After an abundance of high quality entries into the TCT Awards this year, we are excited to announce the 2023 finalists! 

The finalists are made up of a wide variety of interesting projects with truly ground-breaking developments within 3D printing and additive manufacturing innovation.


The TCT Award finalists for 2023 are:

4
TCT Aerospace & Defence Application Award

The aerospace and defence industries are renowned for leading the way in innovation. From developing new and ground-breaking materials, to advanced electronics and automation, technologies incubated by these industries such as structural composites and GPS quickly became popular in many commercial applications. It is therefore unsurprising that these industries have been key adopters of 3D printing and additive manufacturing, and we are excited to see what pioneering applications have been released this year.

Metalized RF filters for satellites

Description

Entrant - University Polytecnica De Valencia

Partners - AIJU Technological Center; European Space Agency

Space qualified communication filters for satellites have been developed with surface mount technology using polymer AM, and were subsequently metallized in order to provide surface conductivity. This resulted in a 2.5 times cost reduction at a quarter of the weight and half the volume.

Printed biotech space platform

Description

Entrant - Yuri

Partners - EmtroniX

This modular 3D printed fluidic system for biological experiments in microgravity has been developed using medical-grade SLA. Alongside cost and lead-time reductions, the use of AM has improved ‘design of experiment’ capabilities through the modularity and customization, as well as reducing the unit size, enabling a greater number of experiments to take place.

"Self-healing" 3D printed structures

Description

Entrant - University of Cambridge

Partners - European Space Agency

The University of Cambridge and the European Space Agency have collaborated to develop high-performance but lightweight additively manufactured smart cellular structures with significant energy absorption and recovery functionality to mitigate against hard landings and impact from space debris.

The i-DAMP Suppressor

Description

Entrant - Hyphen Innovation

Partners - United States Air Force; Perceptive Engineering Analytics

A vibration suppression method called inherent Damping via Additive Manufacturing Processes (i-DAMP) has been developed to allow the suppression of vibration stresses by up to 95% in critical turbine engine parts. Use of this method can reduce manufacturing time of advanced small compressor suites by more than 90%.

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TCT Automotive & Rail Application Award

As one of the first industries to see the benefits of rapid prototyping, the automotive world has embraced additive technologies at all stages of design, development and manufacturing. More recently the rail industry have seen a real growth in the use of additive manufacturing, benefiting from the low volume production and spare part supply. But what are the industries' best applications of AM today?

Autodrop Device for Trains' Pantograph

Description

Entrant - Wabtec

Partners - SLM Solutions

The re-design for additive manufacture of a manifold able to control the movement of the pantograph on a train has solved pain points in the existing system. By consolidating the part from 10 parts into 1, the new AM component has a weight reduction of 70%, and has improved performance, keeping trains in service and reducing costly down time.

Bridge production of rear window seals

Description

Entrant - HP

Partners - General Motors; GKN Additive Forecast3d

Additive manufacturing provided bridge production of rear window seals to enable a late design change into the current production of General Motors vehicles. HP Multi Jet Fusion technology and GKN Additive Forecast3d expertise allowed for a 50% faster manufacturing time compared to injection moulding.

Custom drag race steering wheel

Description

Entrant - Markforged

Partners - Larsen Motorsports

Larsen Motorsports, who build jet engine drag racing vehicles that race at speeds of over 280mph, have used Markforged Simulation to design and print a custom Continuous Carbon Fiber reinforced Onyx™ steering wheel. The design was customized to the driver’s hand shape to maximise safety, and took the lead-time from 8 days to 2 days.

Custom tramway fairings

Description

Entrant - Massivit 3D

Partners - Alstom; Stratiforme Industries

Large scale 3D printing has enabled Stratiforme Industries to directly print LRV tramway parts on-demand. The front end fairings, headlight fairings, and camera covers were printed on a Massivit 500 and reinforced with fibreglass layup, eliminating the need for a mold and reducing production and delivery times by 50%.

