AMCM Integrates PanOptimization Simulation Into Metal 3D Printing Prep

Heat is the bottleneck

Large metal 3D printed parts accumulate heat faster than the printer can dissipate it. The result is distortion, residual stress, and internal defects. AMCM's M 4K and M 8K systems push kilogram-scale builds through laser powder bed fusion, so thermal management is not optional. It is the difference between a usable part and a $50,000 paperweight.

The company has integrated PanOptimization's PanX simulation platform directly into EOSPRINT, its build preparation software. Instead of running simulation as a separate step, engineers can now model thermomechanical behavior before the build starts, then feed optimized parameters straight back to the printer.

What the integration does

PanX reads the openjz file from EOSPRINT, extracting geometry, build plate layout, and processing parameters. Where EOSPRINT leaves gaps, the API fills them in: processing time per layer, dwell times, laser power profiles. The simulation runs on a standard workstation and, according to PanOptimization, completes in under an hour even for meter-scale components.

When the simulation finishes, optimized dwell times, compensated geometries, and adjusted laser powers are written back into the openjz file automatically. The engineer does not manually transfer settings or risk transcription errors. The workflow closes the loop between prediction and production.

Why linear scaling matters

Traditional finite element analysis grows cubically with problem size. Double the model size and compute time multiplies by eight. PanX uses a multigrid modeling method that scales roughly linearly with geometry complexity. That shift means a laptop can handle simulations that previously required a server cluster.

AMCM demonstrated the workflow on an M 8K build, where local heat accumulation can cause distortion, dimensional deviation, and partially sintered powder that is difficult to depowder. Catching those issues in simulation before the build starts costs hours of compute time instead of days of failed production and wasted material.

This is not a theoretical improvement. Tobias Petzinger, Application Specialist at AMCM, described it as a practical necessity: "Especially for the large and complex applications our customers manufacture on the AMCM M 4K and M 8K, thermomechanical simulation is a key tool to counteract overheating and thermally induced distortion."