Designers and engineers all around the world are getting ready to switch off their computers and 3D printers, pack their bags and head to Chicago for a 4-day full immersion into the AM universe.
From Sunday, March 19, Hilton Chicago will host the AMUG annual users conference, which with its schedule full of events, talks, shows and social activities, is the perfect opportunity for professionals in the industry to mix, mingle, share, and learn with other AM practitioners.
With attendees in industries including aerospace, automotive, consumer products, education, defence, medical and dental and more, AMUG attendance has grown massively since its first event in 1988, reaching 1865 attendees from 21 countries in 2022.
With its philosophy summed up in the phrase “from users, by users”, AMUG aims to bring under one roof professionals who use similar equipment in different industries, inform them about new technologies, let them network, be inspired and share intel with other professionals in the AM world.
To get the party started, on Sunday, March 19, AMUG will host the New Member Welcome event, followed by the start of the AMUG Expo.
AMUG recommends all attendees download the AMUG planner app, which will allow them to personalise their conference schedule, view presentations PDFs and take notes on them, network with other AMUG attended by viewing their contact info and much more.
Announced in February, the keynote speakers for the 2023 edition of the AMUG conference will include Robert Ducey of Laika Studios, Nicholas Jacobson of CU, and Max Haot of Launcher.
On Tuesday, March 21, Ducey and Jacobson will illustrate their collaboration to the audience in a presentation titled: “Collaborations between an animator, an architect and a surgeon: the keys to impactful innovation in medicine.”
The pair have connected over a little-known 3D modelling and printing technique at the time called “bitmap printing”. Since then, they have leveraged their workflows and toolsets to collaborate on the development of applications for 3D bitmap printing in medicine.
Hoat will take the stage on Thursday, March 23 to share with the audience an overview of the additive manufacturing innovations by Launcher in its E2 liquid rocket and Orbiter space tug programmes.
His presentation titled “High-performance, low-cost liquid propulsion enabled by AM” will introduce to the audience the e-2 closed-cycle, high-performance rocket engine that contains multiple AM-produced copper alloy components, capable of boosting a 150 kg payload into low Earth orbit using Launcher’s light vehicle scheduled for launch in 2024.
As the recipient of the 2023 Innovators Award, Diana Kalisz of 3D System will also give a talk on Wednesday, March 22. With her over 30 years of experience in AM, her current work is focused on materials development.
During the conference, the winners of the Randy Stevens and Guy E. Bourdeau Scholarships, Les Kalman and Brent Griffith, will also be introduced. A current Additive Manufacturing and Design master’s degree student at Penn State University, Griffith is currently focusing his research on MEX to metal AM and personnel protection in AM. Kalman is an associate professor at Western University and his research focuses on medical devices and technologies, with an emphasis on additive manufacturing and software solutions.
Technical Competition 2022 winners Nanci Hardwick and Bill Braune will also give a talk on Wednesday, March 22 in the international ballroom, and the presentation will be followed by the announcement of the winners of the Technical Competition 2023.
The event schedule, including off-site events, and a list of exhibitors and sponsors can be found on AMUG wesbite and event guide.
