Research Towards High Speed Freeforming

Additive manufacturing (AM) methods are currently utilised for the manufacture of prototypes and low volume, high cost parts. This is because in most cases the high material costs and low volumetric deposition rates of AM parts result in higher per part cost than traditional manufacturing methods. This paper brings together recent research aimed at improving the economics of AM, in particular Extrusion Freeforming (EF). A new class of machine is described called High Speed Additive Manufacturing (HSAM) in which software, hardware and materials advances are aggregated. HSAM could be cost competitive with injection moulding for medium sized medium quantity parts. A general outline for a HSAM machine and supply chain is provided along with future required research

Interactive Fighting Apparatus

An interactive fighting apparatus, and associated methods of manufacture and operation of the apparatus are described. The apparatus includes a dummy having at least one sensor arranged to measure the force of a blow incident to the dummy and to provide a sensor signal indicative of the measured force of the incident blow. A display device is arranged to display information to a user for indicating when,a user might strike the dummy. An output device is arranged to receive the sensor signal, and to output information to a user indicative of the force of the incident blow. The sensor is arranged to measure at least two separate vector components of the force of said blow

A Dynamic Knowledge Management Framework for the High Value Manufacturing Industry

Dynamic Knowledge Management (KM) is a combination of cultural and technological factors, including the cultural factors of people and their motivations, technological factors of content and infrastructure and, where these both come together, interface factors. In this paper a Dynamic KM framework is described in the context of employees being motivated to create profit for their company through product development in high value manufacturing. It is reported how the framework was discussed during a meeting of the collaborating company’s (BAE Systems) project stakeholders. Participants agreed the framework would have most benefit at the start of the product lifecycle before key decisions were made. The framework has been designed to support organisational learning and to reward employees that improve the position of the company in the market place

Research Towards High Speed Freeforming

Abstract: Additive manufacturing (AM) methods are currently utilised for the manufacture of prototypes and low volume, high cost parts. This is because in most cases the high material costs and low volumetric deposition rates of AM parts result in higher per part cost than traditional manufacturing methods. This paper brings together recent research aimed at improving the economics of AM, in particular Extrusion Freeforming (EF). A new class of machine is described called High Speed Additive Manufacturing (HSAM) in which software, hardware and materials advances are aggregated. HSAM could be cost competitive with injection moulding for medium sized medium quantity parts. A general outline for a HSAM machine and supply chain is provided along with future required research

Development of a Face-to-Face Meeting Capture and Indexing Process

Abstract-A face-to-face (F2F) meeting capture and indexing process could provide an internal feedback mechanism so that results can be monitored against change interventions decided at product lifecycle management (PLM) or performance development review (PDR) meetings. It could also assist people who do not currently have the knowledge or authority to act on what was discussed to share and reflect on the F2F meeting content after the event. In this paper a prototype is described in use with the continuous improvement Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle as a proof-of-concept in BAE Systems. More work should be completed to make the captioning of the F2F meeting content automatic or semi automatic. The presentation of the content in the groupware webpage may also be developed so that there is easier navigation. It would also be useful to have the variables that influence the profitability of the products to be displayed on the webpage so that changes can be tracked against business performance