Modern Icon: Reimagining A Much-Loved Classic

Inventor 2020 P35 Siemens NX 7.
0 P39
Keyshot KeyVR P40 FabPro 1000 P43
TECHNOLOGY FOR THE PRODUCT LIFECYCLE JUNE 2019 | £6 | € 7 | $10 | DEVELOP3D.COM
Reimagining a
much-loved classic
MODERN
ICON
COWBOY ELECTRIC BIKE 3D PRINTING FOR TOOLS DESIGNING CRUISE LINERS
p01_D3D_JUN19_COVER.indd 1 05/06/2019 12:03
NVIDIA QUADRO RTX
WORLD’S FIRST RAY-TRACING GPU
Designed, built and tested by NVIDIA, Quadro® desktop products are the #1 choice
of millions of creative and technical users. Equipped with the world’s most powerful
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real-time photorealistic rendering, AI-augmented workflows, VR environments
and more, Quadro is built to accelerate a range of professional workflows.
Optimized, stable drivers, ISV certifications with over 100 professional

applications and tools for IT management are just some of the benefits of Quadro.
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• NEW STREAMING MULTIPROCESSOR
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QUADRO RTX 4000 8 GB GDDR6 N/A 6 GigaRays/sec 2034 288
To learn more visit www.pny.eu

For more information please contact quadrouk@pny.eu
© 2019 NVIDIA Corporation and PNY. All rights reserved. NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo and NVIDIA Quadro are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. The PNY logotype is a registered trademark of PNY Technologies. All other trademarks and copyrights
are the property of their respective owners.
__
PNY_Turing_ENGLISH_Draft_2019.indd 1 19.02.2019 15:43:12
WELCOME
EDITORIAL
Editor-in-Chief
Al Dean
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+44 (0)7525 701 541
Managing Editor
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H
DESIGN/PRODUCTION
Design/Production ere we go, lovely people – summer is nearly here. I know
Greg Corke that for a fact, because I’m just finishing off this issue,
greg@x3dmedia.com ensuring a few 3D printers are packed up, and then I’m
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heading overseas. Like the rest of the team, I’m off to
attend a conference. In my case, it’s Siemens PLM’s Realize
ADVERTISING
Live in Detroit. This will be my first trip to Motor City and
Group Media Director I’m excited to see what it’s like. After all, Detroit is a name
Tony Baksh synonymous with the design and manufacture of motor
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years – much like my own hometown of Wolverhampton. Now’s not the time or
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US Sales Director tell my kids, “Be good. And if you can’t be good, don’t get caught.” Later.
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p03_D3D_JUNE19_Editor.indd 3 05/06/2019 12:16

Shape the year ahead with the future
of making at AU London 2019
June 18-19, Tobacco Dock E1W S2F
Autodesk University is the conference for those who design,

create, and make the world around us. It’s your chance to take
your skills, career, and company to a whole new level.
• Connect to industry professionals & visionaries from around the globe

• Gain insights into today’s best practices and advanced workflows
• Learn how future technology can be put into practice today
• Explore interactive exhibits with leading-edge innovations
• Preview Autodesk products and influence future iterations
Register today by visiting

www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/london
GENERATIVE DESIGN
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MACHINE LEARNING
IMMERSIVE DESIGN
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© 2019 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved.
p42_D3D_MAY19_AUlondon.indd 1 08/05/2019 14:54

CONTENTS
JUNE 2019 ISSUE NO. 110
7 NEWS
Varjo unveils collaboration with Volvo, Nvidia’s RTX
spreads to mobile workstations, Rhino 6 for Mac ready
for final testing
FEATURES
13 Comment: Peter Honnor on smartphone design
14 Visual Design Guide: Cowboy Electric Bicycle
16 COVER STORY Inside David Brown Automotive
24 3D scanning and cruise ship design at Meyer Werft
27 3D printing for tooling, jigs and fixtures, featuring
Siemens Gas & Power, Ashley Furniture and Heineken
REVIEWS
35 Autodesk Inventor 2020
39 KeyShot KeyVR
43 3D Systems FabPro 1000
47 Wacom Intuos Pro Small
49 DEVELOP3D SERVICES
50 THE LAST WORD

A rediscovered love of colour prompts Al Dean to
speculate on how poorly today’s design systems support
colour and texture. Also, axes and more.
The wood used to produce this magazine

comes from Forest Stewardship Council
certified well-managed forests, controlled
sources and/or recycled material
p05_D3D_JUNE19_Contents.indd 5 05/06/2019 12:23

BOSTON
USA
OPTIMISE
EVERYTHING
TECHNOLOGY TO SHAPE YOUR FUTURE
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY
SEPTEMBER 24, 2019
BOSTON
UNIVERSITY
BOSTON, USA
d3dliveusa.com
A4.indd 1 04/04/2019 14:50

NEWS PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT NEWS
VOLVO TESTS NEW DESIGNS WITH VARJO

HEADSETS – WHILE DRIVING REAL CARS
» The Swedish automotive company is using Varjo's newest head-mounted display in
order to test-drive new ideas for car interior designs and refine the driver experience
W
hen the Varjo VR-1 ‘human-eye resolution’ VR “XR-1 brings all the convenience of seeing your body as well Above: Volvo Cars
headset launched earlier this year, we were as the real world around you and being able to look at your are using Varjo's
very impressed with what we saw. Now, Varjo colleagues while designing a virtual object or environment,” said hardware to road test
their design concepts
has expanded into mixed reality, with the Urho Konttori, chief product officer and co-founder of Varjo.
XR-1 Developer Edition. It's a headset that “The XR-1 can show mixed reality with true-to-life fidelity you Below: Varjo's new
claims to achieve the dream of ‘hard AR’ – where you can no can only achieve using video pass-through. Lifelike mixed reality XT-1 Head Mounted
longer tell apart what is real and what is virtual. is quite literally impossible to achieve with optical see-through Display
Swedish auto maker Volvo Cars is clearly a big believer in the systems like HoloLens.”
technology. Its in-house Tech Fund has invested in Varjo and has Volvo Cars is using the device to test-drive virtual car designs
been testing XR-1 prototypes since summer 2018. Its engineers are on the road. By adding virtual elements to the interior of the car,
taking real cars out on test drives, while wearing an XR-1 headset, designers can perform design studies of future cars before they
so that they can assess the interior designs of future cars before are built.
they are built. Adding photorealistic virtual elements or complete
The XR-1 is different to other mixed reality headsets like the features to the test scenarios while driving, says Varjo,
Microsoft Hololens in that it uses video pass-through. Instead enables UX concepts to be quickly iterated.
of projecting 3D holograms onto a see-through display, the XR-1 The car designers can also add virtual automobiles or
captures the real world using a pair of front-facing, 12-megapixel unexpected road hazards (such as a virtual moose) to
cameras and then combines this video with virtual content to show the road for realism. The “highly accurate” eye-tracking
the combined result on the headset’s immersive display. technology embedded inside the XR-1 also makes it
To ensure virtual objects are rendered in the correct position, easy to assess how drivers use new
built-in depth sensors map real-life objects and environments. functions and whether they get
Varjo says there are several benefits to its approach to mixed distracted in any way.
reality. First, users can switch seamlessly between mixed reality “With Varjo XR-1, we can
and full virtual reality modes, so the headset has multiple uses. start evaluating designs
The quality is also better. and technologies while
Unlike competitor devices that deliver mixed reality with they are literally still
“ghost-like, semi-transparent renderings in limited view”, the XR-1 on the drawing board,”
enables “photorealistic mixed reality in a full field of view.” Varjo said Volvo Cars CTO
states the the XR-1 offers 82 degrees compared to competitive see- Henrik Green. “Instead
through devices that offer 30 and 40 degrees. of the usual static way of
Furthermore, Varjo claims that, with the XR-1, virtual objects evaluating new products
appear as real as anything in the physical world. They can cast and ideas, we can test
shadows and even illuminate reality. Black objects appear truly concepts on the road
black, opaque objects block real or virtual light, and semi- immediately.
transparent objects refract light from the real world behind them. varjo.com | volvo.com
p07_08_09_10_D3D_JUNE19-NEWS.indd 7 05/06/2019 16:44

NEWS
NVIDIA QUADRO RTX FOR Design Reality

MOBILE WORKSTATIONS Takes on HP MJF
N
orth Wales-based industrial
design consultancy Design
Reality has installed an HP
Jet Fusion 3D 4200, in order
to improve its design and
production capabilities, reducing its
outsourcing requirements.
“Our ambition is to make lives healthier
and safer with the products that we design.
We want to leverage any advantage we can
to improve product development quality,
performance and speed of delivery,” said
Graham Wilson, owner and design director
at Design Reality.
“The technology offered in the HP Multi
jet Fusion HP 3D 4200 enables reliable
prototyping and additive manufacturing,
providing quality products into the hands
of our clients, faster and at a lower cost.
Our clients no longer have to wait for
conventional tooling and manufacturing
N
processes, and the investment that is
vidia is bringing its RTX ray many other pro viz applications. Nvidia Quadro associated with it.”
trace rendering technology Nvidia has also released four additional RTX GPUs will hp.com | designreality.co.uk
be available in
to the mobile workstation new mobile Quadro GPUs, the Quadro
leading mobile
platform with a new range T2000 (4GB), T1000 (4GB), P520 (4GB) and workstations
of Turing-based GPUs, P620 (2GB) GPUs. None of these models
the Quadro RTX 5000 (16GB), RTX
4000 (8GB) and RTX 3000 (6GB).
feature RT or Tensor cores, so will not
support RTX technology, but they should be Rhino 6 for Mac
The new line-up will be available in
mobile workstations from global OEMs
well-suited to 3D CAD / BIM and entry-level
real time viz workflows. is ready for test
M
including Dell, HP and Lenovo. Nvidia has also introduced the RTX Studio
All of the new models are VR Ready, look laptop, a new brand of high-performance cNeel & Associates has
well-suited to real-time visualisation and laptop purpose-built for GPU-accelerated announced that the latest
are heavily focused on ray trace rendering. content creation. RTX Studio laptops will version of Rhino for Mac,
They feature dedicated RT (ray tracing) be available from seven manufacturers and running on Apple’s OSX
cores and also Tensor cores, which are feature specialised Nvidia Studio Drivers platform, is now ready
used for AI denoising. for creative apps, including those from for final testing.
As a result, instead of having to wait for Adobe, Autodesk (3ds max and Maya), Updates include many of the
the GPU to compute thousands of passes, Avid, Blackmagic Design (DaVinci Resolve), improvements already made to Rhino
it can conduct a few passes and then use Maxon, Unity and Epic. 6 for PC. These include faster display
deep learning to remove the noise. This RTX Studio laptops are powered by a using modern graphics hardware, an
essentially gives a best guess as to what a range of GPUs, including the Quadro RTX updated material and rendering system,
fully resolved image might look like. 5000 and GeForce RTX 2080, 2070 and Grasshopper with multi-threaded
To take full advantage of the new mobile 2060. Many of the new laptops will also components and VB support.
GPUs, applications have to be RTX-enabled feature Nvidia Max-Q technology, to enable Rhino for Mac also includes a new ray
and we expect this to come in the next “incredible performance in sleek, thin and traced viewport display mode that uses
releases of V-Ray, Unreal Engine, Enscape, light designs.” Blender’s Cycles engine.
Autodesk VRED, Solidworks Visualize and nvidia.com rhino3d.com
Lenovo meets thermal challenges of new Xeon workstations
L
enovo has launched two high- in a new processor. In developing the new
end desktop workstations, the machines, its engineering team had to
ThinkStation P920 and P720, overcome a new set of challenges regarding
powered by the new 2nd Gen power and thermal requirements.
Intel Xeon Scalable Processors Following theoretical power calculations
with up to 28 cores and frequencies up and thermal simulations, Lenovo then put
to 4.4 GHz. The machines also support prototype systems through everything from
Nvidia Quadro RTX 8000 GPUs, two of application stress-testing to cycle testing
which can be used together with NVLink to simulate years of system powering up
for 96GB of total memory. or powering down. Finally, Lenovo says
Lenovo says delivering these next hundreds of hours of validation testing help
generation ThinkStations is not as simple as meet its strict reliability standards
swapping in a new graphics card or popping lenovo.com/thinkstations
8 JUNE 2019 DEVELOP3D.COM

