AMUG on the 2022 Conference and What Attendees Can Expect

AMUG 2022 is just around the corner! Presented as the conference “designed for users, by users,” the Additive Manufacturing Users Group Conference will be welcoming people from around the world from April 3rd-7th, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Attendees can expect an agenda packed with keynote presentations, technical sessions, panel discussions, training labs and workshops as well as a technical competition, Innovators Showcase and the AMUGexpo. To learn more about the conference this year, we sat down with Jordan Weston, AMUG’s Director of Conference & Education.

3DN: Could you introduce yourself and your connection to 3D Printing?

I am the Manger of Operations of the Rapid Prototyping Center at Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE).  With four full-time staff, plus about 15 undergraduate and graduate students, we provide additive manufacturing education, applications development, and services to a non-compete consortium of about 45 industrial partners.  In addition to providing professional education to our consortium, we’re also training our student employees on the “How, Where, and Why” 3D printing can add value to the product development cycle. Many of our graduates continue with a career path in the additive manufacturing industry!

3DN: What is AMUG and how did you get involved with the conference?

AMUG is the Additive Manufacturing Users Group, which has a mission of educating and advancing the uses and applications of additive manufacturing technologies.  I became involved when I attended my first conference in 2012 where I made a presentation about best practices in recycling materials for laser sintering systems.  Eventually I became more involved in filling the agenda with presentations, panels, and workshops as a track leader for the Education & Training and the Software tracks.  Last year, I was elected to a board position as Director of Education & Conference.

3DN: For someone who is going to the AMUG Conference for the first time, what could they expect?

Prepare to network!  Every aspect of the conference is designed around promoting conversation, sharing, and networking.  Food and evening events are are included with an AMUG Conference registration.  AMUG provides breakfast, lunch, and dinner. We do this to encourage the AMUG community spend each day (from breakfast to bedtime)of the conference fully immersed in networking and information gathering.  Additionally, every AMUG Conference attendee must be an owner/operator/user of additive manufacturing technology. This means that every person you meet has insights and knowledge to share about additive manufacturing. WIth our conference’s structure, you can expect some very insightful conversations throughout the week.

3DN: What are you the most excited about for this upcoming conference?

I’m very excited to see the hands-on workshops that have been organised by this year’s AMUG track leaders.  We have more workshops on the agenda this year than in any previous year, and in an effort to combat the fatigue that inevitably sets in after a week of sitting in presentations and panel discussions, we chose Thursday, the last day of the conference, to have a heavy focus on hands-on, interactive workshops.  These workshops cover casting metal parts, silicone molding, support removal, 3D scanning for reverse engineering, and more.

I’m also excited to hear from our keynote speakers and sit in on the Innovators Showcase.  This year’s keynotes are both from the automotive industry: Kevin Czinger from Divergent 3D and Ellen Lee from Ford Motor Company.  It will be very interesting to hear perspectives on the present and future of additive manufacturing in the automotive industry from both a young company seeking to innovate and disrupt manufacturing and an established company seeking to adapt and lead.  The featured guest for this year’s AMUG Innovators Showcase is Andy Christensen, a pioneer in developing and expanding medical applications of additive manufacturing.  I’m excited to listen in on this ‘fireside chat’ with Andy to hear him speak about highlights of his career, including many medical and regulatory “firsts” and high-profile medical cases.

3DN: Many people from Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) have been involved in the conference, what is the connection between the two?

With MSOE having over 30 years of experience and professional education in additive manufacturing through its Rapid Prototyping Center and the consortium that it supports, it aligns so well with AMUG’s mission of advancing education and applications of these technologies.  Three MSOE staff members have served on the AMUG Board of Directors.  Over the years, MSOE representatives have participated in presentations, panels, workshops, Technical Competitions (and won a few), served on committees, and even had a faculty member win the Randy Steven Scholarship for Teachers/Professors.  Additionally, going through the list of AMUG’s Distinguished INnovator Operators Award (DINO) recipients, a prestigious honor bestowed upon those with additive manufacturing expertise and a willingness to share through contributions, I can count seven recipients that are current or former MSOE employees, or MSOE alumni.  You could definitely say MSOE has been involved in the conference as well as the additive manufacturing industry!

3DN: Any last words for our readers?

The upcoming AMUG Conference will soon bring together many users from around the world to share expertise, best practices, and application developments in additive manufacturing.  If you are a part of this industry, this is a “can’t miss” event.  I look forward to seeing you there! You can register HERE.

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