Prototyping specialist takes SolidWorks input
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3T RPD product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
May 25, 2004
Rapid Product Development specialist 3T RPD has added SolidWorks to its suite of CAD software.
Rapid Product Development specialist 3T RPD has added SolidWorks to its suite of CAD software.
Although a high percentage of 3T's customers use SolidWorks, the company accepts data in a number of formats from a vast range of sources.
With its numerous built-in data translators, SolidWorks enables 3T's CAD engineers to manipulate and translate the data more effectively and efficiently.
It also enables them to correct any errors that could reduce the quality of the part, repair the data where necessary and change components easily from within the assembly to ensure optimal build quality and function.
3T uses selective laser sintering (SLS) technology to produce functional prototype components, enabling their customers to develop new products, assemble, test and trial them, and get them to the marketplace ahead of their competition.
Running the largest sintering capability in the UK, October 2003 saw the installation of the company's second EOS P700, the world's largest laser sintering machine, placing it in the top three worldwide.
Uniquely able to offer prototypes built on both EOS and DTM machines - as well as two EOS P700s, the company's suite of machinery includes two EOS P360 machines and a DTM 2500 Plus - thus enabling it to provide the optimal machine to meet a customer's requirements.
SolidWorks is a cost effective solution to speed up the process between a customer submitting data and the prototype part being built and shipped.
It requires a minimal amount of training and enables users to evaluate more design alternatives, reduce errors and enhance the quality of the end product.
Jon Porter, Operations Manager at 3T says: "We are operating SolidWorks on a floating licence so we can use it on any number of machines simply by putting a USB key in the port, thereby avoiding the common issue of being restricted to just a couple of fixed seats".
Although 3T's preferred data format is STL, SolidWorks allows exchange CAD data using a wide variety of file formats including CGR (Catia graphics), HCG (Catia highly compressed graphics), Pro/Engineer, IPT (Autodesk Inventor), Mechanical Desktop, Unigraphics, PAR (Solid Edge), Cadkey, Iges, Step, Parasolid, SAT (ACIS), VDA-FS, VRML, STL, DWG, DXF, TIFF, JPG, Viewpoint, RealityWave and HSF (Hoops).
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