Nikon SLM Adds PanX Simulation Templates to Metal 3D Printing Workflow-3DPTimes

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Nikon SLM Adds PanX Simulation Templates to Metal 3D Printing Workflow

November 5, 2026 Software 3DPTimes Editors | Nikon SLM Solutions and PanOptimization 8 Share to X.com

The October 29 partnership brings machine-, material- and process-specific templates into PanX to help engineers identify thermal risks before committing to large laser powder bed fusion builds.

A sectioned aerospike example (left) and its PanX simulation mesh (right). Physical-part imagery courtesy of AMCM. Simulation image by PanOptimization.

What the templates change before a build

Nikon SLM Solutions and PanOptimization announced on October 29, 2026 that they are integrating PanX simulation into Nikon’s metal additive manufacturing build-preparation workflow. The new integration lets engineers load templates that Nikon and PanOptimization describe as validated for specific machine, material and process combinations. The goal is to reduce the manual setup involved in simulating a large build before committing machine time and powder.

In laser powder bed fusion, a build’s geometry and the sequence of laser exposure influence where heat accumulates and how it dissipates. A thick section and a thin wall can respond differently within the same part. A thermal and mechanical simulation gives engineers a way to flag such areas and compare changes to the proposed build before printing.

Cover image. A sectioned aerospike example (left) and its PanX simulation mesh (right). Physical-part imagery courtesy of AMCM. Simulation image by PanOptimization.

Image below. A separate PanX example pairs a simulated result with a close-up of a physical section. The image shows how a local feature can be examined alongside the whole-part model. Image by PanOptimization. The superimposed exclusivity claim is the vendor’s own.

How to test the value on the shop floor

The partnership links pre-build simulation with the thermal management of Nikon’s NXG XII 600 and forthcoming MACHX systems. The two stages have different jobs. Simulation estimates where conditions could become problematic, while machine controls manage the process as the build runs. Nikon said it planned to unveil MACHX at Formnext in Frankfurt on November 17–20, 2026.

For a production team, the practical test is whether the templates reduce setup time and whether their predictions agree with measurements from representative builds. Useful checks include comparing predicted distortion with part inspection and tracking how often a simulation-driven change avoids a repeat build. The October announcement did not publish comparative first-build yields or a quantified cost saving.

Sources
Nikon SLM Solutions announcement, October 29, 2026
https://nikon-slm-solutions.com/newsroom/nikon-slm-solutions-and-panoptimization-stream-line-simulation-based-build-preparation-with-panx/
PanOptimization, PanX process simulation overview
https://www.panoptimization.com/