Materialise Advances Its Open Software Strategy

Materialise NV unveils the next phase of its open, secure software ecosystem strategy, introducing three CO-AM solutions and new enabling technologies to advance workflow automation and interoperability.

“Industrializing additive manufacturing isn't a software problem or a hardware problem; it's a manufacturing problem,” says Udo Eberlein, vice president of Software at Materialise. “It requires understanding the complete workflow, the real constraints, and the practical trade-offs that production teams face every day."

The new offerings—CO-AM Professional, CO-AM NPI, and CO-AM Enterprise—are powered by CO-AM Brix, a new low-code, node-based automation technology, and CO-AM Build Platform, a cloud-based, visual editor for build and platform preparation. Materialise also reports that its Next-Generation Build Processors feature an open, modular framework, enabling manufacturers to integrate diverse tools and strategies into their workflows.

• CO-AM Professional—Delivers workflow automation and built-in traceability for high-mix, low-volume AM. Cloud-based and integrated with Magics, it unifies data and build/platform prep, embedding AM know-how.
• CO-AM NPI—Accelerates NPI and qualification for series AM parts with CO-AM Brix toolpath optimization and build prep engineering, tuning scan strategies. 

• CO-AM Enterprise—Combines CO-AM Professional’s expert AM preparation with full production execution and order management, delivering end-to-end workflow management. By connecting real-time shopfloor data and capturing input/output production and quality records, it provides visibility and traceability.

Supported by Materialise Professional Services, these offerings enable ability to design, implement, and scale CO-AM solutions. 

“The AM industry needs an ecosystem that connects tools and automates workflows. No point solution will solve this challenge,” says Eberlein. “Platforms without deep domain knowledge risk becoming abstraction layers, convenient until they’re not, flexible until you need something they didn’t anticipate.”

Building Blocks for Connected Ecosystem

CO-AM Brix—Materialise's new enabling technology for automating and optimizing manufacturing workflows through visual, node-based automation. Building on the Magics SDK strategy announced last year, Brix integrates over 800 algorithms from Materialise's SDK suite, including Magics SDK, Build Processor SDK, and 3-matic SDK.

CO-AM Build Platform—Enables part and platform viewing and editing directly in the cloud, creating a single source of truth for AM data and workflows. Automated workflows designed in CO-AM Brix can be executed instantly, while interactive projects can be opened in Magics with revision tracking. 

Open Build Processor Architecture—The Next Generation of Build Processor framework now features a fully open, modular architecture. Manufacturers can integrate validated OEM Build Processors, Materialise-developed processors, or create fully customized strategies using the Build Processor SDK.  

Shared Domain Model—As part of its collaboration with the Leading Minds consortium, Materialise is sharing an open domain model that defines key AM entities, including Part, Build, Material Lot, Machine, Parameter Set, Telemetry, Quality, and Genealogy.   

By providing partners with this common language for AM operations, Materialise enables them to test integrations and build compatible solutions.  

To learn more about our software offering, visit our CO-AM ecosystem page.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.