Ricoh 3D x MSL – STRONGER TOGETHER
Prior to the New Year, Ricoh 3D teamed up with Measurement Solutions Limited (MSL), offering customers, partners, students and fellow additive manufacturing enthusiasts the opportunity to learn more about the possibilities of AM.
The event, hosted at Ricoh UK Products Limited (RPL) – the home of Ricoh 3D, was designed to show how you can maximise the potential of AM and showcase end-to-end solutions using the latest technology, software and innovations, including the next generation engineering design software from nTopology.
The day was separated into three sessions (supporting customers and partners, RPL Engineers, and students from University of Wolverhampton), with each session exploring three key components:
- 3D printing with Ricoh 3D
- nTopology
- 3D scanning with Creaform
The 3D scanning included a range of handheld scanners and the RoboSCAN-R, an automated quality control solution, utilising the Creaform HandySCAN with a 6-axis Universal Robot.
The expert sessions offered visitors the chance to see some of RPL’s facilities, including its European Customer Experience Centre (CEC), as well as some of the Ricoh 3D facilities.
It also provided ‘early insight and teasers’ into Ricoh’s service expansion into metal additive manufacturing (Metal AM) – with the doors set to be open to Ricoh 3D’s new Metal AM CEC set to open to customers and partners this year.
For the University of Wolverhampton’s Engineering students, the event provided exciting insights into the world of additive manufacturing and allowed students to ask questions about the industry, as well as delving deeper into Ricoh’s materials, technologies and future ambitions.
Said Aaron Vance, Engineering Lecturer (University of Wolverhampton): “A great thank you to Ricoh 3D’s Enrico Gallino, Richard Minifie, Mark Dickin, Joe Winston and the MSL team, and the wider team at Ricoh UK Products Ltd for hosting an interesting event exploring 3D printing, 3D scanning and nTopology.
“The University of Wolverhampton is firmly placed within the UK Top 10 for social mobility. As the University of Opportunity, we are committed to widening participation through creating valuable opportunities for our students to reach their full potential and improve their life chances.
“The ‘Ricoh 3D x MSL’ event supported and engaged students from across the Faculty of Science and Engineering to explore real-world applications of 3D printing technologies. The opportunity enabled students to see first-hand world-leading 3D production facilities and this is experience they will take with them throughout their whole career.”
He added: “The combination of 3D printing technologies and implicit modelling programs/software such as nTopology has the potential to be disruptive and sustainable; it is the students of today that will help realise the future of tomorrow.”
Ricoh 3D’s Senior Engineer, Richard Minifie, who facilitated the event, said: “It was a pleasure to host our first collaborative event with MSL here at Ricoh at the end of 2022.
“Our relationship with MSL has gone from strength to strength with the purchase of some scanning equipment and optimisation software. The support and knowledge provided by MSL has been second to none allowing Ricoh 3D to move forward with what we can offer to our customers taking AM projects to the next level.”
He added: “The event showcased new technologies and developments in optimisation software which we have always said are key to unlocking the full potential of AM. This shows the commitment Ricoh 3D has in moving with the demands of our customers as their AM journey evolves.
“It was a pleasure to speak to the students too – of whom we hope will be 3D printing experts of the future.
“A huge thank you to all involved and to all attendees. We look forward to seeing you again in 2023.”
