AMRC installs second Stereoworks system

The University of Sheffield's Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) has installed a second Virtalis Stereoworks system.

The AMRC is a collaboration between leaders in the aerospace supply chain, key government offices and international academic institutions.

AMRC's new facility is dedicated to developing technology-driven solutions for materials-forming, metal-working and castings.

AMRC's first portable Stereoworks passive virtual reality (VR) system, which allows groups of people to see virtual objects and environments in 3D, has been taken all over the world.

Their latest system is a bigger, active Virtalis Stereoworks configuration boasting tracking and rear projection.

It is capable of handling very large CAD files that have been converted into virtual models, which can be accessed in real time.

Rab Scott, head of IT at AMRC, said: 'We've already developed a virtual model of our "Rolls-Royce Factory of the Future" and this has helped us to plan layouts and ensure the space is flexible.

'For example, we had 7,500 visitors in four and a half years in our last building and we anticipate much greater numbers coming here.

'We have created a high level walkway round and over our experimental shop floor that will allow our engineers to work without disruption.

'Our next step is to incorporate augmented reality using Head Mounted Displays (HMDs) in some of our Framework VI research projects.' The AMRC attempts to find simple ways to reduce waste and cost and to speed up processes to give the businesses it works with a competitive advantage.

Researchers create different concept methodologies in CAD, and subsequently VR, before using their Stereoworks systems to communicate ideas.

Like Virtalis, AMRC works with all the main CAD companies so the resultant models can be easily integrated into the current way of working.

Scott added: 'We simulate as much of the process as possible in order to get it right first time.

'For global players like Rolls-Royce, we were able to demonstrate that VR can be used as an engineering communications tool.

'Soon we hope to superimpose the relevant Finite Element Analysis (FEA) data on these models, compressing both the design and learning cycles.'.

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