Interview with 3Dnatives
Additive manufacturing (AM) is increasingly being used to produce final parts, yet many companies still resist adopting the technology. It can be difficult to transition from prototyping to small or even large batch production, especially if a company lacks AM expertise. This often results in improper investments and losses that, as a result, discourage companies from investing in AM. To address these issues and make the technology more accessible, Finnish startup SelectAM has devised a fully automated, AI-based platform capable of identifying the most appropriate parts to 3D print. Based on some provided data, SelectAM estimates costs, production time and savings compared to using traditional techniques. To find out more, we interviewed the SelectAM team and learned about how their solution works, current projects and the potential of artificial intelligence in the 3D printing industry.
3DN: Could you introduce yourself and your connection to 3D printing?
Niklas: My name is Niklas Kretzschmar, and I am a co-founder and the managing director of SelectAM. The first time I got in touch with 3D printing was back in my days as a mechanical engineering student, being impressed by the design possibilities 3D printing provides, not just for prototypes, but especially for more functional production products. Initially, I have been working on decision support systems for metal powder bed fusion and on an ontology for industrial 3D printing knowledge.
Kalle: My name is Kalle Lepola and I’ve been an additive manufacturing addict for almost eight years. I started with HP and the MJF technology back in 2017, did a quick detour at SAP with enterprise software, and eventually missed the AM industry so much that I joined SelectAM as an advisor and later as their Chief Business Officer. Initially, I became interested in this industry as it promises a greener and faster method for manufacturing, reducing the need for logistics and warehousing. Also, I’m looking forward to the day that I can 3D print myself a new ligament for my bad knee.
Continue reading the full interview...
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