ROUND
HDR Light Studio turns 10 with Tungsten UP
F
or many who are using Onshape's May update
physically based rendering brings new and enhanced
(PBR) systems, HDR Light tools for managing both
Studio has become the BOMs and call-out/parts
tool of choice to help with lists in drawings. For those
tweaking existing HDR environment working with an Enterprise
images (which the PBR systems use instance, there's new
to generate their lighting conditions), customisable Release
as well as creating new environments and Obsoletion workflows
from scratch. The Tungsten release is and new FeatureScript
now available, with new capabilities updates as well
and integrations with other onshape.com
visualisation tools.
According to the team behind it, the key one-man bands. The Pro and Automotive The big news for
difference is that while previous releases licenses, meanwhile, add additional the Tungsten Hexagon has launched
release of HDR
of HDR Light Studio contained all the light connections and support on top. RADAN 2020, with user
Light Studio is
in a scene in a linear list, a new composite If your revenue is under $100K, you the addition of experience as its top
method expands this, so that a light gets qualify for the indie licence at £95 per composite lights priority. A reduction in
its visual appearance from a nested set year with email support. If your revenue mouse clicks, alongside
of HDR Light Studio lights, with their own is over $100k, the next step up is the improvements to nesting
Light List and Canvas. The composited Pro licence, starting at £295, which adds and reporting should
result of these lights is the texture used on priority support and floating licences.The mean a real increase in
the parent light. Automotive licence adds to all this with efficiency, saving both
Another key change is in how the product connections to Vred, DeltaGen, phone and time and costs, and
is licenced and sold, with the addition of web meeting support and costs £995. leading to quicker starts
a new Indie licence for smaller teams and lightmap.co.uk on new projects
hexagon.com
Micro automated 3D Scanner from Artec Paramatters' CogniCAD

2.1 updates its platform,
brings big ability to the desktop which generates ready-

to-3D print, lightweighted
E
structures. It offers a
quipped with cutting-edge wider variety of loading
twin cameras, Artec’s Micro conditions, including
is not only the company’s thermal loads, as a beta
most accurate 3D scanner release and force/moments
to date, but its desktop via remote points, in
presence and good looks mean that addition to existing
it’s a piece of kit likely to garner acceleration (G-forces)
admiring glances. and pressure
Complete with twin blue light scanners paramatters.com
that are synchronised with the dual-axis
rotation system, Artec claims that the
Micro creates the perfect digital copy using Additive International
minimal frames. will celebrate its 14th
Fully-automated, this cute little box annual summit this July.
is an industrial scanner that produces The Future Additive
high-resolution colour scans. The machine Manufacturing day takes
boasts a point accuracy of up to 10 place on 9 July, followed by
microns, a tenth the size of a single grain the full, two-day Additive
of table salt. International summit on
Artec claims that it has gone to great 10-11 July
lengths to make it intuitive and easy to additiveinternational.com
use. The Micro requires minimal training, family of scanners brings Artec into the The new Artec
allowing almost anyone to place an object metrology market and fills an important Micro provides
automated shape
on the scanning plate and begin scanning niche for creating extremely accurate Authentise, a creator of
capture to 10
immediately. digital reproductions of small and tiny micron accuracy data-driven workflow tools
Once an object is placed on the circular parts,” said Artem president and CEO for additive manufacturing,
scanning platform, the operator simply Artyom Yukhin. has announced its
chooses from a variety of smart scanning With accuracy to 10 microns, it can agreement to a multi-
paths and clicks to begin. capture details four times smaller than year collaboration with
The scanning process can be viewed and what is visible with the average human Microsoft, in order to
monitored in real-time within Artec Studio eye, he said, adding: “Now users can 3D utilise Microsoft Azure
and the final model can then be exported to scan almost any object with Artec 3D’s and integrate its workflow
your choice of CAD/CAM software, including line of five scanners, from a tiny management system into
Solidworks, Control X, PolyWorks Inspector mechanical part with Artec Micro to a Microsoft Flow
and Design X. jumbo jet with Artec Ray.” authentise.com
“This latest addition to the Artec artec3d.com

NEWS
HP LAUNCHES NEW QUADRO Physical Digital

RTX MOBILE WORKSTATIONS gain Nadcap
P
hysical Digital has become
first company in the world
to receive Nadcap (National
Aerospace and Defense
Contractors Accreditation
Program) accreditation for
Measurement and Inspection using
3D Structured Light (3DSL) and has
been recognised for its commitment
to continual improvement in
aerospace quality.
Managing director Tim Rapley
commented: “Using industry-leading
GOM metrology systems, we specialise in
capturing high-accuracy surface data for
a wide variety of industrial sectors such
as aerospace and power generation. All
measurement data captured is completed
under the rigorous constraints and stringent
business processes, with all data traceable
back to the international standard. This
accreditation is the highest accolade that we
could have hoped to achieve as a business.”
physicaldigital.com
H
P has released details of simulation tools like Ansys Mechanical. The HP ZBook 15 G6
Altair teases
its new HP ZBook 15 G6 There’s also been a significant boost in offers a significant
and ZBook 17 G6 mobile GPU performance. The ZBook 15 G6 offers increase in
performance over
workstations which
feature 9th Gen Intel Core
up to the Nvidia Quadro RTX 3000 and the
ZBook 17 G6 up to the Quadro RTX 5000.
its G5 predecessor
and is VR Ready new generative
i9 processors (and equivalent Xeons),
plus Nvidia Quadro RTX GPUs. Both
For these new GPUs, the focus is on faster
ray tracing with dedicated RT cores (for ray design system
B
models offer toolless expandability tracing) and Tensor cores (for AI denoising).
to upgrade memory and storage To take full advantage, applications have to uilding on its history of
“in seconds”, a feature that was be RTX-enabled and this should be coming optimisation and generative
introduced with the G5 editions. in the next releases of V-Ray, Unreal Engine, design, Altair Engineering
While the aluminium alloy CNC-machined Enscape, Autodesk VRED and many more. has announced a new
chassis looks to have remained largely the Significantly, the move to Nvidia Quadro system that brings together
same, the move from G5 to G6 marks a RTX also means the ZBook 15 G6 becomes its industry-proven optimisation
significant increase in performance. HP’s first VR Ready 15-inch mobile technology and its mainstream-focused
Users now have access to up to 8 CPU workstation. But for high-end VR workflows tools from the Inspire range.
cores with the new 9th Gen Intel Core i9 you’ll still need the 17-inch HP ZBook 17 G6. The new system, Altair Inspire Print3D,
processors. This continues a trend which Finally, for colour-critical workflows, HP combines these tools, in order to
started with the G5 editions, stepping up claims the ZBook 17 G6 is the world’s first tackle constraints in a huge range of
from four to six CPU cores. 17-inch mobile workstation display with 100 manufacturing processes, and also offers a
Eight CPU cores will be of significant percent DCI-P3 (a measure of color gamut, new set of tools for comprehensive metal
interest to those who rely on CPU-based wider than sRGB). additive process simulation.
ray trace renderers like Luxion KeyShot or hp.com altair.com
Pro2Pro takes on HP Multi Jet Fusion & Dyemansion systems
T
elford-based prototyping automatic de-powdering of components
and rapid manufacturing when they are first extracted from the
specialist Pro2Pro has taken build stations, reducing a labour-intensive
on a combination of a HP 4200 process to just minutes rather than hours.
Multi Jet Fusion 3D printer Dave Piper, Pro2Pro Managing Director
along with a Dyemansion Powershot C comments: “The addition of the HP Multi
automatic de-powdering system from Jet Fusion 3D printer gives us an extra
Europac3D. dimension within the rapid manufacturing
The HP Multi Jet Fusion 4200 machine sector. We can [now] produce hundreds of
has the ability to pack a full build volume functional end-use parts overnight and be
(380 x 380 x 284mm) of Nylon PA12/PA11 delivering to our customers within 48 to
parts within a 12-hour build time, while the 72 hours.”
Dyemansion Powershot C allows for the pro2proltd.co.uk | europac3d.com

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COMMENT
The release of new folding and

articulating phones shows a spark of
rebellion in a world dominated by black
rectangles, much to the relief of
device design veteran Peter Honnor
S
amsung Electronics was recently However, over the last few months, I’ve heard ultimate incarnation. Today, once again, folding
forced to delay the launch of rumblings of innovations that might just break the screen technology has given the company the
its Galaxy Fold smartphone mould. These include Samsung and Huawei’s folding opportunity to recreate that success. I can’t wait to
after issues emerged with its phones that convert to tablets, and Motorola’s once again feel that sweet satisfaction of ending a
folding screen, among other recently announced flip phone. shitty call by slamming a flip phone shut.
problems. That’s a shame, When I first heard about these phones, my interest
because this was a bold move was immediately piqued. I was concerned that there 3. A few manufacturers will create some truly
in a world dominated by black rectangles. At might be unresolved user interface challenges and out-there designs
least Samsung was having a go at being more that the right use cases might not have been defined I can see contender brands such as LG, Sony or
adventurous. yet – but at least I had hope. even Nokia attempting to release devices that
I miss the early days of the smartphone when So, what’s happened? Screen technology has totally break the design rules, in order to make a
radical designs were the norm, rather than the advanced and now folding phones are truly viable splash and try something totally new. How about
exception. But those days are long gone. again. In addition, processors, cameras, speakers, a cylindrical phone that orientates itself around a
The industry has instead settled on a mundane microphones and sensors have all shrunk in size user’s grip and then rolls flat for desktop use? I’m
rectangular slab of glass and metal as the default to the point where they can be crammed into willing to bet money that somewhere, an industrial
smartphone form factor – and frankly, I’m bored. about half the space that they could be just a few designer is thinking along those lines right now.
When I last upgraded, I experienced a sense of short years ago.
overwhelming apathy: ‘Wow, 4. Apple will sit on the
I have a new iPhone.It’s sidelines before acting
slightly bigger, the screen As it always does, Apple will
looks a bit sleeker and I’ve
got a white case for it, so all
 let others work out the kinks
and challenges before finally
good there.’ The industry has settled on the boring rectangular releasing a device of its own
Truth be told, I was soon slab of glass and metal as the default smartphone with a form factor different
bored and regretted my to the current iPhone. The
decision: not the decision form factor and frankly, I’m bored. company will make sure that
to upgrade, but the lack of
choice I faced in making
 hardware, software, OS and
payments are all beautifully
that move. aligned and this device will
My first job was with sell by the millions. Android
Vodafone back in 2001. I then worked for Motorola, In short, hardware technology and capabilities fanboys will say that Samsung/Huawei had the
and then Nokia, up until around the time that Nokia have finally evolved to the point where, once again, innovation first, but Apple will be the first to offer
imploded. So you might say I have a personal and interesting industrial design can begin to flourish – a truly beautiful experience.
professional interest in this topic. and it’s about time.
I was part of the team who tested Nokia’s Given these innovations, here are four pointers Ultimately, the key to any imaginative new form
‘lipstick’ phone, the 7380, which was launched in on how I see the future of smartphone design factor being successful is for its manufacturer to
2005. I helped train out the Nokia 7650 with the developing: ensure that it builds products that solve real users’
introduction of GPRS. At Motorola, I led the UX team needs, rather than providing a venue for internal
on the Motorola Z8 and Z10 – the company’s UIQ- 1. Folding phones will sell well, but long-term teams to conduct technical science experiments.
powered ‘banana’ phones. reviews won’t impress So, there you have it: A new industrial design
One of the final phones I worked on was an update First-generation hardware always has a habit of arms race in the mobile phone space has well and
to Nokia’s infamous communicator, the Meego- failing ungracefully, and this round won’t be too truly kicked off. I personally can’t wait to see the
powered Nokia N950. It’s still an amazing phone different. This might be painful, but the hype and results. I just hope that, in five years’ time, I have
with sublime mechanical engineering. excitement around something other than a slab something more interesting to look at when I’m
While it’s true to say that these phones were of glass and plastic will prove too attractive for bored on the train, desperately avoiding human
probably challenging to use and clearly didn’t sell manufacturers to leave alone and more devices will contact in the supermarket, or just desperate for an
in anything like the numbers we’ve seen associated be created. upgrade. Let’s watch this space.
with the iPhone over the years, at least they were
interesting. 2. Motorola’s folding phone may spark a
Regardless of manufacturer, pretty much every regeneration of its fame and fortune Peter Honnor is head of strategy at digital studio 383,
phone of the last 10 years or so has had the same Many moons ago, I worked closely with the where he works with the company’s diverse client
industrial design: a large glass front, some sort of team who created the iconic Motorola Razr, the base to create, make and launch new digital products
back case, a few buttons on the side and, if you’re quintessential folding phone. They were great and services for some of the biggest brands across
really lucky, a headphone jack. designers and truly drove a form factor to its multiple verticals: www.383project.com
p13_D3D_JUNE19_CommentPeteHonnor-JLTfinal.indd 13 04/06/2019 18:59

VISUAL DESIGN GUIDE
COWBOY ELECTRIC BIKE
Belgian bike start-up Cowboy set off with the idea
to redesign the electric bike for urban use, with its
first model aiming to transform the grinding daily
commute into a stylish whizz to work
POWER UP
A built-in 360Wh, 10Ah battery provides a 70km
range and is easily removable, so the user can
recharge it at their convenience, before slotting
it back into place, ready for the next trip
DIRECT DRIVE
Automatic motor assistance kicks
in when needed, informed by in-
built sensors for speed and torque
– for example, when the rider
starts off, accelerates or is faced
with a hill to climb
CITY SLICKER
A gear ratio of 3.1:1 means this bike
is built for smooth urban riding,
with a low-maintenance hub and a
fibre belt drive, instead of a chain
p14_15_D3D_JUN19_CowboyBicycle.indd 14 05/06/2019 06:11

