Product category:
Engineering Seminars
News Release from: National Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC)
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 25 September 2007
Programme promotes rapid manufacturing
RAMP allows manufacturers to respond quickly to customer requirements, reduce production times and wastage and eliminate risk.
Metals and manufacturing businesses are being invited to take advantage of new rapid manufacturing technologies that are designed to speed up new product development and increase their profitability The Rapid Manufacturing Programme (RAMP) is funded by Yorkshire Forward and is led by TWI from its base on the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Sheffield, with support from Castings Technology International (Cti), Namtec (National Metals Technology Centre), the University of Sheffield Immpetus Centre, Keyworth Institute at the University of Leeds and Materialise
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 18 Feb 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Mesh passes the test for rock fall protection
As part of securing a major new contract, Betafence needed to demonstrate that its PVC-coated woven wire mesh was nonflammable.
Long-term growth for valves and actuators
The world industrial valves and actuators markets earned revenues of US $26.69 billion in 2007 and is predicted to reach $49.18 billion in 2014.
Roger Fairclough of TWI, said: "The main reasons for developing rapid manufacturing capabilities are to ensure that the region can meet the challenges of competition from low-cost manufacturing countries and to deliver competitively priced, world class products".
"We are delighted to be involved with this programme, which has huge benefits for the region's manufacturers".
RAMP involves rapid prototyping of finished components using integrated computer aided design (CAD) or computer aided manufacture (CAM), which means that manufacturers can respond quickly to customer requirements, reduce production times and wastage and eliminate risk.
Further reading
Power system availability explained
Free-to-download application notes explain power system availability, resilience, reliability and redundancy for design and maintenance engineers.
Low-power AC drives continue global growth
The worldwide market for low-power AC drives is predicted to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 8.9% over the next five years.
One technique in the programme is layer manufacturing, which is a method of rapid prototyping where a shape can be produced in a single process by adding successive layers of materials.
With layer manufacturing it is possible to produce the prototypes in a wider range of materials, with final products manufactured in a matter of days instead of weeks or even months.
This process is quicker and less expensive as it eliminates the need for tooling, setup and assembly processes, and can produce parts of superior quality and complexity to meet a customer's specific requirements.
Since layer manufacturing enables the integration of computer control into the manufacturing process through CAD and CAM, it is now possible to have a manufacturing cycle with seamless transition through computer design, simulation, modelling and fabrication.
Roger Fairclough continues: "The aim is that through the programme, rapid manufacturing processes will help optimise production of functional components that will no longer be constrained by the availability and location of tooling".
"There are huge benefits for manufacturers, with the ultimate aim to increase competitiveness, sales and profitability".
• National Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC): contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
