DIGITAL MANUFACTURE WORKSHOP 5TH JULY
HP 3D PRINTERS AND SIEMENS NX

Sign Me Up

The post Open House Invite – 5th July appeared first on Europac3D.

Come see us at Mach 2018 at the NEC, 9^th-13^th April, Stand 122.

This year  look like it will be a good one, we have all this lined up:

• • HP Multi Jet Fusion: Europac will be showcasing the capabilities of the HP Multi-Jet Fusion Technology through a range of mass customised 3D printed products from the machine. The HP Multi Jet Fusion is revolutionising the additive manufacturing marketplace by delivering a faster and higher print quality at a 50% cost-per-part reduction.

• Siemens NX Software: A member of the Siemens team will be on hand to discuss how their NX software helps businesses develop innovative new products or refine existing ones. With cutting-edge design tools and technologies, NX streamlines and accelerates the product development process in an open, collaborative environment for 3D modeling, assembly design, drafting and documentation.

• 3D scanners: The UK’s latest 3D scanners including an exclusive view of the new Skyline integrated measuring arm and 3D scanners from Kreon. As well as a range of Artec products including; the EVA and Spider.

• 3D printed sunglasses: Europac will also be showcasing their collection of 100 bespoke sunglasses which have been mass customised using Siemens NX software and printed in under 12 hours using the HP Multi Jet Fusion. The speed of the HP machine coupled with Siemens NX and its ‘nesting capabilities’ allows a multitude of objects of varying shapes and sizes to be printed in a single print run. To win a free pair of sunglasses check out our facebook page
  
  

• Historic 3D printed Motorbike: Europac has 3D scanned a motorbike from using the Artec Eva to pick up the intricate details of the bike. The scan was then edited in CAD software before being 3D printed using the HP Multi Jet Fusion. Visitors will be able to view this historic bike at the stand.

  

  3D printed historic motorbike

• As well as showcasing the very latest in 3D printing and scanning, Europac 3D will have a team of 3D printing and scanning specialists on hand to discuss all 3D printing and scanning requirements.

John Beckett, Managing Director of Europac, comments: “We are anticipating a busy stand at this year’s MACH exhibition where we’ll be illustrating the capabilities of the HP Jet Fusion printers with tangeable mass customised products, as well as host of other industry-leading products like the Artec scanners. Our team will partner with Siemens to be on hand to provide expert advice, answer any queries and provide live demonstrations to showcase the capabilities of the machinery and software we stock.”

The post Mach 2018 – 3D printing preview appeared first on Europac3D.

3D scanning and printing has taken businesses by storm in recent years, but it may come as a surprise that fashion can be included in that list of industries which have been revolutionised by the technologies. From downloadable sewing patterns to body scanners, technology has helped fashion enterprises to improve their operations across the board.

With London and Milan Fashion week taking place this month and Paris hosting it next month we can’t wait to see what 3D influences appear on the runways in the coming weeks.

From speeding up the production process to cutting costs and avoiding waste, 3D technology is helping to enhance sustainable fashion brands like Xandra Jane, who have created a digital pattern library using 3D processes to enable customers to access luxury, ethical fashion tutorials and downloadable sewing patterns without premium price tags. Traditional methods of communicating with manufacturers and issuing physical copies of patterns comes with risks of loss and damage but thanks to 3D scanning and digitised patterns, an instant database can be created in a fraction of the time.

Anna Cleveland Vogue Italia, mixing traditional photography and 3d scanning

In terms of sustainability, this also avoids dead stock and over-production, because one garment can be made and customised through fabric choice and colour, allowing the customer to experience all the stages and processes involved in creating it, without physically creating and recreating the garment each time.

From 3D sewing patterns which create an accurate fit, to using actual 3D avatars when shopping online, various online stores such as Little Mistress have invested in software which takes a customer’s height, weight and body measurements to find the perfect fit and assist customers with the ordering process, to ensure they are selecting the right size. This process reduces judgement errors and minimises the number of returns, in turn saving the company money.

3D body scanners have also been introduced into stores providing a niche service. The scanners capture your measurements in seconds and provides customers with a more pleasant shopping experience than using traditional methods like a measuring tape.

