Technology shows come together

MM Live is the UK’s event for micro manufacturing technologies and this year is complemented by two new shows. MEMS Live – looking at micro-electro-mechanical systems and NANO Live focusing nanotechnology.

The MEMS market is expected to double in size to $14 billion by 2012 and MEMS Live UK will deliver the first UK B2B event for this exciting and groundbreaking market This event will enable companies who operate in the MEMS market to locate alongside complementary exhibitors of MM Live but at the same time define their MEMS niche more explicitly.

NANO Live UK 2011 reflects the growing importance of an exciting area of scientific development which promises ‘more for less’. It offers ways to create smaller, cheaper, lighter and faster devices that can do more and cleverer things, use less raw materials and consume less energy. It is the next step from micro manufacturing and as it becomes commercially viable NANO Live will showcase this cutting edge technology.

Interplas has been supporting the plastics industry since the 1950s and is now under the new management of Rapid News Communications Group. Interplas 2011 will offer new initiatives including the British Centre of Excellence (a unique exhibit of OEM parts), the Contract Manufacturing Zone, and the PDI (Plastic Design Intelligence) programme.

TCT Live is the event for product development and additive manufacturing. It provides a forum for everyone involved in the concept, design, specification and manufacturing process to learn about the latest in Additive Manufacturing, 3D Printing and other cutting edge product development software and technology.

www.micromanu.com

www.tctmagazine.com

www.britishplasticsshow.com

Metal plating plastic

3DDC specialises in the metal plating of plastic parts using its ‘Metalise it’ process. The company established its facility near Milton Keynes in 2007 and since that time 3DDC has maintained a continuous development programme that has seen refinements and new applications for metal plated plastic parts.

The ‘Metalise it’ plating process was designed specifically for plastic parts produced using additive manufacturing and 3D printing technologies, however, it has also had impressive results with vacuum cast and injection moulded parts. The team at 3DDC has exceptional in-depth knowledge of the range of additive technologies that produce plastic parts and how to plate them. This, together with a commitment to work in full collaboration with clients to achieve the right metal plating solution means that 3DDC offers an unrivalled service.

3DDC — TCT Stand F20

www.3ddc.eu

A layer at a time

3T produces lightweight components and complex structures in plastic using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and in metal using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technologies. Removing the need for tooling, these layer-based techniques generate fully functional and high performance parts in just a matter of days, offering significant time savings and reduced costs. Additive manufacturing  frees up designers to create parts in new ways which were previously impossible to build, whilst offering considerable cost benefits when compared to conventional manufacturing techniques. The SLS and DMLS processes make it possible to incorporate undercuts, channels through sections, tubes within tubes and internal voids, with the resulting parts being used in a range of high performance applications including aerospace, automotive and medical devices. 3T is accredited to ISO 13485:2003 — the standard required for medical devices

3T RPD — TCT Stand E20

Web: www.3trpd.co.uk

The Extra Mile

With a reputation built in the world of reprographics, Callprint is now one of the leading providers of 3D print services and equipment in the UK. Callprint delivers quick turnaround models for a client list that includes many of the top AEC companies in the UK.  Callprint will showcase a ZPrinter 650 full colour 3D printer and display a set of example models at the TCT Live Show. Additionally it will be demonstrating Magics RP software and showing visitors how it can be used to add colour to their models.

Callprint TCT Stand F39

www.callprint.co.uk

Range of technologies

citim offers a range of manufacturing technologies to provide a functional or design prototype or a usable component. The company’s core competences lie in moulding of plastic and light metal components to which it has now added selective layer sintering for metal parts without the need for tools. Parts are created layer by layer and can be created in just a day.

citim GmbH — TCT Stand K5

www.citim.de

Innovative solutions

Curvature Group has nearly 60 years’ experience in the field of prototype development and offers clients innovative solutions to cut time to market. The company’s clients cut across every market sector, from telecommunications through to transport, toys & games through to the marine industry. Its facilities currently house 13 machining centres, full graphics and artwork studio, paint colour analysis and spraying facilities. The company’s vacuum casting facility currently has five machines with capacity to 1.2 metres. The company offers a complete range of materials to simulate those used in production.

