Velo3D releases Flow 5.0 build preparation software
March 1, 2023
Velo3D, Campbell, California, USA, has announced the latest release of its Flow build preparation software for Additive Manufacturing. Flow 5.0 has added new capabilities for engineers, including user-selectable core parameter sets that provide enhanced control over builds with the ability to assign different parameters to any part on the build plate. This improvement, in addition to Flow’s ability to apply skin and contour overrides, is intended to give customers enhanced control over the final material properties of additively manufactured parts.
“Through our software, we are able to continually expand our manufacturing capabilities based on customers’ needs and feedback,” stated Alexander Varlahanov, VP of Engineering at Velo3D. “By enabling selectable core parameters for customers, engineers can modify the material properties of their parts to better suit the need of the application, including more isotropic parts. This even works on builds with multiple types of parts where each requires a different core parameter set.”
The latest update also includes checks and messages that identify possible errors before a build even starts, reducing the likelihood of customers experiencing failures in their builds. Flow also now includes labelling for objects; customers can easily add alphanumeric characters, like serial numbers or other unique identifying text, to their builds within the Flow software to clearly identify and label instances of their parts. Once the build file is produced, the characters can be updated through a new Label Updater tool.
Flow 5.0 also enables a faster method to calculate build times for builds of different part quantity. After a part has been prepared to be built, users can vary the part quantity and see updated build times to better understand the economics of scaled production. This enables contract manufacturers to speed up their quoting process and accelerates OEM planning and scheduling.
Velo3D considers the Flow software a key part of its metal Additive Manufacturing solution. The software takes CAD files and turns them into AM build files without specialisation or knowledge of Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM). Other parts of this solution include the Sapphire metal AM machines, Assure quality assurance software and the underlying Intelligent Fusion manufacturing process.
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