Avante Technology announced a new version of their ShapeFish 3D file manager.
The Wyoming company develops standards-based software technology for the additive manufacturing industry, with a focus on 3D file optimization. They want to improve the quality of AM applications through the use of standards-based software.
They focus on the AMF file format, which is not as well known as 3MF. Both intend on replacing the almost-but-not-quite obsolete STL file format that was invented back in the 1980s. STL simply does not handle today’s 3D printing complexities.
While many software tools use 3MF, AMF is actually certified as an ISO standard: ISO/ASTM 52915 back in 2013. Avante Technology explains:
“Originally published in 2013, the XML-based ISO/ASTM 52915 standard specification for additive manufacturing format(AMF) is the first and only international standard specification for additive manufacturing. Currently in its third version (v1.2), this specification includes definitions for a wide range of useful metadata attributes of the design file that go beyond the specific mesh attributes. It also includes the unique ability to support custom metadata at file level, object level, component level, or by material in a specified manner for interoperability with other software and processes in the printing workflow.”
Avante Technology’s ShapeFish is said to be the very first commercial application that converts older STL files into modern, ISO-certified AMF files. It also provides a way to easily customize metadata to manage the workflow, providing a significant level of control.
Avante Technology explains:
”For example, a multi-component or multi-material assembly with different surface specifications and tolerance values for each component could be optimally oriented on the print bed to obtain the desired print results on two different printing systems; each using separate custom meta data tags included in the file.”
Another reason for the importance of metadata is explained by Avante Technology President Robert Zollo, who said:
”The metadata needed by a bio-printing lab to ensure optimal quality and validation for FDA approval may be completely different from the needs of engineers designing replacement parts for a military helicopter,” said Zollo. “AMF’s ability to support application-specific metadata in an ISO-compliant way is necessary for each industry to improve the quality and manufacturing efficiency needed to remain competitive.”
Avante Technology said the new release of ShapeFish will be available in March at a cost of US$50 per single user.
If you’re interested in the AMF file format for additive manufacturing, you might want to check out Avante Technology’s offerings.