Curvature Group — TCT Stand K23

www.curvaturegroup.co.uk

Only Objet service

IPF is the UK’s only service bureau supplying 3D printed models with the Objet500 Connex and Objet350v Eden systems. IPF offers a completely unique service that provides rigid and flexible prototype models that are as close as you’ll find to the final product without finishing. IPF supplies high quality rigid prototypes built in 16 micron layers.

Flexible prototypes are produced quickly without the need for expensive masters and tooling and varying Shore values with up to 60 different materials available to choose from. Rigid, flexible and over-moulded parts are all built in a single prototype without the need for assembly. These high-end 3D printing technologies can cut lead times by days by making parts in hours. IPF is now printing in VeroClear for maximum optical clarity and ABS-like material delivering strength, excellent surface finish, fine detail and good heat deflection temperature.

Industrial Plastic Fabrications — TCT Stand H30

www.ipfl.co.uk

20 years in the business

Laser Prototypes marks its 20th anniversary at TCT Live 2011. Since opening its doors in 1991, Laser Prototypes has built a reputation for both quality and reliability, offering high quality prototype models to a wide range of customers, across all industry sectors, on time and on budget.

Today Laser Prototypes stocks some 20 resins covering a wide range of rapid prototyping applications and has a team of highly skilled in-house model makers to meet customers’ exact finishing and painting requirements.

Laser Prototypes (Europe) Ltd — TCT Stand G2

www.laserproto.com

Development and prototyping

Newby RapidCast is the development and prototyping division of the Newby Group. The company offers a wide range of services for producing metal prototypes. It has facilities for the production of cast metal parts with properties matching production parts and in house RP capability for cost effective prototype and concept parts. Newby RapidCast melt in a wide range of metals including iron, steel and aluminium with weight ranges from 10 g to 300 kg.

Newby RapidCast — TCT Stand K15

www.newbyfoundries.co.uk

Functional prototypes

Working directly from a 3D CAD file, Proto Labs manufactures functional parts using production intent materials, shipping in as little as one day. For just 1-10 functional prototypes, the Firstcut CNC machining service provides working parts made from real thermoplastic material, aluminium or brass using a standard manufacturing process. For over 10 parst the company’s Protomold service can deliver in days — even hours — what used to take weeks: functional, quality injection moulded parts in any thermoplastic. Its automated process delivers a free online interactive quote incorporating design feedback to help optimise the design for injection moulding or machining.

Proto Labs Ltd — TCT Stand F16

www.protolabs.co.uk

Rapidparts’ policy is to produce production quality parts in prototype timescales. It can produce quality tooling and plastic injection moulded parts in as little as five working days. From 10 parts to 50,000 it provide injection mouldings exactly as the customer requires: with deep ribs, sharp corners, undercuts, spark finishes, inserts, over-moulded and so on, produced in the exact material. Customers don’t have to redesign parts to suit its methods; however Rapidparts will give feedback to help them to be produced to production quality. Its parts are produced by modern, clinical, high-speed equipment, utilising refined procedures resulting in reduced timescales and costs, whilst retaining the quality/tight tolerances of production injection moulding.

Rapidparts — TCT Stand J32

www.rapidpartsuk.com

ARRK returns to Interplas offering a whole lot more than just prototypes. Product Development Specialist, ARRK Europe, presents its new integrated service live at Interplas. Coinciding with the TCT Show, ARRK’s decision to attend Interplas is a clear statement of its new, wider range of integrated product development services. ARRK now not only offers prototyping but also technical recruitment, design engineering, composites and craftsmanship and a tooling and low volume manufacturing service.

Customers have the option to use ARRK’s services on an individual basis or as part of an integrated programme. The customer truly is king! To help showcase ARRK’s range of integrated solutions, it will be displaying one of the world’s most prestigious supercars, the Noble M600, on its stand. As a major supplier to Noble, ARRK have provided several product development services, including prototypes and composites and continue to provide low volume manufacturing of production components.

To get up to speed with ARRK’s full range of services, discuss an upcoming project, or for a chance to win its prizedraw, visit the company’s stand at Interplas to find out more.

ARRK Europe Ltd – Interplas Stand L6

www.arrkeurope.com