Renishaw, Altair Deepen Partnership for Additive Design, Manufacturing

Renishaw Inc. has partnered with Altair, a provider of enterprise-class engineering software, for a series of projects aimed at bringing additive manufacturing (AM) into serial end-use production.

“Altair is a world leader in simulation-driven design,” says Stephen Anderson, AM business development manager with Renishaw. “Research combining their software with our latest systems will give them practical insights that will lead to innovative improvements in their products.”

“This collaboration helps ensure AM part development, print cycles and scrap rates are minimized for our customers,” says David Coates, senior program manager with Altair.

The two companies have worked closely together for many years, collaborating on multiple projects including working with Robot Bike Co. on a universal frame, a “spider” bracket for architectural glass panels, and a pivoting bell crank for the suspension system of a race car. Altair’s simulation-driven approach is said to enable users to generate reliable designs that will print “right the first time”. Through their association, Renishaw has been able to apply Altair’s range software products such as the HyperWorks suite, which includes Altair Inspire and Altair OptiStruct. Meanwhile, Altair has been able to rely on using Renishaw’s range of metal 3D printing systems to successfully manufacture products from customer concepts.

Now the two teams are offering joint seminars, workshops and training events to customers that practically demonstrate metal AM production from powder to part, with emphasis placed on throughput and machine productivity. Customers can thus engage in AM design projects with Altair to develop designs ideally suited for Renishaw 3D printers. Similarly, customers wishing to use Renishaw Solutions Centers to design and test out the manufacturing of metal AM parts can rely on Altair software and expertise.