The RapMan 3D Printer at Bolton Science and Technology Centre

Background

Established in 2004 with North West Development Agency (NWDA)  funding as the Technical Innovation Centre and renamed in 2008, the Bolton Science and Technology Centre (BSTC) was developed to inspire and develop innovative activity and enhance relevant skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) across the North West of England. The core focus of activities at the BSTC is working with children and young people from 4-19 years of age to stimulate and engage their interest in design, technology and engineering disciplines. However, the centre also provides support for students and academics in higher education and community groups, as well as offering service facilities for local industry.

Investment by Bolton Council and the NWDA has facilitated a comprehensive and sophisticated resource centre that supports separate and integrated teaching across all STEM subjects. This allows the BSTC to offer schools novel facilities and creative ways of working as well as support for the teaching of advanced technology skills that may otherwise remain out of reach.

The BSTC houses an extensive range of state-of-the art 3D digital technologies - integrating software and hardware - including 3D computer-aided design software, 3D modelling software (some allowing haptic interaction) and a broad range of manufacturing machinery, which covers additive manufacturing, laser cutting, 3D scanning, large format printing, vinyl cutting and PCB routing.

Enter the RapMan

One of the latest acquisitions to the centre’s arsenal of manufacturing equipment is the RapMan 3D printer. Complementing the BSTC’s existing 3D printers, the RapMan was selected by Torben Steeg, Head of Service at the BSTC due to the system’s unprecedented price/performance ratio. He commented, “When I first saw the RapMan in action at A1 Technologies, the advantages of such a machine very quickly became apparent. The low capital investment, together with the low running costs is a perfect fit for the activities of the BSTC - and for individual schools.”

Taking delivery of the RapMan in June of last year, the kit was built over a three month period (intermittently - although it is possible to have it built and running in under a week). Mark Gilbert, the Designer in Residence at the BSTC, was responsible for building and installing the RapMan at the centre. He reported: “Despite some fiddly elements, the kit was really very straightforward to build. The interactive PDF instructions are very good with exploded views and animations. Each sub-assembly is built in chronological order within the instructions starting with the part needed and the tools required. The corner sub-assemblies that clamp the frame of the machine are easy to put together and could be made by small groups of students as a learning exercise in itself.

“Building the frame with the corner sub-assemblies is quick. The laser cut spacing tool supplied with the kit makes it very easy to build the frame square accurately.

“The total build time was 32 hours.”

Getting the 3D printer’s operating software up and running proved a little more demanding, but using all of the information provided on the websites and interactive forum provided by A1 Technologies and Bits from Bytes it was implemented successfully. It is also possible to establish print settings such as extruder temperature, extruder feed speed, wall thickness and the type of infill - all of which can be saved. Once these print profiles are setup they can be applied to parts depending on the part’s function. Following on from this hands-on experience, the BSTC is now in a position to be able to support schools and other organisations that invest in a RapMan to get up and running with the machine and the software quickly and effectively.

The BSTC primarily builds parts on the RapMan using standard ABS material, a plastic that is used throughout industry and can be easily recycled. The quality of the parts produced at the BSTC has proved to be very good, particularly in view of the costs involved. While it is difficult to put a precise figure on the different costs of running different 3D printers, the staff at the BSTC estimate that the RapMan materials will come out at about a tenth of the cost of the other technology consumables.

The RapMan 3D printer is used to demonstrate to students the results of their 3D design work - a proof of concept, if you like. According to Torben Steeg; “It has been staggering to see how quickly and positively the the kids grasp these advanced technologies - fully engaging with all aspects of 3D design and printing.”

Designed to be both simple and safe, the RapMan 3D printer is a fully capable additive machine that can be used for applications with children of any age to effectively demonstrate the realities of advanced 3D digital technologies and get them involved and working in a tactile way. By encouraging this hands-on approach, the thinking is that the impact and desire to find out more will be greater, with the result of finding tomorrow’s engineers.

The best recommendation of the RapMan at the BSTC comes from the fact that the centre is planning to have a second RapMan running in the near future. The plan is to put this second machine - running - on show, so that all visitors can see it in action.

Endorsements just don’t come better than that!