As 3D scanning experts, we’ve also had first-hand experience of using 3D technology in the fashion industry. Solve Sundsbo invited us to a studio to help him scan famous model Anna Cleveland last year. Solve was hoping to achieve something unique with his own images and after capturing Anna using a traditional camera, he asked us to then scan the model in the same pose.

Anna Cleveland Vogue Italia, mixing traditional photography and 3d scanning

Using the Artec Eva handheld scanner, we were able to capture the model’s form perfectly, and Solve was then able to layer his own 2D photography with a perfect 3D image of the model. Having the two different methods enabled Solve Sundsbo to add distress and surrealism to the shots, resulting in some spectacular imagery which was then published in Vogue Italia.

It isn’t just 3D scanning that has brought a new dimension to the fashion world, 3D printing has too. Just last year, Charne Esterhuizen debuted a dress that she had created entirely from 3D printed butterflies at Vancouver Fashion Week. Taking it a step further, just last week a Spanish Design studio called ZER showcased and entire collection at Madrid Fashion Week. The Innovation Project features a number of 3D printed garments which seamlessly combine fashion and technology in 10 different looks, each one featuring a garment made with the help of 3D printing or another digital fabrication technique.

Do you think 3D inspired or printed fashions will become the norm? We’d love to hear your thoughts on our social channels: Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post How 3D Tech is Accelerating the Fashion Industry appeared first on Europac3D.

With a new HP channel partnership, a new membership with the MTC, and a new office move to state of the art facilities, 2017 has been an eventful year for us here at Europac HQ and with what we have in store for 2018, we know it’s going to be an even bigger and better year. Let us talk you through what you can expect from us in 2018…

HP only officially launched their Multi Jet Fusion 4200 Printer in April 2017, but it has already started to make waves in the 3D printing world by revolutionising the way in which 3D printing is used, so much so that engineering.com ranked HP third in their 3D printing market leader table. Traditionally when 3D printing began to take off, it was predominantly used for rapid prototyping, now thanks to the HP Multi Jet fusion, it has the power, quality and cost effectiveness to 3D print up to 3,000 parts in a single print run.

In 2018, you can expect to see us working on some exciting projects using the HP Multi Jet Fusion including, branching into the world of orthotics and prosthetics for the first time as well as orthodontics. Smaller businesses with a bespoke nature are realising how they can use the HP Multi Jet Fusion to help cut costs per part and speed up the production process, when compared to more traditional methods such as injection moulding.

HP have also announced that this year they will launch full colour 3D printing for the first time, in line with their production systems creating functional prints in engineering grade materials. The new system is an exciting new development that will occupy a new and unique segment within the additive manufacturing market, offering truly functional full colour parts as an industry first.

Until now other systems have only been able to produce concept colour parts however have lacked ‘real world’ durability and functionality. The HP system builds on the established multi jet fusion platform producing functional part production ideal for small/medium design firms, product development teams and universities. The new system will be HP’s most compact system to date designed for convenient in-house production of up to 130 parts per week.

HP have also announced plans to release a 3D metal printer in due course and we foresee that when these technologies fully launch, there will be a high demand for the new machines. As we are one of the only UK Channel partners for HP, we anticipate a busy year ahead for 3D colour and metal printing.

We are also excited to announce that we will finally see the much anticipated Artec Leo for the first time, and it will be available to purchase from Europac 3D in the coming months. The Leo is the first 3D scanner to offer on board automatic processing and is able to provide the most intuitive workflow, making 3D scanning as easy as taking a video. As you scan your object, see the 3D replica being built in real time on Leo’s touch panel screen… and we can’t wait to show you its real-life capabilities.

As a company, one of our new year’s resolutions was to make more appearances at exhibitions and so, we are excited to announce that we have kept to our plans and will be at a range of shows from The North of England to the South during 2018. We’ll be on hand to provide product demos with our Artec scanners and HP Multi Jet Fusion, as well as to discuss how we can help you achieve your business goals in the coming year.

We look forward to seeing you!

The post What to expect from Europac3D in 2018 appeared first on Europac3D.

Mini has announced that they are using the revolutionary HP Jet Fusion 3D printer to print bespoke personalised parts for the customers from 2018 onwards

Mini recently announced their plans to add custom options for patrons to personalise the exterior and interior trim of their Mini, including the dashboard facia, indicator inlays, dashboard trims, as well as sill plates and LED puddle lights.   The breakthrough came due to HP’s new revolutionary 3D printer that reduces the cost per part and increases the ability to cost effectively 3D print bespoke parts.

