3DEXPERIENCE World 2023 highlights the power of imagination

By: Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio

“The journey from ideation to creation starts when we are free to imagine how things could be, instead of how they are,” such inspiring words from Gian Paolo Bassi, Senior Vice President, 3DEXPERIENCE Works, Dassault Systèmes, during the recent 3DExperience World 2023 in Nashville, Tennessee.

The event hosted about 10,000 people after two years of being physically apart. International Metalworking News for Asia was fortunate to attend and experience onsite how the entire community reconnected through the power of experience, discovering the potential of the platform, and creating a more sustainable future through the power of community. As always, the conference was packed with a lot of key messages and takeaways, as well as dozens of sessions presented by experienced engineers who are experts at using these tools. It was indeed a week for education and networking.

During the general session on the first day, Gian Paolo Bassi explained that this year’s theme was inspired partly by the actions of the community during the COVID-19 pandemic. He described, “The visual world that you created with the platform, gave everybody the freedom to imagine and create new solutions for an emergency that came out of nowhere and could not have been expected. It showed that knowledge is less important than imagination, because knowledge is limited while imagination has no limit. Our imagination empowered us to fight back and so the power of imagination is the theme of 3DEXPERIENCE World 2023.”

Main takeaways

One of the main takeaways from 3DEXPERIENCE World 2023 was the announcement that starting July 1, every seat of SOLIDWORKS will include 3DEXPERIENCE cloud solutions, which means that users will have the ability to share and mark up a model for 3D view, in any browser, with everyone safely—no license or installation needed.

Moreover, Dassault Systèmes’ mission is to expand the most successful design ecosystem the world has seen progress. Its powerful innovation portfolio, 3DEXPERIENCE Works, is a true imagination engine. They have added machine learning and generative designcapabilities to implore and experiment with even greater freedom.

Bernard Charles, Chairman of the Board & CEO Dassault Systems, noted, “We would continue to work not only on the ecosystem that we are building but on continuously improving the quality of work that users would have access to. AI is especially key to gathering the necessary data and creating even better designs.”

Dassault Systèmes also added advanced simulation applications of unmatched accuracy to virtually test all aspects of the real world, from structural analysis to fluid dynamics and electromagnetic field interaction. The company is also moving full speed into digital manufacturing for everything from CNC machining to 3D printing; everything you need for full factory automation, including robot programming, and virtual factory layout and plant design. They also have the manufacturing tools that can make a significant impact on many manufacturers of any size who are struggling with a lack of skilled talent and disrupted supply chains by helping them to automate where they can.

Charles added, “The future of imagination is very well associated with the future of design and new design techniques. Then through those we are also able to transform our companies.”

Digital Twin

Another topic of conversation at the conference this year was the importance of simulation, both for businesses and for designs. Through improved simulation, users should be able to get more accurate testing to better plan parts or even plan out factories. Furthermore, at 3DEXPERIENCE World, attendees were also able to learn about the importance of digital twins.

Defined by IBM as “a virtual model designed to accurately reflect a physical object,” digital twins can be used for any number of purposes. For example, in 3D printing they are often the scanned parts that are turned into a design and then printed, useful when recreating spare parts. It could also be useful in medical applications.

3D Printing

On the floor of the show, several projects that were created using additive manufacturing were seen. For example, EXOSAPIEN Technologies, who also were on the main stage, were showing a full 3D printed exoskeleton which included 3D printed controls. There was also a replication of Captain Rex, the robot which used to be the pilot in Disneyland’s iconic “Star Tours” attraction. This moving and talking robot was 3D printed using a variety of technologies including SLA, FDM and even metal 3D printing.

Also, during the general session on the first day, we were introduced to Ilya Mirman, Head of Marketing and Sales Operations at Verve Motion. Verve Motion is creating a high-performance exosuit that could help industrial workers when lifting heavy items at work, protecting notably their backs from damage. Though the entire exosuit is not 3D printed, they did turn to Nexa3D’s XiP 3D printer to create important parts as a way to accelerate time to market. Not only that, but Mirman also showed his own personal projects, 3D printed guitars made using generative design.

In conclusion

Overall, 3DEXPERIENCE World is packed with information and learning that can be used for improving your business plan for the long run. With the overabundance of information shared at an event like this, you are certain to return to your workplace with new knowledge, best strategies, techniques, and connections that are atypical to be taken up anywhere else.

Quoting Albert Einstein, Gian Paolo went on to say that imagination is more important than knowledge, because knowledge is limited to what we know, but imagination has no constraints. “We are here to be inspired, to push the limits of our own imagination,” he said.