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3T’s Expertise is First in Finishing

3T RPD Ltd are pleased to welcome Clive Hardy to their Finishing team, signifying further the successful growth of these Rapid Product Development specialists.

Clive brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise in modelmaking and will be a driving force in 3T’s continued efforts to extend their range of finishing options. A Senior Modelmaker at Dyson for seven years, he has previous experience in the design and manufacture of light aircraft and has worked with the Selective Laser Sintering process for the last five years.

Jon Porter, 3T’s Operations Manager says “The continued success of 3T is driven by the skills of the people we have carefully selected. Clive’s ability to produce high tolerance results in the shortest possible timescales will further develop the range of finishing techniques available to our customers.”

3T’s Finishing team now blends skilled Patternmakers with Modelmakers, whose expertise combine the functionality of SLS prototypes with high quality aesthetics, without unduly delaying the delivery.

SLS technology utilises layer based construction techniques which, whilst offering significant benefits in terms of build speed, can sometimes give a stepped surface finish. From a purely functional aspect this is seldom a problem, however from the aesthetic perspective they may require additional finishing. Clive’s skills will enhance 3T’s existing capability to supply prototypes to full marketing model standard, and increase the aesthetics, painting and dressing options available.

3T have recently pioneered a low cost method of improving the visual impact of their functional prototypes with a revolutionary colouring process. Single parts or large batches can be supplied in a standard range of colours. Requiring no surface dressing, this post-process is usually covered by a flat charge irrespective of parts count. Giving a permanent surface colouring, assemblies become clearer, components can be highlighted, and resilience to handling discolouration enhanced. Furthermore, functionality remains unaffected.

Tim Plunkett, CEO of 3T says “Laser sintered prototypes find themselves in a much wider range of applications these days, and they can be transformed by the application of colour. Black is by far the most common requirement and has had a huge impact. Customers are very pleased with the visual effect and when combined with the high functionality of Nylon and Glass Filled Nylon, has opened up new opportunities”.

Running the largest sintering capability in the UK, 3T are able to offer both EOS and DTM machines. As well as two EOS P700’s, the world’s largest SLS machines, their suite also includes two EOS P360 machines and a DTM 2500 Plus, enabling them to provide the optimal machine to meet their customers’ requirements. Large parts can be built in a single piece on the P700’s, who’s build volume is 700x380x580mm; the reduced need for joints increasing their functionality. The P360’s allow parts to be built up to 620x340x340mm, and smaller parts with finer detail can be produced on the DTM.

With their ongoing Research and Development programme into post processing, 3T are continuing to make technological breakthroughs in the developing Rapid Prototyping and Manufacturing markets.

Example of Black Component		Some of the colours available
Example of multiple component/batch colouring (3T Promotional Keyrings)

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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