Industrial 3D printing software developer and winner of the2019 Formnext start-up challenge,Exponential Technologies(xT), has gained investment from the German-basedAPXVC fund.
尽管尚未披露确切的筹集资金数量，但预计预期的投资将帮助该公司在德国工业部门的业务发展。鉴于APX与汽车制造商有很强的联系保时捷, the deal could allow Exponential Technologies to access new automotive, materials and manufacturing clients, with its proprietary xT SAAM AI platform.
XT的联合创始人兼首席执行官Matthias Kaiser表示：“作为全球工业强国，我的祖国一直是我们主要的重点市场之一。”“现在，APX的投资进一步加强了这一联系。我们期待与德国化学和材料工业家的许多即将到来的项目。”
“Germany is in the midst of a massive digital transformation, and xT wants to establish itself as a major driver of this shift towards the next generation of industrial technologies.”
AI-based industrial optimization
Co-founded in July 2019 by Pavel Cacivkin, Matthias Kaiser and Girts Smelters, Exponential Technologies specializes in the development of ML-driven programs that serve to accelerate existing industrial processes. The company’s main software offering, xT SAAM, is built around a small data AI software, which is often deployed to help R&D engineers expedite the creation of new 3D printing materials.
According to Exponential Technologies, other similarly-applied packages are too complex, and require users to have prior programming knowledge, forcing many to adopt inefficient one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) testing methods. By contrast, xT SAAM operates using the JSON API format, which allows it to be connected to any machine, database or software application without needing any reprogramming.
The versatile platform’s JSON interface also enables users to fully-automate the material analysis and optimization process, while its built-in Python engine allows it to be integrated seamlessly into existing setups. Similarly, given that many large firms hire Design of Experiments (DoE) experts to run alternative softwares, they could now stand to reduce their wage bills by adopting xT SAAM technology.
除了材料研发外，还可以利用指数技术的软件来优化3D打印机的参数设置，以及其他用于制药生产的生物反应器等机器。在APX新发现的支持下，该公司现在打算进一步探索其在国内德国市场中其技术的工业，医学和化学潜力。
APX投资于XT的潜力
Backed by the media and automotive firmsAxel SpringerPorsche，APX投资了非常美好的初创企业，自2018年以来，它已为20个行业的80多家新公司提供了资金。通过先前的投资，风险投资基金与多个领域的活跃制造商建立了密切的联系，而指数技术现在旨在利用这些联系人来建立其客户群。
“We are particularly excited about the investment, as APX is well connected to the Porsche Group,” added Kaiser. “It’s especially important because our newest software version has applications in R&D as well as in the management of production anomalies. We see a huge potential market for automotive here, but also other manufacturing industries.”
Elsewhere, Exponential Technologies has also worked closely with German industrial firm埃文克to help optimize its chemical formulation process, and the company is hoping that its platform’s strong performance within the project will yield further opportunities, either in this area, or other anomaly management, biotech or 3D printing applications.
ML-driven 3D printing advances
Commercial 3D printing software developers are increasingly incorporating AI and ML tools into their programs, as a means of helping clients drive maximal efficiency from their production workflows. Earlier this year,Oqtonraised $40 million towards the development of itsAI-powered automated software platform, which is capable of accelerating the CNC machining, 3D printing and robotic welding processes.
Engineering software developerCoretechnologiehas also added AI algorithms to its 4D_Additive print preparation program, via the introduction of a新的嵌套功能。该功能结合了自动化的智能行为和ML工具，以确保嵌套过程中构建空间中均匀的零件布置。
3D printer manufacturer标记, meanwhile, has taken a different approach and integrated AI technology into itsBlacksmith software, as a means of enhancing its X7 3D printer’s performance. The program includes a patented scanning algorithm, that enables manufacturers to assess just how close their parts got to their original STLs.
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Featured image shows a set of FDM 3D printed parts produced using Exponential Technologies’ software. Photo via Exponential Technologies.
