Laboratory for Rapid Prototyping and Reverse Engineering

Laboratory for Rapid Prototyping and Reverse Engineering - RP&RE lab at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Tuzla is first and leading laboratory on area of education and knowledge transfer from Rapid Prototyping and Reverse Engineering topics in Bosnia and Herzegovina. From the beginnings all activities undertaken in RP&RE lab, as a integral segment of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of University of Tuzla, are directed to promotion and dissemination of Rapid Prototyping and Reverse Engineering applications in industry and other institutions, parallel with continuous efforts in improving of existing applications and possibilities of theirs usage, which represents mission of RP&RE lab.

Vision RP&RE lab is to keep the leading role in scientific research, practical applications, knowledge transfer and dissemination of Rapid Prototyping and Reversible Engineering application in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to impose itself through activities and achievements as recognizable subject by national and international institutions and companies.

In accordance to above presented mission and vision of RP&RE lab following goals are defined:
- establishment of functional cooperation and exchange of experiences with other similar laboratories in Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad;
- entry to international science-research projects in area of laboratory activities;
- continue with success application on science-research projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- purchase of new laboratory equipment and systems for rapid Prototyping and Reverse Engineering;
- increase of volume and type of services provided by RP&RE lab;
- creation of new scientific research and professional staff;
- attracting the attention of all interested for RP&RE lab activities.

Above presented mission, vision and goals need to assure faster entry of RP&RE lab in global scientific-research and professional trends and ultimately contribute to recognition of parent institutions, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Tuzla and University in Tuzla, as institutions who promote modern technologies and its application in every day practice.

In 2002 encouraged by the Dean of Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Tuzla, Mr. Džemo Tufekčić, full professor, starts activities on establishing of Laboratory for Production Systems that will integrate Rapid Prototyping technologies. In order to operate above mentioned concept, Faculty established contacts with Chair for Production Systems (Lehrstuhl für Fertigungstechnologie) , at Fridrich-Alexander Univerzitet u Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany as well as, with nearby production companies, with the aim to overmaster with necessary expertise and knowledge in the usage of Rapid Prototyping system and to raise necessary funds for the purchase of laboratory equipment. During 2003 at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Tuzla magister thesis with Rapid Prototyping background was accomplished. This magister thesis was one of the first papers produced on Rapid Prototyping topic in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After overcoming of all necessary expertise in the period of 2004 ÷ 2005 activities in finding of partners for financing of procurement of necessary laboratory equipment are intensified. These effort resulted in the signing of the Agreement on business cooperation between the PSC TMD Ai ad Gradačac and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Tuzla (22 August 2005), by which all necessary conditions for the establishment of Laboratory for Rapid Prototyping are fulfilled. After implementation of adequate purchase procedures and trainings in September 2006 the Laboratory for Rapid Prototyping was officially opened at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tuzla. At that period laboratory owns followed equipment: Rapid Prototyping machine 3D printer z310+; recycling unit zd5; devices for wax infiltration; colour plotter (HP deskjet 500) format A0; and IT accessories.

Later on expansion of activities related to scientific-research work connected with Rapid Prototyping and Reverse Engineering takes place which resulted in purchase of new laboratory equipment and devices, publishing of a numerous scientific-research papers in B&H and abroad, realisation of numerous scientific-research projects, as well as, numerous activities connected with services for industry and other organisation. As a result of above mentioned activities in March 2010 Laboratory for Rapid Prototyping change its name in Laboratory for Rapid Prototyping and Reverse Engineering – RP&RE lab.

Today RP&RE lab has the following equipment: RP machine 3D printer z310+; recycling unit zd5; devices for wax infiltration; 3D tactile scanner Micro Scribe MX System; 3D laser scanner DAVID Laserscanner 3; colour plotter (HP disignjet 500) format A0; IT accessories, and appropriate software backup: Z-Print 7.3, Z-Edit 7.2, Catia v5, ProEngineer Wildfire II, MicroScribe, DAVID software. Besides of mentioned equipment Laboratory owns and additional laboratory equipment: mobile device for roughness Mitutoyo Surftest SJ-301; mobile device for hardness measurements Equotip Piccolo 2; testing machine Zwick 30kN including appropriate devices for axial force, axial pressure and bending in three points measurements.

Activities of the Laboratory for Rapid Prototyping and Reverse Engineering have been supported by: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Tuzla, University of Tuzla, CIMOS TMD AI ad Gradačac; Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Federal Ministry of Education and Science of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Federal Ministry of Development, Entrepreneurship and Crafts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Tuzla Canton.

Laboratory staff thanks to all who support activities of Laboratory for Rapid Prototyping and Reverse Engineering, with sincere hope that we justified theirs confidence.

Thank You Very Much.