Hexagon AB, a leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies, has completed the acquisition of CADS Additive GmbH, a fast-growing provider of specialised software that helps companies prepare designs for metal additive manufacturing (AM).

3D printing complements incumbent technologies by offering manufacturers greater design freedom and the potential to reduce waste and increase flexibility. CADS Additive simplifies the process of 3D printing on powder bed fusion (PBF) machines. The software guides users through the build preparation, helping companies turn design files into printer instructions and improve their manufacturing productivity.

CADS Additive has been a partner of Hexagon since 2021, integrating its build preparation and support structure creation capabilities with Hexagon’s market leading Simufact Additive process simulation software. Shared development roadmaps will further improve workflows, allowing users to adjust the orientation and support structure of their 3D prints. This will help shorten the additive manufacturing (AM) workflow and provide easy-to-follow steps to mitigate quality implications caused by changes to the orientation or support structure.

The AM Studio software from CADS Additive is already connected to Hexagon’s Nexus digital reality platform. The software will complete Hexagon’s Nexus-enabled AM workflow, applying its extensive technology portfolio to computer aided design (CAD) model preparation, build preparation, simulation-based optimisations, quality and production intelligence, and the automation of computer aided manufacturing (CAM) to finish parts.