ON THE MAP
The Cowboy comes with built-in GPS
tracking and a smartphone app, so the
owner knows if their bike moves when
they’re not using it. The App also allows
them to see their own pedalling stats
SAFETY FIRST
Inbuilt lights that run off the same
battery powering the motor add a nice
aesthetic join to the frame angles, while
their intensifying shine makes other
road users aware of your braking
ANCHOR DOWN
With the bike capable of reaching high
speeds, it’s important that the rider can
slow down quickly when needed. Its
Tektro hydraulic brakes are built to bring
proceedings to a halt, quickly and safely
OPTIONS, PRICE
& AVAILABILITY
FAT RUBBER
A pair of 42mm custom Panaracer
The Cowboy has a range of 70km
and costs €1,990
Gravelking fast-rolling tyres provide cowboy.com
grip on road surfaces, with enough
bounce for a comfortable ride
p14_15_D3D_JUN19_CowboyBicycle.indd 15 05/06/2019 06:11

R
PROFILE
MODE
A much-loved classic
comes roaring back
to life
p16_17_18_19_20_21_22_D3D_JUN19_COVER_DBrownAuto-JLTfinal.indd 16 06/06/2019 16:08

RN ICON
» Step back
in time to t
Brown Aut he 1960s w
omotive, w ith David
be retro an h ere the stylin
d tradition g may
use, but wh al craft skil
ere enginee ls still in
are bang up rin g and techn
to date. Tan ology
company’s ya Weaver
Silverstone visits the
, UK headqu
arters

1
●
1 Aluminium bodywork
is formed by hand on a
traditional English Wheel
●
2 Real wood veneers,
waiting to be hand-applied
to interior door panels

PROFILE
T
here aren’t many cars that bring a and production processes. Whilst a Mini Remastered takes
smile to the face quite like the original 1,400 hours to build, with 100 currently being produced
Mini. Its appeal transcends age and a year, a Speedback GT, which is based on a Jaguar XK-R
nationality, with many people having rolling chassis and supercharged 5.0-litre V8 engine, takes
a story to tell about growing up with a 8,000 hours to build, with only five to ten produced per year.
Mini or it being their first car. David Brown Automotive describes its approach as
Originally launched in 1959 by ‘coachbuilding for the twenty-first century’. As Finbow
the British Motor Corporation, the explains: “Back before modern automotive production
ingeniousness of the Mini’s design techniques saw a car’s chassis and body combined into
by Alec Issigonis lies in the fact that, despite its diminutive one large structure, the body would be fitted over the top
size and tiny ten-inch wheels, its interior still feels of a chassis. This body and its interior could be a standard
deceptively roomy. design, but in special cases, customers could commission a
Many people have restored original Minis and coachbuilder to design and build a one-off, bespoke design
automotive giant BMW has given the brand new lease that would then be fitted over the platforms of the day.”
with its recent beefed-up incarnations – but the model’s He adds: “The intention with Speedback GT was to
essential ‘Mini-ness’ endures, which is what makes it combine that older style of building cars with modern
such an iconic car. technologies and materials, to create a product that is very
Stepping inside a workshop on an industrial unit adjacent unique to the person buying it.”
to the Silverstone race track, you might well imagine that Of course, exclusivity comes at a price. The Speedback
you’d gone back in time 50 years, as you spy a range of what GT (of which only 100 will ever be built) starts at £520,000
appear to be original Minis in various stages of build. (excluding VAT) and the Mini Remastered at a more modest
On closer inspection, however, you’ll see that these £75,000 (excluding VAT).
are very modern vehicles. The interiors are plush and
luxurious, something few original Mini owners would HOW IT ALL BEGAN
have boasted about their cars. On the exterior, meanwhile, The story of David Brown Automotive began with a vision
the distinctive welded seams where body panels were its eponymous founder David Brown had (see box on page
joined together (including the rain gutter on the roof) are 20). After competing in an endurance rally, he decided to
gone. Instead, the seams are smoothed out and gleam with combine his entrepreneurial flair, his experience of low-
a flawless finish and bespoke paintwork. volume manufacturing and his love of cars to build a Grand
These cars are all examples of the Mini Remastered Tourer with a classic design but offering contemporary
from David Brown Automotive. When the model was first comfort, reliability and performance.
launched as a prototype in 2017, the intention was to keep To help him achieve the desired results, he decided to
the retro styling and small packaging, but to bring the collaborate with an automotive stylist and called on former
car up to date with modern conveniences, improve on its Jaguar Land Rover head of design Alan Mobberly, who
engineering and address manufacturing deficiencies. reportedly came out of retirement to work on the project.
As Matthew Finbow, lead designer at David Brown The car was initially designed in Autodesk Alias and the
Automotive, puts it: “It’s not making it look exactly what it data then used to create a full-size clay model. Following
was when it was brand new; it’s taking what was great about further refinement to the car’s shape in clay, the model was
the original model and adding even more greatness.” scanned and that data used to create a CNC-milled ‘bucks’,
Each Mini Remastered begins life as a donor classic around which the bodywork would be shaped.
Mini, which receives a new body shell purchased from This is where traditional craftsmanship enters the
British Motor Heritage. But while the body may be development process. Rather than the aluminium body
new, the 1275cc engine and four-speed gearbox are panels being pressed out by machines, they are hand-rolled
reconditioned originals. on an English Wheel, just as they would have been in the
It’s not The Mini Remastered isn’t the only car in this workshop. 1960s. This work is carried out by a supplier in Coventry
making it There’s also a production line of Speedback GTs. This called Envisage Group and takes 3,200 hours alone.
look exactly 1960s-inspired Grand Tourer was the first vehicle that The combination of modern engineering and
what it was David Brown Automotive launched as a prototype in 2014, manufacturing processes with traditional craftsmanship is
and many of its design details – such as the distinctive grille no more apparent than in the wood-veneered door panels
when it was and tail lights – have been carried over to Mini Remastered. inside the Speedback GT. In order to achieve the desired
brand new. In complete contrast to mass production, these vehicles curves, the panels are 3D-printed and then the wood
It’s taking are made to order and are entirely bespoke to the individual veneers hand-applied on top in a very traditional way.
what was customer. Each one is hand built, utilising a blend of “It really is the best of the old and the new,” says Finbow.
traditional craft skills, together with modern engineering “The substrate is produced with modern techniques and
great about
the original
2
model and
then adding
even more
greatness

PROFILE
then the finish, which is what the customer sees, is applied of course on how they are designed in CAD) are very ●
3 Inside the cockpit
using classical materials and techniques.” lightweight and strong,” says Finbow. of the Speedback
Silverstone Edition
Whilst the interior door panels are 3D-printed off site “However, 3D printing is currently still very time-
by a supplier, David Brown Automotive also has its own intensive, so it’s generally suitable only for low-volume
3D printers in-house. Humming away along one wall of fabrication. Many manufacturers are hopeful that the next
the trim shop sit two Raise3D Pro printers, which turn generation of 3D printing technology will improve print
out not only prototypes but also end-use parts, including times,” he adds.
sunvisors, air intakes and the door pockets located next to
the rear seats in the Mini Remastered. CUSTOM MADE
“The original intention behind using in-house 3D Walking around the Mini Remastered and Speedback GT
printing derived from a cost/timing analysis that revealed models currently being built in the workshop, it’s striking
it would be more beneficial to produce certain interior how different they all are, not only in terms of exterior
components using this method, rather than getting tooling paint colour, but also interior materials and finishes. This
produced for them. It also means we can produce extremely is because, as Finbow puts it, “the customer can have
complex shapes,” explains Finbow. whatever they want, within the realms of logic.”
Seeing the capabilities of this tool and what could be From the outset, customers are invited to visit a customer
achieved, the engineering team soon began designing more specification room onsite, where they essentially co-create
and more components in Catia that could be 3D-printed their vehicle with representatives from the design and
using these machines. marketing teams. “It’s a very collaborative process from the
“For companies like ours, who specialise in low-volume very start – both in-house amongst the different teams, as
manufacturing, 3D printing can be of great benefit. well as with the customer. So everyone is working together
The material cost is not that expensive, it can be quickly to deliver something that is amazing,” says Finbow.
and easily replenished, and the final prints (depending “Some customers come in with a very strong idea of what
DAVID David Brown (not to be

confused with the tractor
by the 1990s, it had over
3,500 employees. The
These businesses were
mostly sold around 11 years
the spark that led to him
creating his own classic
He came back from the
rally thinking that it would
BROWN: manufacturer and previous company was eventually ago, although Brown retains Grand Tourer. be great if he could combine
THE MAN owner of Aston Martin) is a
British businessman, born in
sold to its biggest customer,
Caterpillar, in the mid-90s.
a few, including a brewing
and distilling company
He remembers borrowing
a Ferrari Daytona
a retro-designed package
with a contemporary
BEHIND Harrogate, North Yorkshire, At the time of the sale, called BAD Co, a high- convertible for a race powertrain and all the
THE and named after his father,
who started a company
David Brown Junior was
managing director. Just two
end home development
company called Roque
and feeling immensely
unimpressed with its heavy
conveniences that come
with modern vehicles – and
BRAND called DJB Engineering in
1972. David Brown Junior
weeks into his subsequent
retirement, he realised
Properties and a luxury
stone surface specialist
steering, poor brakes and
lack of power.
so he founded David Brown
Automotive in 2013 to do
was its first employee. that there was still a lot he called Lapicida. He eventually abandoned just that.
The company designed wanted to do and so began Either way, he has had the race when the car broke In this venture, Brown
and manufactured what his entrepreneurial career. more time since the sale to down but, not wanting utilised his engineering
was, at that time, a In fact, he founded over pursue some of his other to miss out on the rally, and manufacturing
revolutionary type of 30 companies, mostly passions, including his love decided to hire a Peugeot experience together with
off-highway articulated in the lifestyle sector, of cars – from building them and follow the rest of the his love of design and
earth-moving vehicle. The including Harley Davidson to racing them in gruelling drivers in comfort, with entrepreneurial spirit to
international success of dealerships, high-end endurance rallies. the modern amenities of produce a beautifully, hand-
this product enabled the restaurants and a chain of It was actually one of air conditioning, power crafted classic Grand Tourer
company to expand and, clothes shops. these rallies that ignited steering and a radio. in low volumes.

4
Some
customers
come in
with a very
strong idea
of what
they want,
whilst
others are
very open
to anything.
In that case,
it is up to us
to present
ideas and
options
they want their car to look like, whilst others are very open
5 to anything. In that case, it is up to us to present ideas and
guide them in a particular direction and present a range of
different options for paints, leathers, fabrics, stitch colour
and brightware finish,” he adds.
David Brown Automotive presents customers with
various options through a combination of visualisation
tools. “We use Autodesk VRED 3D visualisation software
for exterior colour and trim visualisations, particularly for
Speedback GT,” says Finbow.
“For interior visualisations (and in particular for Mini
Remastered), we tend to work more with a series of master-
Photoshop files that have separate, editable layers for all of
the interior surfaces of the vehicle,” he continues.
6 “These layers have been arranged according to our
established colour and trim strategy, so edits and alterations
can be made quickly and efficiently, and the completed
images can then be sent to prospective customers for their
sign-off. These Photoshop files also allow for additional
bespoke features to be visualised easily, based on specific
customer requests.”
With the vehicle specified, customers are then invited
to witness the build process for themselves, via an online
customer portal. Here, they will see photos and updates
regularly uploaded as their car progresses through its
thousands of hours of manufacture.
●4 Only 100 of the performance-focused

Speedback Silverstone Edition will ever
be made
●5 Inside the workshop, various Mini
Remastered and Speedback GT models
are in different stages of build
●
6 In the on-site customer specification
room, customers work with the design
team to personalise their car
●
7 Hand painting a Mini Remastered
model is a 400-hour process in total

PROFILE
INSPIRED BY SILVERSTONE
8 There is one further model in the workshop and it’s
the company’s most recent launch: the Speedback
Silverstone Edition. David Brown Automotive moved
to its new Silverstone headquarters from Coventry in
It’s a very 2017 and to mark the occasion, it designed a Speedback
collabor- GT that takes its inspiration from the racing circuit’s
ative aeronautical and motorsport heritage.
Having started at the company over two years ago,
process this is a project for which Finbow was design director
from the and which he saw through from beginning to end. The
very start. intention was to keep the basic architecture and bodywork
Everyone of the Speedback GT, but add in various design cues and
features that lend it a more aggressive, performance-
is working 9 derived personality.
together, “My team and I used Alias to model the surfaces
including for most of the exterior styling features and body
modifications. These included the front mesh grille, the
the side fender vents, the rocker-panel flares, the lower-rear
customer, valance, the tailpipe finishers and the custom 20-inch
to deliver alloy wheels.
something “The interior surfaces do not deviate in shape from
Speedback GT, so no additional 3D Alias modelling was
that is required for the interior. They are, however, trimmed,
amazing detailed and finished in a specification that is unique to
the Speedback Silverstone Edition and we were able to
involve a lot of craftspeople in doing this,” comments
Finbow.
10 This performance-focused model, which delivers over
600hp and is strictly limited to a run of just 10 production
cars, was officially launched in 2018. “It was a fantastic
project and seeing the covers pulled off of it at the
Geneva International Motor Show 2018 was a very proud
moment,” smiles Finbow.
So what next? The company says that, for the foreseeable
future, it will be concentrating on the two models that it
offers today. But with limited production runs, especially
on Speedback GT, there can be little doubt it has other
retro-inspired ideas up its sleeve.
davidbrownautomotive.com
11
12
●
8 In the trim shop, you’ll find two
RAISE3D Pro printers at work
●
9 3D printers are used for creating
prototypes, as well as building some
end-use parts such as sunvisors
●
10 An Autodesk Alias screenshot of the
Speedback Silverstone Edition’s grille
lamp
●
11 For the Speedback GT, a traditional
forming bucks is created using CNC
machining
●
12 The Mini Remastered is custom-
made to meet the individual customer’s
exact tastes and preferences