Replacement footrests for passenger trains

Description

Entrant - Nexa 3D

Partners - Alstom; 3DZ

When requiring replacement parts which had been discontinued, Alstom turned to Nexa3D to print replacement components needed for footrests on its passenger trains throughout Europe. In the process, they saved tens of thousands of Euros on tooling costs reducing part costs by a quarter and significantly reduced lead times from months to days.

Series production of automotive cold plate

Description

Entrant - Enable Manufacturing

Partners - Continental Engineering Services

Additive casting has enabled the design to manufacture of an electronics cold plate for a premium automotive manufacturer. The use of AM moulds over conventional methods diminished the risk of leaks through part consolidation, and the use of Enable’s surface topology resulted in 20% weight reduction. The resultant parts are 25% lighter and 50% lower cost than conventional manufacturing.

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TCT Consumer Product Application Award

We use consumer products every day, often taking for granted their impact on our daily lives. Behind each of those products is a product designer – designing the look, feel, function and production route of these products.  The use of 3D printing and additive manufacturing in the life of a product designer has increased 10-fold over the past few years, and as the adoption increases, so do the innovations. 


SPONSORED BY



AMbelievable™ Tennis Racket Dampener

Description

Entrant - Additive Appliances

Partner - Optimad Engineering

A tennis racket dampener has been redesigned by combining DfAM with metamaterials techniques to introduce an innovative functioning principle. Delivering unique features to absorb only target vibrations, the design achieves up to 70% weight reduction creating a more balanced centre of mass for the racket system, and allows for complete functional personalisation.

Cast-In-Motion Bathtub Mold

Description

Entant - Massivit 3D

Partner - Lyons Industries

By producing the mold for a bathtub with Massivit 3D’s Cast In Motion (CIM) technology instead of traditional mold making for fibreglass lay-up, Lyons was able to reduce the total manufacturing time of a bathtub from 120 days to less than 30 days, and save up to 90% manual labour.

Custom fit Ski goggles

Description

Entrant - HP

Partner - Smith Optics

The Smith I/O MAG Imprint 3D goggle is the first custom goggle built to the individualized features of a person’s face. Utilizing Smith’s custom app, users scan their face to capture their unique details and contours. Through Smith’s patent-pending Imprint 3D technology, an individualized frame is automatically generated with a face flange tailored to the exact surfaces of the user’s face.

Hasbro Selfie Series

Description

Entrant - Formlabs

Partner - Hasbro

Formlabs partnered with leading toy maker, Hasbro, to bring to life the Hasbro Selfie Series. Utilizing a new personalization app-based platform created by Formlabs, the Hasbro Selfie Series uses the power of Formlabs 3D printers to enable fans to create a collector-grade, six-inch fan-favourite action figure in their own likeness.

HY MINI Handbag

Description

Entrant - Julia Koerner Design

The HY MINI is a luxury handbag entirely 3D printed, including its hinge, closure clasp, chain loops, and interior pocket. It features an iconic design that is inspired by natural hymenium lamella structures and can only be created using AM. The handbag is produced on-demand using ‘just-in-time' manufacturing to eliminate waste so often seen in the fashion industry.

Microsoft Adaptive Accessories

Description

Entrant - Shapeways

Partner - Microsoft

Microsoft Adaptive Accessories consist of an Adaptive Mouse, Adaptive Hub, and three Adaptive Buttons, designed to empower users who may have difficulty using a traditional mouse and keyboard to increase their PC productivity and create their ideal setup. Users can customize adaptive accessories with 3D printed add-ons like mouse tails and button toppers to fit their unique needs using the Shapeways Configurator.

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TCT Creative Application Award

The film, theatre, art, architecture and jewellery industries all have one thing in common – they take a creative vision and turn it into a physical realisation. As such it is one of the most fascinating areas of innovation in 3D printing and additive manufacturing.  We are excited to see where this industry can push the boundaries in using the technologies in the creative arena. 


SPONSORED BY


Crystal Lamellas

Description

Entrant - Julia Koerner Design

Partner - Swarovski

The Crystal Lamellas installation by JK3D blends nature, technology, and material innovation. The Crystal Lamellas feature a digitally crafted 3D design that is inspired by the structure, performance and colors of the gills and lamellae of the fungi. The installation features forty digitally crafted glass sculptures, which are manufactured by Swarovski innovations glass 3D Printing technology.

