Snack Palette is a new consumer product that is now available on the market and for sale on the website http://www.snackpalette.com/. It is a disposable/recyclable plate for use at picnics, parties or any other activity so that the holder can hold food and drink in one hand. The Snack Palette is a plate and holder for a cup, fork and napkin all in one and can be used in the left or right hand.



Snack Palette inventor Duane Ebesu started the product development process working with a sculptor to create a clay model of the product. With that model in hand, he contacted ProtoCAM to create the prototype. Ebesu had worked with ProtoCAM on another project and liked their “attention to detail” and “no hassle, never a problem” customer service approach.

ProtoCAM had the clay model scanned to generate the initial 3D CAD representation of the product. ProtoCAM plastics engineer and rapid prototyping analyst Ed Graham worked with Ebesu to understand that the Snack Palette would be manufactured in the future in large quantities using plastic thermoforming. Thermoforming was a better choice for the Snack Palette as it would be less costly to manufacture in the long run than injection molding.

With that in mind, Graham helped provide some design suggestions related to the future manufacturing of the product, so that the thickness of the product would be sufficient to be thermoformed. With these design for manufacturability suggestions in place, ProtoCAM produced the prototype using stereolithography (SLA).

Ebesu comments, “I chose ProtoCAM to do the rapid prototyping because I knew they had a clear understanding of what was needed to get the job done.”

Snack Palette and all its accessories are available online at http://www.snackpalette.com/.

Labels: plastics engineering, product development, rapid prototyping, SLA prototype, stereolithography

STOR’EM is a new product to wind and store Christmas lights, small extension cords, and cables now available from Aloft Enterprises Inc. LLC. Cory Strong is the inventor of the STOR’EM product and President of Aloft Enterprises. Strong worked with ProtoCAM’s engineer Ryan Schmidt in the product development process for the spools that are used to hold stored lights and cords.

The product development process started with Strong’s rough sketch and his initial 3D CAD model of the spool. Strong worked with Schmidt to refine the CAD model with a few improvements and design-for-manufacturability suggestions that were incorporated into the product design.

From that CAD drawing, ProtoCAM produced the stereolithography prototypes that were used in the product development process for product testing and demonstrations.

Cory Strong comments:
"ProtoCAM’s Ryan Schmidt provided invaluable assistance in the product development process to help refine the model. ProtoCAM’s service with engineering and production of the prototypes was outstanding."

ProtoCAM has a long history of assisting customers with perfecting their products in the product development stage, providing significant benefits early in the process when it is easier and less expensive to implement changes.

Check out the STOR’EM cord organizer and light winding / storage device and place an order for these products online at http://www.nolightmess.com/.


The Lehigh Valley’s Morning Call featured STOR’EM in a December 11, 2009 story: Local man invents device to wind and store lights. The product was also featured in a TV spot on Lehigh Valley station WFMZ, including a video on Christmas products that demonstrates the STOR’EM product.

Contact ProtoCAM’s engineers for product development assistance and rapid prototyping work.

Labels: CAD, plastics engineering, product development, rapid prototyping, SLA prototype, stereolithography

Labels: Metal Prototypes, Quick Cast patterns, rapid prototyping, RTV Molding, SLA prototype, stereolithography

ProtoCAM recently made and donated two award art pieces made using the stereolithography rapid prototyping technology for the recipients of the 2009-10 Penn State Altoona Kjell Meling Award for Distinction in the Arts and Humanities.

The award was designed by artist / Penn State Altoona Associate Professor of Visual Arts Rebecca Strzelec. Strzelec designed the award and ProtoCAM worked with Strzelec to recommend the use of the stereolithography resin material Accura 60, which is used to produce parts with a clear, polycarbonate-like appearance.

As can also be seen in the top view photo, the nested circular cluster shown in the bottom left corner of this photo is the focal point of the award piece. This cluster demonstrates the intricate and beautiful design patterns that can be done using stereolithography for art objects.

In the press release for the award, Penn State-Altoona said:

Labels: rapid prototye art, rapid prototyping, rp technology, stereolithography

ProtoCAM Engineer Ed Graham was recently quoted in a New York Times article discussing the making of rapid prototype auto engine parts. The article, One Step Closer to the No-Iron Car, appeared on October 22, 2009. It talks about the efforts of New Jersey engineer Matti Holtzberg, who has been designing and developing plastic parts for car engines for 30 years. Of course, the percentage of parts in a car that are plastic has been rising for many years, but plastic engine components are currently not common as they have to withstand high temperature and mechanical stress.

As with other car components, plastic engine components are significantly lighter than the aluminum parts they might replace, and material costs are lower. In addition, the manufacturing process can be done at a lower cost.

In the article, Graham notes that ProtoCAM has been using Holtzberg’s technologies for making automotive rapid prototypes used in experimental engines and transmissions for about three years. Graham said, "The thermoset phenolic material is strong and has excellent heat resistance. The process is quick, and the parts go straight into experimental engines and transmissions.”

In this application - rapid prototype engine parts - ProtoCAM is again on the cutting edge of applying rapid prototyping technologies to emerging uses.

If you would like to know more about using ProtoCAM’s rapid prototyping services, product and prototype development services and plastics engineering expertise for your innovative application, please contact ProtoCAM at 610-261-9010 or use the convenient RFQ or Information Request form.

Labels: plastic engine parts, plastics engineering, rapid prototyping

ProtoCAM exhibited at the recent Design2Part trade show, held September 30 and October 1 2009 in Fredricksburg VA. ProtoCAM engineer Ryan Schmidt, who specializes in prototype engineering and plastics engineering, and sales consultant Joe Layman staffed the booth.

ProtoCAM has exhibited at this show and location in previous years. For this show, ProtoCAM brought many examples of SLA prototypes, SLS prototypes, and injection molded parts. Attendance at this show was a little lower than previous years, but there was plenty of traffic at the ProtoCAM booth. A lot of the visitors were very positive about the industry and the economy. It seemed that the hot topic of discussion at the show was new product development - this may be a sign of the rebounding economy. One of the more interesting visitors brought a cut away helicopter propeller to the ProtoCAM booth. He wanted to redesign the prop to fit certain specs. He inquired about making several prototypes so that he could test the contours in a wind tunnel.

ProtoCAM will also be exhibiting at the next Design2Part show: November 18-19 in Greenville, SC in Booth 126.

Would you like to schedule a meeting with ProtoCAM at an upcoming trade show to discuss our rapid prototyping services? If so, please contact ProtoCAM at 610-261-9010 or use our convenient Information Request form - please note in the Comment section that you would like to schedule a meeting.

Labels: plastics engineering, protocam, rapid prototyping, Selective Laser Sintering, stereolithography

ProtoCAM offers media blasting services to enhance the finish of a stereolithography prototype or SLA part. Media blasting gives the part’s exterior a more consistent look and feel.

ProtoCAM has a special media blasting process with a proprietary media mixture to ensure the part will look appealing to both the eye and to the touch. This process has been refined over many years of media blasting experience to yield superior results.

The two parts pictured here demonstrate the difference in appearance between the unprocessed SLA part on the right and the media blasted part on the left.

Please ask for media blasting when requesting a quote for an SLA prototype / part.

For more information about media blasting for your prototypes or to request a quote for a media-blasted SLA prototype, please contact ProtoCAM at 610-261-9010 or use our convenient RFQ form - please note in the Details section that media blasting is requested.

Labels: protocam, rapid prototyping, stereolithography