Additive Manufacturing Cluster Meeting to Focus on Tooling

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Combating the misperception that additive manufacturing is only being used for prototyping is a misconception Barb Ewing says she wants to dispel.

How additive manufacturing is being utilized in tooling specifically will be the focus of next Thursday’s meeting of the Northeast Ohio Additive Manufacturing Cluster.

The meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. June 8 at the Brecksville Community Center, 1 Community Drive, Brecksville.

Manufacturers don’t have to see themselves as an advanced manufacturing company to take advantage of additive manufacturing, Ewing, CEO of the Youngstown Business Incubator, said. YBI is one of the founders of the additive manufacturing cluster.

“That additive manufacturing is still only being used for prototyping is absolutely inaccurate,” Ewing said. “There are already companies today that are using additive for not just prototyping or low-volume production but for the development of the manufacturing processes that then can be integrated into a manufacturing setting.”

Programs will cover Stratasys applications for additive manufacturing in tooling, a panel discussion on new tooling processes and applications,  several mini-session presentations and an update on this year’s Rapid conference and the Manufacturing USA network.

While programs at YBI and America Makes, the Manufacturing USA additive manufacturing technology hub housed on the incubator campus, often focus on low-volume tooling production, the technology “is starting to enter into even higher volume applications as processes get more fully developed,” Ewing said.

“As the technology evolves, we’re finding more and more applications,” she said.

Cost to attend the event is $25 and includes lunch. Those interested can register at the cluster’s website.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.