Guillermo del Toro’s 'Pinocchio' Puppet Armature

Description

Entrant - Mackinnon and Saunders

Partners - Laser Prototypes Europe; Netflix; Shadow Machine; Southern GFX

Pinocchio is the world’s first stop motion puppet in a major movie to be animated with an armature created with 3D metal printed technology. The most significant innovation was the ability to combine and print the organic detailing with the armature itself. This allowed the creation of stronger, more durable puppets, which retained a delicacy of design seen in traditional techniques.

'Link' metal chain bracelet

Description

Entrant - 3DEO

Partner - LACE by Jenny Wu

The design of ‘Link’ completely redefines how a chain link bracelet is made: each link connects to each other without any additional hardware, hinges or pin connectors. Because each link is an independent piece, it also allows for adjustability in sizing as well as finishes, achieving enhanced functionality, a sleek look and design, and one-print structure.

Liquid Lace - Textile Craft Technology

Description

Entrant - Royal College of Art

Partner - Create Education

A surface 3D printing technique onto fabric has been developed to reinterpreted traditional textile patterns and embellishments such as weave, knit, lace, and embroidery, creating a 3D print that resembled a conventional crafted textile. The technology has the potential to embed other textile components into fabrics to create smart elements.

Wakanda Forever Crown and Neckpiece

Description

Entrant - Julia Koerner Design

Partner - Marvel Studios; Ruth E Carter

The kingdom of Wakanda in the film tells the story of a fictional place where advancements in technology and innovation are taking place. The costumes of the character Queen Ramonda feature 3D-printed designs to exemplify the combination of traditional African culture and the most high-tech fashion.

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TCT Hardware Award – Non-polymer systems

The Hardware awards celebrate the very best of the enabling technologies themselves, and are split into two distinct areas, the first of which is non-polymer systems. This could include metals, ceramics, composites, biomaterials or any other material that is not solely a polymer.  We are looking for innovations which push the boundaries of current established systems.


SPONSORED BY



Digital Metal Casting

Description

Entrant - Foundry Lab

Foundry Lab uses binder-jet ceramic molds and microwaves to cast production-identical metal components. Using a high temperature binder and proprietary ceramic powder, molds are jetted, cured and then filled with cold metal feedstock and placed in a microwave. The system heats, casts and cools the parts automatically, giving users the ability to cast die-cast production-identical metal parts.

EP-M1250

Description

Entrant - EPlus3D

EP-M1250 is a Metal Powder Bed Fusion machine with a huge 1258 x 1258 x 1350 mm3 build envelope and nine laser systems to ensure a high efficiency production. The precise positioning and innovative area splicing control technology offers uniformity and stability, making it suitable for the direct manufacturing of large, high-precision, high-performance parts from myriad metal powders.

Meltio M450

Description

Entrant - Meltio

The M450 is a multi-material Directed Energy Deposition (DED) metal 3D printer that allows users to produce metal parts of very high density in a single-step process on a very compact footprint. Designed without the need for industrial infrastructure, the M450 is affordable, reliable, safe and easy to use - ideal for small to medium size part fabrication and multi-metal 3D printing research.

Metal Jet S100 Solution

Description

Entrant - HP

HP’s Metal Jet S100 Solution is said to be the first metal 3D printer that can scale economically and meet customers’ end-to-end software and hardware needs, creating a full value chain approach that guides customers through the learning curve of AM adoption. The S100 provides a modular solution, allowing for continuous production at scale for mass metal part manufacture.


NXG XII 600E

Description

Entrant - SLM Solutions 

Partner - Concurrent Technologies Corporation

SLM Solutions has developed one of the largest SLM® machines for metal AM. Driven by 12 x 1kW lasers that produce up to 1000cm/hr, the NXG XII 600E combines the serial production of high-quality metal parts, state-of-the-art software tools, and a modern large-scale production setup with the extended 1.5m z-axis height.

