PanOptimization has been featured in the latest episode of the AdditiveSnack Podcast, where host Fabian Alefeld speaks with Pan Michaleris, founder of PanOptimization, and Erik Denlinger, co-founder and chief engineer, about the growing role of simulation and finite element analysis in industrial additive manufacturing.
The episode explores how simulation is helping manufacturers move beyond costly trial-and-error builds and toward more intelligent, connected, and predictable production workflows. For companies using metal AM in demanding applications, this is no longer a theoretical discussion. As parts become larger, more complex, and more expensive to produce, the ability to predict and improve build outcomes before committing machine time is becoming central to commercial success.
During the conversation, Michaleris and Denlinger discuss how simulation can support the prediction and optimization of many common issues that impact manufacturability and qualification. These are precisely the areas where PanOptimization’s PanXplatform differentiates itself from traditional AM simulation tools, by addressing real production challenges at full industrial part scale and moving beyond simple prediction and toward actionable optimization.
“The important shift that is occurring right now in AM is the movement away from research and into industrialization,” says Erik Denlinger. “For metal AM to scale efficiently into production, it will need to be backed by physics-based models like all other mature industries. The industry is converging on PanX as the solution to this need.”
The podcast also examines the growing importance of simulation in aerospace, defense, and new space applications, where complex geometries, qualification requirements, and the cost of failure make trial-and-error increasingly untenable. The discussion further touches on qualification and property prediction in AM, as well as the future role of AI-driven surrogate models.
For PanOptimization, the episode underscores a central message. Simulation is becoming an enabling infrastructure for industrial AM, not a specialist add-on. PanX helps manufacturers understand what will happen in the build, identify risks earlier, and improve outcomes before production resources are committed.
The episode is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.
