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You know what, JJ?
I re-read your blog for like the third time, and the way it's put isn't so misleading. Greg Morris did present GE's closed loop process controller, and obviously Sigma's software would be a part of that, as it monitors and communicates with whatever equipment GE is using to make/modify their parts. It is not the whole system in and of itself, but a necessary part of the larger system, and I think you made that distinction well.
I'm pretty sure this has all been semantics over "controller." (d'oh)
I really hope they do get around to making their own printers some day, because if everything was self-contained and didn't have to be adapted to an existing framework, the efficiency would blow everyone else out of the water.
It's great that they can have their cake and eat it too- use PrintRite within an existing setup for large clients who already have million dollar machinery, or sell it as part of their own machinery down the road.
Can't wait to see where we'll be in a year!
Now I'm going to shut up for a week because I've said too much lately!
Likewise...
Vacations indeed!
I told my husband when he finishes his last degree (Materials Engineering), I'm quitting, popping out kids and investing in stocks and income properties. After seeing Sigma go from .028 to here, he's suddenly MUCH more OK with that...
;)
And yes, I've seen your disclaimer. It's your call to make.
I'm glad you're so fired up about the company. I tell my friends about it too. One of them got in at .05 and is pretty pleased to say the least. It's hard to keep a good thing to yourself. I worry every time it goes down cause of my buddy... though I don't think we'll see THAT low again, God willing!
Haha, hey, who knows-
If you contact them and they see your stuff, you might just get the job as their marketing guy!
(They need one, you know! ;)
No offense taken. It's obvious you mean well. I tend to err on the side of caution, but really check with the company on this one... I know you research all the time, but on the off chance you're mistaken and people buy into it because of that, it could be a problem down the road. My two cents. I promise, they're super easy to talk to.
This is one case where I would love it if I was wrong- and that's saying something!
I DO read your blog, silly!
You said it would be useless IF they had no closed loop control system- that is, ability to correct while it is happening.
Rounder said, "It would be far from useless. I would assume that once the compromised environment is detected the action would already be complete which would make a simultaneous correction impossible. The way that deviations in the aerospace industry work is more complex that most realize. Any small deviation can disposition the entire assembly as scrap, hundreds of thousands if dollars down the drain because of a .010" deviation. If the deviation is deamed repairable most times the proposed repair must be submitted to the end user and await engineering approval. It is not as simple as "fix the weld".
I agree with Rounder... they don't have that yet, (though it is protected by their Patent) and PrintRite is still valuable, because of the way Aerospace manufacturing works.
When they develop Metal 3Dx fully, it will be a closed loop system that monitors and corrects at the same time, which is why they can truthfully say it will boost production by- what was it, 5x??
...Frankly, your blog scares the hell out of me sometimes, because it's not all been confirmed by the company, and you use their logo which is misleading, and maybe not legal. If you're wrong, or your grammar is wrong, etc. it still LOOKS like it's from the company, because the disclaimer is way down at the bottom where only those with a very long attention span will ever go.... and we all know THAT's decreasing constantly. (Trust me- I teach middle schoolers.) Lol!
...Which he refuted. Go back and read it again. More slowly this time.
I said nothing about it being useless- that was your statement he was refuting. He was saying that even if they don't correct it while it's going on it's far from useless because in aerospace if one part is bad they scrap the whole batch. Inspection alone is extremely valuable, and if Metal 3dx happens, it'll be even better.
Don't twist words... I love this company, they've doubled my salary.
I agree! Hardware changes/is upgraded constantly as things become more efficient, but the process of inspection is critical no matter what your machinery looks like.
They DO have a patent on it... so it doesn't really matter if that aspect isn't part of the current offering. United States patent laws do not require you to have a prototype in order to apply for a patent, all that is required is that you be able to describe the invention so that others could both make and use it, which they did.
That's why they are both integrating their software with others' machines, AND working on their own 3D printer, because they hold the intellectual property rights to the whole process. It would be stupid to just give your tech away if someone else could achieve the same result legally. That's why they envision the "Intel Inside" model.
Ballistic in a good way or ballistic in a bad way? ;)
Exactly! Still very useful. That's why they're working with GE... helps validate GE's controls, and validate Sigma's monitoring at the same time. Print Rite monitors GE's machines. This is why GE presented at the Summit. Eventually, if/when the Metal 3Dx printer happens, it will be a true closed loop system with PrintRite3D actually making corrections... I just don't think that's there yet. Though, like I said, I'd be thrilled if I was mistaken!
Go SGLB!
Excuse the lack of technical vocabulary (I'm a teacher), but the impression I get is that PrintRite inspects the conditions under which defects may occur, so that the # of parts inspected post build is reduced, saving cost/time. I could be totally wrong and they already have the control aspect down- I know they've done it in past work, at least that's what it looked like from their published papers comparing welds... but if PrintRite itself is a standalone machine- and there's no magic control arm involved, it's a highly sophisticated program with a monitor, based on the image of the machine that's on the site. Am I wrong? (It would be 10x more awesome if I was!)
