 On October 14, 2011 the Industrial Technology Centre hosted the additive manufacturing event, 3D printing: A new model for design and manufacturing. The Keynote presentation by Terry Wohlers of Wohlers Associates, provided an in-depth review of the state of the technology. Jim Kor of KOR Ecologic, Nate Todd of Amphenol, and Jeff Vandramelli of State Industries provided information on their use of additive manufacturing in the development of their products.
Terry Wohlers, an engineer, industry consultant, analyst, author, and speaker, has focused his research and practice on design and manufacturing for nearly 30 years. The annual Wohlers Report is recognized as the leading resource for the state of additive manufacturing technology.
 Wohlers presented an overview of additive manufacturing as it exists today. A wide variety of technologies are emerging, with 3D printers able to create objects made from materials as diverse as chocolate and concrete. The technology is moving beyond its origins as a technique for rapid prototyping into the product manufacturing realm. Manufacturers are realizing savings by replacing assemblies with complex, individual additive manufactured parts. One example of this was an air duct from an aircraft passenger compartment. The internal baffles and mounting points required an assembly of about 20 components. This duct has been replaced by a single additive manufactured part. Cost savings were realized in reduced weight and simplified final assembly.
Additive manufacturing is set to revolutionize the manufacturing sector, says Wohlers. By removing virtually all of the steps between CAD model and final part, this technology is providing new ways for designers to get their products to market. As the technology becomes more economical, faster, and as more materials can be used, designers and manufactures will discover new ways to take advantage of it.
 Some local manufactures are already taking advantage of this technology. Amphenol's prototype of a proposed connector design helped their customer decide whether the connector would suit their needs. State Industries has also used additive manufacturing to produce patterns for their injection moulded, polyurethane products.
And
perhaps the most impressive example of additive manufacturing
we saw was Kor Ecologic’s prototype urban vehicle, the Urbee, with all of its body panels produced on a 3D printer.
 For
more information on 3D printing and additive manufacturing,
contact or visit the Industrial Technology Centre.
http://wohlersassociates.com/
http://wohlersassociates.com/blog/2011/10/jim-kor-and-his-car/
http://www.urbee.net |
Our
technical experts used our Creaform EXAscan™ 3D
scanner coupled with the VXelements software to generate
the complete 3D digital model of the tank in less than
2 hours. The final deliverable was an STL data file
that CIC was able to manipulate within their CAD system.
CIC was able to use the scan data as a basis for design,
and make necessary changes en route to the final product.
Ultimately,
this bio-composite fuel tank would be part of the EcoCycle™ motorcycle,
designed and built by Chopper College, world leaders in motorcycle
engineering education. This bike’s specially designed
engine reduces petroleum usage by 70%, greenhouse gas emissions
by 23%, and featured components made from Industrial grade
hemp grown sustainably and locally in Manitoba.