Introduction

Rapid Manufacturing is seen as one of the most important emerging technologies that will drive the future manufacturing economy. Approximately 30% of the Rapid Manufacturing systems are installed in Europe, and the revenues generated by RM products and services have almost doubled in the period 2004-2009 to reach almost 1.000M€. This makes RM products and services an already important, and with clear potential, part of the EU industry.

One of the most notable advantages of RM is the potential elimination of tooling. Without the constraints of casting or moulding tools, or machining jigs and fixtures, RM provides manufacturers the ability to produce cost effective batch sizes of “one”, or the ability to manufacture parts at multiple locations or with multiple product design iterations at no additional costs. Companies can reduce or eliminate their capital investment in such fixed assets, and there is no associated amortization of tooling costs. Products can be brought to market more quickly, at far lower cost and with far less risk. This is particularly appealing to small, fast-moving companies and the innovator community.

The objective of this project is to contribute to a coherent training program, that will allow the participants to improve the methodology and system for Rapid Manufacturing that implies design, development and manufacturing of products in aluminium, titanium, steel, steel and polymers on RM technologies. KTRM will develop an elearning platform and training materials for those working in the Manufacturing industry on Rapid Manufacturing methods. The project will use a "blended learning" approach, offering interactive on-line modules and supporting "hard-copy" resources. The course will have four entry points: processes, materials, design and business models.

A consortium has been drawn together of European RTOs and companies bringing together a wealth of expertise and resources in Rapid Manfacturing. The overall impact of KTRM is to enable SME to be able to initiate the implantation and standardisation of the process development and to know the abilities, advantages and limitations of the designed Rapid Manufacturing methodology.

The objective of this project is to contribute to a coherent training program, that will allow the participants in the e–learning program to improve the methodology and system for Rapid Manufacturing that implies design, development and manufacturing of products in aluminium, titanium, steel, polymers or any other new metal materials available on RM technologies. The specific goals that the project wants to achieve are:

• Enable the technology operating companies to optimize their processes and to guarantee stable RM processes with defined product quality related to customer needs and expectations. • Enable the system which integrates the whole set of critical technical parameters and its combination which affects directly to the Quality of the parts, from the design and manufacturing phases to the post – processes: 1. Design requirements for optimal and stable RM-process and resulting parts quality 2. Material-metal powder; plastics 3. Process: equipment, laser, speed, orientation, thermal layering, chemical layering 4. Post-process: hardening, polish, EDM… • Enable the implementation of new business models based on customer needs, data capture design, logistics and manufacturing possibilities. Rapid Manufacturing is seen as one of the most important emerging technologies that will drive the future manufacturing economy.

Approximately 30% of the Rapid Manufacturing systems are installed in Europe, and the revenues generated by RM products and services have almost doubled in the period 2004-2009 to reach almost 1.000M€. This makes RM products and services an already important, and with clear potential, part of the EU industry. KTRM will bring a new training model, which enables SME-AGs and additional partners to train EU SMEs on a level to be able to initiate the implantation and standardisation of the development process and to know the abilities, advantages and limitations of the designed methodology.

KTRM supports European Priority 4 (Develop skills considering the labour market needs). There is currently no Rapid Manufacturing training available in Europe, and the benefits will include cost savings and operational improvements. Industry involvement will be fostered from the start, through a robust assessment of their needs (WP2) through their National Feedback Panels, pilot tests and valorisation activities.