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Product category: Rapid Prototyping
News Release from: TCT Conference and Exhibition
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial Team on 09 August 2001

TCT 2001 set to be major rapid
prototyping event

The focus and aim of the TCT 2001 exhibition is on providing attendees with a two day event that offers a comprehensive source of rapid product development products and services

With rapid product development (RPD) widely recognised as the single most important factor affecting the long-term prospects of companies operating in the manufacturing sector, implementing coherent RPD practices has never been more important Foward thinking manufacturing companies are benefitting from the multitude of time-compression technologies (TCTs) available on the market

However, in this constantly evolving sector of industry, the wide array of technologies and almost weekly new developments can prove to be the barrier for many manufacturing companies wishing to adopt RPD strategies, but without a definitive starting point.

The key to successful RPD is to look at the whole manufacturing process - from initial concept and design engineering issues, through to production of the final product - and then to find and implement the right combination of technologies that will offer the best solution for redefining that process to gain maximum quality and efficiency, and therefore competitiveness.

No one will claim that this process will be easy - it will take time and effort on the part of management, and requires 'buy-in' from everyone working in the company, whatever level they may be at - but no one will deny that it is worthwhile.

The focus and aim of the TCT 2001 exhibition is on providing attendees with a two day event that offers a comprehensive source of rapid product development products and services, which will include live demonstrations and new product launches, covering the latest advances in 3D CAD and simulation software, data management suites, and the most up-to-date rapid prototyping and tooling methodologies.

As intimidating as it may seem, this truly is not the case, with many RPD suppliers willing to talk frankly and openly about the benefits and rewards that can be gained from the products and services available.

Previous attendees have been pleasantly surprised at how true this statement is: "I was impressed with the exhibition as it included a wide cross section of both users, companies offering a sub-contract service, and also the manufacturers and suppliers themselves.

Having attended many exhibitions, what I found particularly pleasant was that it was almost like being a member of a club with everyone willing to talk quite openly about the advantages and disadvantages of the different processes.

I did not feel I was under pressure from the salesmen to buy equipment or to force me into arranging meetings with the objective of obtaining a sale." Ian Ross, Head of R and D, Keymed Ltd, who attended TCT 2000.

The exhibition will offer all attendees the opportunity to network with like-minded people and more than 100 exhibitors demonstrating the very latest TCT products and services available, to source the very best solution for their specific needs.

The exhibition offers interested parties a comprehensive range of solutions for: * 3D CAD / CAM / CAE * Concept Modelling * Desktop Verification / Analysis * PDM / On-line Information Management * CFD / FEA * Virtual Reality * Reverse Engineering * Rapid Prototyping / Tooling * High Speed Milling * Fast Production * Rapid Manufacturing * Materials.

Specific exhibits will include: * TCT 2001 will offer the first chance for UK product and tooling designers to see te latest release of Delcam's PowerSHAPE hybrid modelling CAD software and collect an evaluation version of the software from the Delcam stand.

* Computational Dynamics will be showing its powerful, multi-purpose industrial CFD code STAR-CD offering unrivalled ability to handle complex geometries, a wide range of physical models, and state-of-the-art, fast and accurate solver technology.

* The world's technology and market leaders in solid imaging.

Providing solutions which substantially reduce the time and cost required to design, test, and manufacture products, with on-site demonstrations from 3D Systems of the ThermoJet office printer and SLA industrial systems, as well as the 3D Keltool process.

* MCP will demonstrate on site the latest high impact, tough, vacuum casting materials giving the fastest turnaround yet (15 minute demould) with increased mechanical properties.

Delegates at the TCT Conference will hear some of the world's leading manufacturers talk about how they have successfully applied time-compression technologies to achieve manufacturing excellence and significantly reduce their lead times and costs.

With no promotional papers presented at TCT, the focus of the conference is heavily placed on the applications of time-compression technologies for everyone, from the largest multi-national to the increasing number of successful SMEs.

The conference programme is all-inclusive, regardless of industry background.