START-
U
TO SCA P
LE UP
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PROFILE PROFILE
CRUISE
CONTROL
» In the metrology and quality management department at shipbuilding
giant Meyer Werft, software from 3D Systems is used to ensure the successful,
on-time delivery of large, modern and sophisticated cruise liners
O
ver the years, some 45 luxury Geomagic Control X inspection software delivering reliable The scan result for
a stabiliser shows
cruise liners have emerged results quickly and easily.
a clear difference
from the Papenburg, Germany In fact, geometric measurement has been part of the between the target
shipyard of Meyer Werft, along quality management process at Meyer Werft since 2012 and actual state in
with numerous other types of and encompasses the entire production process for Geomagic Control X
Credit: Meyer Werft
maritime vessel. While all of building a new ship.
these cruise ships have been The metrology/quality management department under
large, modern and sophisticated, Zimmermann is responsible for all metrology tasks
each one is also unique. and works closely with the construction supervisor at
A great deal of technology goes into their creation. the shipyard. One of the key tasks of the department is
Since 2010, for example, Meyer Werft has been using comparing target and actual states.
a Leica laser scanner for geometric analysis and image Work begins with the scanning of
documentation. A LizardQ camera system, meanwhile, is components and their virtual assembly
used to create 360-degree panoramas – up to 8,000 of them on a computer. Checking to ensure
every year. For 3D comparisons and precise adjustments an accurate fit before assembly saves
of complex point-cloud models, Meyer Werft’s metrology a lot of time in the shipyard, as it
engineers use Geomagic ControlX inspection software significantly reduces the required
from 3D Systems. number of physical adjustments.
The journey from CAD blueprint to finished ship is a In ship building, all materials
long one, during the course of which many challenges are subject to changes caused by
need to be navigated. Ralph Zimmermann, head of external influences. Welding causes
metrology/quality management at the company, offers a changes in metal parts due to thermal
useful analogy that reflects the difficulties involved: “To action. Components are also affected by
get an idea of the complexity of the task we face at Meyer mechanical influences during transport
Werft, you have to imagine building a complete, floating and assembly, which can lead to deformation.
town every six months, including water and sanitation, Even the temperature conditions for the time of year can
logistics, accommodation for thousands of people, have an effect.
restaurants, food service, theaters, movie theaters, and a A component that fitted perfectly in the blueprint and
host of other leisure attractions, ranging from water slides during production and virtual adjustment may exhibit
to go-karting tracks. problematic deviations when it comes to final assembly.
Target versus actual comparisons are therefore essential
QUALITY MANAGEMENT” and are created using 3D analysis in Geomagic Control X.
Around 30 million components are used to assemble every Current requirements include surface analyses, geometry
cruise ship, says Zimmermann, and even the smallest inspections, fit checks and virtual reality.
of these components – known as sections – can have
dimensions of 30 x 30 x 2.5 metres. SURFACE ANALYSES
“When the ship is then assembled,” he says, As André Schreiber, technologist in the metrology
“everything must fit together perfectly. For the geometric department at Meyer Werft, explains: “In our surface
measurements and point-cloud modeling that we perform analyses, we aim to identify deviations from the target state
every day, we use Geomagic Control X.” in a fully assembled section. Once everything has been
Quality management, then, is a crucial factor in the captured with the laser scanner, we edit and analyse the
successful, on-time delivery of cruise ships, and software point cloud with Geomagic Control X. The software makes
from 3D Systems helps Meyer Werft in this mission, with the entire process much easier for us, as it can handle large
p24_25_D3D_JUNE19_Meyer Werft 3D Systems.indd 24 05/06/2019 06:19

volumes of data. It is also suitable for all component sizes.” is used to decide whether a deviation due to expected
Another advantage is that Geomagic Control X can deformation lies within the tolerance range.
be used in combination with all scanner types and Zimmermann explains: “The 3D analyses provide us
technologies, enabling all users to measure and validate with a clear picture of all deviations. It may be necessary
objects geometrically and create test reports. to adjust the component in question if its functionality is
Surface analyses clearly show where there are real restricted, if the deviations generally make it more error-
elevations and hollows on the deck surface compared with prone, or if it does not comply with safety regulations.”
the target state, for example. Surface unevenness of just a At the same time, it is not unusual for a client to request
few millimeters on the sundeck of a cruise ship can result changes to areas of a cruise ship or its equipment during
in puddles. Deviations of this kind can also occur below construction.
deck. For example, some areas of the ship are tiled and an “In one case,” says Zimmermann, “a customer wanted a
uneven floor could cause floor tiles to crack. higher capacity for the lifeboats, which were to be produced
If the commissioning shipping line were to discover such by a supplier in Italy. The design of the boats was therefore
problems upon delivery of the ship, the result would be significantly modified and they no longer had our originally
expensive repair work. Thanks to the work carried out by planned dimensions.”
the metrology engineers at Meyer Werft using Geomagic He adds: “At the shipyard, we had to ensure that the
Control X, such problems can be rectified at the resized boats would still fit in the intended lifeboat davits
shipyard. and could be lowered properly.”
The relevant areas are reworked A simple comparison of the dimensions (length, width,
and the deck surface is leveled height) was too risky. Given that the only other viable
by calculating precisely the alternative would have been to physically transport a lifeboat
amount of leveling compound from Italy to Germany for adjustment, the lifeboat was
required, meaning no puddles instead scanned by Meyer Werft engineers who visited its
and no passengers arriving at manufacturer’s premises.
their sunbeds with wet feet. The metrology department then performed a fit check
Deck analysis follows a similar using Geomagic Control X. The result was positive: the new
process; CAD model data is lifeboats fitted perfectly and no further modifications to the
compared with actual conditions on ship’s structure were required.
site and deviations can thus be identified Tools such as laser scanners and powerful software
immediately and tackled. for metrology and quality management have become
The 3D analysis makes it possible to indispensable in modern shipbuilding. They play a key
intervene in the construction process if, for role in ensuring that components fit together perfectly
example, adjustments are needed due to pipes being when assembled, that any changes required can be made in
positioned at different heights. The 3D analysis also good time, and that the ship is completed and delivered on
prevents structural complications at a later stage when schedule so that a cruise line operator can start using it to
decorating the interiors. take paying customers on their dream vacations.
As Zimmermann explains, “We have to be able to rely on
TACKLING DEVIATIONS AND CHANGE REQUESTS our measurement results at all times. With 3D Systems,
Meyer Werft
Geometric inspections of the ship’s hull are essential. In we have a reliable partner by our side who understands our constructed and
the stabiliser pictured above, for example, the edges of the needs and is constantly improving the inspection software. delivered the
shell surface are incongruent; the scan result will thus be This enables us at Meyer Werft to build amazing cruise Norwegian Bliss to
Norwegian Cruise Line
visibly different from the CAD model. ships, ferries and research vessels.” in April 2018
In the quality assurance process, the 3D comparison 3dsystems.com | meyerwerft.de Credit: Meyer Werft
p24_25_D3D_JUNE19_Meyer Werft 3D Systems.indd 25 05/06/2019 06:19

BIGGEST RE-DESIGN SINCE
ORIGINAL PRODUCT LAUNCH
NEW ABSOLUTE PORTABLE MEASURING ARM RANGE
• Offers the most compact scanning configuration on the market
• Modular wrist design makes probing in tight spaces very easy
• Wrist contains display screen for measurement result oversight
• Range available in 7 sizes from 1.2 – 4.5m radii
• Three levels of accuracy provide 36 unique arm configurations
• New RS5 Laser Scanner available
HexagonMI.com
Hexagon.indd 1 27/03/2019 10:42

3D PRINT FOR TOOLS, JIGS & FIXTURES
GETTING
JIGGY WITH IT
» Manufacturers are quickly growing wise to the notion that the
fastest and cheapest way to access the exact tool they need to
get a job done might be to print it out on an in-house 3D printer
I
n space, no-one can hear you scream – if, for example,
you find yourself enraged by not having to hand the exact
tool you need to carry out an urgent repair. For astronauts
on the International Space Station (ISS), however, this is
generally not a problem. For some time now, they’ve been
using 3D printers to create all manner of handy custom
tools. In fact, it’s five years since NASA scientists and
employees at in-space manufacturing specialist Made In
Space first ‘emailed’ a socket wrench to ISS Commander
Barry Wilmore, sending him an Autodesk Inventor file converted into
G-code to be printed out on one of these machines on the station.
Back here on earth, 3D printing is proving just as useful at
manufacturing companies of all kinds for producing tooling at short
order and at low cost. This includes cutting tools, jigs and fixtures in
machining; injection parts and hollowed components in molding;
casting accessories and stamping dies; and new parts, such as
grippers, for industrial robots.
The growing range of materials available for 3D printing doesn’t
hurt, either. For example, one of the biggest implications for jigs and
fixtures is the development of high-performance materials such as
PEKK and ULTEM, which can be used to create strong, lightweighting
tooling parts with enhanced mechanical properties, such as chemical
and heat resistance or UV stability, according to recent research from Heiden offers an example: a collaboration between automotive
AMFG, a provider of automation software for industrial 3D printing. giant BMW and Ultimaker, the goal of which was to empower these
factory-floor operators by creating more opportunities for informal
LOGICAL NEXT STEP interactions between them and maintenance engineers.
For many companies, custom tooling is the logical next step in their Using 3D printing, custom tools were ready to test the next
3D printing journey, once they’ve got to grips with prototyping – and morning, instead of 60 days later. Says Heiden: “We’re past the point
especially if, like many, they’re not quite ready to use 3D printing to were people discuss whether [3D printing for tooling] is useful. The
build production-ready end-use parts. savings are incredibly obvious.”
In the recent 3D Hubs report, 3D Printing Trends Q1 2019, Paul And, as time goes on, more companies are lining up to share their
Heiden, vice president of product management at Ultimaker, reports experiences of the value and savings they’ve achieved. In the following
an “overflow” of industrial 3D printing customers from prototyping pages, we look at several examples, all working in very diverse sectors:
to tooling. “In tooling, the real improvements, the real value for Siemens Gas & Power, Ashley Furniture and Heineken.
everybody is in the closer interaction with the operator,” he says. Back in 2016, market research company Gartner predicted that, by
In other words, the person who’s going to use a new tool on the 2020, three-quarters of manufacturing operations worldwide would
factory floor knows exactly what they need it to do, just like the be using 3D-printed tools, jigs and fixtures made in-house or by a
astronaut and their socket wrench. If they can have direct input into service bureau to produce finished goods.
the design and creation of that tool, that’s great. If it can be created in In retrospect, that forecast might have been a bit hasty – but it’s clear
a matter of hours on the same factory floor where they work, or at least that many manufacturers are already heading in that direction, and
close by, even better. many more are likely to follow their example.
p27_D3D_JUN19_Getting Jiggy with it.indd 27 05/06/2019 06:22

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• Scan to CAD • Scan to CAD • Measurement for 3D & 2D • Digital Clay modelling
• Points to polygons to • Featured based modelling analysis • Polygons, Surfaces,
surfaces • Output to native CAD, inc. • Input data from all 3D Solids & Voxels all-in-one
• Intelligent hole filling & NX, Creo, Inventor & scanners & arms • Advanced draft &
advanced surfacing SolidWorks • Full inspection reports complex mold splits
p28_D3D_JUN19_Ads.indd 1 06/06/2019 15:14

