Meet the Rapid Prototyping team

Our Rapid Prototyping team is comprised of seven members. The team fulfil most rapid prototyping part requirements using our 3D Printing facilities.

To give you an insight into the team, what they do and their background, we would like to introduce you to two of the team members:

• Roger Barnes, our RP Workshop Lead System Technician and
• Tim Rowell, our Rapid Prototyping Workshop Lead Technician

Roger Barnes – RP Workshop Lead System Technician

The beginning

When Roger began his career with Prototype Projects in 1984 the prototyping landscape was very different than it is today.

With no SLA, laser sintering or vacuum casting machines to contend with, Roger, and his then colleagues, would work on one product for weeks, if not months.

Innovative model making

Working from hand-drawn designs Roger remembers how they had to be innovative model makers. They were being asked to build products that had never been made before.

It was the model maker’s role to determine how the individual components and elements would work together to achieve the desired results.

Day-to-day

Today, Roger takes the CAD files from clients and loads them into the 3D printing machines. Once prototype parts have been built, or printed, he cleans them and rubs them down to remove minor post-printing blemishes.

These parts are then passed over to Tim Rowell – more about that later.

A wealth of experience

With nearly 30 years’ experience under his belt both as a model maker and, in another life, as a furniture maker and joiner, Roger has developed a wealth of knowledge, skill and expertise.

Prototype Projects employ apprentices. They directly benefit from on-the-job training under the supervision and guidance of other, more experienced, model makers such as Roger.

Tim Rowell – Rapid Prototyping Workshop Lead Technician

The beginning

In the early ‘80’s Tim as was heading towards his teens he literally fell in love with BMX bikes. He spent his free time building and restoring the bikes.

His passion continued as he moved into the semi-professional world of BMX racing winning trophy after trophy.

Creative career

This early experience of building and fixing things left Tim with no doubt that he needed to be creative and channel his skills into a career that would allow him to continue building and fixing.

Fresh out of college, where he interestingly chose to study marketing, Tim sought and found a company that would allow him to develop his early skills and so it was in 1993 that he joined Prototype Projects.

Prototype finishing

Tim works on the finishing side of prototyping whereby he takes the printed part and removes any printing lines or vents. He applies a spray finish and prepares parts for sending.

As the workshop team leader Tim is responsible for managing the workload of the rapid prototyping team.

Baby bottles and bikes

A few years ago Tim was prototyping a range of Avent milk bottles for Phillips. There was a certain amount of pride and job satisfaction when Tim purchased the manufactured bottles for his new born baby.

Free time is limited these days, but Tim still finds time to restore old BMX bikes and can still pull some moves on his bike!

Find out more

View information on our 3D printing technologies – SLS Rapid Prototyping, Stereolithography and FDM Prototyping. If you have any questions about prototyping, please contact us on 01763 249760.

Enjoyed meeting our rapid prototyping team? Why not meet our CNC team and our Office team.