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Zzz
No i made it up.. zz
Melissa Orme leaves Morf3D to become Vice President of Boeing Additive Manufacturing effective tomorrow.
From past dialogue i know she is a big fan of Printrite3D and Sigma Labs so this is potentially encouraging news
Seems so, there will continue to be iterations and upgrades for its existence i expect, one day that will create its own revenue stream, for now its more getting the basics in place
Introducing V. 5.0:
Real-time melt pool analytics.
Automated Anomaly Detection
Automatic Risk Level Classification
Reduce Waste
Save Money
Save Time
Ensure Quality
See the latest release at Rapid+TCT in Detroit!
Meanwhile, SIGMA LABS team attending MTC event
Great day today at the core research program voting event.
Interesting things ahead and pleased to be working with MTC on the "Robust Quality Approach for AM via In- Process and NDT (RAMPID) project.
Independent validation of our technology under the DARPA program.
That is a very impressive feat for Sigma
I guess all the shorts been covered. Look at everyone wishing us well all of a sudden. Even those who a few days ago thought sigma was in the 5th stage of hell
Nothing if not predictable
Wake me up when they can show failure indicators nearly 100 layers prior to them appearing on the powder bed camer
Light years behind... and if they think their basic visual inspection is valuable, that just propels sigmas value
A recent comment by a sigma labs engineer backs up silversmiths recent post and blows eostate out of the water
“We have run parts on meltpool monitoring tech that showed failure indicators nearly 100 layers prior to them appearing on the powder bed camer”
Get your head around that. 100 layers PRIOR to when EOState takes its pretty picture and looks at it. Underestimate pr3d if you like, but its technology groundbreaking. No wonder so many companies are evaluating how it will fit into their plans for future serial production
You have to remember a few things.
Sigmas value is in serial production of highly critical AM. Not all machines produced by the likes of, say, EOS, will be used for such.
EOS will need to have a certain degree of quality control in order to have at least a respectable place in the market. They cant just drop quality inspection across the plethora of uses (critical or not, serial production or not) their machines will be used for. As seen in this white paper they offer a specific use quality inspection, but it is not anywhere as comprehensive as the likes of pr3d. At least its something to write in a glossy brochure and keep customers excited.
Another important point from someone who spoke at length (you cannot underestimate this simple tactic) to lots of machine makers is that machine makers need to sell off the present lines of small lot, prototype machines in order to finance the next gen of serial production machines. As such they need to at least offer some degree to quality inspection in order to remain competetive. As for the next gen machines quality inspection. Perhaps thats why sigma is now in negotiation with 5 odd oems
And lets not forget, the newest entrant who did actually start with machines for serial production, did actually say along the lines of, sigma labs does the best quality inspection for am, why would we reinvent the wheel, we will let them do it. That is addiditve industries, we have a long term deal with them, they are starting to sell machines now (not yet in the bulk volume we need, but it will come).
Wow, eos are further behind than i thought. The tool does not have any of the depth of printrite3d and relies on additional analytics well after the build to get the most out of it. Nice to read
Your point is its in development.. mine is it always will be
You dont like the name, aw bless...
What version is microsoft on? Did they just stop at windows 2? Or do they continue to develop even to this day?
Printrite3d will always be in development.. get over it. Thats software
They did tweet about sigma being a partner, but it was more in context of being an industry contemporary who they respected and worked with here and there rather than a specific binding contract partnership
Actually there is a pic of them at this years conference
I am referring to market swings in the wider market. Correlating to peoples appetite to fund companies offerings, be it Sigma labs or anyone else. The longer you leave it, and the smaller your cash pile the more risk you expose as a company when you need to refinance.
The share offering would likely have been done regardless of any potential orders imminent or not. It has been obvious for some time that cash was getting to a low level and letting it get lower/leaving it longer and thus more reliant on market swings would have been irresponsible. Even if an order came in we would have needed some cash to fulfil it.
