This episode marks an important transition! The DI Labs podcast was previously built around the Stratasys OpenAM beta running at our facility. But as die-hard problem solvers, we're broadening the scope. It's been renamed the Solutionology Podcast, allowing us to interview all types of guests and share our problem-solving perspective on a wide variety of topics such as innovating for unique applications, bringing on new technologies, optimizing for new materials, and growing our business. Thanks for joining us on the journey!

In this conversation, the three Douglass brothers, who are owners of the business, provide an update on the "Free the Fortus" OpenAM beta. That leads them into a much deeper discussion about just what it takes to onboard new materials and new technologies. Enjoy!

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XlBtjLJx1d8

Episode Topics
00:34  Welcome
00:55  Intro to the Douglass brothers
05:01  Free the Fortus update
08:15. Onboarding 5 new materials
09:40. Revisions to get to a new profile
12:33 High-temperature, higher-end materials
13:08  PEEK is the most challenging
13:51  Data drives the problem solving
17:48  The fail-fast method
18:30  It's anything but easy
19:31 We're pushing the hardware and software
20:20 Materials get validated before production
20:24 Transitioning podcast from Free the Fortus
22:35 It's about problem-solving
23:26 Future topics

LEARN MORE ABOUT DI LABS: https://dilabs.cc 

Welcome to the "Free the Fortus" Podcast (now called the Solutionology Podcast), fueled by the Stratasys #OpenAM Validated Materials Beta underway at DI Labs. We're a Stratasys global launch partner for this groundbreaking program that will free the Fortus 450MC of its closed system limitations and unlock the potential of the industry's most powerful FDM platform.

Matt Howlett, the President/Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at 3DXTECH, is a leader in material development for fused filament printers. He started the company in 2014 with specialty material formulations that focus on functionality. Their goal is to make the most innovative filaments on the market – targeting difficult end-use applications where functionality is king.

The Stratasys #OpenAM Beta gives DI Labs unprecedented freedom to modify the process settings and other adjustments necessary to successfully run a wide range of new, highly engineered materials such as PAEK, PEKK and Glass Filled Nylon 6/66. It’s never been done and we’re confident that the outcome will change what’s possible for additive manufacturing in service of high-performance industries like medical device, aerospace, electronics, industrial and automotive industries.

READ THE FULL STORY: https://dilabs.cc/di-labs-is-first-in…
Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ulzirh1QKqE

Episode Topics
00:29 Welcome back
01:00 Update on Week One Beta Program
02:11 Introducing Matt Howlett, 3DXTECH
04:06 Started business in 2014
06:36 Factors driving printer innovation
08:23 Opening opportunities to run new materials
10:55 Running the 450 with new materials
13:25 3DXTECH material performance
14:20 Carbon-fiber reinforced materials
15:31 New applications for newly developed materials
19:58 Pipeline & process for material development
23:36 Opportunities for new materials
25:36 Vertical markets for PEEK
27:31 Product development with new materials
29:12 Solving problems together
29:29 Great work in PEEK
30:27 More business with 3DXTECH

LEARN MORE ABOUT DI LABS: https://dilabs.cc 

Welcome to the "Free the Fortus" Podcast (now called the Solutionology Podcast), fueled by the Stratasys #OpenAM Validated Materials Beta underway at DI Labs. We're a Stratasys global launch partner for this groundbreaking program that will free the Fortus 450MC of its closed system limitations and unlock the potential of the industry's most powerful FDM platform. The Stratasys #OpenAM Beta will give DI Labs unprecedented freedom to modify the process settings and other adjustments necessary to successfully run new, highly engineered materials such as PAEK, PEKK and Glass Filled Nylon 6/66. It’s never been done and we’re confident that the outcome will change what’s possible for additive manufacturing in service of high-performance industries like medical device, aerospace, electronics, industrial and automotive industries.

Watch the full episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/XXjLdnaGb24

Our second guest is Nate Litmer, KIMYA Business Development Manager North America. He explains the role engineered materials are playing in the expansion and advancement of additive solutions for high-end applications.

READ THE FULL STORY: https://dilabs.cc/di-labs-is-first-in…

Episode Topics
00:29 Welcome Back
00:51 Update on Week One Beta Program
02:48 Running the OpenAM interface
03:19 Our guest today
04:46 We need more problem solvers
05:31 Introducing Nate Litmer
6:54 About KIMYA - Materials, Lab & Factory
7:47 Utilizing additive in industrial manufacturing
8:42 Increasing efficiencies & change the mindset
9:26 Materials vs Factory customers
10:57 The process for running new materials
11:55 Pairing a reliable system with high quality products
12:19 Variability of open systems
13:16 Opportunities for scaling production
14:01 Supply chain issues solved with additive
15:45 Paradigm shift from traditional to additive
16:48 Application examples with engineered materials
18:30 Challenges with open source equipment
19:23 Technical team required
20:41 Getting the first successful part out
21:37 Enabling challenging applications
22:08 Missed opportunities in our industry
23:16 Working with a new generation
24:55 Being less reliant on the laggard legacy supply chain
25:49 Future for KIMYA with materials
27:40 Engineered materials and Fortus open opportunities
28:26 More materials for the validated materials beta
29:34 Thanks for your time

LEARN MORE ABOUT DI LABS: https://dilabs.cc 

Welcome to the "Free the Fortus" Podcast (now called the Solutionology Podcast), fueled by the Stratasys #OpenAM Validated Materials Beta underway at DI Labs. We're a Stratasys global launch partner for this groundbreaking program that will free the Fortus 450MC of its closed system limitations and unlock the potential of the industry's most powerful FDM platform. The Stratasys #OpenAM Beta will give DI Labs unprecedented freedom to modify the process settings and other adjustments necessary to successfully run new, highly engineered materials such as PAEK, PEKK and Glass Filled Nylon 6/66. It’s never been done and we’re confident that the outcome will change what’s possible for additive manufacturing in service of high-performance industries like medical device, aerospace, electronics, industrial and automotive industries.

Watch the full episode on YouTube!
https://youtu.be/2zAdVwzXGSk 

Our first guest is Tom Leach, Commercial Leader of Industrial Business Units at Stratasys. He explains why Stratasys is making this bold moving to OpenAM and shares his excitement for what's to come with the beta.

Future episodes will explore: 

• How highly engineered materials and additive offer new options for customers of traditional manufacturing
• The unique challenges of running highly engineered materials 
• Real-world beta projects and case studies from the DI Labs FDM hub
• The challenges and learning lessons coming out of this beta environment

READ THE FULL STORY: https://dilabs.cc/di-labs-is-first-in-the-world-to-free-the-fortus-as-a-stratasys-global-launch-partner-for-the-openam-beta-on-the-fortus-450mc/

Episode Topics
0:28 Our intention with this podcast
1:25 Welcome, Tom Leach
2:52 Why tune into this podcast
3:28 Something we've never done before
5:37 From a closed system to OpenAM
6:51 Manufacturing and material suppliers
7:39 Partnering with chemical suppliers for unique applications
9:18 From prototyping to manufacturing
9:52 Technical challenges of the OpenAM
11:41 Why Stratasys chose DI Labs
14:22 Focus on highly engineered materials
15:20 Three Stratasys material paths
19:22 Success with OpenAM
20:11 Fine-tuning parameters adds capability
20:57 Past bottlenecks with FDM
21:56 OpenAm changed the game
23:02 Accuracy, repeatability, reliability study
26:52 Zero machine downtime with Fortus
27:38 Thank you

LEARN MORE ABOUT DI LABS: https://dilabs.cc