RidgeRider Case Study

Rapid product development specialist in the UK utilising selective laser sintering for creating functional prototype components.

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3T rides on its SLS success

Record RSS Ltd is a market leader in the provision of innovative and reliable play solutions and is committed to providing safe play equipment for children of all ages who now demand more fun, increased challenges and stimulating equipment to mirror their influences and aspirations. Record RSS offers a complete playground service; design, install, maintain, all from one source.

Their designers were challenged to come up with a dynamic, exhilarating ride for children aged 7 through to adulthood and from initial ideas came the RidgeRider; an elliptical track with a moving seat, likened to a mini roller coaster. The inner workings of the seat and how it could be safely mounted onto the track took months to finalise, but then they needed a method of creating a cost-effective, working prototype of it for testing on the track itself.

Richard Bruce, 3T's Technical Sales Engineer trying out the RidgeRider with the SLS prototype seat at the Saltex Exhibition in September 2007

They turned to 3T RPD Ltd as their Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technology was the ideal solution and the best way of building the seat in a material that was durable enough to withstand functional testing, within a short leadtime. Special features were incorporated into the complex internal workings of the seat to ensure the safety of fingers and hands of both riders and spectators. Made in two mirrored parts, it simply clipped together, thereby creating a protective housing over the track as well as a functional seat for the rider.

The Nylon material used to produce the prototype model emulated the final production material; roto-moulded polyethylene; so much so in fact, that 3T's Technical Sales Engineer actually rode it when it was being demonstrated at an exhibition! This functionality enabled the designers to prove their design prior to going into final production, without the need for expensive tooling. They made some final amendments to the design of the internal workings of the seat to ensure that all the safety features met with BSI regulations and with cycle testing being carried out during October 2007, they hope to have the first RidgeRider installed into a playground by December 2007.

Andrew Kadis, Design Manager at Record RSS says "The quick turn around from sending 3T our CAD data to receiving the SLS prototypes enabled us to demonstrate the product to the British Standards Institution for testing, as well as allowing us to show the product at our major annual exhibition, Saltex 2007, where it made a huge impact."

Further information on the RidgeRider and other products produced by Record RSS Ltd can be found on their website - www.recordrss.co.uk.

For further information relating to 3T's services, please contact them on +44 (0)1635 580284 to discuss your project in more detail or email your 3D CAD data to post@3trpd.co.uk for a rapid, professional response

Illustration of the RidgeRider

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3T RPD LTD
Fulton Court, Wofford Way, New Greenham Park, Newbury, Berkshire, RG19 6HD, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1635 580284 | Fax: +44 (0)1635 569857 | E-mail: post@3trpd.co.uk