3T RPD adds finishing facility to Additive Manufacturing services
May 27, 2017
Following the acquisition of larger premises in December 2016, 3T RPD, Newbury, UK, has announced the addition of a complete finishing facility to complement its manufacturing capability. According to 3T RPD, this will enable the company to supply the complete AM process chain from design to delivery; improve its customer offering; have greater control over the key AM processes and reduce delivery lead times, becoming a ‘one stop shop’ for UK Additive Manufacturing services.
3T’s new finishing facility augments its pre-existing AM production front-end process services, such as design for AM, R&D, training and powder management. As part of its capacity upscaling, 3T’s metal finishing facility now includes a GF 5-Axis CNC milling machine, allowing the company to precision machine components in-house. The facility also includes a vibro-polisher, which can reportedly provide a better than 0.8Ra finish on metal components.
“3T RPD’s increase in finishing capacity has been in response to customer demand,” said Ian Halliday, 3T’s CEO. “Over the last 10 years the 3T team has developed the company from an RP supplier to a fully-fledged and aerospace capable AM production company which is supplying companies around the world with precision parts.” 3T previously invested in an aluminium heat treatment oven and has just installed a large vacuum furnace, enabling the company to provide high-integrity heat treatment for Titanium, Inconel and other alloys.
