AMUG 2024: Celebrating Additive Manufacturing Excellence, Innovation, and Community Leadership

The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) recently concluded its highly anticipated 2024 conference, an annual event celebrated for its profound focus on education, networking, and the advancement of additive manufacturing. Held once again in the vibrant city of Chicago, AMUG 2024 brought together a diverse community of industry professionals, innovators, and enthusiasts under its enduring motto: ‘by users, for users.’ This philosophy underpins every aspect of the conference, from insightful presentations and collaborative discussions to thrilling competitions where members showcase groundbreaking 3D printing processes and applications.

As the dust settled on another successful gathering, AMUG proudly announced the recipients of its most prestigious accolades: the Technical Competition winners, the esteemed DINO Awards, and a rare Lifetime Achievement Award. These recognitions celebrate individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the additive manufacturing industry, pushing boundaries and fostering a spirit of innovation. Join us as we delve into the details of these deserving honorees and their remarkable achievements.

AMUG Bestows a Rare Lifetime Achievement Award

In a moment of profound recognition, AMUG presented only the second Lifetime Achievement Award in its illustrious 36-year history. This exceptional honor was bestowed upon Gary Rabinovitz, a towering figure in the additive manufacturing community. Rabinovitz, who serves as the AM/3D Printing Lab Manager at Reebok and is a dedicated member of AMUG’s Board of Directors, received the award for his incredible 24 years of unwavering service, diligent hard work, and steadfast dedication to the organization and the wider AM industry.

The award was presented by Paul Bates, Rabinovitz’s former manager at Reebok and a past AMUG President, adding a deeply personal touch to the ceremony. Bates eloquently articulated Rabinovitz’s indispensable role, stating, “Much of what Gary has done is unknown to the AMUG membership. But having worked closely with him for so many years, I witnessed his pivotal role in providing leadership, guidance and counsel as AMUG transitioned over the past 24 years. I have also seen his diligence in doing the work needed to make the changes possible and keep AMUG true to its mission.” This heartfelt testimony underscores the quiet, yet monumental, impact Rabinovitz has had on shaping AMUG into the thriving community it is today. His contributions, often behind the scenes, have been instrumental in upholding the organization’s core values and guiding its evolution through significant shifts in the additive manufacturing landscape.

With this Lifetime Achievement Award, Gary Rabinovitz joins Thomas Sorovetz as the most decorated AMUG member, according to an official press release from the group. Both individuals have achieved the remarkable feat of winning all three of AMUG’s most prestigious awards: the President’s Award (2014), the DINO (Distinguished Innovator Operator) Award (2001), and now the Lifetime Achievement Award (2024). This distinction is undeniably well-deserved, considering Rabinovitz has served as an AMUG officer or director since 2011. Over these 13 years, he has held numerous vital positions, including Vice President, President, Advisor to the Board, Chairman, and Director at Large. His continuous leadership and dedication have profoundly influenced AMUG’s growth and success, cementing his legacy as a true pioneer and servant of the additive manufacturing community.

Recognizing Excellence: This Year’s DINO Award Recipients

The DINO (Distinguished Innovator Operator) Awards stand as a cornerstone of AMUG’s annual recognition program. These highly coveted awards celebrate individuals who demonstrate exceptional expertise, leadership, and service within the additive manufacturing sector. More than just acknowledging technical prowess, DINO Awards honor those who have consistently contributed to the industry’s growth and, crucially, to the AMUG organization and its renowned conference. Recipients are selected based on their tenure in the AM sector, years of dedicated service, significant contributions to the broader industry, and their invaluable commitment to the AMUG community.

At the 36th annual AMUG conference, five outstanding individuals were inducted into this elite group of Distinguished Innovator Operators. This year’s DINO recipients are Jamie Cone from BD, Steve Grundahl from Prototek, Thomas Murphy from the New Jersey Innovation Institute – COMET, Vadim Pikhovich from MAGMA Foundry Technologies, and Bob Renella from GoEngineer. Each of these honorees has played a pivotal role in ensuring AMUG’s continued success over the years, embodying the spirit of innovation and collaboration that defines the group. Their collective efforts have significantly enriched the AMUG community and propelled the additive manufacturing industry forward.

Shannon VanDeren, DINO Selection Committee Co-Chair and AMUG President, provided further insight into the rigorous selection process, emphasizing, “The DINO Selection Committee carefully considers each nomination for a DINO, ensuring the prerequisites for this award are met and actions are representative of the qualities of an AMUG Distinguished Innovator Operator.” This statement highlights the meticulous care taken to identify individuals who not only possess deep additive manufacturing expertise but also consistently exemplify the values of innovation, leadership, and active participation within the AMUG framework. The DINO Awards serve as a testament to the vibrant, user-driven community that AMUG tirelessly cultivates, recognizing those who truly lead by example in the ever-evolving world of 3D printing.

