Sep 8 2015
3D Printing Engineering is exhibiting for the first time at the TCT Show 2015 (stand H46F), taking place at the NEC, Birmingham from 30 Sept – 1 Oct, where it is launching its new design, 3D colour modelling, tooling and rapid manufacturing services utilising 3D Systems 3D printing technology.
Autoclaved CF epoxy prepreg parts moulded using a 3D printed tooling block. 107mm x 87mm carbon fibre prepreg parts autoclave moulded at 135 deg. C cure, 90 psi using a development RBR TB140 3D printed tooling block. The autoclaved CF part on the left behind the 3D printed tooling block has two plies of Toray® T800 2x2 twill carbon. The other CF part has a laminate with one ply of Textreme® backed with one ply of T800 2x2 twill carbon.
A customised end-to-end service is provided, from an initial CAD modelling and design engineering, through to manufacturing 3D printed direct tooling, prototypes and small pre-production batches of 3D printed finished parts. The company recently relocated to the South of England, into bigger premises in the Sussex Innovation Centre, in Falmer, near Brighton.
During the TCT Show + Personalize 2015, 3D Printing Engineering will be showcasing its latest developments in rapid build 3D printed direct tooling blocks, for low and high temperature/pressure autoclave moulding (to 135 0C, 90 psi) glass and carbon fibre reinforced composite parts, or for ambient temperature moulding or casting rubbers and engineering thermoplastics. The full RBR tooling range (100/120/140/160) that 3D Printing Engineering will be offering will include advanced production tooling with the same cure cycles as are typically used for aluminium and carbon tools. This new 3D printed tooling range is currently under development and will be available later in the year. Recently secured innovation support funding is being used for a collaborative project with the Centre for Engineering Research (CER) at the University of Hertfordshire, to help develop, test and independently validate the new 3D tooling block products.
The 3D Printing Engineering team is led by co-founders and directors of the business, Roberto Paduano and Brett Rust, who both started in the automotive industry in design engineering and production roles. Their extensive engineering and materials knowledge has enabled them to develop their own in-house processes and techniques for a range of advanced materials using the latest additive manufacturing technology and software systems. This enables 3D Printing Engineering to cost effectively custom produce tooling solutions and high quality 3D printed components to the exact properties and finish required by its customers. Both new product development and reverse engineering projects are undertaken, with full project management support provided where needed.
Initial investments have been made in a number of 3D Systems machines The Z510 has the capability to print pattern tooling blocks and finished parts within a 250mm x 350mm x 200mm build envelope. For larger requirements, in-house CAD/CAM software allows them to add in assembly dowels and flanges to join sections and so create bigger parts; this capability has proved particularly useful for larger pattern making, as split pattern blocks can be assembled, join lines filled and a mould tool can be laminated or cast.
For 3D Colour model making, the Z510 full colour inkjet printer (600 x 540 dpi resolution) produces multiple colours in one part in all the colours required, with the ability to take a 2D image and accurately texture map a full colour 3D printed model.
TCT Show + Personalize is one of the world’s leading events dedicated to 3D printing, additive manufacturing and product development.