Innovative Software for Additive Manufacturing


Innovative Software for Additive Manufacturing

The 3D printing software 4D_Additive is the one-stop shop for 3D printing and the state-of-the-art bridge between CAD and 3D printing.

From 15 to 18 November 2022, software developer CoreTechnologie will present the new version 1.4 of the tool live at the Formnext 2022 trade fair in Frankfurt hall 12.0, booth D79.

With innovative functionalities, the 4D_Additive software is exclusive to the market. The tool imports and processes STL as well as all common CAD formats, including CATIA, NX, SolidWorks, CREO, Inventor, XT, STEP and JT with Product Manufacturing Information (PMI), attributes and design history. 4D_Additive repairs, prepares and optimises data with accurate and lightweight B-Rep geometry, for superior print quality to CAD engineering standards VDA 4755/2. Technology partnerships with EOS, HP, Photocentric, Ultimaker, Volumic and Weirather, as well as Substance by Adobe, are critical to realising the best tools for 3D printing as well as direct connectivity to printing presses.

New Nesting Functions in 4D_Additive 1.4

The highlight of the software is the revised nesting functions. Compared to the previous version, the software enables a further optimised packing speed, accuracy and packing density as well as an even more uniform distribution of the components in the installation space.

Artificial intelligence supports placement and distribution

The placement of parts in the print volume takes into account the area of the individual components in each layer and calculates the most even distribution possible to minimise heat build-up. The new Powercopy function allows extremely fast packing of identical parts with a maximum packing density. At the end of the calculation, a report is generated showing this distribution in the form of a histogram. Also new are the automatic detection and adjustment of files with inconsistent units for processing parts in inches or millimetres directly when reading in the models.

Scan data repair and STL reduction

In the Geometry Repair workshop there are new functions for correcting and simplifying STL models and scan data. These repair and simplify triangle models, with Marching Cube technology very quickly and effortlessly creating a closed volume for a high-quality print even for scan data. The Mesh Simplification tool greatly reduces the number of triangles required for object description without changing the appearance or shape of the STL data.

The Analysis and Modelling Workshop has new cutting modes such as tenon joints and overlapping and jigsaw cuts. Added is the automatic creation of a separate joint in tenon joint mode. All cut types are also available for exact CAD data. The separated parts can be saved as solid solids in STEP or STL format.

The new cocoon tool creates the exact impression of an object to create a shape or support structure. Also new is the triangle selection tool and the ability to assign a colour to triangles.

Gyroid lattice structures for lightweight components

The Advanced Lattice function creates 18 types of internal and external lattice structures for the design of lightweight components or for medical applications. Numerous parameters can be adjusted, such as the variable cell size, to adapt the component exactly to the strength requirements while optimising the weight.

Extensive texture library and new labelling tool

The 4D_Additive software enables the import of textures from Substance by Adobe with a library of around 5,000 templates. A new labelling tool makes it easy to create labels as well as QR codes and logos. Also possible is the optimised calculation of texture areas with cylindrical mapping as well as the manual correction of mappings. The tool creates transparency for overlapping textures, for example for logos on a leather structure. The generation of distortions through asymmetric extrusion as well as the activation and deactivation of the channels of a texture are also possible with 4D_Additive.

New machine connections

Integrated interfaces for EOS, HP, Photocentric, Ultimaker, Volumic, and Weirather allow pending print jobs to be sent directly to the printer. Some API connections, such as with HP, allow progress monitoring of ongoing jobs in terms of status and material. Also new are slicing functions for creating specific and optimised slicings for FDM and SLA, as well as a build manager for SLS laser processes. New export formats and adaptations are:

• 3MF files for HP machines

• GCODE files for Volumic printers

• GCODE files for Ultimaker printers

• WLS files for Weirather printers

It is possible to export only a selection or the visible elements.

New 3D printers have been added to 4D_Additive's machine database. In addition, a wizard is available in the new version that guides the user step-by-step to the right technology.