Owners can have their handwriting converted digitally as well as basic graphics which can then be 3D printed onto the trims or projected onto the ground when the doors open via custom 3D printed LED puddle lights.  Using a laser etching technique, the indicator inlays and dashboard facia have the ability to display text, imagery and textured patterns on the Mini Cityscape models.

Thomas Schmitz, product manager of Mini Yours Customised, comments: “Individualisation has always been a big topic with Mini, now we want to take individualisation to the next level.”

HP 3d printed light inlay

The ability to quickly and affordably 3D print car ready parts follows the launch of the new HP Jet Fusion 3D 3200 Printer and the HP Jet Fusion 3D 4200 Printer.   Both printers have revolutionised the marketplace by delivering a faster and higher print quality at a 50% cost-per-part reduction meaning that companies can print parts that are ready for use rather than just prototyping.

The HP Jet Fusion 4200 3D printers are based in BMW Group’s manufacturing HQ in Munich, Germany, where the company is able to produce a finished part in just four weeks from the submitted designs to the finished product being inserted into the customer’s vehicle. Each component is subject to the same BMW Group crash and durability tests as any other item of trim.

Europac 3D is one of HP’s Channel Partners for the sales and servicing of all of HP’s 3D printing systems and accessories across the UK.  For more information on how businesses can now 3D print parts and get ahead of the competition, contact us today on (0)1270 216000 or via email at sales@europac3d.com.

The post HP 3D Printers used to personalise Minis for 2018 appeared first on Europac3D.

2017 is drawing to a close and it’s been a fantastically busy year for us. From new acquisitions and offices, industry shows, technological advancements, a prestigious title, and even a TV debut, we’ve had numerous proud moments over the last twelve months. If you haven’t had a chance to keep up with all things Europac3D, don’t worry, we’ve picked out our 2017 highlights to share with you.

We’re probably most proud of our most recent achievement; in November, we received Gold Partner Status for ‘exceptional product knowledge’ with Artec 3D that marks us as a global leader in handheld 3D scanners. Artec supply us with top of the range scanners such as the Artec Leo – the fastest professional and most intuitive handheld 3D scanner on the market. The title came following a lot of hard work, in-depth training, webinars and even exams, all focussing on Artec scanners and sales as well as getting to grips with their CRM systems to administer the ordering and licensing of Artec products. The new status means that we now have proven accreditation and are a trusted partner of the company.

2017 also saw further expansions to the Europac3D dream-team! We welcomed both David Price and Karl Brown as our new UK Additive Manufacturing Sales Managers, who between them boast almost 35 years of technical sales experience. Their roles will focus on supporting customers from across a diverse range of industrial, commercial and military sectors.  Both are an asset to the team and are already helping to improve our services and grow the demands for our 3D printing and scanning products across the UK.

We were delighted to sell the first HP 4200 Jet Fusion 3D printing solution to a UK bureau.  The high-tech, high-investment start-up is a new venture from Stage One, the creative manufacturing and engineering services company who supply projects to architects, designers, producers and artists. After showcasing the printer at the MTC in July and again at the TCT Show in September, we received reports of strong demand for the new HP Jet Fusion, with orders for three machines secured at the show alone! The orders illustrate the strength of the industry and the demand for faster, high quality and more affordable 3D printing in the UK.

So after expanding the team and introducing a greater range 3D printing technologies, what do you need next? A new office of course!  The decision to invest in new premises came shortly after we were named as one of HP’s Channel partners in the UK, taking on the responsibility for the sales and servicing of all of HP’s 3D printing systems and accessories across the country. Now we boast larger, fully-equipped 5,000 sqft air-conditioned offices on Crewe Business Park, with modern and efficient facilities for employees and enough space for us to hold demos and open days in state of the art show rooms.

If all these achievements weren’t impressive enough, don’t forget that this year, fame fell at our feet as we made our TV debut – autographs later please! We featured in an episode of ‘Find it, Fix it, Flog it’ where we took a 3D scan of a presenter from the show and then printed it to create an exact replica of her for a doll’s house restoration project. Have a look at Gemma Longworth’s 3D mini-me here, it’s pretty impressive, even if we do say so ourselves!

