Accelerating the future

One of the UK’s leading trade shows focused on additive manufacturing (AM), 3D printing and advanced manufacturing opens its doors in September. PES reports.

TCT + Personalize brings together more than two hundred exhibiting companies and thousands of visitors from more than 50 countries to see the latest in innovative manufacturing processes. Alongside the additive and advanced manufacturing technology on show the event also includes a conference programme with a range of expert speakers.

Now in its 21st year the show features real world applications and innovations alongside product launches and live demonstrations. As a result, the TCT Show attracts a multitude of industry stakeholders comprised of manufacturers, designers, business leaders, early adopters, innovators and investors.

The show, managed by Rapid News Publications will be held on September 28-29 this year at the NEC in Birmingham. It also features innovative takes on conventional manufacturing such as moulding, tooling and CNC machining, as well as the Start Up Zone and Awards, Beginners Guide to Additive Manufacturing and new for this year, the Inspex Zone, which focuses on metrology.

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In 2016, the two-day free show conference programme will see a big change in its format and focus. Featuring a number of traditional presentations from users of 3D technologies throughout the process chain, this year's conference agenda will be complemented by live debate and discussions, interactive sessions and addresses from speakers whose expertise lies on the margins of the established TCT subject area.

Conference highlights include insights, trends and real-life applications from organisations such as, the Royal Brompton Hospital, Sutrue, Caterpillar, Alstom, Airbus, Siemens and 3M.

Inspex returns

A major development at this year’s show is the re-introduction of the Inspex show which focuses on metrology and inspection technology. Inspex returns to the trade show event calendar after it was acquired by Rapid News in 2014.

For the 2016 show all providers of metrology and inspection hardware, software and services will have an enhanced visibility through a specific Inspex marketing programme, including the show planner, show preview and onsite guide; as well as being highly visible on the show floor and in locators and show maps.

The metrology and inspection industry has always had a strong presence at TCT with attendance from leading companies such as Nikon, Renishaw, Europac, Olympus, and Central Scanning. However, the importance of these suppliers on the success of precision machining processes or additive manufacturing in improving quality, reducing scrap rates and enhancing environmental sustainability is now greater than ever.

Organisers say the Inspex theme at TCT will bring these important technologies to the fore and the spotlight will make it easier for visitors to find the solutions they need.

Alongside the show floor focus will be a dedicated Inspex seminar session highlighting the latest technology available along with real-world applications designed to pose the right questions and deliver the right answers for attendees.

Head of content at TCT Show + Personalize, Jim Woodcock, comments: “The re-introduction of the Inspex brand signposts our intent to bring metrology and inspection to the fore as advances in manufacturing technology continue. TCT’s core focus has been on additive technologies since we started covering rapid prototyping in the 1990s and as these technologies mature, the role of supporting and enabling technologies becomes more prominent. 3D design, manufacture and metrology must work together as part of a chain to get the most out of today’s technologies.”

Exhibitor focus

A compact entrant into the world of additive manufacturing comes from the German production machine manufacturer Trumpf (stand H17). Best known for its sheetmetal cutting and pressbrake machines the company, which also makes its own lasers, is launching the TruPrint 1000 metal additive manufacturing machine into the UK market.

Designed for the production of small, complex components, this smaller laser metal fusion system is described as a true plug and play machine that's easy to install and requires only 240V of power and an inert gas connection. Thanks to an innovative coating system, the company says downtimes are reduced to a minimum.

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In line with Trumpf’s previous LMF system, the TruPrint 1000 builds components layer by layer from a wide range of fine metal powders including steel, aluminium and titanium using a build space of 100mm by 100mm. This technology is especially suitable for parts with a complex geometry – such as those with internal channels and hollow spaces, and for economical manufacture of individual parts, prototypes or short production runs.

Proposed application areas include everything from tool and mould making, through to dental applications for the production of crowns and bridges. Trumpf says it also sees potential with demanding applications in the aerospace industry and turbine construction where LMF can pave the way for weight savings of between 30 and 50% with the same, or improved, mechanical qualities.

Plastics and polymers

On the plastics and polymer front Stratasys (stand, E14) will highlight its latest additive manufacturing solutions to optimise product development. On display will be a host of real life examples from a broad spectrum of industries, demonstrating how Stratasys’ proven FDM and PolyJet technologies are significantly reducing time and costs for leading manufacturers worldwide.

Visitors will be able to hear how Stratasys customers such as Airbus, BMW, Unilever, Trek and Opel are disrupting traditional design and manufacturing processes – from prototyping to tooling, through injection moulding and final part production – enabling them to become more productive, efficient and profitable.

Making its debut at TCT will be Stratasys’ recently-launched J750 3D printer, which it claims is the world’s only full colour, multi-material 3D printer. The J750 delivers versatility with the ability to produce prototypes, as well as tooling, moulds, jigs and fixtures – all from one system.

Its 3D printing capabilities enable users to combine full colour gradients with a wide range of materials to achieve highly realistic parts – easily and without post-processing. Eliminating several design processes in one simultaneous print, product designers, manufacturers and service bureaus can make almost instantaneous decisions to accelerate product development.

Showcasing the power of FDM within production, Stratasys’ Fortus 3D printer will be running live on the stand. Visitors will also be able to see The University of Warwick’s 3D printed submarine and the world’s most complex 3D printed UAV, consisting of 80% 3D printed parts from Aurora Flight Sciences.

Metrology and inspection specialist Olympus (stand D35) will exhibit the Lext OLS4100 – said to be the industry's first laser scanning compound microscope which delivers measurements of surface features at 10nm resolutions.

Other leading companies bringing new tech to TCT + Personalize include: Added Scientific, launching its new software FLatt Pack; Photocentric which will display the first Liquid Crystal 3D printer, using a 40 inch screen and Sodick who will be showcasing its brand new OPM250L metal 3D printer and high-speed machining centre combination.

Duncan Wood, COO, Rapid News Publications concludes: “Providing a platform that accelerates 3D technologies has been TCT show’s mission for two decades —even as the technologies and the show itself have evolved, the aims have remained the same.

“Each year the TCT show acts as a crucible for providers and users of 3D technologies; from the comprehensive show floor where visitors can see all of the latest developments to the definitive conference where state-of-the-art applications are unveiled.”

TCT + Personalize www.tctshow.com

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