PROFILE
POWER
PRINTING
» At Siemens Gas & Power, engineers are using 3D printing to create the circular
saw components needed to carry out vital repairs to gas turbines in the field,
with the result that this work now takes days instead of weeks
S
iemens Gas & Power keeps thousands of homes “The continuous carbon fibre strength is really, really impressive.
and businesses up and running. The Gas & When you have a plastic part that feels and looks like a plastic part,
Power division, one of three Siemens operating but it has this internal strength of something much different, it sets
companies, owns compressors, turbines, and everybody up for a shock,” Diceptris continues.
generators across the globe. When those gas With the printed saw, turbine repairs in the field now take a matter
turbines need repairing, engineers at the Siemens of days instead of weeks. “We can cut and make a tool that fits the
Gas & Power division must exact contour of the things we’re trying to cut, which is different from
efficiently cut into anything that you can buy off the shelf,” Dicpetris says. Siemens Gas
them with a circular & Power not only reduced the time to make these tools from weeks
saw to maintain the system. Since the to days, but also saved money while remaining
housings have a complex contoured cutting edge in a competitive industry.
design, a standard flat skid-plate circular Dicpetris estimates the team saved
saw does not suffice. over $8,000 from only this one custom
In the past, the team remedied this circular saw, as well as hundreds
by purchasing standard circular saws, of thousands of dollars on other
shipping them to job shops in the applications.
Philippines for custom-contoured Once the engineering team
plates, and then shipping them back to had tackled this project, they
the United States for reassembly. began to adopt a design for
This was not a scalable additive manufacturing
solution, as engineers (DFAM) approach to
would wait more than problem-solving. Now,
three weeks to receive engineers at Siemens
their customised Gas & Power consider
hand tools. 3D-printed parts first,
ahead of traditionally
OFF THE SHELF fabricated
WON’T CUT IT components, when
Siemens engineers they’re needed.
determined that most
circular saw components could be printed to accurately match WHERE NEXT?
the contour of the turbine. The team purchased and began to use With over 100 engineers using Markforged technology, Siemens
Markforged’s industrial composite X7 printer, after deeming it the Gas & Power engineers aren’t slowing down. They are constantly
best option for the job. “We bought an off-the-shelf motor and the exploring new applications, such as modular fixtures for turbine
blade, but everything else was custom built,” says Siemens Gas & blades, to enhance their product line and workstream. Their
Power engineer, Sam Dicpetris. printers are running almost 24/7, with little to no downtime. The
“The parts were initially tested in Onyx, a nylon base with chopped company has also utilised its Metal X to create custom one-off
carbon fiber, and then reinforced with continuous carbon fibre parts and its trusted external machine shop is also adding a Metal
to stiffen the structure. Not only can we make necessary custom X internally in order to keep up with the company’s need for fast
tooling, but also parts we haven’t been able to produce with traditional turnaround times on metal components.
methods of manufacturing.” markforged.com
p29_D3D_JUN19_MarkforgedSiemensGasPower.indd 29 05/06/2019 06:25

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PEOPLE-LED
AUTOMATION
» At Ashley Furniture, 3D printing on the factory floor has opened the doors to a
range of productivity-boosting measures across fabrication and assembly that
enable the company to maintain its market-leadership position
A
1 2
tour around Ashley Furniture’s ADAPT AND CHANGE ●1 Furniture pin tack
Arcadia, Wisconsin-based In addition to time and cost savings from outsourcing gun guide, 3D-printed
in Durable Resin
manufacturing facilities soon parts, 3D printing has transformed some more traditional
●2 A universal
reveals the recipe for the company’s processes on the floor. For example, the company has assembly fixture
success. As with most modern developed a universal system for an assembly fixture. system uses
manufacturers today, you’ll find a Now, when introducing a new SKU [stock taking unit], 3D-printed parts to
simplify adjustments
variety of new technologies at work production engineers only need to print new parts to between product
there, and 3D printing is a big part adapt the system, and assembly workers follow simple changeovers,
of the picture. It has slowly trickled instructional guides for each changeover. The system has completely
eliminating the need
onto the factory floor, and gradually transformed a range of significantly reduced set-up time in the assembly area, as to spend machine
manufacturing processes, from fabrication to assembly. well as the storage footprint of the original large fixture shop resources
The incremental adoption of 3D printing at Ashley pieces, which could weigh up to 200 pounds. to build each new
fixture from scratch
Furniture has been quite deliberate. It is a clear example “We’ve literally replaced fixtures that are three feet by
of the company’s commitment to lean manufacturing six feet with a simple bin system; it’s a two-minute set-
processes and a kaizen approach. up time,” says Brian Konkel, a production and design
This is characterised by employee-driven incremental engineer. “It frees up jig builders from repetitive tasks to
changes, which save significant time and costs in getting work on more pressing issues, from busy work to looking
products to market, and empower staff to be more at more challenging items.”
productive and focus on more creative work in their day- Pieters adds: “Things like 3D printing and automation
to-day jobs. are making the job easier for the employee so that it’s not so
“We started out just making one simple sample, because heavy and not so industrial.”
we could make that sample in a matter of a few hours Key to taking full advantage of new technologies is
versus having to potentially source from an international ensuring they will grow with your ideas. Ashley Furniture
vendor that would take weeks,” says Vaughn Pieters, senior takes full advantage of Formlabs’ Engineering Resins, for
director of casegood operations at Ashley Furniture. example, and is constantly experimenting with new resins.
“We were able to use 3D printing technology to compress This flexibility in finding solutions that can replace
some of those timelines and make better more educated machined parts, and being able to stand up to the rigours
decisions with our design staff,” he continues. of cycling through shifts on the floor, is part of what helps
“Now, we’ve continued to grow that with how we use 3D Ashley Furniture scale its use of 3D printing, with no
printing technology, to make components that help us run signs of stopping.
our day-to-day business on the manufacturing floor.” ashleyfurniture.com | formlabs.com
p31_D3D_JUN19_Formlabs_AshleyFurniture.indd 31 06/06/2019 16:02

3D PRINT FOR TOOLS, JIGS & FIXTURES PROFILE
TAPPING
INTO 3D PRINTING
» Heineken is using cost-effective 3D printers to produce a variety of custom
tools and functional machine parts that aid in manufacturing and improve
worker safety at the company’s Spanish operations in Seville
H
eineken’s
Seville brewery
in Spain
produces
several brands
of Heineken-
owned beers,
with its
annual output
amounting to 500 million litres of beer.
Engineers at this plant have been
utilising 3D printing for about one
year, first using the Ultimaker 2+ and
now multiple Ultimaker S5 printers,
in order to design and print safety
devices, tools and parts on-demand
rather than outsourcing the job to
external vendors. This has increased
production uptime and saved around
80% in production costs on the parts
they 3D print.
“We’re still in the first stages of 3D
printing, but we’ve already seen a
reduction of costs in the applications
that we found by 70% to 90%, and also INCREASING LINE UPTIME TOOLS FOR QUALITY &
a decrease of delivery time of these Heineken 3D prints functional parts MAINTENANCE
applications of 70% to 90%,” says for its machines. These are parts Heineken has also created completely
Isabelle Haenen, global supply chain that traditionally wear out and can new tools that make it easier for
procurement buyer at Heineken. break. By printing the spare parts engineers to perform maintenance
“Local manufacturing helps us a on-demand, the company saves money tasks or to check the quality of
lot in increasing uptime, efficiency while avoiding operational downtime products or machines. These
and output. We use 3D printing to because there is no need to have an tools help prevent machines from
optimise the manufacturing line, inventory and no need to wait for part malfunctioning or breaking down
create maintenance and quality control deliveries. completely.
tools, and create tools for our machines
which help us increase safety for our OPTIMISING PART DESIGNS OPERATOR SAFETY SOLUTIONS
people. I think there will be even more The team at Heineken was able to In order to keep its workers as safe as
purposes in the future,” she adds. replace various redesigned parts with possible, Heineken has also looked for
The 3D printing technology was an optimised design. For example, a ways to make smart, 3D-printed tools
first used for safety applications, but metal part that is used with the quality that prevent accidents. For example,
engineers quickly learned they could sensor on the conveyor belt would the company has printed improved
save time and money by creating often knock bottles over, creating a locking mechanisms for machines,
custom optimised functional parts for blockage, or eject good bottles onto the so they cannot start to operate during
machines from the manufacturing ground. The redesigned part prevents maintenance.
line. Use cases now include: this from happening. ultimaker.com
p32_D3D_JUN19_Ultimaker_Heineken.indd 32 05/06/2019 06:29

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REVIEWS SOFTWARE REVIEW
Autodesk Inventor 2020

Inventor may not be Autodesk’s primary focus these days, but while its younger
sibling Fusion grabs attention, the company’s mid-range mechanical CAD product
quietly continues to deepen and mature. Al Dean takes a look at the latest update
I
n the mid-range mechanical CAD » Product: be the most enthralling of subjects, in this operations, including extrude, revolve and
market, few systems offer the Inventor 2020 case, it seems perfectly valid. To understand sweep. This is in addition to work already
depth of functionality associated » Supplier: Autodesk why, we first need to bear in mind that done on the hole command in 2019. While
with Autodesk Inventor. Through Price: on application today’s user environments are very this work is being done, there’s also the
some smart acquisitions and a lot of autodesk.com different from how they were when Inventor opportunity to add in new functionality,
integration work, Autodesk has built was first released, almost two decades ago. such as the sweep operation now getting
out a set of solutions that covers not Back then, the desktop was king and the ability to sweep a solid along a path. This
only core design and engineering in designers and engineers didn’t expect has been a popular update in many major
both 2D and 3D, but also simulation, mobility from their computing. systems in the last year and, rather than
manufacturing and more. Fast-forward to today, and the mobile sweeping a 2D profile along a path, allows
With Autodesk moving to a more regular workstation is a big part of the picture you to sweep a 3D geometric form to create
release schedule – one that features an and software is used in a wide variety the sweep.
annual update, along with three richer of locations, environments and lighting At first glance, the differences here may
updates during the year – there’s usually a conditions. If lighting isn’t great, the screen seem a little esoteric, but when you think
fair amount to check out. So shall we begin? is hard to see. If software is too dark, the about modelling up complex linear/rotary
same holds true. mechanisms, where maintaining the form
USER EXPERIENCE Because of this, Autodesk’s introduction you need with a simple sketch isn’t going to
Let’s kick things off with a look at the of a new ‘light theme’ for Inventor will prove work, then having a 3D form driving feature
common elements in Inventor – the ones useful to many, as will the refresh of most of creation will pay dividends in terms of
that apply to all customers, no matter what the icons in the system. getting the functionality you want.
their use case or industry sector – and begin In addition, work that began during It’s also worth noting that by using a panel
with the user experience and interface. the 2019 release cycle to modernise approach, Autodesk is also making these
While Autodesk has always made a better- ●1 Inventor has been core commands and move them into operations more flexible in their use – for
than-average go of keeping Inventor clean, freshened up for a single panel continues in this latest example, with a panelised command, you’re
fresh and up to date, particularly compared this release. Core update. The goal here is to present all now able to switch between the sketch
functionality is the
to some of its peers in the mid-range options and variables in a single, easy-to- and the feature without having to exit the
same, but the look and
market, this release sees a pretty extensive feel is a lot clearer, understand space. While not every aspect operation first.
overhaul of how the system looks. with core commands of Inventor has been tackled yet, you’ll see Finally, in terms of user interface and
While I realise that icon redesigns may not overhauled improvements to the most commonly used usability, this release sees the addition of
p35_36_37_D3D_JUNE19_Inventor2020.indd 35 05/06/2019 06:35

SOFTWARE REVIEW
improved support for multiple monitor Considering the prevalence of multiple The part modelling tools naturally include ●2 Inventor users on
set-ups. It’s now possible to drag a window monitors, I would imagine this is a much- standard solid and surface modelling, but subscription now get
access to tolerance
out of the Inventor frame entirely, rather requested feature. Just remember to quit in recent years, they have also begun to analysis for all those
than trying to span it across two or more your current command before moving include a good set of sub-divisional, surface- stack-up calcs
windows, and place it on another monitor. windows, otherwise it won’t work properly. style, free-form modelling tools from
While the ribbon doesn’t replicate (instead, Autodesk’s T-Splines technology (also found
it remains on the main display), this does PARTS & ASSEMBLIES in Fusion 360). And in terms of assembly
let you have multiple documents open, with Now let’s move on to part and assembly modelling, Inventor has a good range of
the model browser and other free-floating modelling. As you’d expect, Inventor has tools to let you make the most of both
dialogues available in a useful manner. mature set of tools for modelling both. creating and editing these forms.
MANUFACTURING & SIMULATION: NEW TOOLS IN PD&M COLLECTION

In recent years, Autodesk’s product Second, the Inventor 2020 release sees
range for manufacturing has grown the first time that Inventor Nesting has
from pretty much zero to a rich been made available as part of a collection.
Based on technology acquired from
set of tools and technologies that
Magestic Systems in 2014, this is a pretty
covers everything from mould design rich set of tools that allow you to quickly
and sheet metal through to 5-axis extract sheet metal forms from assemblies,
machining. So it was inevitable that carry out all of the true shape nesting you
some of these capabilities would make need, and perform sheet optimisation
their way into Inventor. and scrap reduction tasks. Of course, with
In general, these types of tools are to Inventor CAM, there are also laser cutting
be found in Autodesk’s Product Design capabilities or you can pass the data out of
& Manufacturing Collection. (In case you the system via DXF and so on.
missed it, ‘collections’ is the term used by A final addition to the Product Design &
Autodesk for bundles of industry-focused Manufacturing Collection is the addition
solutions. There’s also an Architecture, of Inventor Nastran. Again, as the result
Engineering & Construction Collection and of an acquisition, Inventor has its own
a Media & Entertainment Collection.) flavour of the Nastran simulation solver (as
In its 2020 update, Product Design do Hexagon and Siemens PLM). Inventor
& Manufacturing Collection gains Nastran, meanwhile, sees that world-
manufacturing technology in two key renowned simulation engine available as
areas. First, there’s been a rebranding of an integrated part of Inventor. Of course,
the Inventor HSM product as Inventor CAM Inventor has had some stress-analysis
(not to be confused with the Inventor- technology for a while, but this is a whole
integrated product from SolidCAM). This new ball game, which includes linear static
brings a range of CAM focused capabilities and thermal analysis, as well as some tools
from basic 2.5-axis, through 3-axis and into to help repurpose and idealise Inventor
5-axis simultaneous machining. data for simulation.

