
Also worth noting is Divergent’s relationship with Nikon SLM Solutions, with CEO Kevin Czinger involved in the development of SLM’s 12-laser metal 3D printer, the NXG XII. Arguably, SLM’s system is the most production-ready of any of the LPBF machines on the market, though those from Chinese makers could likely compete. Because Nikon has its own suite of sensor and metrology products, it may be possible that Divergent will be able to share the technology with Nikon in some way, including via licensing agreement.
Because Sigma was unable to really get itself off the ground, it may be possible that Divergent has actually developed its own QA process already that matches some of the patents in Sigma’s portfolio. By owning the intellectual property, it may now be able to sell or license its own technology to others in the AM sector.
This also raises questions about the future of QA for AM. With Divergent acting as a supplier for somewhere around 10 tier-one automotive manufacturers, according to its CEO, plus General Atomics, we may witness a competitor swoop in to purchase some other QA firm. Given that there are very few out there, the options are limited to Phase3D, Additive Assurance, Addiguru , and, possibly, 1000Kelvin. These businesses are so new, however, that they may not be for sale.
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
Share this Article
Shaping Success: Dynamism’s Dynamic 3D Printing Collaborations
What Does the Future Hold for Metal AM Production: Insights from the 6K Additive Survey
3D Design
3D Printed Art
3D Printed Food
3D Printed Guns
In the ever-evolving landscape of metal powder production, the importance of recycled material as feedstock has taken center stage. The imperative drives this shift to reduce carbon footprint and the…
The famous rock ballad by the Scorpions, Winds of Change is my inspiration. I would change it to the “Gas Path of Change” but then that is really hard to…
In 3D Printing News Briefs today, we’re talking about metal 3D printing and certifications, 3D printed dentures, freeform optics, and 3D printed swan eggs. Read on for all the details!…
In an era where digital manufacturing technologies are rapidly evolving, the “Metal AM in 2023 Survey: How do we expand production in Metal Additive Manufacturing Survey” stands out as a…
Upload your 3D Models and get them printed quickly and efficiently.
Countdown to Additive Manufacturing Strategies 2024
Site Sponsor
Events
Additive Manufacturing Strategies
Networking & Intelligence Summit,
February 6-8, 2024
Jobs
3D Printing jobs around the world.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
3D Printing Guides
© 2016 – 2024 3DR HOLDINGS.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Register to view and download proprietary industry data from SmarTech and 3DPrint.com
Questions? Contact info@3dprint.com
Already have an account?
Log In
댓글