I would just very much hate for claims to be made about it that aren't true, because that would be more destructive to the share price in the long run if they're debunked... you may want to call the company to confirm. They're very easy to get ahold of. I called Valerie Vekkos on a Saturday and Cola and the rest were all in the 'press a number' menu. Just throwing it out there.
Thanks JJ... Gary Anderson, closed loop-help?
PrintRite3D makes the closed loop possible, but does not, to my knowledge include a controller.
It predicts conditions under which defects might occur... I base that on this statement from Mark Cola in Gary's interview:
Mark Cola: "The work we are doing with our Fortune 100 power generation customer is an early-stage project to demonstrate the proof-of-concept for a new weld repair technology our client has developed. Key to its success is the ability of our IPQA technology to identify key process variables necessary to ensure a quality weld repair. Should our work prove to be effective in identifying key process variables, next steps might entail developing a closed-loop control scheme capable of being integrated into a systems-level solution for deployment globally to the MRO community."
http://3dprintingindustry.com/2013/11/04/interview-mark-cola-ceo-3d-printing-rd-company-sigma-labs/
Does this mean they have the inspection, but not the control scheme? Or just not for weld repairs?
Gary Anderson- you talked to him in this interview, what was he saying?
Thanks...
PrintRite 3D-Patent/Patent Pending + great article
Correct me if I'm wrong, but from what I've gathered, the process for controlling a weld pool size is the part of PrintRite3D currently patented.
According to their slideshow, the method for "Rapid Qualification for Metal Parts" is still patent-pending.
The original patent KIND of touches on it: "A new method of process control for fusion welding maintains a controlled weld pool size or volume, for example in some applications a substantially constant weld pool size or volume. The invention comprises a method of linking machine and process variables to the weld pool size or volume in real time, thereby enabling constant weld pool volume control. The invention further comprises a method of using thermal inverse models to rapidly process real-time data and enable models-based control of welding processes so as to implement constant weld pool volume control."
However the actual process of qualification isn't patented. This would explain why the new application was described as something to "Further Extend PrintRite Capabilities..."
It looks like they filed the provisional Patent application in February. I read this article on provisional applications that puts all of their actions so far into perspective....
http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2013/09/14/the-benefits-of-a-provisional-patent-application/id=45156/
This means that they could have had the basics of PrintRite in the application, and all the testing they've been doing with GE, Honeywell, the rest, have been part of the tweaking process for the final application.
My one concern is that Provisional applications are only good for 12 months... I hope they are ready in time! I was thinking though, perhaps that "3-4 months" Cola mentioned at the shareholder meeting will be the actual Patent?
If they patent their "Rapid Qualification for Metal Parts," does that mean every Metal AM-er will have to use them?
Why is the America Makes group trying to come up with a system if Sigma Labs already has it?
(Confused, and hoping it all plays out in our favor!)
Long and Strong SGLB-
Stupid question, but why does GE always say they're developing IPQA, if it's Sigma's intellectual property?
(I hope they don't screw them, down the road.... probably very good they brought someone in on the business side of things.)
Also, do we know if GE was the one to buy the 2 PrintRite systems? Did Sigma ever say? Thanks!
What indicators are you using to suggest a continued run before the pullback? (I was thinking shooting star so short term correction; but I'm still learning.) Also, run to what, based on the chart? Thanks!
Looks like a shooting star to me. I kept 3/4 of my position, but sold a little hoping for minor retracement. (.21-.22?) Still very new to candlesticks, but would love to multiply my shares. :) Long and strong SGLB!
I'm sorry, Sierra World is crap.... I've seen (her?) stuff before about stocks I own. It's ridiculous and doesn't come true. Also, she claims to be some supermodel whiz to play the mostly male investors as shmucks. Even their disclaimer tells you, some of it is for laughs.
https://twitter.com/SierraEquity
Haha, thanks dadx. I just hoped in letting him know there's several others (not just me) in the same boat, any one in a similar sit. wouldn't feel the need to post 1000 messages. Will shut up now!
I have a little under 7k of my own money in, and it has grown to around 21-23k lately [depending on the day.] I got in early (back in May) and added more over the summer. Wish I'd just gone all in in the beginning, but still happy with my return to say the least. I asked the same question of people a couple months ago, and there are quite a few in the same boat.
That's cool. I just saw someone found it on yahoo and people thought it was from the company. Glad you're being smart about it.
JJ has a SigmaLabs blog- JJ, did you check with the company about this?
http://sigmalabs3dam.blogspot.com/2013/11/printrite3d-patent.html
Don't want to see you getting in legal trouble. :/
Thanks, silversmith! Hope you're right. It's amazing they aren't burdened now, I've seen so many good products flounder under huge quantities of R+D debt. Thankfully SGLB is just the culmination of several very intelligent inventors' life work... they had the background/ ground work from the get go. Indeed, Godspeed...:)
That's good to hear. I guess what I thought was odd was that it said definitively they expect to either offer more, or seek financing; no 'may,' and that sort of ominous statement wasn't in any other 10-Q that I have seen. I guess I was wondering if there was something imminent in the works. I don't mind the statement, not worried about my principle (already a triple) but would like to be able to protect what I have and buy up more shares if I can w/ the money. According to Alant (forever ago) at the shareholder meeting Mark expected some good news in 3-4 months (Jan/Feb?) so that doesn't sound much like dilution... Just wondering your all's thoughts as to whether the odds are it'd be sooner, (before e.o.y.) or later (Spring), if anyone has seen a statement like that before.
