EXETER & NEWBURY, UK, Feb 13, 2015 – Simpleware has joined 3T RPD Ltd in the GOSSAM (Generation of Optimal Support Structure in Additive Manufacturing) project. Funded by Innovate UK, the project aims to develop innovative and advanced intelligent metal additive manufacturing (AM) support structures.
Launched in October 2013 and running to December 2015, GOSSAM targets breakthroughs in the often-overlooked area of support structures used in the manufacturing of components. Support structures are typically required to build unsupported geometric features on metal DMLS parts. The use of supports however removes the complete design freedom offered by additive manufacturing; additionally supports may need to be created which cannot be removed post production. Supports may comprise up to 50% of the build mass, and can considerably increase the set-up, build and post-processing times.
New software solutions are being developed through GOSSAM to automatically orientate parts and then generate intelligent scaffolds for them. The long-term goal of the software developed for GOSSAM is to reduce set-up time, build time, material wastage and post-processing time, and to move the AM process closer to “print from CAD”.
Simpleware has been chosen as a partner for GOSSAM due to its software’s capability for generating lattice structures, and its experience on the Innovate UK-funded SAVING and LIGHT projects, both of which involved the development of lightweight parts for industry. 3T RPD Ltd welcomes the introduction of the new software as the automatic generation of the support structures enables them to turn quotes around much faster for their customers. It also reduces the build and post-processing time of parts, whilst increasing the design freedom allowing designers to create parts that were previously difficult or impossible to build.
About Simpleware
Simpleware develops industry-leading software solutions for the conversion of 3D images (as obtained from MRI, CT, micro-CT) into high-quality CAE, CAD and 3D printing models. Simpleware software is used by engineers and researchers in a variety of fields, including: Life Sciences, Materials Science, Oil and Gas Exploration, Industrial Non-Destructive Evaluation and Reverse Engineering. Simpleware software is based on proprietary technology that facilitates the integration of image data with CAD and computational analysis (finite element and computational fluid dynamics) workflows. Unlike other approaches, Simpleware provides the most comprehensive software solution for bridging 3D image data and commercial CAE solvers, CAD packages, and 3D printing.
For more information on Simpleware, visit http://www.simpleware.com.
About 3T RPD
3T RPD Ltd is a market leader in additive manufacturing (AM), producing lightweight, high performance plastic and metal parts that are unachievable by traditional manufacturing techniques. 3T has approximately 50% of the UK plastic and 40% of the UK metal AM manufacturing capacity. They produce one-off prototype parts for trial and testing through to end-use production components, and pretty much anything in between, and often in a matter of days. Using layer based laser technologies, Selective Laser Sintering and Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) are fast, cost-effective and extremely accurate manufacturing processes. Inspiring designers and engineers to create parts specifically for the AM process, they are freed up from previous design constraints. Built directly from 3D CAD data, they negate the need for conventional tooling, and parts can be optimized to retain structural strength whilst reducing their weight.
For more information on 3T RPD Ltd, visit http://www.3trpd.co.uk/.