The 3D printing focusedTCT Show在今年秋天的博览会季节开幕。什么是关键要点？伯明翰赛事是如何在今年剩余时间里奠定基础的？
As expected TCT produced a professional and well-managed event, with many of the larger additive manufacturing system suppliers present. Other than a few notable exceptions, all the big names were at the NEC. Carbon did not attend, and while Formlabs was present with a dedicated booth the third 3D printing unicorn, Desktop Metal, was represented by resellersTri-Tech 3DandLaser Lines。桌面金属在几个晚上的活动中还拿起了饮料标签。
For the 300 companies and the 10,129 attendees who braved the gloomy weather and made the journey to the UK’s second-largest city, there was plenty to see. You can catch up on thenews from TCT 2019 here。
就像每年的这个时候英国的天气一样，今年的TCT的总体氛围可以描述为多样化。在阳光明媚的一面，来自世界一流企业，大学和研究机构的大量高素质演讲提供了丰富的知识。材料科学教授和主任AMPLab at the University of Birmingham，马塔兹·阿塔拉（Moataz Attallah）博士给他的团队进行的尖端科学巡回演出。AMPLab projects include exotic smart materials, drug-releasing medical implants and 3D printing tungsten for the nuclear industry.
Wolfmet 3D演出带来了一些重量的钨印花。他们的3D印刷准直仪正在通过改进的成像来推进个性化癌症治疗的创新。该公司表示：“ Wolfmet 3D正在改变准直仪和屏蔽设计中的可能性，我们的客户一直热衷于测试这一主张。”
包括其他高价值金属添加剂的应用程序ded the copper rocket engine made for New York based Launcher by 3T.
Todd Grimm hosted the TCT Summit for three days, taking the spotlight for a keynote on Thursday. Grimm promised to sort the “wheat from the chaff” in a characteristically full-throttle blitz through what had caught his discerning eye. Several points stood out including the importance of broadening your horizons when selecting a vendor, rather than taking shortcuts with the big names in AM and how terminology like “Industrial grade” is marketing language, and an intention rather than a qualification.
Incremental innovation
Intellectual Property specialist,波特克拉克森was present at TCT. The patent attorneys are becoming a regular feature at AM conferences and trade shows now and I spent some time discussing innovation in additive manufacturing with them. While the lengthy 18-month patent application process means year on year data on application numbers takes a while to fully emerge, indications are that a 4% rise in 3D printing-related applications is a reasonable indication that the industry continues to advance.
第一次在英国,Matsura启开ed their glorious HP 5200, resplendent in boxfresh white at the NEC. The company was also 3D printing in color on the show floor. Color on the HP models I viewed was marginally more muted than offerings from Stratasys and Mimaki, but impressive none the less. In my experience, much comes down the 3D model when working in this medium.
Stratasys在多个转售者中都有明显的代表，并以当地现实世界的案例研究为展览带来GWR Angel Trains parts。The project extends the life and of rolling stock and is in conjunction with Deutsch Bahn – who lead the mobility goes additive project.
Rail is one of several new verticals being explored by Stratasys following a lull in automotive investment, brought on by the U.S. China trade war, and other unstable political environments (Brexit isn’t helping). According to Yann Rageul, Manager Strategic Account Team EMEA at Stratasys, growth in rail is, in fact, comparable to the growth experienced by automotive prior to recent stagnation.
Determined to keep its leading position in 3D printing, Stratasys is also focusing on maintaining a lion’s share of the technologies in the sector. By the end of 2020, Rageul adds, Stratasys will have doubled the number of available technologies it has to offer, adding SLA and Xaar HSS to its portfolio.
尚无分层粉冶金（LPM）3D打印机的迹象。机器本身Rageul说，制作仍在3 - 4年。而现在，无论如何，它太大了，无法带入贸易展览会。尽管在TCT节目中没有LPM样品，但Rageul暗示，FormNext公司将有更多的预告片。
A cabin interior using 3D printed high-grade thermoplastics completed the planes trains and automobiles portfolio.
A few stands over, Stratasys subsidiary, Makerbot, was exhibiting the Method line of 3D printers that aim to bridge the gap between traditional “maker” systems and more industrial machines. For a short time, the company has been notably absent from some of the larger trade shows as it took a step back to recalibrate and re-think its approach to the market, especially in light of management changes. Leonardo Rodrigues, General Manager EMEA at Makerbot, dubbed Makerbot’s presence at TCT and forthcoming appearance at Formnext 2019 nothing short of a “comeback” from the company.
Notably, at TCT 2019 the”Makers corner” was much diminished compared to previous years.
EOS has not slept on the promise of Laser Pro Fusion. This high-speed 10x system is advancing through TR levels. Samples showing what the polymer printer is capable of were kept under lock and key, allowed out only briefly into this journalist’s hands. No launch date is fixed, and whether the promise of a 10x system on the horizon will pause the market remains to be seen. The company was tight-lipped about what’s in store for Formnext, but it is sure to be worth the trip to Frankfurt.
Poland’s 3DGence were more forthcoming, the F420 is an FDM/FFF system that will be unveiled in Frankfurt. Fittingly the F420 runs高分thermoplastics and ULTEM parts were available for inspection for any visitors who wanted to see what the company is capable of. 3DGence is blazing along and set to move to enlarged premises to accommodate their growing team.
今年TCT的另一个不太熟悉的名字是俄罗斯的Ansioprint展示了两个系统，它们为法兰克福提供了更大，更好的事情。
Intamsys将Funmat Pro 410前部和中心放置。这种水冷的FFF/FDM聚合物3D打印系统还具有光滑的用户界面和有前途的UX。
A rising tide
Overall, while the big guns remain reserved for Frankfurt TCT 2019 still rewards the visitor willing to delve a little deeper and take time to speak with the international experts gathered at the NEC last week.
As usual, conversations away from the show floor and during the after-show hours provided ample (off the record) food for thought. Topics ranged from international trade and the barriers US manufacturers now face when competing against EU companies in China and the inevitably back to Brexit.
While possibly the weather and maybe an EMO Hannover hangover made TCT appear quieter than past events, reviewing the floor plan or show guide doesn’t really do justice to this show. Around every corner I seemed to bump into another company representative who had opted to walk the floor rather than set up shop.
Other companies were on the prowl to snag scarce human capital. While I expect to leave an event with TCT with my pockets full of new business cards from the latest round of musical chairs, some companies were displaying even more backbone than usual in a bid to tempt talent to their doors.
As an opener to the autumnal AM expo season, the industry looks in fine form. A less is more approach seemed evident at many stands. This speaks to the confidence of the maturing third wave of AM companies who are now talking with an educated end-user who is less likely to be drawn in by scattergun tactics.
这种感觉反映在我与之交谈的许多参展商所表达的情感中，可以将其概括为一种涨潮，这会引起所有船只的兴起 - 只是不要提到这种稳定。
Additional reporting by Beau Jackson and Anas Essop.
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Featured image shows Anisoprint Composer for composite carbon fiber 3D printing. Photo by Michael Petch.