We think it’s fair to say that it’s been a busy year in the Europac3D offices, but we wouldn’t want it any other way. We’re so thrilled with all the success that 2017 has brought, and we hope that 2018 is just as promising. So as a final from all of us here at Europac3D, we hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

The post Europac3D : The Very Best of 2017 appeared first on Europac3D.

HP have announced the imminent release of a full colour 3d printer, in line with their production systems creating functional prints in engineering grade materials. The new system is an exciting new development that will occupy a new and unique segment within the additive manufacturing market, for the first time offering truly functional full colour parts.

Until now other systems have only been able to produce concept colour parts however have lacked ‘real world’ durability and functionality. The HP system builds on the established multi jet fusion platform producing functional part production ideal for small/medium design firms, product development teams and universities. The new system will be HP’s most compact system to date designed for convenient in house production of up to 130 parts per week.

Please watch this space for information for the release 2018 release date for the UK.

The post HP to Launch Full Colour 3D Printer for 2018 appeared first on Europac3D.

Europac3D, one of the UK’s leading 3D printing, scanning and inspection businesses, has received Gold Partner Status for ‘exceptional product knowledge’ with Artec3D, a global leader in handheld 3D scanners. Artec supply Europac 3D with top of the range scanners such as the Artec Leo – the fastest, most intuitive professional 3D scanner on the market.

Europac were accredited with their new status on Friday 17^th November following a period of in-depth training, webinars and exams focussing on all aspects of Artec scanners and sales as well as getting to grips with Artec’s CRM systems to administer the ordering and licensing of Artec products.

The new status now means that Europac have a proven accreditation of ‘exceptional product knowledge’ with regards to reselling Artec products and are a trusted partner of the company.

John Beckett, Managing Director of Europac, comments “Artec have put us through our paces to gain this accreditation and we are delighted that our hard work has paid off and we have now achieved ‘Gold Standard Partner’ status. We are now officially a trusted reseller of Artec products and customers can rest assured that with our exceptional knowledge of not only the products such as the Leo scanner, but the company too that we can provide them with in depth information and advice on which products are best suited to their applications.”

The new qualification will mean that Europac 3D are a trusted reseller of products like the Artec Leo, which has been hailed as the ‘fastest and most intuitive professional 3D scanner on the market’. The completely tetherless machine captures 80 frames per second and allows you complete freedom to move around the object as you scan it as it is both a 3D scanner and computer all in one.

To further improve precision, users can point the scanner closer to the object to pick up intricate detail, just as they would zoom in with a video camera. The Leo can be used for scanning a range of objects, from small mechanical parts to the human body, cars, boats or crime scenes as well as industrial manufacture and quality control, healthcare and VR applications. With the added benefit of wireless functionality, built-in battery and internal processor the machine offers an even greater range of applications and freedom to scan.

Europac 3D, headquartered in state of the art facilities in Crewe, Cheshire, has more than 20 years of experience in the field of 3D scanning, printing and installation serving a range of sectors and more than 500 businesses across the UK.  The company offers a full spectrum of services from the supply of cutting-edge scanners, printers and accessories to installation, maintenance and training of staff in the usage of 3D hardware and software.

The post Artec3D Gold Certified Partner for the UK appeared first on Europac3D.

Last week saw the annual pilgrimage to Germany for  Formnext, the world’s leading exhibition for additive manufacturing and the next generation of intelligent industrial manufacturing methods. For us at Europac3D it represents a chance for us to meet many potential customers and also our key suppliers, in particular for HP and Uniontech. Forging new relationships from the US and China is a key part of the visit and understanding precisely the new developments in the pipeline for 2018 from the key decision makers and developers. The highlight for Europac3D, this year, was the announcement of 2 new materials, PA11 and PA12 with glass beads for the HP Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printer.

So what does this announcement mean for Uk customers?

Until recently the only material available for the HP range of printers was PA12 Nylon, if you like this holds a very nice middle ground in terms of strength, durability etc, however many applications need more focussed materials in order to meet the precise requirement of the end use application.

HP 3D High Reusability PA 11 – A highly ductile material that can stretch under stress making it ideal for those applications where the components flex and deform as a part of their function, including prostheses, insoles, sporting goods, snap fits, living hinges, and more. In addition it is low cost and has great impact resistance.