This is just a rather unsurprising part execution of what we authorised back in the shareholder meeting. It's a necessary part of a growing business, especially one that seems to move at a sloths pace. If anything I was expecting bigger so it seems to be more positive than I was expecting. Management is frugal, as some have pointed out, and its relatively modest size could indeed point to at least some supporting money coming in over the next few quarters. This process will likely continue for a while, the company will continue to fight expansion and frugality in equal measure. But the long term health of the company is much better served in an industry like this with that kind of ethos. Initial contracts when they appear may be fairly modest in size (partly due to limited number of machines in serial production) and will just supply underlying revenue to keep the company afloat as it expands. But just as importantly they will point to acceptance and that will quite rapidly spread into supply chains and machine makers. Then, with stability, orders and acceptance the money will really start rolling in. Nothing beats a software company with recurring revenues and a unique product.
Metal Manufacturers = 44. Players(Sigma’s OEM market)
Quality Assurance + Process Inspection = 2 players
A word on Expanse.. They look like they are just epoxy/polyeurothane and thermo plastic.. not similar to what Sigma labs offers, certainly not in the metal sphere and I think only there by factor of limited definition.
So the reality is
44 OEM companies have 1 independent Quality Assurance and Process inspection tool. Who wouldn’t like those odds.
Worked for Intel :)
Reading, or more accurately re-reading Thomas Friedman’s excellent book, ‘Thank you for being late’, I can’t help but see the correlations between the highlights of the acceleration and impact of big data and the role Sigma is to play in the AM industry. Sigma, in particular Printrite3D Analytics, is the epitomy of how data is now transforming every aspect of our world, and in particular engineering and industries such as Additive Manufacturing.
A few quotes
http://ncam.the-mtc.org/news-items/watch-this-space-as-mtc-eyes-nasa-partnership
Stock talk aside, sigma is putting itself in prize position in front of the the highest ranking players who are going to take the industry forward. They are certainly giving themselves a very good shot at an intel inside model... and as yet no other commercially viable independent competitor in sight...
You keep saying that but never back it up....gets boring
Show us your reasoning
Yes, this integration through ct scan comparisons is the logical and smoothest way to become integral not only to the industry, but importantly to the engineers that will make the industry work.
Naturally engineers will have to be retrained to think and work in the 3d sphere
Naturally advances in digital quality inspection are a necessary part of that retraining
Printrite3d is filtering in from the top, from the pioneers, those driving the industry. Slower, less aggressive industry participants will have to play catch up with what ever technology has become standard for the advanced players.
As we know ct cannot go it alone in serial production for am, it cant even see all the geometrys.
Above all, as yxlone case shows, engineers are now working out how it conpares with an eye to the way forward, and at this point ill back PR3D all day long....
In January we joined another Additive Alliance event at the Fraunhofer IAPT in Hamburg. One topic was the correlation between in-situ data in this case provided by Sigma Labs, Inc. and CT data acquired by our FF35 micro CT. We had a nice work shop and good discussions on how to use in situ and CT data for additive manufacturing. - YXLON International. (Quality inspection, process optimization and metrology of 3D printed parts by Computed Tomography)
"Was a great event!" - Quality Assurance Partner for Additive Manufacturing YXLON International
In the coming days we will be publishing a comprehensive white paper titled: "The relationship between In-Process Quality Metrics & Computational Tomography" which goes into great detail on the correlation between the CT data and our PrintRite3D in-situ data. Stay tuned to our LinkedIn and Website case studies section. - Sigma Labs
Whilst the board fritters around with opinions, random guesswork and conjecture, real work is being done behind the scenes. Noteably there seems to be work going on on the link between CT Scan and Sigmas in situ, something that is a necessary step in the development from present Quality inspection techniques and the future where PR3D lies. This is a healthy progression to be taking and will only boost confidence and understanding in Sigmas product. Great to be doing it in partnerships with the Additive Alliance of Fraunhofer, one of the pre-emininent engineering bodies globally.