3
●3 Frame Generator Starting with part modelling, there are and its workflow haven’t changed – they use deeper toolset found in Inventor. The fact
has seen some some really nice updates in 2020, in terms skeleton sketches to drive 3D frame design that the Autodesk team has also just added
excellent work, of pure geometric modelling. One example – the workflow will shorten, thanks to some Nastran, Nesting and a wealth of CAM NC
allowing frames to be
created much more is the addition of a face unwrapping tool. new capabilities. programming technology to the associated
quickly, combining Inventor already offers tools within the Essentially, the workflow follows the collection only reinforces that commercial
multiple operations sheet metal environment to help with familiar path: you use a series of 2D and/ reality.
into a single command unwrapping neatly folded parts, but this or 3D sketches to create the reference for Yes, you might take a look at the updates
new functionality is going to be super useful the framework and then either a library of to core Inventor and decide that, on the
when it comes to trying to estimate blank intelligent standard forms or those you’ve face of it, there’s not a huge amount of
size and form – perhaps to help with tooling created yourself, in order to quickly add in ‘newness’ there for the subscription money
design for stamping dies, for example. the rough elements for that framework. involved – but the truth is that we’re now
You select a set of continuous faces, and The real improvements come into play at the point where workflow consolidation,
the system will perform an unwrapping once you have these constituent parts in new efficiencies and evolving existing tools
operation. There are options to lock a place and start to focusing on finishing them is the order of the day, rather than swathes
specific edge set as linear or to mark a set of – mitring them, creating mitre joints and of brand-new technology.
edges as rigid (to maintain a feature shape), notches, and so on. In previous releases, And from this perspective, Inventor 2020
though you can only do this to a single set of you had to work your way through each pair is a cracking release. Across the board,
contiguous edges. individually. This could take a considerable Autodesk has found ways to improve
The end result is a profile that can then be amount of time. complex workflows, as seen in the updates
used in downstream applications. While this For 2020, however, this has been made to Frame Generator, which could
operation doesn’t factor in any stretching of revamped. It’s now possible to create drastically reduce the steps needed to detail
material, it’s a good for a quick first pass or multiple joints in single operations. out and complete a complex framework.
for prototype runs. To use the notch operation as an example, Finally, let’s look at cost. At the time of
you select your frame members (those you writing, a seat of core Inventor costs £2,286
ASSEMBLY DESIGN want notched), then your notching tools per year or £288 per month.
As ever on the large assembly front, this (those whose form the members need to By contrast, Autodesk’s price for its
wouldn’t be a CAD release without at least conform to) and the system does the rest. Product Design & Manufacturing Collection,
lip service being paid to performance. There are options here for notching gaps meanwhile, comes in at £2,988 per year
For the Inventor 2020 release, the focus and maintaining perpendicular cuts around or £372 per month. This gets you Inventor,
has been on improving specific actions the notch (ideal for CNC tube-cutting and Fusion 360, Inventor CAM, Inventor Nastran,
and operations, rather than speeding up shaping machines). Inventor Nesting, 3ds max, Navisworks,
load times. Recap Pro (for reality capture/reverse
For those working with fabricated IN CONCLUSION engineering) and, of course, AutoCAD.
frameworks, for machine design, jigs/ Autodesk is in a tricky position with In other words, this collection represents
fixturing and so on, then the Inventor 2020 Inventor. On the one hand, it’s got a fancy some serious value for money. On its
release is going to be a real time-saver. new system in Fusion, which it wants to own, Inventor is already a functionally
While the Frame Generator tools have been promote as its future flagship. On the rich product. When you combine it with
in the system for many years now, they’ve other hand, Fusion won’t satisfy everyone industry-leading simulation, CNC machine
not really seen much in the way of updates –and users engaged in more traditional programming and more, it becomes
or enhancements – until this 2020 release, engineering and manufacturing will still something very empowering.
that is. While the core part of the system demand the richer, more mature and autodesk.com

From BIM to
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Building Information Modelling (BIM) for Architecture, Engineering and Construction

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aecmag.com/subscriptions
AEC 3.indd 34 06/06/2019 15:25
SOFTWARE REVIEW
Luxion KeyVR for KeyShot

Virtual reality is a big theme in design visualisation right now, and the choices are
plentiful, but often rely on shoe-horning CAD geometry into a game engine. Al Dean
gets to grips with a new offering from Luxion, which takes a different approach
T
he virtual reality (VR) world » Product: KeyShot There has also been a big focus on advantages over using a general-purpose
has exploded in the last couple KeyVR workflows that take heavy CAD geometry engine like Unreal or Unity.
of years, with a slowdown in » Supplier: Luxion and push it into a game engine, typically First, it can handle the geometry
tablet sales really paying off Price: $995 per year Unreal or Unity. Quite often, this works – as tessellated just how it wants. Where many
for design professionals. (After all, keyshot.com seen in the most recent update to Siemens game engine-based systems come unstuck
that’s why VR headsets took off, right? NX, for example. But along the way, you is in taking heavy, complex data from CAD
Vendors found themselves lumbered frequently lose much of the visual richness and moving into the mesh-based, polygon
with excess display stock.) and aesthetic properties you’ve already world of VR.
That has led to dramatically cheaper defined. Luxion has sidestepped this challenge,
headsets. Oculus Rift, of course, achieved This is where Luxion, the company behind because it already has a tessellation
the Kickstarter coup of the century, but design visualisation system par excellence engine built into Keyshot that works well
there’s also HTC’s Vive products, as well KeyShot, has come into the game with its – the company’s just reusing it for the VR
as a glut of new market entrants (Varjo, newly released KeyVR. activities. It also has a means of linking
anyone?). In short, we’re now seeing some directly back to your CAD geometry too,
mind-bendingly smart hardware become ONE-CLICK VR using LiveLinking.
available for not a massive amount of cash. KeyVR is, as you would expect, is an add-on Second, you’ve already defined your
But despite the wealth of hardware module for KeyShot. That means that you’re lighting conditions (starting with an HDR
options out there, software is more of an already building something on top of one of environment image as a lighting and
issue. Put simply, VR software isn’t well- the world’s most popular rendering systems reflection source), as well as your materials
developed, and while VR has played a part for product design and engineering. options, scene and model variations
in design and engineering for decades, this It’s also billed as a ‘one click’ VR solution – (referred to as Model sets in KeyShot) and
has been at the very high end of the market, a bold phrase that probably deserves some there’s a direct way to move these into a VR
open only to those firms with money to ●1 The Teleport unpacking, since KeyVR owes much to the environment. So shall we see how it works?
spend on third-party help when it comes to function allows you platform it is built on.
consultancy and implementation services. to move around your Interestingly, rather than finding a way FIRST USE AND EXPERIENCE
scene – particularly
Essentially, while your headset may cost to take all of the visual information you’ve Let’s begin with a look at what you need
useful for VR use in
just a couple of hundred quid, your design restricted spaces already defined in your KeyShot scene and to get up and running with KeyVR. The
and engineering-focused visualisation and for navigating then shove it into a game engine, Luxion has first things you need are, of course, a
software comes at a much higher price. large scenes built its own VR engine. That gives it several workstation and VR headset.
p39_40_41_D3D_JUNE19_KeyShotKeyVR.indd 39 05/06/2019 12:13

SOFTWARE REVIEW
At present, the headsets supported by process works, just to make it a little more it to the separate KeyVR application. The ●2 Controller menus
KeyVR include the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive efficient. Our standard test model for benefit here is that you don’t need to have give you quick
access to a range of
or a Windows Mixed Reality device. rendering is an older Porsche 911, so has KeyShot running on the same machine, as commands, such as
These all come with their own hardware a nice mix of simpler materials (metals, this application can be loaded separately switching model sets,
requirements in terms of graphics paint effects and so on), as well as some and read in your .bip files – but for this materials and more
processing, but Luxion recommends an that are more complex in terms of bump review, we’re going to follow the workflow of
Nvidia GTX 1080 or AMD Vega 64 or higher (or more recently) displacement maps for having both on the same machine.
for your GPU. We tested the system with tyres, headlamp lenses and the like. We What happens now is that your BIP file
an Amari workstation running Windows also placed it into a pretty standard HDR is read into KeyVR, your headset is fired
10, 32GB of RAM and an AMD Radeon Vega environment. up and you’re presented with a dialogue
Frontier edition GPU. So how do you get this into KeyVR? The showing options for your two controllers
We found that it’s best to begin with a answer is you simply hit the KeyVR button. and your starting point for your VR session,
simple scene and get a feel for how the This packages up your data and transfers alongside a mirror of your headset’s display.
VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSETS: WHAT’S AVAILABLE FOR KEYVR?

There are a tonne of VR
headsets out there now, but
there are only a few that are
supported by professional
applications.
At present, KeyVR only
supports the the HTC, Oculus
and Windows Mixed Reality
drivers and devices.
While that gives you a good
spread, it’ll be interesting to
see how Luxion adopts newer HTC VIVE OCULUS RIFT S HP WINDOWS MIXED REALITY OCULUS QUEST
generation HMDs, particularly Product: Vive Pro Product: Rift S Product: Windows Mixed Reality Product: Quest
those that have on-board Supplier: HTC Supplier: Oculus Supplier: HP Supplier: Oculus
processing, such as the Oculus Price: £799 Price: £399 Price: $299 Price: Unavailable
Quest and Hololens 2. Web: vive.com Web: oculus.com Web: hp.com Web: oculus.com
Both of these devices were
launched this year, and gamers Notes: One headset, two Notes: Essentially, this is an Notes: The Windows Mixed Notes: This is the one we’re
are already raving about the controllers and two base upgrade to the original Rift Reality devices are getting a waiting for. An Oculus device
experience they offer. stations for full tracking in a 7m which removes the previously little long in the tooth now and without the cables. The big issue
Design professionals, x 7m cube. The Pro option has external and separately they’re difficult to track down. here is going to be how the
however, will have to wait for enhanced display compared to purchased sensors. This means HP’s looks pretty standard, with on-board processing handles
their software vendor of choice the original Rift device (now more freedom of movement, 1440X1440 display per eye, on heavy data from professional
to catch up, before they can running at 2,880 x 1,600) – but you’re still tethered to your board tracking of controllers. VR systems like KeyVR.
enjoy that experience in work- perhaps due to be superceded PC. Will work with KeyVR out of All works out of the box and Unsupported at present, so
related use cases. by a wire-free version soon. the box. available for a bargain price. skip for now.

3
 be quick and easy and it certainly lives up to ●3 The Fly command

lets you zoom
that ‘one-click VR’ tagline.
For what this software costs, and given that your Assuming that you don’t come up against around your model
headset will cost way less than that, you’re getting current limitations in a problematic way, you
very quickly, which
is useful for larger
something truly usable, which will quickly become can expect to see results that are incredibly
realistic, powerful (in terms of being able to
scenes and for getting
different views on
a part of your design review process switch model sets, materials, cameras and your scene/product
 so on), not to mention peaceful.

