Proto Labs has chosen Whirlwind Wheelchair International as the latest recipient of its Cool Idea! Award. Proto Labs – a leading online and technology-enabled manufacturer of quick-turn prototype and short-run parts – will help the company launch its … [Read more...] about Latest Cool Idea! Winner: RoughRider® Wheelchair
Rapid Injection Molding
Proto Labs’ latest Cool Idea! is a Rice University robotics project
Proto Labs announced the second recipient of its Cool Idea! Award Program. Rice University has been awarded prototyping and production services to help launch a group of robots designed for undergraduate engineering students. The robots, dubbed … [Read more...] about Proto Labs’ latest Cool Idea! is a Rice University robotics project
Being Transparent
After years of experience in mixing colorant into resin pellets, Proto Labs engineers have developed a standard for the ratio of transparent colorant added to clear resins. This 1% ratio applies to all of the transparent colorants we stock, … [Read more...] about Being Transparent
Proto Labs Names Cool Idea! Honorable Mentions
Proto Labs, a leading quick-turn manufacturer of CNC machined and injection molded custom parts for prototyping and short-run production, has announced two Honorable Mention award recipients as part of its Cool Idea! award program. The d-TSSU™, … [Read more...] about Proto Labs Names Cool Idea! Honorable Mentions
Round like a Wheel, Not Like an Egg
When making round parts—gears, pistons, plugs, and anything else that needs to fit, seal, or spin—start by asking just how round does it need to be? If the answer is “as round as possible,” you probably need a center gate. In injection molding, resin … [Read more...] about Round like a Wheel, Not Like an Egg
Through thick and thin
To understand the importance of uniform wall thickness in rapid injection molding, imagine that the fluid injected into a mold is water rather than plastic resin. In a properly vented mold, the water, following the path of least resistance, will … [Read more...] about Through thick and thin
You have choices
We recently completed a handbook on additive manufacturing. It will appear in the August issue of Design World. One of the things I became reaquainted with from working on this project is just how many options you have for rapidly prototyping (or … [Read more...] about You have choices
The pros and cons of rapid injection molding optical parts
The ability of optical parts made of clear resins like polycarbonate to perform optically as light covers, lenses, and lightpipes depends on a combination of material, shape, and internal clarity. Not all rapid prototyping processes are suitable for … [Read more...] about The pros and cons of rapid injection molding optical parts
Prototyping service lets you see if a rubber component will enhance your designs
Robinson Rubber Products is a designer, developer, and manufacturer of custom-molded rubber products, extruded rubber products and precision rollers. Company executives recently announced a new prototyping service that gives you a quick, economical … [Read more...] about Prototyping service lets you see if a rubber component will enhance your designs
Wohlers reports 3D printing industry growth of 24.1%
Wohlers Associates, Inc. has published Wohlers Report 2011, an annual global study on the additive manufacturing (AM) and 3D printing state of the industry. The new report documents the latest developments in additive manufacturing technologies, … [Read more...] about Wohlers reports 3D printing industry growth of 24.1%