How You Will Benefit from this Conference:
As production flow/process planning strategies become increasingly optimized, end-users and developers alike must carefully consider what blend of technologies will make the most sense in terms of cost, time savings and efficiency for specific applications. Speakers will represent a blend of manufacturers, service bureaus, mold-makers, foundries as well as leading academic researchers with hands-on expertise. They have been asked to discuss their bare-bones experiences and how they compared with expectations; justification strategies; factors that affected their decision to use a particular RM technology; and tradeoff decisions.

They will discuss not only what is technologically possible, but what is practical in today's business environment.

• How and when will speed and cost hurdles be overcome in order to satisfy customer needs?
• Can RP be used to manufacture end-products for both custom and mass market applications?
• What advantages does Rapid Manufacturing have over constantly improving NC/CNC technologies?
• How do Rapid Manufacturing processes compare for surface finish, materials, resolution, repeatability and quality in output?
• How will use of RP as a production tool change manufacturing organizations?
• How can an investment in this strategic technology be justified?

Please take a moment to read through the conference agenda below to get an overview of this historic event and what you can learn from it.

8:00   Registration, Coffee & Danish

9:00   Welcome & Introduction

9:05   Chairperson's Remarks: Business & RP Technology Overview
Brock Hinzmann

9:30   The Impact of Standards on Rapid Manufacturing
Kevin K. Jurrens

10:05   Rapid Tooling vs. Conventional Tooling: Why does it take so long to make a mold?
Charles L. Thomas

10:40   Exhibit Viewing/Refreshment Break

11:10   Who Drives Flexible Manufacturing - Practical Tips on How Remembering the Customer Can Save Millions as You Evaluate Strategic Technologies Like RP
Brian Clark

10:45   CASE STUDY: The TeleManufacturing Facility -- Pushing SFF Into Scientific Visualization
Michael J. Bailey, Ph.D.

2:00   Chairperson's Remarks
Charles L. Thomas

2:05   CASE STUDY: Rapid Prototyping by Injection Molding
Charles L. Thomas

2:40   CASE STUDY: Production Tooling from RP -- Injection Molding, Die-Casting and EDM
Dr. Brent Stucker

3:15   CASE STUDY: Production Certified Molds Using RP/RT Technology
Robert Morton

3:50   Exhibit Viewing/Refreshment Break

4:20   CASE STUDY: Compressing Time -- Rapid Steel Production Tooling in 48 Hours
Timothy J. Weaver

4:55  CASE STUDY: Lighting the Way with Custom Design and Stereolithography
M. Sandra Hunter

5:30   "Rapid" Update Session: New & Next Generation Tools for Rapid Manufacturing

6:30   Exhibit Viewing/Networking Reception

8:30   Exhibit Viewing/Coffee & Danish

9:00   Panel Discussion: Cost Justification Strategy Session

Moderator: Charles L. Thomas

Designed to focus primarily on specific questions and experiences submitted by delegates prior to the event, this lively session will address how RP compares to NC/CNC and conventional moldmaking technologies in terms of cost and benefits; how users have evaluated and justified acquisition of RP systems.

Special Feature!
Based on interest from registrants, time will be reserved during this session for small breakout groups to address specific questions/concerns in a problem-solving format. Discussions will be summarized in final panel discussion. If you are registered and would like to be a discussion leader, please check the appropriate box on the registration form. Details on work groups will be sent to registered participants.

10:25   Contour Crafting -- A RP Method for Rapid Fabrication of Large Objects
Behrokh Khoshnevis

11:00   Direct Fabrication via the Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENSĒ) Process
David M. Keicher

11:35   Panel Discussion: Is Rapid Prototyping a Practical Manufacturing Technology?

Moderator: Brock Hinzmann

Designed to address questions submitted in advance by delegates, as well as questions arising from the conference itself, this discussion will focus on specific definition of problems areas and preliminary conclusions as to how these can be addressed. Conclusions will also be summarized from statistics from The Knowledge Foundation survey on industry practices.

University of Rhode Island, Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

University of Southern California

We are currently conducting a brief survey on Utilization of RP & Other "Rapid" Manufacturing Technologies designed to identify leading methodologies, current usage, technological hurdles and an industry wish list. Survey results will provide invaluable information -- and all participants who complete the survey will receive a FREE copy of the results.

There are now three convenient ways to participate:

1. You can now complete the survey online -- click here!  

2. You can also print the online survey form, complete it, and fax it to us at (617) 367-7912.

3. Or simply phone, fax or use our online form to request a copy of the survey form by mail.

You do not need to attend this event to participate in this survey.