HP 3D High Reusability PA 12 Glass Beads – Adding extra stiffness to PA12 allows for new applications where dimensional stability, repeatability and rigidity are a requirement such as enclosures and housings, molds, and tooling.

Both the above materials will be available from January 2018, which we think is great news as the applications that the HP machine can solve within the UK market has just expanded. Also announced for the near future is Polypropylene, a durable low cost material that offers enhanced flexibility with excellent chemical resistant, lightweight, and watertight capabilities.

Also of significance was the announcement of two new partners to HP’s Open Materials Platform, Dressler Group and Lubrizol. HP have from day one championed an open materials platform that enables independent materials specialists to develop their own materials for HP multi jet fusion technology. This strategy differs greatly in comparison to some of other the 3D printing ‘giants’ which have always kept materials development ‘in-house’ and as a result the end customer has only ever been able to purchase materials for manufacturer. The disadvantage to this strategy is that customers are tied to materials that do not necessarily meet their requirements precisely and as a consequence may become frustrated not through the performance of the machine but the limitations of the materials they have available. The HP open platform solves this problem allowing for specialists in the field to make materials that meet the demand of the market precisely. For example Lubrizol is a global leader in specialty chemicals production with one of the broadest and deepest portfolios of TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) in the world.

Exciting time ahead

A year ago the Europac3D team made a bold decision to become an HP reseller in the UK, at the time this was a risky proposition as there was only really one machine with one material but the potential was too exciting to ignore. We took delivery of our demonstration machine in May and since this point a combination of product learning and a series of firmware upgrades (to be expected with most new machines on the market!) has seen  the quality and accuracy of parts increase exponentially to the point now where we are genuinely producing some stunning 3D benchmark prints for the likes of Aerospace, Automotive and even many artistic sculptures! Sales have also being growing with 3 machines old since the TCT show in September and with many purchasing processes taking 3-6 months it looks like early 2018 is going to see record numbers!

The introduction of many new materials in 2018 has got many of our clients excited to the point where we have numerous requests to build large production runs of literally thousands and thousands of parts. As a company that it is not focussed on print bureau it really tells us the market is poised to benefit from what is probably the first machine on the market to truly offer possibilities of 3d printing for end use manufacture and giving a real break point against traditional injection moulding.

The post HP Launch New 3D Printing Materials PA11 and PA12 With Glass Beads appeared first on Europac3D.

The latest demand in fashion, personal accessories and even healthcare is for creating products that are customized to the individual.  For years personalized and bespoke products have commanded a premium price whether a suit from Saville Row or a bespoke insole for a shoe, but advances in 3D printing and scanning mean that such a customized approach can not only be extended into other product areas, but can be done so at a fraction of the cost.

One sector that’s already managed to achieve high-volume customisation is the health and lifestyle sector where bespoke products are created for the individual.  If you just look at the case of hearing aids, currently 98% of hearing aids produced worldwide are now made using 3D printers, allowing each aid to be custom-crafted for each user’s unique ear shape offering greater comfort and practicality.

These techniques have spread to the consumer toys industry, with numerous companies offering websites in which children can custom-design toys that are then 3D printed and shipped to their doors. The use of 3D printing has boosted the custom toy market’s value to nearly £67 billion this year, with predictions that this will rise by 237% to £226 billion by 2022.

Sportswear brand giants Adidas, have taken it one step further to mass produce custom trainers. Factories in Germany and America have already begun implementing this technology to bring 1 million pairs of bespoke shoes to the market each year at a faster pace than conventional processes with each pair designed to perfectly fit the contours of the wearer’s foot.

Of course, industry-wide adoption takes time and factories must be transformed to accommodate the machinery, robots and operators needed. However, automation is spreading to every production line across the world and 3D technology has a key part to play in that process.

Admittedly it may not yet be affordable to extend into all manufacturing operations, however several businesses are looking at the option of modularity, where modules are mass produced using conventional techniques and where the customised element is introduced at the final assembly point.

It seems that the demand for more personalised products, that can be purchased at an affordable price, is set to continue and that 3D technologies are working ever closer with manufacturing businesses to help meet this demand and open new opportunities.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this or where you’d like to see even greater personalisation of products.  Get in contact via our social media channels, you can find us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post Customisation for the masses appeared first on Europac3D.