BIM Roadshow - Birmingham - 22nd November 2011

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is transforming the nature of project delivery in the construction industry; from design through construction to the operations life-cycle.

This FREE roadshow is presented by Excitech who have extensive experience in introducing and implementing BIM in organisations and projects across the UK. The roadshow will be taking place in Birmingham - 22nd November 2011, at the Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum
Register HERE

Au revoir to our Estia Students

Estia students looking pleased with their VC moulds

After their four weeks of study here at the University of Wolverhampton, the Estia students have now returned to complete their studies back in Biarritz. On behalf of the ADDepartment, good luck with your continuing studies and we look forward to catching up with you next month in France.

Below are some pictures taken during the students Rapid Manufacturing Applications module where the students were involved in CAD, CAM, CNC, DMLS, CMM inspection, SLS and FDM RP and Vacuum Casting processes (we’ll let you research the acronyms!)

Mr Stick in action!

VC practicals completed, looking happy with their results!

Estia Students visit Liverpool.

The Kop

As the Estia students entered their final week of studies at the University of Wolverhampton, the students had a break from their hectic study schedule and headed for Liverpool. 

As part of their morning itinerary the students had a quick visit to the Anfield Stadium, home of the Liverpool Football Club, passing by the Hillsborough memorial, 

 Hillsborough memorial

the Shankly Gates, before stopping outside the Paisley Gateway. The students then visited the club store beneath the famous Kop end of the ground. 

Paisley Gateway

As the weather turned somewhat damp! the students jumped back on the coach and headed to the Albert Docks.

Albert Docks

Within the Albert Docks, the students had the opportunity to visit the Beatles Museum, Tate Gallery, Slavery Museum, Echo Arena and the Liverpool 360 wheel before meeting up in the afternoon for their ‘unique’ amphibious city sightseeing tour of Liverpool's historic waterfront, city and docks, on board the TheYellowDuckmarine (authentic World War II landing vehicles)….it’s the only way to travel!!

TheYellowDuckmarine

Estia students about to set sail!

Once the students had dried out from their ‘Splashdown’, 

The Splashdown 

the students grabbed the opportunity to visit the Liverpool1 shopping and eatery area, whilst other visited the famous Cavern Club, the original home of The Beatles, to sample some live music and some light liquid refreshments……….!

Paul, George, John and Ringo!!

Shaderlight brings interactive rendering to Google SketchUp

Sharderlight is simple to learn, easy to use and allows you see your image develop as you work. For rendering experts & 3D novices, it's never been easier to transform your SketchUp model in to a photorealistic render.

So why not give it a try…… Sharerlight Pro V2 is now available for a 14 day FREE trial.

(http://www.artvps.com/)

If you like the user friendliness, the functionality and the results from the software and would like to further explore the rendering capabilities, why not drop into the AD Departments Virtual Reality Lab (MI215) where the software has been included to this years student software portfolio.  

Estia students find it Windy in Wales

On the 12^th October the Estia students had a busy Welsh itinerary visiting the Carno II Windfarm, Powys, in the morning and the Centre of Alternative Technology Centre (CAT) at Machynlleth in the afternoon.

On approach to the Windfarm the scene was eerily quiet with all wind turbines standing motionless. At the substation the group was met by Sion Thomas (Site Manager) who explained that there had been an issue at 5am that morning with National Grid accepting the energy supplied by the Wind Farm. In these situations the substation and transformer equipment are automatically isolated from the grid to prevent unnecessary running of the turbines and any subsequent damage.

On the drive up through the turbine field, Sion gave an interesting review of the developments of both phases of Carno l and Carno ll wind farms explaining the renewable energy power output, the environmental impact and the community benefits provided by the windfarm.

When leaving the coach at the base of the turbine, it is only then when the scale of the turbine becomes apparent. Standing at over 50m from ground level, the turbine dwarfs the coach. Back at the substation, Sion showed the students the planning application and the site location for phase lll of the Carno Windfarm site, an investment of £60m.

Moving into the afternoon the students visited CAT where Joe and Julie gave the students an in-depth tour of their ‘living laboratory’; exploring their pioneering ways in which we can rapidly reduce or addiction to fossil fuels, whilst increasing the wellbeing of our communities, and nurturing the bio-diversity upon which we all depend.

www.cat.org.uk

Joe giving the students an explanation of their toilet habits and future uses!

Estia visit Zero Cases

As part of their continuing studies at the University of Wolverhampton, the Estia students visited Zero Cases manufacturing facilities based in Smethwick, West Midlands http://www.zerocases.com/

 Zero is a world-class manufacturer of quality, deep-drawn and fabricated aluminium and moulded plastic cases, enclosures and assemblies for the defence, aerospace, industrial, medical, electronic and telecommunications markets.

Mike Dimmack (UK Plant Manager) gave the students a tour of the facilities and set the student a conceptual design task as part of the Computer Aided Design and Product Definition module.

 Mike showing the students the deep-drawn process.
Estia students posing in Zero’s products demo area.
Mike answering manufacturing and technical questions.
Estia students getting a up close and personal with one of Zero’s development products.  

Got an Inkling?

Wacom’s Inkling

Do you start your artwork with pen and paper? But at the same time regret that your work is stuck on paper until you have scanned the image? Then Inkling is an indispensable tool for you. This digital sketch pen allows you to sketch with a real ballpoint pen on any paper. While you are drawing, all strokes are recorded electronically which can then be imported as raster or vector artwork in to your preferred graphics application for further editing. With just one button click you can record layers, for instance, to separate preparatory and final drawings. These layers are then retained after import.

http://inkling.wacom.eu/pages/Inkling-en.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fQe0YSLm88&feature=player_embedded

BIM Show Live -1st November - London

Building Information Modelling is the future of the construction industry.  BIM Show Live is a unique opportunity to see how practices and organisations are using new processes and technology to harness the potential that BIM can offer. For more information click HERE or visit http://bimshowlive.building.co.uk/

Visualising BIM with Autodesk 3ds Max Design – FREE White Paper

Higher quality and more lifelike visualisation can show off your designs to better effect and win that project; with some simple tips and use of the right tools it’s even easier than you might think……..apparently!

Download the WHITE PAPER

ESTIA Students visit Renishaw

On Wednesday 5th October 2011, the 39 students from ESTIA in France who are currently studying in the department took part in a trip to Renishaw in Gloucester.


It was an early start for everyone with us leaving the University at 7:30am, however everybody made it to the bus in time (although a couple were running from the hotel to make the departure time!). 


Once we all arrived at Renishaw we were met by Jon Kerry who started the day with a very interesting presentation on the history of Renishaw and gave insight into the background of probing technology and the tools that Renishaw provide.


Following this, the students were given a full tour of the departments at the Wotton-under-Edge facility. The students found all aspects very interesting including seeing the large amount of 3D printing machines available, understanding how the company integrate CADCAM into the processes and how the various probes work. We even got to see some examples of the Renishaw products being used on some high profile commercial projects.


A great and informative day for the students (and the accompanying staff!!!) capped off with some lunch graciously provided by the Company. Back to the University now to put some of what has been learned into practice for the remaining modules!

Students in the lecture from John Kerry

Taking a tour of the facilities