This last one may sound a little odd, but
If you pop your headset on, you’ll find taking your environment as your light it is key. VR can be a strange experience,
yourself immersed in your scene and able source and baking in reflections and particularly when you’re not used to it.
to walk around your model. As you hold shadows at the point of creation. Many of today’s VR systems are too
up your controls, meanwhile, you’ll find It’s also worth considering the complexity jarring: with menus popping up on screen
that menus pop up, allowing you to switch of your materials. There are also and teleport processes whizzing you
between cameras, change materials (if substitutions taking place on the transfer instantly from one location to another,
you have multiple materials set-up in your from KeyShot to KeyVR – the system doesn’t the effect can be to jangle your brains. In
scene) and teleport around your object to support refraction and other complex short, some first-time users can be left
view it from different angles. aspects of transparent materials. disoriented, even a little travel sick.
You can also pick up and move items And, while it supports multiple materials, KeyVR is a little more laid back.
(which is really handy for smaller objects) bump maps and the like, at present, more Everything happens softly and smoothly,
and turn physics on, so that your objects fall complex, material graph driven materials so you don’t feel out of sorts or lost. In
to the floor when you release them. are not supported. Finally, for materials, this way, a virtual space feels like a natural
It’s all very natural and very responsive. labels don’t transfer across, either. environment in which to explore and
Luxion recommends that you limit your At present, what does and doesn’t work evaluate a design concept, rather than
scene to 2-3 million polygons with higher is well documented on the KeyVR manual merely a flashy way to show off some
end GPUs, in order to achieve the best website. Also, when performing the transfer sophisticated new software.
frame rate (hitting H in KeyShot shows your (or loading the BIP file), if errors are found, Yes, there is work still to be done. Luxion
poly count). That said, our test dataset was you’ll get a log file telling you exactly what is needs to expand KeyVR’s support for
around the 30 million polygons mark and happening. more complex materials and we’re waiting
was still more than usable. to hear back about whether the system
IN CONCLUSION will work with some of the more recent
CAVEATS AND WORKFLOW TIPS I’ve been waiting for Luxion to throw its headsets. I’d also love to see some record/
Clearly there has to be some trade-offs hat into the VR ring for a while now. It has playback tools for VR review sessions as
when moving your data from a system teased its support for today’s HMDs for well as documentation tools introduced into
that’s intent on producing photorealistic some time, but held back from committing the system.
images and animations such as KeyShot, to a launching a full-blown design But for what this software costs, and given
into a VR environment like this. In this visualisation tool like KeyVR. So has it been that your headset will cost way less than
instance, the majority of these trade-offs worth the wait? that, you’re getting something truly usable,
are in the area of complexity. On the whole, yes. For a first release, which can quickly become a part of your
Firstly, KeyVR is not performing ray I have to say that KeyVR is looks very design review process on a regular basis.
tracing or global illumination; rather, it’s impressive. I found the use of the system to keyshot.com

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Image: Thomas Burke & Others
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HARDWARE REVIEW
3D Systems FabPro 1000

Until now, 3D Systems had held back from bringing its mastery of stereolithography
to the desktop. With the promise of lightning-fast build speeds and many materials,
might its new Fab Pro 1000 pose a serious threat to competitors, Al Dean asks?
S
tereolithography, or SLA, is one of the original 3D
TECH-SPECS
printing processes. Invented by Chuck Hull back
» FabPro 1000 in 1965, it enabled the company he co-founded, 3D
» Stereolithography Systems, to quickly become the largest player in the
» 125 x 70 x 120 mm market during its early years.
build volume Through a combination of the technical excellence of its machines,
» 430 x 430 x 612 mm a headstart on patents and a very active legal department, 3D
machine dimensions Systems built its empire on its mastery of the magic of taking a
» 37.5 kg weight liquid photoreactive polymer and building shapes out of it with
» 0.05mm layers lasers and light.
» up to 21 mm/hr Then, around five years ago, many of the core patents associated
» Finishing kit, build with the formative days of 3D printing started to expire. That meant
platform/plate, that intellectual property once belonging solely to 3D Systems,
Proto Gry 1kg resin - along with FDM [fused deposition modelling] masters Stratasys,
optional resin mixer
became fair game for companies looking to offer lower-cost
and UV curing oven
machines based on these technologies.
» Ethernet + Wifi +
USB connectivity The entry-level FDM market soon exploded, with the entrance of
» 1 year return to
rivals including Makerbot, Ultimaker and dozens more. (Even 3D
base warranty Systems tried its hand at the desktop FDM market for a while, with
» Price £3,295 its now defunct Cube product line.) But the SLA market took a little
» 3dsystems.com
longer – because squirting out molten plastic is one thing, but using
lasers to cure liquid into solid is a whole different ball game.
Among the many curious decisions that the top brass at 3D
Systems made during this period, one that stands out in its oddness
was that it didn’t introduce a general-purpose, desktop-focused
SLA machine. It certainly had the know-how, the technology and the 1
supply chain to do it, and to do it well. But the closest thing we saw
to this was the jewellery-focused ProJet 1200.
Then along came Formlabs with a Kickstarter campaign that In terms of machine set-up, you need to get it unwrapped,
broke records and a machine that brought SLA to the masses. Since situated on a stable surface and plugged in. There are a couple of
then, Formlabs has sold some 50,000 of its machines, defined a components that need to be installed in the machine as well. All
whole market segment and become its leader. of this is nicely documented in the help files and an alphanumeric
You can now find tens of different desktop SLA machines on the labelling system is applied to everything that comes in the box.
market – some excellent, some just OK, and more than a few that The set-up of the build platform is perhaps the trickiest part and
are absolutely shocking. But there’s nothing here from 3D Systems, here, you need to pay close attention to the instructions. First, you
the company that invented and mastered SLA. need to add in the glass build plate. This provides the rigid interface
That’s all changed with the company’s announcement of the between the resin in the build tray and the light source beneath (the
FabPro 1000. It’s a desktop-sized machine, offering high build FabPro uses a DLP chip to project the UV light for each layer onto
speeds in a variety of resins and coming in below that all-important the base of the build platform).
$5,000 price bracket. When 3D Systems offered us the chance to On top of this, you add in the print tray. This is a plastic frame
spend a couple of months trying out this machine for ourselves, we with a flexible, transparent base and it holds the resin – the flexible
naturally jumped at it. base providing the means of breaking surface tension during build.
The last thing at this stage is to add in the print platform. This is an
DELIVERY AND SET-UP aluminium affair and slots securely into place.
The packaging for FabPro 1000 will probably take you by surprise, Once that’s done, it’s time to get the software installed and
particularly if you go for the add-on options of the UV curing oven connected to the machine. (The software’s called Sprint and is
and mixing unit (more on these later). While the machine turns up common across most of 3D Systems’ range.) Here, there are three
on a small pallet, you’ll very quickly discover it’s very heavy unit options: WiFi (which is easiest); ethernet; and faithful old USB.
indeed compared to other desktop units, weighing in at 35kg-plus. It’s worth noting that you need to register and activate both the
This is a clear-cut case for calling on Big Dave/Denise from Shipping machine and software (the latter in order to get full function from
to give you a hand with it. Sprint), but it’s a pretty painless process.
That said, once it’s out, set-up is pretty straightforward, following
some very nicely thought-out guides, provided initially as a print- FIRST BUILD
out in the box, then followed up with an online version. As ever, builds start with your part file in software and preparing
Even at this point, it’s worth mentioning that the information that for the build process. Get your set-up wrong, and you’ll end
that 3D Systems provides is not simply a case of, ‘Here’s a set-up up with wasted time and materials on your hands (not to mention
●1 The FabPro is guide, a user forum and we’ll let you get on with it.’ Instead, there’s potentially damaged equipment).
much larger than you
some serious content here, bringing together not just information When you’re dealing with SLA, this is even more critical than
probably expect – and
it’s definitely a two- pertaining to the machine, its functions and the materials it uses, usual. With the interaction of resin and light, plus moving build
person job to retrieve but also drawing on the company’s decades of experience in helping platforms, there’s huge potential for error. There are also questions
it from its packaging customers to work with resin-based 3D printing systems. to be asked upfront. Does the part’s orientation give you the part
p43_44_45_D3D_JUNE19_3DSystemsFabPro1000.indd 43 05/06/2019 11:59

you need? Are key surfaces free from
supports (which can mean extra steps to
remove)? Are there enough supports to
keep the part on your build platform? Are
the cross-section properties of your part
such that you can overcome the suction
between your build tray and platform? All of
these need to be considered.
The good news is that Sprint is one of the
best examples of this kind of software that
we’ve come across. Not only does it connect
directly to your machine and manage all
of your queue handling, it also offers a
veritable armoury of tools to ensure that the
part that comes out of the machine is how
you want it and optimised for your process
and chosen material.
We’re not just talking about orienting
a part at 45 degrees to a build tray and
throwing on some supports. There’s way
more to be explored in Spring, which
2
includes tools for splitting parts and adding
in jointing features, for introducing drain
holes in thicker parts, and for nesting parts,
so you get the most out of your build run
(which will be key to users running the
FabPro in a production environment).
Essentially, you import your part into
the ‘Prepare’ environment, carry out any
additional actions on it, such as fixing,
splitting, orientation and such. Once
that’s done, it’s transferred to the ‘Print’
environment. This is where you set up
your build tray, generate supports and get
things finalised. There are also some nice
estimation tools (which are key for the final
stages of set-up) along with reporting tools
which spit out a set of details for each build.
When you’re ready to go, you’ll need
to send the part to the queue and
subsequently to the machine. Hitting start 3
in the Print Manager transfers the job to the
machine and it’ll await your input.
The FabPro 1000’s on-machine controls
use a simple LCD display and a push switch. you for how long to mix the resins. Once If you’re not familiar with how these ●2 3D Systems Sprint,
As you send a job, it’ll ask you to accept shaken, you open the door on the front of machines work, they’re pretty standard perhaps the most
impressive 3D printing
by pressing and holding the button. Once the unit and the red target from the scan on the desktop, using DLP chips from software we’ve seen
accepted, the system then asks you to scan helps ensure you’re adding the right resin to projectors to bounce 405nm wavelength to date
the bar code found on the resin bottle. the build tray. light to cure the resin in layers from
●3 One of our test
At this point, it’s worth passing on a few How much do you add? This is where the beneath, building up the parts and supports parts on the build
notes about the resins. We’ve put together estimate tools provided in the software on the build platform. platform, ready for
a quick guide below, but in general, these come into play. These will give you a fill level As such, when the part is complete, you’ll post-processing and
need to be mixed up before use. If you’ve that corresponds to markers on the side find your part suspended from the build break-out work
got the basic configuration, it’s a case of you of the resin tray, so that you’re not adding platform at the top of the machine. The next
shaking the bottle yourself. If you’ve got the more resin that you need to. Once that’s step is to carefully remove the build plate
Mixer (a curious bit of kit that we don’t have done, you’re ready to shut the door and and part(s) and move them to a working
room to explore more), the help system tells away the system goes. area for post-processing.
MATERIAL OPTIONS: EXPLORING THE FABPRO RESINS

FABPRO PROTO GRY FABPRO TOUGH BLK FABPRO ELASTIC BLK FABPRO JEWELCAST GRN DENTAL RESINS
Layer thickness: 0.05mm Layer thickness: 0.05mm Layer thickness: 0.1mm Layer thickness: 0.03mm Layer thickness: 0.05 to 0.1mm
Build speed: 21mm/hour Build speed: 14mm/hour Build speed: 14mm/hour Build speed: 5.3mm/hour Build speed: 9 to 23.5mm/hour
Price: £119/ litre Price: £135/ litre Price: £155/ litre Price: £219/ litre Price: On application
Notes: For general-purpose Notes: If you’re looking for a Notes: The replication of Notes: Looking to build either Notes: Alongside general-
prototypes, where you want more resilient prototype that elastomeric materials has masters for casting using a purpose/casting resins, 3D
something that will last a design can boast a little more flex always been a challenge for 3D variety of methods (investment, Systems also offers a range
review, but give you an excellent and a little more give, then the printers. This is ideal. Whether RTV, silicone moulding etc)? This of dental-specific resins for
surface finish, this is would be Tough BLK resin might be a good it’s seals, grommits, gaskets, resin is ideal. It builds in smaller orthodontic models as well as
my preferred option. It’s also the choice. It’s less brittle than the hoses or other flexible parts, this 30-micron layers (capturing surgical guides, orthodontic
fastest general-purpose resin grey resin, but is a little more resins gets you what you need more detail) with near zero ash splints and such, with different
you can get for the machine. expensive. in a 95 Shore A hardness mimic. content on burn-out. biocompatibility ratings.