TrueShape technology

Description

Entrant - Mantle

Partner - Westminster Tool

Mantle’s TrueShape system prints precision injection mould tooling components at a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods. Integrating extrusion 3D printing of Mantle’s metal pastes with precision CNC machining, it produces parts with the accuracy and surface finish required for tooling. Parts are then sintered in Mantle’s F-200 furnace resulting in durable tool steel components.

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TCT Hardware Award – Polymer systems

The Hardware awards celebrate the very best of the enabling technologies themselves, and are split into two distinct areas, the second of which is polymer systems. We are looking for 3D printing or additive manufacturing technologies which push the boundaries of polymer processing, bringing innovative improvements or entirely new technologies to the table.

Automation Ecosystem

Description

Entrant - Formlabs

Formlabs Automation Ecosystem enables a scalable fleet of- multi-user, multi-material 3D printers. Using a combination of Form Auto part removal, Fleet Control software management, and High Volume Resin, the Automation Ecosystem reduces the amount of operator labour and minimizes idle printer time so users can efficiently produce end-use parts at a lower cost-per-unit.

Jet Fusion 5420W

Description

Entrant - HP

The HP Jet Fusion 5420W Solution enables consistent, high-quality production of white parts, and provides the benefits of HP’s robust, manufacturing-ready Multi Jet Fusion platform, including industrial-grade reliability, low cost per part, and enhanced manufacturing predictability, providing an array of post-processing options ideal for the automotive, consumer goods and healthcare markets.

LC Titan

Description

Entrant - Photocentric

Photocentric has developed LC Titan, the largest LCD 3D printer in the world with a build volume of 700 x 395 x 1200 mm. It uses Photocentric’s proprietary daylight resins ensuring a more reliable polymerization than UV, and the 8K 32” LCD screen provides large-format 3D printing solutions with high resolution, enabling the production of big accurate parts and fast mass manufacture.

Magnum

Description

Entrant - The Industry

Magnum is a large format 3D printer which uses fully recycled materials including granules and pellets, and a completely circular process for a fully sustainable manufacturing platform. The autonomous AM printing solution offers 2.16m3 high speed print volume and has a patented heated vacuum table enabling shortened downtime and more efficient production.

ObXidian™

Description

Entrant - E3D

ObXidian is a 3D printer nozzle for FDM machines capable of printing a wider range of materials than any other E3D Nozzle. Pairing extreme abrasion resistance with reduced polymer build-up, ObXidian has a unique combination of properties, whilst its copper construction allows for 10 to 15°C lower print temperatures than a hardened steel nozzle, making it the more energy efficient choice.

5
TCT Healthcare Application Award

Healthcare is one of the most rewarding industries to be involved with, and the use of 3D technologies in this arena couldn’t be more fitting.  The ability to create bespoke, one-off parts from scanned data is perhaps more suited to this industry than any other. With the ever-evolving development of new materials, software and hardware, it is no wonder that this industry grasps the benefits of these technologies – and we can’t wait to see what innovative applications have been launched this year.  


SPONSORED BY



MED® Pharmaceutical 3D Printing

Description

Entrant - Triastek

Partners - Eli Lilly; Merck KgA; Siemens; Boehringer Ingelheim

Working with partners Eli Lilly, Merck KgA and Siemens, Triastek has developed Melt-Extrusion Deposition (MED®), a pharmaceutical 3D printing technology which ensures more effective drug delivery, controlling when, where and how much API is released. Thought to be the world’s first continuous manufacturing line for 3D printing pharmaceuticals, MED has a production rate of approximately 50 million tablets per year.

Microneedle Duo Technology®

Description

Entrant - Boston Micro Fabrication

Partner -  IMcoMET

IMcoMET has developed a technology based on microfluidics for the treatment of skin cancer. The microneedle-Duo (M-Duo) Technology, featuring micro 3D printed components, leverages small needles to inject a carrier fluid into the skin and aspirate it. The microenvironment of the tumour and all its components are physically removed in order to then be replaced with healthy tissue.

