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In the past few years, manufacturers have used 3D printing to speed up the restoration of coral reefs, help separate Siamese twins, and turn people into figurines. Needless to say, the applications of additive manufacturing are almost limitless.
Xometry helped automaker BMW build strong, lightweight fixtures and scale production for 3D printer maker Nexa3D.
“They came to Xometry and they liked us because they could just give us their full spec and say build, and we said we’ll do it,” said Greg Paulsen, director of application development at Xometry.
Xometry is a digital manufacturing marketplace. Thanks to artificial intelligence (AI), customers can receive parts made on demand. Machine learning allows Xometry to accurately and quickly evaluate parts and determine delivery times for buyers. From additive manufacturing to CNC machining, Xometry supports special and custom parts from a variety of vendors, regardless of size.
In the latest edition of the Thomas Industry Podcast, Thomas VP of Platform Development and Engagement Cathy Ma spoke with Paulsen about Xometry’s behind-the-scenes work with these companies.
Highly curved vehicles require special assembly processes for trim, badges and bumpers. These processes are often costly and take a long time to complete.
“Everything in the automotive industry is very attractive, which means that when you need to place a BMW emblem, trim or bumper in the same place, you don’t have many places to help with alignment,” Paulsen said.
Before Xometry went public in 2021, one of the company’s early investors was BMW. Toolmakers turned to AI marketplace Xometry because they needed a solution to make it easier for their teams to assemble cars.
“Tool engineers create very creative designs, sometimes very Willy Wonka-like, because they have to find a little place where they can point to make sure that every time you put a sticker [on a car], they are in the right place. . place,” Paulson said. “They build these projects using different processes.”
”They may need to 3D print the main body to get a stiff yet lightweight hand clamp. They can CNC machine the dots that can be attached to the metal parts on the frame. They can use PU injection molding to get soft touch, so they don’t label the car on the production line,” he explained.
Traditionally, tool developers have had to use various vendors who specialize in these processes. This means they have to request a quote, wait for an offer, place an order, and essentially become a supply chain manager until the part gets to them.
Xometry used AI to sort through its database of over 10,000 suppliers to find the best fit for each customer’s needs, and intended to shorten the car assembly process for engineers. Its on-demand manufacturing capabilities and wide range of suppliers help BMW integrate its supply chain into a single point of contact.
In 2022, Xometry partnered with Nexa3D to “take the next step in additive manufacturing” and close the gap between affordability and speed.
XiP is Nexa3D’s ultra-fast desktop 3D printer that helps manufacturers and product development teams quickly produce end-use parts. In the early days of XiP, Nexa3D used Xometry to quickly create inexpensive prototypes.
“We make a lot of OEM equipment behind the scenes because [manufacturers] have to make their equipment a certain way and they need a secure supply chain,” Paulson said. Xometry is ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and AS9100D certified.
While building the prototype, one of the Nexa3D engineers realized that Xometry could produce not only prototype parts, but also a large number of parts for the final XiP printer, improving its manufacturing process.
“We were able to create an integrated supply chain plan for several processes: sheet metal cutting, sheet metal processing, CNC machining and injection molding,” he said of Xometry’s partnership with Nexa3D. “In fact, we made about 85% of the bill of materials for their latest printer.”
“When I talk to clients, I ask, ‘Where do you see yourself in six weeks, six months, six years?’” Paulson said. “The reason I [ask] is because in the product development life cycle, especially if they are in the green phase when they are still doing iterative design, the process, the technology, even the approach to scaling is very different. “
While speed may be important early on, cost can be a major issue down the road. Thanks to its diverse manufacturing network and team of experts, Xometry can meet the needs of customers no matter what stage of production they are in, Paulson says.
“We are not just a website. We have grey-haired veterans in every industry that we [work] here,” he said. “We are happy to work with anyone who has a great idea, big or small, and who wants to bring it to life.”
This full episode of the Thomas Industry podcast explores how Paulsen got his start in additive manufacturing and how the Xometry digital marketplace is helping companies use AI to close supply chain gaps.
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Post time: Feb-28-2023