Presentations will be given by individuals with a solid background in Rapid Product Development, who will talk openly about their experiences.

This year, the guest Keynote Speaker at the conference will be Terry Wohlers, a renowned RPD industry expert that has focused his education, research, and practice on design and manufacturing.

Terry's views and opinions come from years of collecting and analysing market data, coupled with work as a consultant and advisor to major organisations in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

The Keynote Speech, entitled "A Winning Formula for Product Development Evolution" will detail how companies will have little choice but to make sweeping changes, both cultural and technical, to their product development practices to offer winning products in the future.

Ignoring these innovative methods could mean that some companies will pay the ultimate price.

This is an exciting time to be a part of the product development process, but only the bold, proactive, and progressive-thinking companies will evolve in the direction needed to develop a winning formula for success.

Other papers that will be presented over the two day conference include: * Novel Manufacturing Technology: Adding Flexibility to Lean Manufacturing, Dean Jones, Rolls Royce.

Employing the new EDM technology alongside lean manufacturing techniques has enabled significant cost and lead-time reduction and higher stock turn at Rolls Royce.

However, a degree of flexibility was required which could not be achieved using standard tooling systems.

A tool was developed to give the flexibility to provide the small development quantities of components, with minimal disruption and enable a responsive "fast make" capability.

* Mass Customisation: From Engineering Evolution to Manufacturing a Revolution, Ping Fu, Raindrop Geomagic.

With choice playing such a critical role in consumer buying habits, mass customisation is becoming increasingly evident in day-to-day life, characterised by small volumes, and in many cases, one of a kind.

It is also characterised by competitive cost, timely deliveries, and a move away from centralised manufacturing to more distributed production.

Consequently, when combined with the latest digital technology - such as 3D photography, CAD, and rapid manufacturing - mass customisation offers the manufacturer significant benefits: a high degree of product flexibility, reduced inventory risk, and a differentiation in the market place.

* Rapid Prototyping or Rapid Tooling? Wil Schoenmakers, Procter and Gamble.

Rapid Tooling continues to grow strongly - will this be at the expense of the Rapid Prototyping industry? Or will the two efforts merge into one? What are the technical limitations of Rapid Tooling, how does the industry deal with these, and when should 'Rapid Tooling' be called just 'Tooling'? With more than 30 papers, these are only a few of the presentations that will be given over the two days to inform and inspire like-minded to people of the benefits of implementing time-compression technologies.

Other Activities at TCT...

Master-Classes: Running consecutively on the evening of Tuesday 25th September, at the Palace Hotel, Manchester; these hour-long intensive master-classes have been specifically designed by two of the leading figures in the RPD industry.

They are an ideal opportunity for new team members to get up to speed with the basics of rapid prototyping technologies and processes.

Graham Tromans, manager of RP and T and Metal Rapid Casting with the Land Rover Group and Chairman of the RPMA, will be leading the RP Processes session; covering the fundamentals of all the RP processes available.

Bill O'Neill, Lecturer in Advanced Manufacturing at Liverpool University, will lead the RP Applications session, and look at where and how RP is being adopted, the functional testing of prototypes, and future application possibilities.

The host of each session will also sign-post the most relevant papers from the following two-day conference, as per individual needs.

Cocktail Reception / Gala Evening: The Cocktail Reception, on the evening of Tuesday 25th September is designed as an open forum enabling free discussions and networking opportunities prior to the full two-day event.

The Gala Evening on Wednesday 26th September is the social highlight of the TCT event; the evening has always proven to be a good mix of networking and out and out fun.

Overall, the TCT 2001 Event is designed to ensure that time away from the office is kept to a minimum while maximising that time to its full potential in terms of information gained and contacts made.

The TCT 2001 Conference and Exhibition, will be held at the Manchester International Convention Centre (MICC), Manchester and is taking place 26-27 September 2001.

The two day exhibition is free to visitors wishing to attend for either or both days, and will take place in a dedicated exhibition hall, at the MICC in the heart of Manchester, which is easily accessibly by road, train, or air.

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