Patient specific TAVR flow model

Description

Entrant - MedScan 3D 

Partners - Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific’s 3D printed multi material transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) flow soft tissue model was used to simulate coronary access and percutaneous coronary intervention (CPI) following chimney stenting during a valve implantation in a surgical bioprosthesis. This patient-specific simulator model allows for physical testing of novel surgical procedures before proceeding to live cases.

Print-as-one medical micro grippers

Description

Entrant - 3D MicroPrint

These fully functional micro laser sintered (MLS) medical grippers and tweezers are based on a specialised print-as-one design by 3DMicroPrint GmbH. Grippers, forceps, and scissors, measuring 0.8mm diameter, can be produced in a single manufacturing step and deployed in a wide variety of applications in manual and robotic surgery.

Tourniquets for Ukrainian Soldiers

Description

Entrant - Sygnis

In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sygnis have reimagined the tourniquet manufacturing process. This fully functional 3D printed tourniquet was developed in consultation with field medics, and the UAM Center for Advanced Technologies in Poznan in less than two months, and is said to be more cost-effective, faster to produce, durable and stress-resistant than others available on the market.

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TCT Industrial Product Application Award

Industrial products work behind the scenes to keep our industries working. Whether it be factory automation equipment, farming tools or material handling machines, there is little that is not touched by an industrial designer.  3D technologies are being increasingly adopted by this sector to drive unique developments, and we look forward to discovering the industries best applications over the past year.


SPONSORED BY


Bearing Separation Dispenser Cage

Description

Entrant - Labconco

Partner - Allentown

Labconco used 3d printing to overcome challenges with an animal bedding dispenser at Allentown, Inc. This polymer laser sintered part solves the problem of two chain sprockets being drawn towards each other due to rotational resistance, resulting in product failures. FEA was conducted to produce a generatively designed part to keep the sprockets spaced properly, and a non-structural lattice cage for safety.

Freshwater pump Impeller

Description

Entrant - MX3D

Partner -  Engie

MX3D produced a fully certified 3D printed impeller for a freshwater pump in the Amercoeur energy plant from Engie/Labourec. The 350kg nickel aluminium bronze part was continuously manufactured using robotic wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) over two weeks, resulting in advantages in lead times and costs compared to traditional manufacturing, and a more stable and decentralized energy plant operation.

HIP for AM & AM for HIP

Description

Entrant - Hiperbaric

Partners -  ICE; FEDER

Hiperbaric developed this 3D printed heat exchanger, taking advantage of the unique properties of copper alloy (GRCop-42) developed by NASA. The design of the heat exchanger, a component of Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) often used as a post process for AM parts, drastically reduces costs and cycle times, and offers a direct and determinant impact on the microstructure of treated parts.

Printhead cover for Industrial Printing Machine

Description

Entrant - Comexi 

Partner - Materialise

COMEXI, a supplier of machinery to the flexible packaging industry, developed a new fixation support for a pair of IGUS Triflex cable chains, and an articulated cover to protect PH electronic connectors and cable routing features, all in a single 3D printed component. Printed using Multi Jet Fusion technology, the part represents a cost saving of 70%.

Refinery Pressure Components

Description

Entrant - Lincoln Electric Additive Solutions 

Partners - Chevron; Stress Engineering Services

Chevron and Lincoln Electric Additive Solutions collaborated to qualify and manufacture pressure components that were installed in a hydrogen furnace of a Chevron refinery. The large-scale components weighed 225kg and were printed with nickel 617 wire using gas metal/wire arc AM (WAAM). In less than a month, Lincoln Electric delivered production parts totalling over 2,500 kg of deposited wire.

SEAMstructure for mobile 5-axis machine

Description

Entrant - 1A Technologies 

Partners - METROM; Fraunhofer Institute

3D printed using plastic pellets, this structure for a mobile 5-axis machine led to a reduction of weight from 95kg down to 45kg, and doubled its work envelope. The structure was reimagined from 12 sheet metal parts, which required aligning and welding together, to just two parts which were screwed with inserts and glued together at a cost reduction of 50%.

