A1 Exhibits Comprehensive 3D Digital Technologies for Creative Design, Development and Manufacturing at TCT Live 2010

Online, October 5, 2010 (Newswire.com) - London, UK 5th October 2010. A1 Technologies will once again exhibit its comprehensive range of 3D digital technologies at the upcoming TCT Live 2010 exhibition in October. Taking place 19th-20th October at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, TCT offers an excellent platform for A1 to actively demonstrate the advantages of its complete portfolio of low-cost 3D digital technologies for every stage of the design, engineering and production life-cycle. The full range of products meets the needs of industrial users, hobbyists and creative designers as capably as it fulfills applications in all educational environments, and visitors to the A1 stand (G1) will be encouraged to test the products - first hand - for themselves.

A1 Technologies works to democratize 3D digital technologies for everyone and to this end, the full range can be acquired separately for particular applications or procured as an integrated package - all at ultra low prices that cannot be matched. The A1 portfolio stands out as the most innovative 3D digital technology offering on the market today because it is within the reach of everyone - both in terms of budget and ease of use. Individuals, educational institutions from kindergarten to university stages, as well as commercial organizations can now all realistically consider the potential advantages of embracing 3D digital technologies.

The only people and organisations able to use 3D printing were those who designed models using 3D CAD. Until now. With the advent of the Chameleon, 3D design, and therefore 3D printing, are now available to, and usable by, everyone.

3D Modelling
The Chameleon 3D 'haptic' modelling application from A1 Technologies delivers a high quality, immersive 3D design experience to its users for only £495. The combination of affordability and cutting-edge technology integration enhances and facilitates greater efficiency when working, designing, creating, training - or simply just playing - in virtual 3D space. Chameleon combines 3D modelling software, with a touch-enabling (haptic) device and is suitable for anyone - of any age - to model and construct 3D objects, particularly free-form shapes. Completed models can be directly printed on the RapMan and BfB 3000 3D printers. The 3D files can also be exported into other software packages for creating avatars and for animation purposes.

3D Scanning

The 3D DAVID-laserscanner is a very low-cost system for contact-free scanning of 3D objects for a broad range of applications. The only hardware requirements - which are included in the complete starter-kit offered by A1 Technologies for £320 - are a hand-held laser and a camera together with sophisticated software. With simplicity supplied as standard, the DAVID-laserscanner is capable of producing 3D data that can be used in various standard file formats, which are of course, compatible with the RapMan and BfB 3000 3D printers. The scans can also be imported into 3D CAD or into the Chameleon application to change the models if required.

3D Printing
Traditionally, the price of additive manufacturing has been the greatest barrier to adoption of the technology. A1 Technologies is one of the pioneering companies working towards breaking this barrier down completely. The company offers the RapMan 3D printer kit and the BfB 3000 fully-assembled 3D printer. Both of these machines are ideal solutions for introducing additive technology to new users. At £795, the RapMan is supplied in kit form with everything needed to assemble and run the equipment, including software to slice an .stl file and convert it into the G Code read by the 3D printing machine. The BfB 3000 3D printer is available from £1995, and exhibits a highly rigid, durable frame that offers excellent mechanical stiffness; increased z axis speed and accuracy; improved ultra-compact extruders; and controlled and precise material delivery. Both 3D printers extrude a number of different polymers, including ABS and PLA. PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) is a biopolymer and is thus biodegradable.

3D Milling / Machining

Last - but by no means least - A1 Technologies' product line also includes an inspiring range of innovative, flexible and user-friendly machines for model making, design and prototyping. The modular machine construction system UNIMAT is able to meet the needs of virtually any small-scale prototyping or low-volume production application. The UNIMAT range of products has been developed based on traditional subtractive principles of manufacture, but with a significant and distinctive aim that fits the A1 remit perfectly - to be truly accessible to anyone. Prices for the basic module start from just £199 and the system has been designed with modularity and safety in mind. Complete CNC systems are also available.

Bringing together such an agile range of 3D technologies - at such affordable prices - truly sets A1 Technologies apart in this field. The team at A1 works tirelessly to open up the 3D digital world to education and industry alike - with the dedicated aim of making these technologies fully accessible to all. Exhibiting at TCT 2010 goes some way to fulfill this aim so make sure that if TCT is in your diary, you stop by the A1 stand to see - and try - for yourself.

If you attend on the 19th, you can also hear Martin Stevens, CEO of A1 Technologies, giving a talk on low cost 3D technologies.

TCT 2010
19th-20th October 2010
Ricoh Arena, Coventry, UK
Stand G1