Fiona Lawler

In the last episode of AM Radio for 2023, hosts Pete Zelinski, Stephanie Hendrixson and Fiona Lawler look back on Additive Manufacturing Media's top 10 stories by pageviews for the year. The list reveals some interesting trends including the ramp up in additive manufacturing "factories," additive adoption that necessitates more sophisticated downstream processing, and a heavy emphasis on metal 3D printing. In the second half of the show, the hosts share their favorite stories, regardless of ranking, written by someone else.

Formnext Forum Austin, the first Formnext event to be held in the United States, concluded August 30 after two full days of conference programming dedicated to industrial additive manufacturing. The event is jointly organized by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT—The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media, the publisher of Additive Manufacturing Media. Along with sessions on additive end markets, production applications, AM technology and design for additive manufacturing (DFAM), Formnext Forum included a lively expo featuring nearly 80 exhibitors plus The Cool Parts Showcase. Attendees also had access to several facility tours and networking opportunities. The event drew more than 900 attendees, including the editors of Additive Manufacturing. Pete Zelinski, Fiona Lawler and Stephanie Hendrixson recorded this conversation for AM Radio shortly after the event.

At the 2023 edition of RAPID + TCT held in Chicago, Additive Manufacturing Media editors noticed evidence of AM’s maturation both in terms of technical capability and utility for end-use applications. Stephanie Hendrixson, Peter Zelinski and Fiona Lawler discuss themes discovered at the event, including more precise DED, new tools for process monitoring, more sophisticated understanding of AM and sustainability, AM winning on cost and much more.

Additive manufacturing "factories" and other facilities that have been built from the ground up to serve this process are becoming increasingly common, but a purpose-built space is not a necessity for successfully applying AM. Stephanie Hendrixson and Fiona Lawler discuss Fiona's recent trip to visit a newly established Protolabs facility dedicated to laser powder bed fusion, and swap stories of other AM spaces--from a 3D printer tucked under the stairs to a rented office space all the way to buildings acquired or built just for production additive manufacturing.

Mold makers looking for new maintenance and repair solutions may want to consider micro welding technology. In this video, we stop by PCS Company’s booth at PTXPO 2025 to learn about the SST Lase One Micro Welder—a compact, user-friendly system designed for mold repair and complex assembly work.

Compatible with materials like copper, bronze, tool steel, and aluminum, this technology offers precise spot welding while minimizing heat and preventing part deformation. It’s programmable, safety-focused, and designed for easy integration into mold shop workflows.

Learn more about this and other technologies shaping the moldmaking industry https://www.moldmakingtechnology.com/

#MoldMaking #Manufacturing #MicroWelding #MoldRepair #PTXPO2025 #PCSCompany #WeldingTechnology #Tooling #InjectionMolding

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ABOUT MOLDMAKING TECHNOLOGY: MoldMaking Technology addresses the complete lifecycle of the manufacture and maintenance of a mold—from design to first shot—by providing solutions and strategies to moldmaking professionals charged with designing, building and repairing molds. Visit MoldMaking Technology online at https://www.moldmakingtechnology.com/ Subscribe at https://www.moldmakingtechnology.com/sub

Editorial director Christina Fuges and associate editor Fiona Lawler recap what we saw on the IMTS show floor.

On the metalworking side of the moldmaking process, they are talking about innovation & efficiency, specifically with mold design, 3D printing, automation & data management.
Mold design & engineering is all about streamlining workflows, cutting down on errors and upping productivity. CAD/CAM is a big player here and there’s a lot of interest in AI and VR in automation, especially in mold design.
There’s a lot of excitement around what 3D printing can do-whether it’s improving hot runner design, making molding more efficient or helping bridge the skills gap.
Growing use of robotic cells & automated tool changers.
Machining & EDM are still big. Advanced 5-axis techniques, remote monitoring & EDM improvements for better precision & efficiency.

Companies Featured:
CIMATRON
CGS NORTH AMERICA
MANTLE
EROWA
ISCAR
HURCO
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ABOUT MOLDMAKING TECHNOLOGY: MoldMaking Technology addresses the complete lifecycle of the manufacture and maintenance of a mold—from design to first shot—by providing solutions and strategies to moldmaking professionals charged with designing, building and repairing molds. Visit MoldMaking Technology online at https://www.moldmakingtechnology.com/ Subscribe at https://www.moldmakingtechnology.com/sub

At Rapid+TCT 2023, Exum Instruments showcased the Massbox, its debut application for mass spectrometry measurement. Fiona Lawler reports on this desktop technology tool which serves as a quick-turn solution for material science testing for results in minutes rather than waiting on time intensive laboratory results. The Massbox proves useful in feedstock characterization, elemental mapping, and for failure analysis purposes.

LEARN MORE ABOUT:

-The Massbox as offered by Exum https://www.exuminstruments.com/

-Other examples of useful process monitoring tools in AM https://www.additivemanufacturing.media/articles/infrared-camera-supports-real-time-process-control-for-laser-metal-deposition-and-cladding

https://www.additivemanufacturing.media/products/enhanced-magics-software-enables-traceability-connectivity-automation

Displayed at RAPID+TCT 2023, XJet’s 3D printed ceramic wind instrument mouthpieces can be personalized to user preference resulting in a smooth and accurate sound. Fiona Lawler reports on the safe and durable material used to print the mouthpieces (zirconia ceramic), and the direct material jetting method implemented to achieve this.

LEARN MORE ABOUT:
-3D printed ceramic wind instrument mouth pieces https://www.xjet3d.com/lp-new-2/
-XJet’s Nanoparticle Jetting (NPJ) 3D printing method https://www.additivemanufacturing.media/articles/am-101-nanoparticle-jetting-npj
-XJet alternative ceramic materials https://www.additivemanufacturing.media/products/xjet-unveils-ceramic-material-for-nanoparticle-jetting-njp