HARDWARE REVIEW
Using SLA machines is a messy business and this THE END RESULT IN CONCLUSION
part of the process is particularly prone to getting Of course, the end result is what really makes or Ultimately, you need to look at what 3D Systems
out of hand quickly, so it’s worth noting that 3D breaks a 3D printer and our expectations of this has on its hands with the Fab Pro 1000 in the
Systems provide a pretty complete finishing kit as machine were naturally high. I’m glad to say that the context of the wider desktop SLA market. The
standard with the FabPro 1000. results are excellent. facts are that this machine has to compete on
This includes gloves, plastic rinse boxes, towels, Surface finish is as impeccable as you would several different levels.
cutters and other tools to help with the process. The expect from a 50-micron layer build process. First, it has to compete on price. At £3,295, it’s
only other things you’ll need to obtain initially are Stepping that down to 30 microns for the castable priced pretty competitively for a desktop SLA
isopropyl alcohol (IPA) to help remove uncured resin resin results in an an even finer result. machine, particularly one that’s production-
and safety glasses. (I know from bitter experience All the resins we tried (grey, tough, castable and oriented. Even with extra cost for the curing oven
that getting resin in your eye is not pleasant.) elastomeric) produced amazing parts. Yes, there’s and material mixer, it still comes in at under £5,000.
While each resin has a different curing state some marring on the surface where supports come On top of that, it has to compete on both build
out of the machine and comes with its own post- into contact with the part, but these are par for volume and speed. On the volume side of things, the
processing guidance, the basics are the same. You the course, and the software gives you enough Fab Pro 1000 is average at best. Its build volume
essentially wash off excess resin in one tub of IPA capability to minimise them where possible. limits the size of components and parts you can
for a few minutes, then move it to another tub of Unfortunately, a tidy-up during the testing process prototype (or indeed, for which you can prepare
cleaner IPA for a final soak. meant the test parts inadvertently got binned masters). Of our usual range of tests parts, only two
With that out of the way, you’re ready to do the before we got a chance to photograph them. of them fitted on the machine, and one of those (the
final cure. Here, you have a number of options. You brake lever) was a struggle.
can either acquire a UV curing device (these are RUNNING COSTS Where the machine does win is on speed. A part
plentiful on the web, look for UV sterilising units The machine on its own, with two print platforms using the Tough material, for example, might
from beauty salon supplies) or you can opt for 3D and a single print tray (plus 1 litre of grey resin and take five hours – and less if you went for the grey
System’s own PrintBox. the finishing kit), costs £3,295. If you want to add on prototyping resin instead. A Formlabs Form 2,
This is a pretty industrial unit, which will cure the material mixer and lightbox, that takes the price running an analogous material at the same layer
your part in a matter of minutes. If you’re working up to £4,790. height (0.05mm), would take over 12 hours to build
at production scale and time is key, this is a good In terms of consumables, the immediate costs the same part.
option to choose. are the build components and resin. Resin varies in The question any organisation looking at this
It’s important not to skimp on time in the UV price, from the standard ProtoGry resin at £119 per machine needs to ask is whether it is a good fit for
curing process, as this will finalise the mechanical litre, up to £219 per litre for JewelCast. their day-to-day work. If you’re looking to produce
properties of the parts. It’s particularly important The build trays (which should last for around 40 small, intricate prototypes or masters for secondary
to bear in mind if you are working with some of the hours’ build time, depending on the resin and use processes, it’s an outstanding choice.
tough and elastomeric resins. patterns) cost £45 each. Considering these build Parts build quickly and, with the Lightbox, they
You can break off supports whenever you see trays have a flexible film base and contain resin, cure quickly too, so they’re ready to go. Yes, the
fit – but my personal experience is that you will I wouldn’t want to push them too close to their build volume is small, but you can optimise your
typically get a better result by curing with supports limits. The print platform (of which you get two as build plate and churn parts out very quickly and
in place, particularly when it comes to thin-walled standard) are another £79, but considering these to an outstanding quality, with some excellent
or complex forms, due to the extra support during are made from solid Aluminium, they should last a material options.
the cure process. while if used with care. 3dsystems.com
DESKTOP SLA MACHINES: FIVE ALTERNATIVES
FORMLABS FORM 3 ZORTRAX INKSPIRE XYZ NOBEL SUPERFINE DWS XFAB2000 ENVISIONTEC VIDA
Product: Form 3 Product: Inkspire Product: Nobel Superfine Product: XFAB 2000 Product: Vida
Supplier: Formlabs Supplier: Zortrax Supplier: XYZ Printing Supplier: DWS Supplier: Envisiontec
Build Size: 145 x 145 x 185mm Build Size: 74 x 132 x 175 mm Build Size: 64 x 40 x 120 mm Build Size: Ø 180 x 180 mm Build Size: 140 x 79 x 100 mm
Price From: £5,130 Price From: £1,726 Price From: £2,180 Price From: £ 6,499 Price From: Unavailable
Web: formlabs.com Web: zortrax.com Web: xyzprinting.com Web: dwssystems.com Web: envisiontec.com
Notes: 3D Systems might have Notes: Zortrax has built its Notes: Chinese outfit, XYZ Notes: Italian outfit, DWS Notes: Envisiontec built its
invented the stereolithography reputation on lower-cost FDM Printing has been making wave (Digital Wax Systems) has been business from servicing SLA
process, but Formlabs brought machines, but recently jumped with its industrial machines building 3D printers for decades. machines then moved into
it to the desktop at significant into the SLA market with its alongside its desktop efforts. Its XFAB machines run with a building its own. The Vida is its
scale. The Form 3 represents Inkspire machine. Working The Nobel Superfine is a variant cylindrical build volume and desktop model, building down to
the third generation of the in the now familiar inverted of its DLP-based SLA machine come in a variety of sizes and 25 micron layers with a variety of
company’s products and many manner using a DLP chip to that allows very fine features can build in layers from 100 resins, from prototype materials
are getting excited to see what project UV light onto a resin to be built, down to the 25 microns down to just 10 (which to industrial specific for dental,
these new machines can do. The build tray, this one comes in at micron level, making it ideal for is practically invisible). There is audiology and much more.
Form 3l for really big parts is on a pretty low price point for a jewellery and perhaps medical also a nice range of homegrown There’s also a high-res version
its way, too. small build chamber. device prototyping. resins available. for more pixels per layer.

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Design-to-Manufacturing 24
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2019 TCT Register Ad FULLPAGE_May.indd 1 04/06/2019 16:03

HARDWARE REVIEW
Wacom Intuos Pro Small

When it comes to pen-based workflows, Wacom has been at the top of its game for
20 years. The company’s Cintiq model gets all the glory, but what’s happening at
the entry level? To answer that, Al Dean gets to grips with the new Intuos Pro Small
P
en-based input is something
that seem to swing between
being de rigeur and being passé
on a pretty regular basis. In
computing’s earlier days, pens and
digitising boards were all the rage. They
subsequently disappeared for a while, to
be seen in only the most dedicated users’
hands. Then desktop publishing and
tools like Photoshop put pen-based input
back on the agenda – and this is where
Wacom stepped into the picture, with
its slick designs, mastery of pressure
sensitivity, Japanese attention to detail
and killer build quality. It has pretty
much dominated the market ever since.
During recent years, the advent of cheap
flat displays, the rise of tablet computing
and a resurgence of interest in more tactile 1
approaches to input have continued to gain
ground. Wacom’s expertise in the field led used either as a mouse replacement or IN CONCLUSION ●1 A touch smaller
than an A4 notebook,
to its launch of the Cintiq and today, it’s a as a true pen. The supplied pen has two Wacom is well-known in the design and
the Wacom Intuos Pro
rare design studio that doesn’t have one or buttons on the shaft that mimic your mouse engineering world and its reputation is is a nifty bit of kit
two of these devices in position for concept buttons, but an additional pen is available based firmly on build quality, attention to
●2 If you want to
sketching, modeling and other workflows. that’s better-suited to working with 3D detail and allowing the user to configure get the most out of
But while the Cintiq makes a lot of sense applications. their device to reflect exactly how they want this device, then you
to some users, in terms of direct interaction If you’re using the device to assist in to work. What’s interesting here is that, need to dive into the
with data and its form factor, the Intuos sketching with the likes of Photoshop, while the company always has interesting configuration dialogue
to adjust settings in
range is a good place to start for those Illustrator, Sketchbook or similar, then the things to offer at the high end and in larger
line with how you
looking for a lower-cost alternative with input is intuitive and works just as you’d form factors, this product shows how it prefer to work
more portability and less risk if you drop it imagine it would. Pressure sensitivity is applies similar finesse and attention to
on the floor of a concrete car park. key here – push harder, and you will get smaller devices.
With that in mind, we were more than a harder strokes on screen, as long as your If you’re looking for a small, portable
little excited to get our hands on the latest application supports it. drawing tablet, then this is a pretty good
addition to the Intuos range, the Intuos Pro For those accustomed to working with bet. Portability, wireless connectivity and
Small. direct input devices like the iPad, the Wacom’s sprinkle of magic make it a winner
disconnect between your drawing surface at £199.99.
SET-UP AND CONFIGURATION and screen takes a little getting used to, but wacom.com
If you’re looking for a small form factor it quickly starts to feels natural.
tablet, this is it. At 269 x 170 mm and only There’s huge potential for customisation,
8mm thick, this is about the same size as both in terms of how the device itself is
decent notebook and weighs about the used, as well as the express keys on the
same (460g). left-hand side. The control dialogue (shown
As I’ve come to expect from Wacom, from OSX) allows you to dial in everything so
getting the device up and running is a it’s just how you need it, from assigning hot
breeze: unwrap it, download the driver keys to specific functions (think zoom, pan
software and either plug in the USB-C and rotate in 3D CAD systems) to running
cable (which handily ends in a standard macros and more.
USB plug) or connect to it via Bluetooth, One thing that’s worth noting, considering
and you’re away. how many of us are reliant on multiple
As you’ll see from the images, there are a monitor set-ups these days, is how easy it is
series of hot keys to the left of the unit (or to to control what portion of your display the
the right, since you can switch it around for tablet actually controls.
left-handers out there) and most of the work Found under the ‘Mapping’ section of the
is done with the supplied pen. Products dialogue, you can define which displays the
in the Intuos Pro range are all based on tablet addresses and what portion of the
the latest and greatest pressure-sensitive tablet is actually related to that display.
pen technology, so will give you 8,192 pen While this makes more sense for the larger
pressure levels. devices in the Intuos range, the latter is key
If you’ve not used one of these devices for those looking to use such devices for 2
before, they’re pretty simple. They can be more than just drawing or sketching input.
p47_D3D_JUNE19_WacomIntuosSML.indd 47 05/06/2019 06:59

INNOVATION
INTERACTION
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THE LAST WORD
Having recently rediscovered his love

of colour, Al Dean decides it’s about
time that the design tools we use
every day allowed us to work as
accurately with colour and texture
as they do with geometry
I
t all started, as all good stories
do, with an axe. After installing
one of those environment-
damaging wood-burning stoves
last winter, I’ve found myself in
the market for a new chopper.
By ‘chopper’, I don’t mean a
motorcycle of dubious stability, but
rather, a tool for chopping up wood.
And, as with most men of a certain age,
I realised that I already had a half-
decent one kicking around in the shed.
Fast-forward a weekend and things have
got out of hand. Not only has that axe been
rehandled and cleaned up, but also the
stamped logo has been re-enameled and
the handle stained, oiled and, shock horror,
painted with a nice flash of bright yellow.
The truth is that while I might have spent
the last few years almost entirely dressed
in black, I’ve started to find this a little
tiresome and begun looking for a little more
colour in my life. I’m now finding myself
enjoying shades that would have previously
sent me scampering for a Sisters of Mercy
album and a coffee sans cow juice.
Despite my monochromatic obsession, I’ve
always been interested in colour and curious
about how colours come to be. There’s
also a good deal of interest in how you
can represent colour more accurately on a
computer monitor and in the design systems accurately tune your digital display to mimic representing it accurately, using the correct Brabantia’s Tasty+
we all use. the real world comes into play (ever loaded colour references and textures, requires a collection is “a
complete new series
While the idea of monitor calibration is an ICC profile into KeyShot?) third-party application? of high-quality kitchen
finally starting to take root, with many But why is this? Colour and texture are And don’t get me started on sound. When utensils in soothing
vendors offering built-in solutions, there’s as important to the look and feel of a the time comes that we can accurately colours”
simulate the sound that a car door makes,
 or that a bin lid makes when that soft close

mechanism works just right, I’ll retire and
I’m now finding myself enjoying shades that would stop moaning.
As a final recommendation, and given that
have previously sent me scampering for a Sisters of summer holidays are approaching, if you’re
Mercy album and a coffee sans cow juice as interested in colour and history as I am,
 then I heartily recommend Victoria Finlay’s

Color: A Natural History of the Palette.
very little support for the output of these product (arguably more so) than its pure
systems in our workhorse design systems. geometry. Why is it that we can construct a
It’s only when you get into the world 100% accurate digital model of the shape GET IN TOUCH: at al@x3dmedia.com or @alistardean — He’s
of design visualisation, with rendering of an assembly and simulate its mechanical totally trying to blag his way to a brand spanking new set of
systems, that the idea of being able to and thermal behaviour under loading, but colourful kitchen utensils
p50_D3D_JUN19_LastWord.indd 50 05/06/2019 16:01

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BUI
LTFROMTHEGROUNDUPFOROPTIMI
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STERF
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©2018Works
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ight
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ogo,
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JUNE 2019 ISSUE NO. 110

50 THE LAST WORD

The wood used to produce this magazine

DEVELOP3D.COM JUNE 2019 5

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SEPTEMBER 24, 2019

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VOLVO TESTS NEW DESIGNS WITH VARJO

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NVIDIA QUADRO RTX FOR Design Reality

Lenovo meets thermal challenges of new Xeon workstations

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Micro automated 3D Scanner from Artec Paramatters' CogniCAD

brings big ability to the desktop which generates ready-

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HP LAUNCHES NEW QUADRO Physical Digital

Pro2Pro takes on HP Multi Jet Fusion & Dyemansion systems

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Configurator for Desktop

Deliver custom products in record time

Reduce repetitive tasks, errors and rework

Generate custom 3D models, 2D drawings,

Sell more, increase revenue and profit

The release of new folding and

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