3D Printing
The STFC Campus Technology Hub features is home to a dedicated additive manufacturing laboratory, designed to support businesses in accelerating product development. The facility enables rapid prototyping for design verification, user testing, field trials, and pre-manufacturing evaluation.
Equipped with a diverse suite of additive manufacturing technologies, including high-end industrial systems and advanced metal laser sintering, the lab can produce components using over 50 different materials. These include high-performance polymers, standard engineering polymers, and titanium alloys, offering exceptional functionality for complex and demanding applications.
Benefits
Access a distinctive range of additive manufacturing equipment
Businesses can access a comprehensive suite of advanced additive manufacturing technologies. This capability enables the development of prototype assemblies using high-performance materials across multiple 3D printing platforms. Components can be manufactured to replicate the precise mechanical properties required for each individual part, supporting robust and reliable product development.
Pathway to Next Generation Additive Manufacturing Equipment
By engaging with the STFC Campus Technology Hub, start-up companies can significantly accelerate their product development by gaining access to high-value, industry-grade equipment typically used by established organisations. This enables early-stage businesses to prototype new products with precision, speed, and confidence.
Collaborative Expertise
STFC’s Advanced Manufacturing Engineers bring extensive expertise in additive manufacturing and collaborate closely with businesses to address complex technical challenges.
Expertise
Knowledge Transfer
Through collaborative engagement, businesses can access a comprehensive suite of additive manufacturing technologies alongside STFC’s deep technical expertise. This not only enables rapid product development but also facilitates knowledge sharing, expert guidance, and detailed reporting. Our aim is to ensure the businesses we support have the confidence to make informed investment decisions in additive manufacturing.
CAD Development
STFC’s engineering team provides comprehensive support in CAD generation through the following capabilities:
- Reverse Engineering – Utilising high-precision laser scanning to capture accurate geometries from existing components.
- 2D to 3D Conversion – Converting 2D technical drawings into 3D CAD models.
- Design Adaptation – Modifying CAD files to meet the specific requirements and constraints of additive manufacturing processes.
- File Preparation – Employing professional-grade additive manufacturing software to ensure designs are optimised for manufacturability.
- Design Optimisation – Enhancing CAD models to fully exploit the benefits of additive manufacturing, including material efficiency, structural integrity, and functional performance.
Materials
The Campus Technology Hub offers access to over 50 polymer materials for additive manufacturing, including standard engineering polymers such as ABS, ASA, PLA, PC, PP, PETG, and TPU. High-performance materials are also available, including ULTEM™ 9085 and Nylon 12 CF, alongside industrial-grade metal alloys such as Titanium Ti-6Al-4V and 316 Stainless Steel.
Development projects can be undertaken to validate the production of components in emerging or customised materials, supporting innovation and material exploration in advanced manufacturing applications.
Our Technologies
Industrial Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM)
Industrial grade FDM systems can manufacture components in high performance materials. These machines feature a large calibrated and heated build chamber that ensure dimensional accuracy and repeatability throughout the production process. Typical applications are large work-holding devices, aerospace components and functional prototypes.
Industrial Polyjet
Advanced multi material 3D printing systems can produce highly accurate components with an exceptional surface finish. These systems operate at a fine 18-micron layer resolution, enabling the creation of precision parts with complex geometries. Different mechanical properties can be assigned to individual elements within a part to achieve flexibility and rigidity within a single component. Other features are the availability of up to 480,000 different colours and replicated manufacturing polymers. This equipment is used for critical accuracy components and pre manufacturing prototypes.
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS)
This laser powder bed fusion technology is designed for producing highly accurate and complex metal components. Often used in the medical sector, as well as in the production of small aerospace components and material testing programmes.
Stereolithography (SLA)
This is ideal for producing components with excellent surface finish and fine detail retention. There are a broad range of engineering-grade materials, enabling the replication of specific mechanical properties tailored to application requirements.
Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
Desktop scale equipment designed for producing load-bearing prototypes and work holding devices. Components can be reinforced with fibreglass to enhance durability and mechanical strength, making this technology suitable for functional applications.
Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM)
Desktop FDM systems are typically used for initial design verification and low-cost bespoke tooling. They support a range of standard and high-performance materials making then suitable for early-stage prototyping and functional testing.