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TCT Materials Award

3D printing and additive manufacturing processes would not succeed but for the development of appropriate materials for the job.  Though often under appreciated, the amount of science and innovation which goes into the development of materials for these processes can be astounding.  We would like to celebrate advancements in materials for additive manufacturing from polymers to metals, ceramics to composites, biomaterials and any other advanced material.

Connection FR

Description

Entrant - Cubicure

Connection FR is Cubicure’s flame retardant photopolymer developed specifically for the electronics industry. This material is flame retardant at a wall thickness of 1.5mm, enabling the efficient additive series production of high-precision FR components, allowing the electronics industry to finally be able to take full advantage of additive manufacturing in their process chain.

EPU 44

Description

Entrant - Carbon

EPU 44 is a 40% bio-based elastomeric 3D printing resin designed for lattices requiring high resiliency and is used in production at scale in adidas 4DFWD running shoes. Compared to its predecessor, EPU 44 has superior performance, prints faster, uses less material and has higher green strength. Production of EPU 44 creates 56% less greenhouse gasses using 42% less energy from non-renewable sources.

HPPA

Description

Entrant - Solvay

This HPPA filament aims to bridge the price and performance gap between PA materials and high performance materials, offering new materials with a lower processing temperature range while keeping a high glass transition. Compared to materials such as Ketaspire PEEK, HPPA drastically decreases the cost of the parts not only on the raw material but also on the investment costs of the printer itself.

LCA-backed Ni718

Description

Entrant - 6K

A collaboration of world-leading organizations analyzed real-world data to capture the holistic impacts of AM part production. The outcome shows that in combination, 6K’s UniMelt plasma production process and Ni718 high-quality metal AM powder produced from scrap, was shown to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions compared to conventional atomization processes.

NExP-1

Description

Entrant - Equispheres

Equispheres’ NExP-1 AlSi10Mg is a non-explosible, non-combustible aluminium alloy specifically designed for production printing of aluminium parts. It can produce high-quality prints at high throughput rates, with a significantly better safety profile than competitive products, reducing the risk of day-today handling without the use of costly coatings, oxides or additives.

PK 5000

Description

Entrant - Jabil

Jabil PK 5000 is an eco-friendly, powder-based material with improved strength, chemical resistance and resilience over PA 12. The patent-pending material has high-barrier properties and low-moisture absorption, and offers critical mechanical properties at a lower cost than typical polymer-based materials. The production of PK 5000 consumes carbon monoxide, reducing the overall carbon footprint.

Reduced CFP Rilsan®

Description

Entrant - Arkema

A unique long-term agreement for the supply of renewable biomethane has allowed Arkema to further reduce the carbon footprint of its bio-based polyamide 11 powder. Reduced CFP Rilsan® Polyamide 11 is a 100% high-performance polymer produced from caster oil, which displays superior mechanical properties and weight saving compared to PA 12, with outstanding impact resistance, and higher ductility and elasticity.

Rigid DL240 Plant-Based

Description

Entrant - Photocentric

Photocentric has developed Rigid DL240 Plant-Based Resin with 50% bio-based material, said to be one the highest percentage of raw bio-materials for photopolymers in the world. Combining the energy efficiency of their LCD 3D printing process with the use of daylight resin made with bio-based materials significantly reduces the carbon footprint.

6
TCT Post-Processing Award

The post processing award aims to celebrate the technologies which turn the printed part into a functional, aesthetic product, and add the final touches to the 3D printing/additive manufacturing process chain.  The often essential processes which impart material properties and surface finishes to a 3D printed or additively manufactured part.  We are excited to commend new innovations in post processing technology.

3D-EZ-Release™

Description

Entrant - Indium Corporation

The 3D-EZ-Release™ system, for print plates used in powder bed fusion (PBF) printers, has been developed to which contains an inlaid top layer that consists of a low-melting point alloy with a high thermal conductivity. This ensures that printed parts can be easily removed from the build plate without damaging the part or the plate itself.

