TCT is a leading design-to-manufacturing event delivering business-critical insights on 3D printing, additive manufacturing, CAD/CAE, metrology and inspection as well as conventional manufacturing processes such as moulding, casting and CNC machining.
Over 10,000 professionals from 60 countries and 20 key industries including automotive, aerospace, healthcare, consumer products and many more will attend TCT across three show days to be inspired, do business and find solutions for their design and manufacturing challenges.
“There’s so much going on at TCT; this year’s event will attract more people and showcase more technology than ever before,” enthuses Scott Humphrey, marketing manager at the TCT Group.
“With more than 300 exhibitors on the largest show floor to date, more than 60 world-class speaker sessions and exciting interactive show features, visitors will gain key insights into the latest AM and 3D printing technologies, materials and processes that will help shape the future of design-to-manufacturing Innovation. If you’re serious about improving your design, development and manufacturing processes and want to excel in your industry sector, then you have to visit TCT this September.”
Visitors will benefit not only from the opportunity to connect with 300 exhibitors, displaying a wealth of innovative and dynamic technologies and services, but also from new product launches, demonstrations and engaging presentations from an impressive speaker line-up.
Taking place across three dedicated stages split into key themes, including transport, healthcare, materials, design/CAD software, introduction to AM and skills for AM, the speaker programme will deliver relevant, inspirational content to attendees. According to the show organiser, the free-to-attend conference and seminar programme at the TCT show presents more than ever in terms of quality, inspiration, innovation and education.
The TCT Conference Stage is divided into streams to help facilitate an efficient visit. The conference features inspirational industry figures who will share their experiences on how technologies are making a real impact in the manufacturing world.
The TCT Introducing Stage will feature talks on the latest developments in hardware, software, materials and services, throughout the three days of the event. Stay up-to-date with the state-of-the-art additive manufacturing, metrology, 3D printing and inspection, metrology and beyond.
The TCT Tech Stage hosts captivating talks on the current issues in the manufacturing world. Leading professionals will share their knowledge on overcoming industrial challenges. They will discuss crucial matters like data ownership, standards, skills and health and safety.
In addition to the conference and seminar programme, visitors to TCT will see a number of show floor features including Inspex @ TCT which focuses on inspection and metrology technologies, TCT Inspired Minds powered by Create Education – providing over 300 schoolchildren the opportunity to get a real hands-on experience, The Acceleration Zone – a new feature designed to help take new ideas to the next stage and The Forum – also a new feature that will house exclusive exhibitor led activities.
Registration for TCT 2018 is available here.
TCT 2018 www.tctshow.com
From advanced prototypes to composite tooling and final part production, Stratasys will highlight examples from a broad spectrum of industries demonstrating how the company’s proven FDM and PolyJet technologies are significantly reducing time and costs for leading designers and manufacturers worldwide.
Making its European debut, the newly-launched Fortus 380CF Production 3D printer will be live in action on the stand. Launched earlier this year, the machine features Stratasys’ high-performance Nylon 12 carbon fibre thermoplastic material. Containing 35% chopped carbon-fibre, Nylon 12CF is strong enough to replace metal, allowing designers to develop more practical and functional designs. Stratasys will demonstrate how the impressive mechanical properties of the material enables engineers to explore the transition from traditional metal parts to 3D printed plastic composites.
Customers harnessing the technology to produce 3D printed composite tools – such as McLaren Racing – will be highlighted on stand, with cost and time savings of up to 90%.
Stratasys will also demonstrate its diverse range of professional prototyping solutions, including the F123 series of 3D printers which received over 1,000 orders in its first six months. From concept verification to design validation and functional performance, the F123 has been popular amongst designers and workgroups as an easy-to-use solution adept at every prototyping stage.
Also running live will be the full colour, multi-material 3D printer – the Stratasys J750. Featuring multi-material capabilities and vivid colours, the J750 eliminates several assembly and post-processing processes during the product design.
This enables designers to make significant time-savings during prototyping and the luxury of near instantaneous decision-making to accelerate product development. This is exemplified by Audi, which today produces realistic rear brake light housings 50% faster with the J750 compared to its previous prototyping methods. The Audi 3D printed model will be on display on the Stratasys stand.
Stratasys
Stand H36
www.stratasys.com
For any company requiring a 3D printer for large-scale production of complex metal parts, the machine offers a building volume of 300 x 400mm diameter. It features an innovative interchangeable cylinder concept which reduces set-up times, increases productivity and machine utilisation rate.
Since the TruPrint 3000 is equipped with two supply cylinders, up to 75 litres of powder is available for each job, which is around two and a half times the construction volume. This is sufficient powder to complete an entire manufacturing process without having to stop for refilling.
Visitors can experience the whole additive process chain which starts by creating a part with the TruTops Print with Siemens NX 3D design and production software. This is a comprehensive software solution with a standardised user interface across systems. Additional to the machine systems Trumpf industry-ready part and powder management enables set-up and powder removal on one or more machines, all parallel to production. Smart monitoring solutions and comprehensive services are also part of the additive process chain.
For the generative production of small industrial single parts and batches of smaller parts Trumpf will also showcase its TruPrint 1000 with multilaser. Its laser sources work in tandem to create any shape of component by layering metal powder. The system can generate up to 80% more parts than the standard model and pure processing time is cut by almost half.
The TruPrint 1000 is ideal for producing parts that are complex in their geometry, such as those with internal channels and hollow spaces and for the economical manufacture of individual parts or short production runs such as in the field of dental applications.
Another additive manufacturing method which Trumpf will present is called Laser Metal Deposition (LMD). It can be used for coating and repair purposes, to generate entire components and for joining processes such as bridging gaps. In the field of additive manufacturing, it is also ideal for generating entire components and combining different manufacturing methods.
Trumpf
www.trumpf.com
Stand N44
However, the move is viewed as logical step by the Burlescombe, Devon-based company, with additive capabilities of 3D printing offering a complementary process to its existing metal removal machine tools.
“We see 3D printing as a perfect opportunity to enhance the productivity and capabilities of our existing customers, while opening up new opportunities with businesses that may not have looked at XYZ in the past,” says Nigel Atherton, XYZ managing director.
“The Multi Jet Fusion technology takes 3D printing to new levels and we were astounded at the speed of the process, which make it a truly production orientated proposition, moving it away from purely prototype and R&D type applications.”
At the TCT Show (stand N47) XYZ will display the HP Jet Fusion 3D 4210 printing solution along with its associated processing and fast cooling station. This combination can print at up to 4,500cm³ per hour, with 100% of any excess material being recycled and re-useable.
The machine can be configured for continuous production printing, eliminating in many cases the costs associated with injection mould tools. Apart from the processing speed, another attraction of the HP Multi Jet Fusion technology was its ease of use. HP Jet Fusion 3D printing solutions are user-friendly and streamline workflow, from developing component build and automatic packing of the print chamber, which measures 380mm x 284mm x 380mm, to maximise production prior to printing.
Pre-packed printing materials are easily installed and mixing ratios are automatically selected, all of which is fully enclosed to maintain a clean working environment. At the end of the printing process excess material is removed, and collected to be recycled, while still fully enclosed in the unit.
Visitors to stand N47 at the TCT show can see the HP Multi Jet Fusion printer in action. See for yourself the productivity benefits that it can bring and the opportunities that it can open up.
XYZ Machine Tools
www.xyzmachinetool.com
Stand N47
