3D Control Systems and HP announce a collaboration for the integration of the manufacturer’s API – application programming interface with the software provider’s platform. The announcement follows the recent launch of 3D Control Systems’ cloud-based AM platform ZAP.
Simply put, an API is a software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other. For those who do not know, each time you use an app like Facebook, send an instant message, or check the weather on your phone for instance, you’re using an API.
In the AM industry, a lack of connectivity between 3D printers is often a waste of time for engineers who need to monitor every stage of the manufacturing process manually, or one step at the time. To address this issue, there is a need to standardise the request management process, and streamline the production management and scheduling as well as post-processing management.
HP announced a similar collaboration with AMFG last year to enable to improve additive manufacturing production through system connectivity. We saw another example with Stratasys, Link3D and Identify3D.
3D Control Systems explains that as from now on, HP Jet Fusion users could connect directly with their systems through its software platform and get an easy device management as well as real-time updates on performance and efficiency.
“Our customers demand the highest level of efficiency and digital manufacturing capabilities as they look to optimize their 3D printing production,” said Michelle Bockman, CEO, 3D Control Systems. “The ability to easily connect systems, receive important data and streamline workflow is critical to meet industrial-grade performance and quality requirements. We are excited to work with HP and take advantage of the API connectivity and support they are providing to the industry.”
Following the launch of ZAP, we sat down with Bockman to understand why the company is gambling on cloud technology and clarify possible misunderstandings around the company’s name.
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