AMBIT EDDY

Description

Entrant - Hybrid Manufacturing Technologies

The AMBIT EDDY fully automates detection and avoidance of cracking and near-surface porosity in metallic AM parts, using eddy current inspection. The in-situ system enables 100% inspection of production parts due to its quick inspection time and accelerates process development and confident use of AM with crack prone materials.

Powerfuse S PP

Description

Entrant - DyeMansion

DyeMansion launched the brand-new Powerfuse S PP, the first ever green vapor polishing solution for polypropylene (PP). The process uses a 100% bio-based non-toxic fluid in a closed loop system to smooth 3D-printed PP. The part benefits go far beyond aesthetics, including scratch resistance, impermeability to liquids, washable, and eliminates bacteria formation.

RD1-TT

Description

Entrant - Theta Technologies

RD1-TT is a non-destructive testing machine designed to provide rapid, accurate, and cost-effective tests for complex additively manufactured parts. The unique nature of the non-linear resonance technology allows for the testing of metal, composites, and ceramic parts in numerous part conditions, and enables 100% inspection of production parts without the need of a highly trained operator.

S2

Description

Entrant - AM Solutions

The S2 is an automated process designed for cleaning and surface finishing of plastic components produced with powder-bed printing systems. The innovative 2-in-1 concept means cleaning and surface finishing happens at the same time with the same medium in only one machine, and is designed for 24/7 operation saving time in AM post-processing.

Wax Support Removal Detergent

Description

Entrant - PostProcess

PostProcess has developed a Wax Support Removal Detergent which has been formulated specifically for safe, consistent and efficient support removal for 3D printed wax parts. The solution can remove support material without damaging or marring the surface finish of the part, improving the overall quality and reducing the need for manual post-processing.

6
TCT Software Award

Software is the glue that binds together the various processes involved in turning an idea into a tangible product. From the ideation and design phase, through development, testing and validation, all the way to manufacture, end-use and end of life management, software is running the show. This award celebrates the most impactful innovations in any software which impacts product development using 3D printing and additive manufacturing.


SPONSORED BY



Ai Sync

Description

Entrant - Ai Build

AiSync’s advanced software platform supports a broad range of toolpath generation capabilities. Through integration with OpenAi’s natural language model GPT, “Talk to AiSync” makes that process intuitive by using basic text commands to generate production ready 3D print files. AiSync Defect Detection Capability validates end part integrity and immediately alerts users to 3D print defects.

CO-AM Software Platform

Description

Entrant - Materialise

CO-AM is an open, cloud-based software platform that lets serial manufacturers manage the entire AM production process. Materialise is offering more than 25 software applications, including third party software, for connectivity with more than 150 different 3D printing systems, and uses Identify 3D’s leading data security solution to ensure full data integrity.

Guidelines

Description

Entrant - Authentise

Partners -  ASTM; MPI; TWI; Photocentric; Innovate UK

Guidelines is increasing repeatability in AM by making knowledge capture, processing and dissemination easier, faster and more reliable. Guidelines enables users of Authentise’s FLOWS AM workflow engine to formulate ‘If-This-Then-That’ rules to trigger suggestions for production outcomes, placing the expertise and experience of operators back into the heart of software.

Non coplanar Layering

Description

Entrant - Addman Engineering

Addman Engineering have developed a unique non-coplanar layering technique for FDM processes which greatly increases the strength of a 3D printed part along the X-Y plane by staggering the size or height of the bead along the Z axis. This planar cross-linking can more than double the strength in the X/Y plane when compared with traditional slicing, and can reduce porosity by up to 100 times.

RSure

Description

Entrant - Replique

Replique's RSure provides a reliable and efficient quality control solution for decentralized manufacturing. RSure enables OEMs to set quality checks for 3D printed parts within the platform, which can then be accessed by service providers who can document the checks using a smartphone or computer. The digital twin of each part enables part-specific monitoring and complete documentation.

Vibration Compensation Software

Description

Entrant - Ulendo

Ulendo’s vibration compensation software enables 3D printers to operate at twice the speed without sacrificing quality. Relevant to printers based on mechanical movement of print heads, the vibration profile of the printer is determined which the software uses to anticipate a vibration and modifies the stepper motor commands to compensate.