Exploring metrology and manufacturing quality at TCT 3Sixty and Med-Tech Innovation Expo

The TCT 3Sixty and Med-Tech Innovation Expo events at the beginning of June mark the first shows that I have attended within the manufacturing industry. Now that almost a full month has passed, I have taken the time to reflect on two of my busiest days with Manufacturing Quality so far. 

With six stages and over 300 exhibitors spread across the two events, it would be impossible to capture all of my thoughts and experiences from the two days. Instead I have chosen, with much difficulty, to select my five personal manufacturing quality and inspection highlights from across the two shows. 

The Sempre Group

I had the privilege of talking with Jason McGlynn from The Sempre Group before he conducted his talk on ‘Metrology in Medtech: Improving Quality Throughout the Product Lifecycle.’ He took the time to talk me through Sempre’s multi-sensing coordinate measuring machine (CMM), the Micro-Vu Vertex, which the company showcased on its stand. McGlynn’s talk was insightful and engaging, as he repeatedly invited the audience to contextualise his insights within their own personal experiences.

The Micro-Vu Vertex is said to be able to measure a wide range of parts and assemblies including at plastic and injection moulds for medical applications. It also offers a handy metrology fixture designed specifically for medical parts, with the Micro-Vu Vertex demonstrating the full turnkey system on-site at Med-Tech Innovation Expo. 

Speaking ahead of the event, McGlynn commented on the importance of integrating metrology into every stage of a medical device’s product lifecycle to "streamline validation and production."

The Silverstone Cluster

As a fan of Formula One, The Silverstone Cluster’s talk titled ‘An Introduction to the Silverstone Technology Cluster’, was at the top of my list. Pim van Baarsen, the cluster’s CEO, produced an insightful talk guiding the audience through both the history of the Silverstone circuit itself, as well as how specific businesses within the cluster started to where they are today. 

Forming part of the cluster on the show floor was Hexagon. Leaning into the automotive theme, as we reported back in May, the company recently established a 10-year partnership with partnership with 14-time NASCAR Cup Series champions Hendrick Motorsports as the team's official metrology hardware and software provider. It also made a 100 million USD investment in the additive manufacturing-focused Divergent Technologies back in January, which former Hexagon CEO Ola Rollén described at the time as the perfect partnership to "ensure quality is delivered throughout this new, innovative manufacturing process."

Solid Print 3D

Another clear highlight was meeting with Solid Print 3D, who were involved in an incredible three stands spread across the TCT 3Sixty hall. The company’s third stand was in collaboration with the TriMech Group, with 3DPRINTUK exhibiting (which recently became part of the TriMech Group).

This third stand was my personal favourite as it showcased live scanning of a Forge Motorsport Mk1 Golf. Scan operator George Ebeling was on hand to talk me through the benefits of the technology, as he was scanning under the bonnet of the car to detect areas that could be improved upon.

T3DMC

The first company I met during the two events was The 3D Measurement Company (or T3DMC). The company showcased a variety of its measurement solutions, with live demonstrations on race cars and motorbikes alike showing how its reverse engineering and laser inspection tools are having an impact in critical engineering environments. In addition, the company also hosted a talk on the ‘Use of Automated 3D Scanning Metrology to Increase the Efficiency and Accuracy of Additive Manufacturing Processes.’

Among T3DMC's measuring solutions, the company showcased the E.V.A, which is an automated metrology station offering in-line accuracy, and the TRACKSCAN-SHARP, an optical measurement system. The UK-based company claims that the system can perform volumetric measurements at distances of up to six metres. Another highlight was the portable SIMSCAN, which is thought to be the world’s lightest and smallest 3D laser scanner and said to deliver highly detailed and accurate measurements.

ZEISS

ZEISS has made a series of new product announcements in just the last month alone including its VoluMax 9 titan CT system, next generation ZEISS PRISMO machines, and most recently its ZEISS ABIS III surface inspection system. At TCT 3Sixty, its ZEISS Additive Manufacturing Solutions arm showed the importance of a holistic quality control solution from powder to part performance, which the optical systems manufacturer believes will be key to enabling the industrialisation of 3D printing. This approach includes ZEISS AM in-process which allows powder bed defects to be automatically detected and classified for both preventive and corrective measures. On the stand, ZEISS showed a range of quality control products including the latest T-SCAN hawk 2, a lightweight, next-generation handheld 3D laser scanner launched back in February, and the Smartzoom 5 Microscope, an automated digital microscope designed for routine and failure analysis.

... and 3D Printed Pinocchio

Not quite metrology and inspection but one of the most exciting talks, in my opinion, was ‘3D Printed Pinocchio’ by Mackinnon and Saunders. 3D Workshop Supervisor Richard Pickersgill took the audience through the trials and tribulations that the company had to battle through, for a long period of time, whilst developing Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio.

The film featured the first stop-motion puppet to be animated in a major film. Developers achieved this by creating an armature using 3D metal printed technology. The talk detailed how the creators achieved a variety of expressions to correctly represent the range of emotions present in the film. Our sister site TCT Magazine went behind the scenes at the Altrincham-based workshop to find out how metal 3D printing was used to make up the 100-plus components and hinges that brought the Netflix-bound puppet to life.