Don't miss an issue! Renew/subscribe for FREE today.
×

RAPID 2012 Conference Highlights 3D Imaging and Additive Manufacturing Technologies

Posted on Wednesday, October 9, 2013

 

Dearborn, Mich. (PRWEB) May 31, 2012 -- The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) RAPID 2012 Conference and Exposition held May 22-25 in Atlanta, attracted students and professionals from 24 countries interested in 3D imaging and additive manufacturing technologies. The event provided real-world examples of how additive manufacturing is revolutionizing the way new products are designed, prototyped and produced, offering manufacturers advantages in terms of creativity, manufacturability, cost-savings and time-to-market.

The robust program offered plenary sessions with keynote speakers Paul Doe (Prodrive Motorsport Ltd.) and Terry Wohlers (Wohlers Associates), and fundamental workshops lead by Graham Tromans (G P Tromans Associates), Giles Gaskell (Wenzel America Ltd) and Brent Stucker (University of Louisville).

The program offered two full days of 3D imaging and additive manufacturing conference sessions and workshops with presentations from more than 60 technical papers about 3D imaging, medical and dental industry, transportation industry, final part production, additive manufacturing applications, rapid technologies, metal casting, creative and innovative uses of rapid technologies, and direct write printed materials for electronics. The event revealed that 3D printing is not only cool, hip and hot among makers and mainstream media, additive manufacturing technologies are gaining in popularity and acceptance among the world’s leading manufacturers and engineering professionals seeking ground-breaking ways to bring new products and ideas to market.

On the RAPID show floor, an ‘Exhibitor Innovation’ award was presented to 3D printer OEM Mcor Technologies. The company was recognized for its Matrix and Iris product lines, and for displaying technology innovation to improve business operations and manufacturing. Mcor’s mission is to bring eco-friendly 3D printing to the masses and to make it easy as printing on paper. The entries were judged by members of the SME Rapid Technologies & Additive Manufacturing (RTAM) community. A “Best in Show” award was presented to the Ex One Company, and designated by popular vote. ExOne has decades of manufacturing experience and over $50 million dollars invested in research and product development to pioneer the evolution of nontraditional manufacturing. This investment has yielded a new generation of rapid production technology in the field of additive manufacturing as well as advanced micromachining processes.

“The RAPID Conference and Exposition has a 20-year tradition of embracing new technology and informing attendees about the advances in equipment, materials and applications,” said SME business development manager Gary Mikola. “Our goal this year was to show what’s new and highlight the many ways additive manufacturing can be integrated into the design and manufacturing process.”

RAPID 2012 conference proceedings are available online to all registered attendees. The RAPID 2013 Conference & Exposition will be held in Dearborn, Michigan, May 6-10.







Recent Headlines

© 2024 BroadcastMed LLC | Privacy Policy