3D Systems Extends its Software Platform Leadership Position; Announces New Versions of its End-to-End Software Solution Portfolio at IMTS 2018

ROCK HILL, S.C., Sept. 10, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 3D Systems (NYSE: DDD), the originator of 3D printing, today announced an updated end-to-end software portfolio at IMTS 2018.  The new software versions will help transform the way customers manufacture -- providing them with one software platform that addresses the entire manufacturing workflow and delivers competitive advantage. At IMTS 2018, 3D Systems will unveil several major software releases: 3DXpert™ 14; GibbsCAM^® 13; Cimatron 14, Geomagic Freeform^® 2019; Geomagic^® Design X 2019; 3D Connect™ Service.

Software portfolio streamlines manufacturing workflows
3D Systems' software suite enables the company to support customers with everything  from digitization through design and simulation, on to manufacture, inspect and manage. With these latest enhancements, the portfolio now provides an unprecedented level of automation to accelerate design and production processes, increases productivity, and reduces manufacturing total cost of operation (TCO). The latest versions of its software offerings, include:

Geomagic Design X 2019: Geomagic Design X is the only reverse engineering software that combines feature-based CAD with 3D scan data processing. Through this industry-leading digitization tool, designers are able to cut significant time – days to weeks – from their design process, speeding time to market. Geomagic Design X 2019 maintains all the functionality necessary to digitize real physical shapes, accelerate time to market, and bring legacy parts into the modern CAD environment. Geomagic Design X 2019 includes enhanced capabilities such as a streamlined direct scanning user experience, hole filling and automated file fixing, new sketching and blending tools as well as powerful surface fitting quality and continuity controls. Availability of Geomagic Design X is planned to be available Q4 2018.

Geomagic Freeform 2019: Geomagic Freeform offers a comprehensive design and sculpting toolset to sculpt, detail and deform virtual clay models into any form through the incorporation of a haptic device. The latest release of Geomagic Freeform – planned to be available this week - includes new functionality that simplifies the process of designing, automates repetitive modelling tasks to increase productivity, and delivers more consistent results. Geomagic Freeform 2019 includes Dynabot™ which provides advanced record and playback macro capability to significantly speed repetitive customization and production workflows. With Dynabot, users can apply logic to recorded sequences, edit parameters, and insert user prompts and instructions. This complete set of automation capability helps increase speed of production workflows, and allows customers to onboard new production design processes much faster. The new release also includes tools for simplifying and customizing the user interface for improved functionality and efficiency.

GibbsCAM 13: GibbsCAM offers a single user interface for programming simple to complex parts on any type of machine. The latest release of 3D Systems' GibbsCAM software builds on its reputation to speed and simplify programming of the most complex parts for production milling to multi-axis applications. The updated software provides a streamlined user experience, additional milling and turning capabilities and an enhanced G-code editor, which improves the communication between software and CNC machining centers. These improvements help increase productivity while reducing machining time. GibbsCAM 13 is also the industry's only software offering elliptical turning, interpolated turning and eccentric turning, allowing full functionality for multi-task machining centers (MTM). GibbsCAM 13 is the first software in the industry to offer auto-bar chamfering in a standalone software solution for programming Swiss type machines. GibbsCAM 13 is planned to be available Q4 2018.

Cimatron 14: Cimatron is a single, integrated CAD/CAM solution designed specifically for tooling. According to Rongde Luo, vice president (retired), Ju Teng Group (Suzhou, China), "Our adoption of Cimatron for our mold design, electrode and NC programming has enabled us to reduce costs and double our work capacity while maintaining our existing staff levels, and we can now provide our customers better quality molds delivered much more quickly."

The latest release, which is available now, offers new and enhanced capabilities across the entire CAD/CAM for tooling workflow. Mold and die designers will benefit from an enhanced user interface resulting in faster, easier design. Through the use of barrel (segment) tools, NC programmers will be able to achieve more rapid machining. Additional feature-based machining capabilities as well as a dedicated plate machining seat will enable programming of feature-rich plates more quickly and safely. Finally, with the integration of ProgSim (Autoform) simulation, die makers will be able to reduce the number of tryouts required by validating the strip design before producing the die.

3DXpert 14: As the only all-in-one, integrated software for the entire metal additive manufacturing workflow, 3DXpert encompasses preparation, simulation, optimization, and post-processing operations – resulting in a streamlined process to quickly and efficiently transition from a 3D model to successfully printed parts.

"We reduced file processing times by up to 75% and increased productivity by up to 40%," said Jason Stitzel, director of engineering, Metal Technology Inc. "3DXpert also allows us to better analyze and plan the part, so we can use less support and less material which further reduces cost and time."  

3DXpert 14 puts a special focus on capabilities required to move from rapid prototyping to serial production. A new auto-balancing control enables high throughput production with best quality for 3D Systems' multi-head DMP Factory 500. Enhanced integrated simulation facilitates faster design to manufacturing lead-time. Leveraging its history-based nature, 3DXpert now includes an Engineering Change Order (ECO) manager, enabling rapid design changes within the model versus needing to recreate it. Additionally, enhanced auto-orientation, new optimized lattice structures, and smart production labeling are included to help simplify the workflow, ensure successful part production, and reduce TCO. 3DXpert 14 is now available.

3D Connect Service: The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is becoming reality for manufacturers, and software will play an integral role in managing the ecosystem of additive manufacturing processes and support services. 3D Connect Service is a cloud-based solution that enables proactive and preventative printer support in the production environment. By providing real-time remote diagnosis, automatic support case creation, and usage-based preventative maintenance scheduling, 3D Connect Service will help maximize productivity and speed time to resolution, helping manufacturers increase printer uptime, lower operating costs and improve operating efficiency. 3D Connect Service is planned to be available in Q4 2018 for several plastic and metal printers.

"We value feedback from our customers and continually seek out innovative approaches to their manufacturing challenges," said Ilan Erez, senior vice president and general manager, software, 3D Systems. "These new software releases transform the digital workflow, helping manufacturers move seamlessly from digitization to design and simulation through to manufacture and manage. The manufacturing experience and expertise which our team demonstrates allows us to develop unique solutions for our customers – helping to increase productivity, lower TCO and streamline workflows."

Show attendees can visit booths #431608 (third floor McCormick Place West building) to see 3D Systems' additive manufacturing solutions and #133310 (third floor McCormick Place Lakeside Center) for its software workflow solutions, and speak with its team of experts. For more information about 3D Systems' presence at IMTS 2018, please visit the company's website.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward looking statements can be identified by terms such as "believes," "belief," "expects," "may," "will," "estimates," "intends," "anticipates" or "plans" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management's beliefs, assumptions and current expectations and may include comments as to the company's beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings "Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the company's periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise.

About 3D Systems 
3D Systems is the originator of 3D printing and an innovator of future 3D solutions. It has spent its 30-year history enabling professionals and companies to optimize their designs, transform their workflows, bring groundbreaking products to market and drive new business models. This is achieved with the Company's best of breed digital manufacturing ecosystem. It's comprised of plastic and metal 3D printers, print materials, on demand manufacturing services and end-to-end manufacturing software solutions. Combinations of these products and services address a variety of advanced applications- ranging from Aerospace, Automotive, and Consumer Goods to Medical, Dental, and Jewelry. For example, 3D Systems' precision healthcare capabilities include simulation, Virtual Surgical Planning, and printing of medical and dental devices as well as patient-specific surgical instruments. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

SOURCE 3D Systems

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