This will be an interesting set of releases from Siemens including Additive
https://www.worldpipelines.com/product-news/18022019/siemens-to-showcase-smart-solutions-for-industry-specific-implementation-of-industry-40/
Siemens will be showcasing a number of new software solutions at the fair for cloud and edge computing designed to enable data analysis and machine learning, and to boost the performance of machine tools. Also featured at the fair will be the integrated use of software and control technology for additive manufacturing in combination with machine tools and modern robotics
I wonder if it is to do with the subject that Mark Cola discussed in a call way back around 2015 ish. He talked then about how Closed Loop had to get around the obstacle that by changing a build in process you were deviating from the build parameters that were set and thus in potential conflict with the quality process required by FAA and other bodies etc. So ultimately it is destructive as, within its quality inspection role, it creates a part that is different from the original. Just a thought
If this is the case, Mark was certainly well aware of it way back when and the company feels confident to continue with the pursuit of it.
Silver,
Interesting to read your post about network theory. In fact many times recently I have thought, attempted, and considered an updated network model as pertains to Sigma Labs. the difference as you point out now, is that it is becoming way to intensive for two main reasons. Firstly, Sigma is becoming more and more connected, and second, I feel the industry for the most part has finally come to the apparent belief that there is a need to collaborate and work together to push serial production, something you point out, just wasn't there not too long ago. Part of this is down to the rise of users who perhaps sat back and waited to see how things would develop, but now realise it's game on. Perhaps also a safety in numbers conclusion as the industry feels its way forward, but no one wanting to miss out. Sigmas involvement with the likes of Spartacus, Fraunhofer, the USAF Space and Missile centre, NIST, OEM's etc etc etc mean it is now exposed to the many off shoots and collaborations that arise from them. Airbus is a good case in point. They have relations, collaborations and projects with many of Sigma's partners (Fraunhofer, Spartacus, Additive Industries to name a few) and low and behold we find a gaggle of Airbus executives sitting at Sigma's booth at Formnext, and I'm willing to bet one of the evaluators mentioned.
One of the key aspects in network theory about the hubs is that they become integral to the whole. With little or no independent competition on the market Sigma is now becoming the go to guy for IPQA. No other independent company is being linked with evaluations for a similar role across such a wide range of customers.
The critical key to me in Sigma's future is that once embedded in the early stages of a new transformative industry it becomes entrenched and will constantly evolve from WITHIN. This is the difference between millions and billions. This is the difference between a couple of years revenue and decades of revenue. Industrials simply have no choice for an independent quality system that works across machines.
I generally stay away from companies who claim to be 'intel inside', I find it a cliche that has been over used by many companies down the line with little in the way of results to show for it. However I genuinely think Sigma has an excellent opportunity to be just that... why?
They have approached the industry from the top down. Their connections have go them into the upper echelons of the nascent industries power players. Adoption will be from top down, not bottom up
Their technology is unique, independent and crucially machine agnostic
The industry has not other comparable solution
The technology is vital in order to deliver serial production
The cost is relatively low
The implementation is relatively easy (now)
They are aiming for circuit board level integration
The OEM's ALL lack what Sigma has, thus easier for them to collaboratively adopt it
It is a supply chain industry and consistency across channels is a key for the end clients. Sigma delivers that
Patents, patents, patents. Once established in the industry these will make Sigma accepted and integral to every machine. Hopefully this happens without a fight, but clients can protect Sigmas patent value for them.
It will be interesting to see if Sigma does indeed acquire, or unite other players. My gut feeling has always been that they intend to be core players in the industry and their continuously impressive lineup of directors, scientists and programmers still suggests they are confident of doing so. Sigma's game is still in its infancy, I think we will be watching them develop for years to come.
ps
two new employees, one generation google scholar and one ex intel
The relationships are still in place, the missing names were caught in a technical glitch and will be restored on next website update. Simple. I asked :)
The Value of Independence
I/We often talk about the value of Sigma’s Independence as a tool for the industry and a paragraph in this article made me think about it again.
Ge doesnt yet have a commercial solution to quality, they are not independent and they simply hope to have closed loop. The fact they aspire to all three only makes sigma more valuable
https://additive-alliance.com/
Sigma were presenting yesterday (Linkedin) and are listed among other solid industry names in the partner section of the above link.
WORKSHOP SERIAL PRODUCTION (23rd Jan)
As a member of the Additive Alliance, participate in our network meeting on "Serial production" on 23.01.2019. The main topics of this workshop are automation, data processing, productivity improvement and quality assurance for additive manufacturing.
