May 2026

Featured Stories

Discover Innovative Updates: Flownex 2026 SE Release 1

Flownex SE 2026 R1 is here, and it's packed with upgrades engineers will notice immediately. From tighter Ansys Mechanical integration and a reworked Workbench connection to expanded Python scripting and a new dark mode, this release makes simulation workflows faster and more flexible. Read on for the full breakdown.

Fast Fixtures with fixturemate Inside Stratasys GrabCAD Print Pro

Designing 3D-printed fixtures used to take hours of CAD work — fixturemate, now embedded in Stratasys GrabCAD Print Pro, cuts that down to minutes. PADT's Pam Waterman walks through real examples, from simple handling trays to multi-part inspection fixtures, showing just how fast custom fixtures can go from concept to printer.

Ansys Licensing: Lmutil and Releasing Stuck Licenses

A stuck Ansys license blocking your ability to work is frustrating — and not knowing how to fix it quickly can make things worse. PADT's Josh Stout breaks down the lmutil command-line tool, showing exactly how to query your license server status and forcefully release stuck licenses without a full server restart.

PADT In Pictures

So far, May has been another busy month for PADT, with fewer big events and more local events and customer meetings.

PADT joined the Phoenix manufacturing community for an Arizona Manufacturing Catalyst Committee meeting at long-time PADT customer Axon in North Phoenix. We got to learn about the product line and see the assembly process.

The AZTC Phoenix Executive Leadership Network, facilitated by PADT's Eric Miller, did a workshop with former newscaster and leadership communication expert Kristy Siefkin.

The Rapid Fusion team was at the SAMPE conference in Seattle in April. More and more people are hearing and getting excited about the large-format Rapid Fusion

The Arizona Technology Council held the first-ever Arizona Manufacturing Showcase. It was a sold-out event. PADT originated the idea for the event, and we were a sponsor, speaker, and booth provider.

PADT hosted an event at Honeywell Aerospace to discuss goals, needs, and the power of Ansys products for Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE).

PADT and Ansys met with Rivian to review how their adoption of Ansys technology across the company is going. Here is the team in the lobby.

Also in California, PADT hosted another startup gathering in El Segundo, bringing the local hard-tech startup ecosystem together again.

PADT was also in Tucson this month, attending the Arizona Technology Council Southern Arizona Mixer. Lots of Optics Valley people to talk to and enjoy the sunset with.

Customer Corner

HONEYWELL ANNOUNCES QUANTINUUM'S FILING OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT FOR PROPOSED INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

Honeywell's full-stack quantum computing spinout — has filed an S-1 with the SEC for a proposed IPO on the Nasdaq under the ticker "QNT." With J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley leading the offering, this could be one of the most significant quantum computing public market debuts to date. Read the full release for

Lunar Outpost Secures $30M Series B to Build the Industrial Foundation of the Space Frontier and Economy

Lunar Outpost just closed a $30M Series B to build the industrial backbone of the lunar economy. With more rovers headed to the Moon than all other commercial companies combined, and eight contracted missions already on the books, this Golden, Colorado company isn't just exploring space — it's building the infrastructure for humanity's permanent presence there.

Ansys

HFSS

Ansys HFSS is the industry-leading 3D electromagnetic simulation software for designing high-frequency electronics — from antennas and RF components to IC packages, PCBs, and high-speed interconnects. Used across aerospace, defense, automotive, and communications, HFSS delivers unmatched accuracy through its automatic adaptive meshing technology, eliminating the guesswork that plagues other EM simulators. The 2026 R1 release raises the bar further with GPU-accelerated solving for faster frequency sweeps, new high-capacity 3D power integrity analysis, and an improved Omega Mesher for complex rigid-flex PCB designs. If electromagnetic performance is critical to your product, HFSS deserves a closer look.

Stratasys

Fortus 450mc

The Stratasys Fortus 450mc is a factory-floor-ready industrial FDM 3D printer built for teams that need durability, precision, and repeatability at scale. With a generous 16 x 14 x 16 inch build volume, access to 21 material options — including high-performance ULTEM and carbon-filled Nylon — and ±.005 inch accuracy, it's a proven workhorse trusted across aerospace, automotive, defense, and manufacturing. Add OpenAM for open-material flexibility and GrabCAD Print Pro for workflow integration, and you have a serious production tool worth a closer look. PADT is an authorized Stratasys reseller and our team of experts can help you determine if the Fortus 450mc is the right fit for your operation.

Rapid Fusion

Cerberus

The Cerberus from Rapid Fusion is a containerized, deployable hybrid manufacturing system combining pellet and filament 3D printing with CNC milling — fully operational within 25 minutes of deployment. Engineered for environments where traditional supply chains fail, it requires only power to produce parts on-site, making it a compelling solution for defense, energy, disaster response, and remote industrial operations worldwide.

Services

3D Printing

Need parts without the overhead of owning and operating your own equipment? PADT's 3D Printing Factory offers on-demand additive manufacturing across a broad range of technologies — FDM, SLA, SLS, SAF, PolyJet, DMLS metal printing, and more. Beyond printing, the team provides 3D scanning, digitization, inspection, and contract manufacturing services. What sets PADT apart is the engineering expertise behind every order — helping you select the right process and material to get the results you actually need.

All Things Ansys Episode 142: Sandia National Labs Designs Digital Twins for Nuclear Safety Analysis – With Ansys Partner Flownex

Introducing the GPU ROI Estimator Tool for Ansys Fluent and Mechanical Software

YouTube Playlist:
Flownex 2026 R1 Feature Videos

Watch

March 2026 AZ TechCast | Execution Matters: Aligning Teams to Drive Real Growth

May 2026 AZ TechCast | Bending Light, Shaping the Future: Inside Arizona’s Optics Ecosystem

06/18/2026 | E-Mobility and Clean Energy Summit
07/15/2026 | Arizona Aerospace Summit
08/10/2026-08/11/2026 | 2026 CEO Leadership Retreat + Golf Tournament
09/14/2026-09/19/2026 | IMTS 2026
10/21/2026 | 2026 Southern Arizona Tech + Business Expo
11/18/2026 | 2026 Governor’s Celebration of Innovation

Ansys Webinars:

05/27/2026 | EMC Modeling Workflows Across Electronics Design with Ansys EMC Plus
06/02/2026 | Electronics Design EMC Simulation: Hands-on Workshop
06/04/2026 | GPU-Driven CFD for Automotive and Off-Road Mobility Applications
06/04/2026 | Accelerate RF Filter Design Intelligent Automation
06/10/2026 | From Component to System: Scaling Photonic Designs
06/11/2026 | Harnessing the Power of Workstation GPUs for CFD Studies
06/18/2026 | Best Practices for Running Ansys Fluent on GPUs
06/30/2026 | Ansys 2026 R1: Aeroacoustic Modeling with the Fluent GPU Solver

Currently Open Positions

Account Manager, Software Sales | New Mexico
Application & Support Engineer, High Frequency Electromagnetic Simulation, Antennas | Tempe, AZ
Application and Support Engineer, LS-Dyna | Tempe, AZ
Facilities & Operations Support Technician | Tempe, AZ