New Prototyping Centre at KTH Machine Design
KTH Machine Design is investing in the latest technology in the field of rapid prototyping! Both researchers and students will benefit from the plan to install a range of state of the art equipment over the next few years.
- So far, we have two 3D printers, five milling machines, two 3D scanners and one waterjet machine, all currently in use by research, education and innovation projects, says the Centre’s leader, from the Mechatronics Division.
The Prototyping Centre also provides graphical equipment.
- Our ambition is to facilitate an environment where it will be easy for students and researchers to manufacture physical prototypes for their projects and innovations. This should be possible to accomplish at a reasonable cost and time, Björn continues.
The equipment is currently used in courses to provide Masters students with the skills to operate these machines and others like them.
- It has saved both time and costs since a lot of parts can be manufactured by the students themselves instead of involving the mechanical workshop staff and buying from companies, according to Björn.
In the early days, there was some fun use for the equipment too. When MMK’s Ulf Andorff retired back in June 2011, a few of the Mechatronics staff got together and used a Kimtech water cutting machine, in use by the Mechatronics HK at that time, to make a life-size replica of him in his traditional stance.
- We still have him standing in the Studio – almost like he’s never left! Björn finishes.
The Prototyping Centre is already collaborating with KTH Innovation to provide physical prototypes of their innovation projects.
- We at KTH innovation believe that we can attract a whole new group of entrepreneurs by having access to a setup like the Prototyping Center, says Siimon Vaske, Business Development Coach at KTH Innovation .
- We believe it is about time that KTH allows access to prototyping machinery to both students and researchers who have ideas not solely related to research. We have long cast jealous gazes towards the US Techshop structure which has inspired new startups and ventures, he continues.
KTH Innovation aims to support their business cases with cost coverage for prototyping at the Prototype Center, which will make it cheaper and more convenient for inventors and entrepreneurs since early stage prototyping usually requires many iterations.
- It will be a huge benefit to people to be able to produce mockups to physically describe their ideas! Simon Vaaske finishes.
Anyone interested in using the Prototyping Centre can contact Björn Möller in the first instance, at the e-mailaddress: bjornm@md.kth.se