AMUG 2024 Announces Technical Competition Award Winners: Showcasing Cutting-Edge Applications

Last but certainly not least, AMUG unveiled the winners of its highly anticipated 2024 Technical Competition. This prestigious competition is a cornerstone of the annual event, designed to recognize and celebrate excellence in additive manufacturing applications and advanced finishing techniques. The competition features three distinct categories: Advanced Concepts, Advanced Finishing, and the coveted Members’ Choice. This year, the top honors were awarded to Point Designs LLC, BuildParts by CIDEAS, and Eaton, respectively, for their truly innovative and skillfully executed projects.

Bonnie Meyer, Chair of the Technical Competition Committee, eloquently summarized the essence of the event: “This event showcases the innovations, craftsmanship, and dedication to driving advances in additive manufacturing. The participants range from individuals to team collaborations, but every entry demonstrates ingenuity and highlights projects that are only made possible with the use of additive manufacturing technologies.” Her words capture the spirit of the competition, which consistently brings forth a diverse array of projects that not only push the boundaries of what’s possible with 3D printing but also inspire the entire additive manufacturing community.

Advanced Concepts: Lightweight Revolution by Point Designs LLC

This year, the winning entry for the Advanced Concepts category was presented by Chrisk Baschuk from Point Designs LLC for his groundbreaking project, “Lightweight Revolution: Ventilated Multi-material Shoulder Disarticulation Prosthesis.” This remarkable patient-specific device was fabricated using PA 12 and TPU materials through Multi Jet Fusion technology. The project garnered significant attention and praise for its innovative balance of superior functionality and enhanced user comfort. Baschuk particularly highlighted that by strategically utilizing additive manufacturing, his team was able to significantly reduce both the bulkiness and overall weight of the prosthesis. Furthermore, AM enabled the integration of complex design features crucial for improving breathability, facilitating heat dissipation, and seamlessly incorporating electronic components. This project stands as a prime example of how advanced 3D printing concepts can lead to transformative solutions in critical fields like medical prosthetics, offering unprecedented levels of customization and performance for patients.

Advanced Finishing: Coin Operated Rides by BuildParts by CIDEAS

Mike Littrell from BuildParts, a previous Technical Competition winner, once again impressed the judges and secured the award in the Advanced Finishing category with his captivating entry, “Coin Operated Rides.” This project featured exquisitely detailed scale replicas designed to pay homage to a cherished, bygone era of entertainment and culture. Among the nostalgic pieces were a “race to the Moon” rocket scooter and a futuristic 1950s spacecraft, evoking a sense of wonder and historical charm. What made this entry particularly outstanding was that each model boasted an impressive 99% printed parts, leveraging a combination of DLP, FDM, and SLA additive manufacturing technologies. Beyond the printing itself, the project highlighted meticulous post-processing, demonstrating a spectrum of finishing techniques. Some models were fully finished to a pristine, consumer-ready standard, others were carefully sanded and primed, while certain pieces were deliberately displayed in their as-printed state, showcasing the raw capabilities of the 3D printing process. This comprehensive approach to finishing underscored the artistry and technical skill required to elevate 3D printed objects to a truly professional and aesthetically pleasing level.

Members’ Choice: Fully AM Luminaire by Eaton

Finally, the highly anticipated Members’ Choice award, chosen through direct voting by AMUG members, was presented to Sam Mills, an Engineering Specialist for Eaton, for his innovative project, “Fully AM Luminaire.” Explaining the significance of the project, Mills stated, “The luminaire platform is the only known custom solution that leverages multiple additive manufacturing technologies, making it a pioneering solution in the lighting field. It demonstrated the value of AM [additive manufacturing] to manufacture the entire lighting solution.” The results of this ambitious project are truly impressive, achieving a best-in-class efficiency of 150 lumens/W, a testament to the exceptional quality and performance of the overall product.

The luminaire project stands out for its extensive use of additive manufacturing, with over 90% of its components being 3D printed. This remarkable feat was achieved by meticulously employing Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM) techniques throughout the development process. Furthermore, the solution successfully met critical Department of Energy (DOE) manufacturing goals related to reshoring, SKU reduction, and overall efficiency, demonstrating its potential for broader industrial impact. While the project, in its current iteration, might not appear to be the most cost-effective solution for mass production, the judges profoundly appreciated its inherent innovation and the sophisticated application of diverse additive manufacturing techniques. This project exemplifies the cutting edge of what is possible when AM is fully integrated into product design and manufacturing processes, setting a new benchmark for future advancements in the lighting industry.

To learn more about AMUG, the full list of competition winners, and the impactful work being done in the additive manufacturing community, you can visit their official website HERE.

What are your thoughts on the 2024 AMUG award winners and their groundbreaking projects? Let us know in a comment below or connect with us on our LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t forget to sign up for our free weekly newsletter here, for the latest 3D printing news straight to your inbox! You can also find all our videos on our YouTube channel.

*Cover Photo: Current and previous DINO Award winners (photo credits: AMUG)