The Euro-uRapid 2006, International User′s Conference & Exhibition on Rapid Prototyping & Rapid Tooling & Rapid Manufacturing, took place at Frankfurt, in Germany, on November 27-28, directly before the Euromold 2006. An appointment not to be missed as meaning the venue for the international Rapid world, where internationally established firms, service providers, researchers and rapid experts meet with potential users and interested parties and discuss the global progress of Rapid product development. The objectives are a shorter time to efficiency, product, tool and market, which goals and requirements can be accomplished best with which Rapid procedures, processes, materials and effects. The focus of the Conference is on solutions for Rapid Manufacturing in lot sizes of one and small series of metal, polymer and ceramic.

The intervention of Eng. Franco Cevolini -Chairman and Director of CRP Technology, Italy, which continues to be a reference partner of the Racing Industry, personally taking care of the R&D, Rapid Prototyping and Mechanical Departments of the company- has been about the “Rapid Manufacturing with carbon reinforced plastic” (applications for motor sport, aerospace and automotive small lot production part). Involving many people, he explained that, nowadays, the needs of motor sport, aerospace and automotive sectors, are the following ones: concept design, modelling and functional testing models, high-end prototypes and small lot production parts; quality and repeatability closer to production suppliers but within ridiculously short delivery time.

The Rapid Prototyping techniques, that in the early days were applied mainly for concept design and modelling, now are required to realize production parts, or at least really functional prototypes. Parts performance should therefore allow to jump directly form 3D CAD drawings to functional models and finished parts, in order to shorten lead-times. Materials manufacturers are working hard to improve parts’ properties and quality, whilst machines producers are trying to obtain repeatability, and it is now almost possible to use layer manufacturing techniques also for high-end prototypes and small lot production parts.

The latest carbon fibre filled material for laser sintering technology, branded WINDFORM®XT, has paved the road that others are trying to pursue.
Eng. Franco Cevolini presented the following Case studies to help understand the difference between WINDFORM®XT and previous technology: The Motorsport Case studies of the Red Bull racing, F1 Team -which Racing Business development Manager, Mr. Steve Nevey, has taken part to the TCT 2006 Conference with references to the use of WINDFORM® XT in their Team-, and the Penske Racing –where WINDFORM® XT has a practical advantage as for the windtunnel repeatability- ; the Automotive Case studies of VM Motori S.p.A. with the Intake Manifold made in WINDFORM® XT and Lamborghini S.p.A. with the Gallardo Headlight Washer Cover Flap ; and finally the Aerospace Case study: Cold Duct Fan, a project that could only be developed and tested in such a short time and with a such high performance reached only with laser sintering and carbon fiber filled WINDFORM® XT.

Our special thanks go to the Dr. Rudolf Meyer, as this kind of event always is a great opportunity to demonstrate the high professionalism, quality and service of a Company as CRP Technology.

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Useful links for information about the persons and the interventions nominated:http://www.urapid.de/eng/index_e.htm