3D Printing Industry will host AMA: Software on 22 October 2026, bringing together software developers, manufacturers, researchers and end users to examine the technologies shaping the future of additive manufacturing and advanced production.
Software increasingly determines what additive manufacturing systems can produce, how reliably they operate and whether they can be integrated into wider industrial workflows. From AI-assisted design and process simulation to production management, cybersecurity and quality assurance, the software layer is becoming one of the industry’s most important competitive battlegrounds.
AMA: Software 2026 will explore this changing landscape through expert presentations, panel discussions and live audience Q&A sessions. The online event will connect specialists from across the additive manufacturing ecosystem while also examining lessons from the broader advanced manufacturing software sector.
Topics under discussion at AMA: Software 2026
The programme is expected to cover:
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning in design and manufacturing
- Generative design, topology optimisation and computational engineering
- Design for additive manufacturing and automated part optimisation
- Physics-based simulation and prediction of manufacturing outcomes
- Toolpath generation, slicing and machine control
- Build preparation and process parameter optimisation
- Digital twins and virtual commissioning
- In-process monitoring, inspection and quality assurance
- Manufacturing execution systems and production workflow management
- Digital thread, traceability and interoperability
- Cloud manufacturing and distributed production
- Cybersecurity and protection of industrial data
- Automation of quoting, costing and production planning
- Software for qualification and certification
- Emerging research with the potential to transform industrial production
The event will consider both current industrial deployments and technologies that remain at the research or early-commercialisation stage. Speakers will be encouraged to examine practical results, technical limitations and the remaining barriers to adoption: not simply present a product demonstration.
Who should attend AMA: Software 2026?
AMA: Software is designed for:
- Additive manufacturing users and production engineers
- Designers, simulation specialists and computational engineers
- Software developers and technology companies
- Machine manufacturers and materials companies
- Aerospace, automotive, energy, healthcare and consumer-product manufacturers
- Researchers and academic teams
- Quality, certification and cybersecurity professionals
- Executives responsible for digital manufacturing strategy
- Investors and analysts following industrial software and advanced manufacturing
The event is particularly relevant to organisations deciding how software can improve productivity, repeatability and scalability within additive manufacturing.
Free registration for AMA: Software 2026 is now open here.
AMA: Software builds on the success of 3D Printing Industry’s wider Additive Manufacturing Advantage (AMA) series, which has brought together leading voices from aerospace, space and defence, automotive, mobility, energy, healthcare and advanced manufacturing. Previous events have featured contributors from organisations including NASA, Safran, RTX, GKN Aerospace, America Makes and ASTM International. The series combines expert presentations and panel discussions with a highly engaged live audience that is encouraged to question speakers and contribute directly to the conversation.
The online format is not intended to replace physical events. It expands access to specialist discussions across international borders and reaches deeper into organisations that may send only a small number of representatives to conferences. In-person meetings remain essential for building trust and deepening industry relationships, which is why the Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) serves as Industry Partner for the AMA series.
Materialise is supporting AMA: Software as an event sponsor. As one of the additive manufacturing industry’s longest-established software companies, its involvement reflects the central role software now plays across design, build preparation and industrial production.
A limited number of additional sponsorship placements remain available for software developers and other organisations seeking to reach an engaged professional additive manufacturing audience. Interested companies can contact 3DPI for further details.
Call for Speakers
3D Printing Industry is now inviting proposals from prospective speakers.
We welcome submissions from software companies, manufacturers, universities, research organisations and industrial users with compelling technical work, deployment experience or informed perspectives to share.
Potential contributions might include:
- A real-world implementation or case study
- New research or an emerging software methodology
- Evidence of measurable production improvements
- A candid examination of technical or commercial barriers
- A perspective on where additive manufacturing software is heading next
Presentations should offer useful insight to an informed professional audience. Commercial organisations are welcome to participate, but proposals should focus on the technology, application or lessons learned rather than a conventional sales presentation.
The programme will include individual presentations and moderated panel discussions, with opportunities for the live audience to submit questions.
Presentations and panels will be supported by editorial coverage from 3D Printing Industry, extending the conversation beyond the live programme.
Those interested in speaking at AMA: Software on 22 October 2026 should complete this form with a proposed topic, short summary and speaker biography.
We already have an outstanding group of confirmed speakers, and look forward to announcing these shortly.
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