3D Printer and supporting software

Tender description

The Institute of Technology Carlow’s Design + Gateway is a multidisciplinary research centre that is distributed across the Institutes’ Centres of Research and Enterprise (COREs) in design, engineering, ICT and bio-sciences. The Gateway develops and implements strategies to further progress DESIGN + competencies through delivering solutions for industry. Design + has been an early user and advocate of 3D printing since its establishment in 2017. There have been significant advancements in 3D printing over the past decade and design+ now needs to update its existing equipment in order to meet current research and industry needs. Traditionally, the ability to produce a 3D model for visual representation from a digital model was sufficient. Today, the expectation is that a 3D printed model has to withstand the rigours of user testing and incorporate a number of materials representative of final manufacture. The Institute has identified that 3D printed models need to be functional and be able to perform with similar characteristics to a manufactured part and to be beneficial to the design process. Tenderers are sought for the supply, DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) delivery, and installation of a Large Format SLA(Stereolithography) 3D printer and supporting software.