I'm concerned that they actually say they anticipate having to do another offering or take on debt. I know it's important for the long term- but don't want to lose the gains I have (again!). What's the best tactic for existing shareholders, if an offering comes out of the blue- maintain stops meticulously or what? ...I guess at least they warned us? How long do you think they'll hold out?
News would be good, but why do you say that about earnings?
Why are they not trading right now?
I was trying to figure that out last night... it looked to me like their usual good news--LOTS of Contracts were coming through @ the time [look at the b6Sigma page news archives] It went down shortly after because they did a private placement in April of that year, for $1.1 million.
http://www.b6sigma.com/index.php?mact=News,mdec47,default,1&mdec47number=1&mdec47category=&mdec47pagelimit=20&mdec47detailpage=59&mdec47pagenumber=1&mdec47returnid=59&mdec47returnid=59&page=59
http://www.b6sigma.com/index.php?mact=News,mdec47,default,1&mdec47number=1&mdec47category=&mdec47pagelimit=20&mdec47detailpage=59&mdec47pagenumber=2&mdec47returnid=59&page=59
http://www.b6sigma.com/index.php?mact=News,mdec47,default,1&mdec47number=1&mdec47category=&mdec47pagelimit=20&mdec47detailpage=59&mdec47pagenumber=2&mdec47returnid=59&page=59
Thanks for the post, silversmith... That actually makes me feel much better. I don't want an R/S at all, though a lot of people have been floating the idea around. All I meant was that if it happens, as some suggest, I hope it's down the road and as small as possible- I like making over $1,000 with every penny! [115k shares atm... if only I had more cash!] Glad to know you feel the same :)
Ok-I'll take a look tomorrow. Unfortunately have work to do tonight :/
Also, maybe mention their other work... consulting, Honeywell/DARPA, the munitions with Allotrope/Exnovo, dental implants, patents, GE... Really sell the thing.
JJ-Good start. Couple grammar errors... if it can be edited I'll catch them so you can fix them. [I'm a teacher, it's what I do ;)] Reply if able...
I think without a reverse split, .5 by Q2 2014 is not totally ridiculous, provided that the private placement shares coming into play won't totally wreck the share price. If the company continues to wait, it could maybe hit $1.00 when commercialization ramps up in the latter part of 2014- thought that could be on the high end. I agree with you that eventually they'll do an R/S, but I hope they wait awhile longer [til .50-1.00] so that it doesn't have to be 1:5 . Would much prefer 2,3. But, who knows what the future holds. I think- was it silversmith's prediction of a max at 7-9?-that those particular #'s were meant to be many years down the road, at least how I read it.
Theory on Mark Cola's "3-4 months" hint...
SGLB converts/receives full patent?
I say this because while they have the method for control of weld pool volume in fusion welding patented, they filed the provisional patent for " Rapid Process Qualification And Part Certification In Additive Manufacturing And 3D Printing" 2/6/13...
"3-4 months" would be the end of the 12-month provisional patent window.
http://www.uspto.gov/patents/resources/types/provapp.jsp
Just a theory, of course. I wasn't at the shareholder meeting, so Alant's version of his comments could just as easily be something to do with GE. Time will tell :)
Thank you, silversmith for the voice of reason. The same thought occurred to me- $60 is ridiculous. However, on the flip side, @ 9.00 I'd still be a millionaire. ;)
Lol steltz- I feel the same way. I could have sold and nearly doubled my position by now but was scared of capital gains. :/ [My taxes are going to be a MESS this year.] Kicking myself now... I hope we get an upswing soon.
Something interesting regarding GE....
[I just found this... wonder if they are using Sigma to help with this certification method...]
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/09/26/ge-aviation-joint-venture-makes-375.html
Also, when debating what to do with my shares, [sell half, or hold longer] I re read their last annual report just for kicks and it reinforced my belief in the company. When you look at the fine print and just who's been paying them- Navy, Army, Honeywell, GE even way back for IPQA regarding turbines... I really think they have the connections for success. Also, I have been thinking about their other non AM tech [the ARMS/BAM, and dental implants.] The report explained more about it than I knew previously [must have skimmed last read through...] The bullets have always been exciting to me, but the dental implants explained really caught my eye. I own a very small position [VERY SMALL] in that Manhattan Scientifics, who's licensed the dental tech-and they went from .07 to .09 Friday on no news, and I wonder if we'll get an earnings surprise- perhaps Sigma's less central tech. is finally getting commercialized.
Interesting stuff.
Sure, eventually. Maybe in a year if they hit commercialization. Probably not prior. Depending on what the mysterious "3-4 months news" is we may get another present come Jan/Feb.