In case people are confusing the two the Aerospace Corp is the entity announced in this release from the summer.
https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/08/29/1558207/0/en/Sigma-Labs-Contracts-With-Federally-Funded-Aerospace-Organization-To-Streamline-3D-Metal-Manufacturing.html
Specifically, Sigma’s PrintRite3D® In-Process Quality Assurance™-(IPQA®) based technology is designed to enhance support and development of additive manufacturing capabilities and solutions for use by the United States Air Force Space and Missile Center.
When adequately tested with empirical in-process data from our PrintRite3D® system, national security space systems can be fabricated defect-free, with structurally sound and reliable components based on scientific principles.”
It is of course pertinent, that should it be Oerlikon, they entered into a 5yr Memorandum with GE for AM collaboration
This included
• GE Additive and its affiliated companies will be preferred suppliers of AM machines to Oerlikon.
• Oerlikon will become a GE Additive preferred component manufacturer and materials supplier to GE Additive and its affiliated companies.
• Oerlikon and GE Additive will collaborate on machine and materials R&D.
Bringing PrintRite3D into the fold is a very good sign in respect to GE’s capabilities, or lack thereof, and also to press home the point that PrintRite3D’s independence and machine agnostic capabilities (see Kanya’s post about the wide range of machines in use by Oerlikon) is a very valuable part of the package.
Whilst i cannot talk from the perspective of share purchases on a penny stock by employees of these companies a quick tangent on your point takes us to another important question that i believe some ask. And that is basically where are the likes of Woodward, Honeywell, Pratt etc in terms of buying units following extensive evaluations.
To this my thinking is, they were pulled into the EAP program to work with Sigma to refine the product, create a product that was relevant to the market and future needs. However that is different from being production ready, or strategically ready internally to commit. John Rice has mentioned a few calls ago how the landscape for initial PR3D installations was actually more likely to be initiated by 'smaller' more nimble, more aggressive companies rather than the larger traditional behemoths, that looks to be the case as the rapid evaluation program rolls on. That doesn't, in my mind, at all mean that the original players such as Honeywell are not interested, far from it, the were heavily involved in its design through DARPA of all things. As John Rice said recently We are also working with the aerospace and defense manufacturers, they are the cutting edge. We spent the better part of the last 12 of the last 14 months working functionally as integrated teams with them to better understand what does a quality assurance tool have to be to meet your highest standards. That is what we have ended up designing our product to do and to be.”- John Rice
Years have been spent developing this product within the industry, as the market develops into real use scenarios the uptake will snowball. Once a handful of 'early adopters' have it embedded then supply chains, subsidiary's and competitors will, out of sheer need to compete in time efficiency and money, be forced to adopt. (or use competing methods - which seem commercially absent at present) The reason this new rapid evaluation program is so important is it represents the start of adoption. The first is always the hardest, later on, the viral nature of the product will do a lot of the work for us, perhaps a few of us remember the hockey stick reference.
Of course we all wanted this to be quicker, but it is now starting to gather speed... good times ahead
It could be one of the 3 that remain unknown that got installed soon after Formnext. (we know Baker Hughes, we think this is Oerlikon, or i do at least, but 3 companies remain unknown). Airbus certainly showed big interest at Formnext, wouldn't be a surprise if they are one of them at all. IF not, no drama, i still expect them to be one of the remaining potential evaluators that came out of Formnext
I feel some people are misjudging how things have change in the last year.
The machine is now much more commercial
The technology much more finessed
The platform much more refined
The installation is now much easier
The demand is now crucially there
The amount of companies gearing for production is growing monthly
The competition for AM viability amongst customers is growing
The realization that quality issue needs to be addressed is apparent
The rapid evaluation process designed by Sigma Labs last summer has completely changed the game in terms of how it is presented to customers (and the speed with which results will be delivered)
You can see this in the snowballing effect of clients now getting on board with the evaluation. It still takes a bit of time, but this beast has changed. Things are very very different from a year or two back. Money WILL start rolling in soon enough (lets not forget every one of these evaluations is paid for by the end user (20% of unit costs), lasts nights release was at least 2, if not more machines)
Judge the new paradigm by the older r+d years at your own peril