INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Faster, clearer CT scans with AI Reconstruction

Nikon IMBU is releasing AI Reconstruction, a 3D computed tomography (CT) reconstruction software solution powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that eliminates the traditional trade-off between scan speed and image quality. By applying deep learning (DL) techniques to enhance image quality, Nikon’s breakthrough technology enables rapid results and superior analysis. Traditionally, CT users had to pick between fast, lower quality scans or slow, higher quality scans. Quick scans promote the possibility of missing important details, whereas slow scans lead to the scanning of fewer items.

AI Reconstruction lifts these limits through AI enhancement tailored to individual customer needs by Nikon’s applications engineering team. The DL modelling underpinning AI Reconstruction is trained to distinguish relevant information from the scan artefacts to filter noise and improve clarity.

“Nikon’s latest breakthrough in AI-enhanced 3D reconstruction represents a fundamental change for industrial CT,” says Chris Price, product manager with Nikon for X-ray and CT systems. “By lifting the speed-quality trade-off, AI Reconstruction provides both rapid results and superior image clarity, unlocking a new level of scan flexibility for users. This technology leap helps testing and quality teams enhance throughput and precision like never before. The dramatically sharper image quality reveals tiny product flaws that previously required painstaking scans, while faster scan speeds let users reliably analyse many more units per day.”

Examples of where this technology will demonstrate a profound impact include the automotive, aerospace and manufacturing sectors, as well as the medical device industry. In these markets and others, meticulous quality control via precise metrology is essential for product safety.

AI Reconstruction complies with the European Union’s ‘Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence’.

For further information https://industry.nikon.com

Mastercam announces new president

Mastercam, a global provider of CAM software, has appointed Susan Brandt as its new president. This strategic move will leverage Brandt’s extensive experience to drive Mastercam’s growth and reinforce its advanced manufacturing solutions. Brandt brings over 25 years of global business leadership and GTM (go-to-market) strategy expertise within the B2B software/SaaS domain, as well as infrastructure design and engineering software. Notably, she has held several senior leadership positions during her career, including at Bentley Systems, holding executive roles in sales and business development.

For further information www.mastercam.com

ModuleWorks and MAL extend ties

ModuleWorks, a supplier of software components for digital manufacturing, is extending its partnership with MAL Inc, a developer specialising in physics-based virtual machining and optimisation solutions. The extended tie-up makes ModuleWorks the exclusive reseller of MAL Inc’s AppsPro software library, the NPro plug-in for Siemens NX and the DELPro plug-in for Dassault Systèmes’ DELMIA.

ModuleWorks will also sell the jointly developed Machining Wizard that integrates machining physics and tool-path technology to assist engineers in selecting optimal cutting parameters for automated tool-path generation. The Machining Wizard subsequently uses these parameters in combination with a geometrical analysis of the workpiece to generate a tool path with optimised cutting parameters for each region of the part.

For further information www.moduleworks.com

New grease degradation diagnosis technology

NSK says it is developing a world-first: a high-accuracy way of rapidly and accurately diagnosing the remaining life of lubricant grease. The company will provide the solution as a mobile app, enabling users to perform the on-site analysis of lubricant condition in machine tool bearings, ball screws and linear guides. This innovative capability will reduce the need for grease inspection and replenishment costs, and help machine shops implement condition-based maintenance strategies. NSK’s is currently seeking customer input and feedback ahead of launching the new app.

For further information www.nskeurope.com

Stratasys to test 3D prints on the moon

Stratasys, a specialist in polymer 3D printing solutions, will provide 3D-printed materials for an upcoming lunar mission to test their performance on the surface of the moon. The experiments are part of Aegis Aerospace’s first Space Science & Technology Evaluation Facility mission (SSTEF-1), which focuses on technology development for space infrastructure and capabilities for the moon and near-earth space. The Stratasys experiments are sponsored by Northrop Grumman.

In this moon mission, Stratasys will provide 3D-printed samples that will be brought to the lunar surface by an unmanned lander in a carrier structure 3D-printed by Stratasys. Three materials will be the focus of two different experiments. The first assesses the performance of a sample coupon part made with Stratasys’ Antero 800NA FDM filament filled with tungsten. The second passive experiment will see how 3D-printed materials perform in space.

For further information www.stratasys.com