Machining In Miniature

18th Century Hewitt gentleman’s tool chest by William R. Robertson. Even the label on the box lid is printed on authentic 18th century paper

For thousands of years men and women have been making miniature replicas of the world around them. Whether as prototypes for full-sized engineering projects, as toys, or to test mathematical and physical concepts, small-scale replicas never fail to fascinate and enchant old and young alike. Presidents, kings and emperors have been gifted throughout the ages […]

Star Rapid Talks About Scale, Manufacturing And Measurement

We will assume that if you’re reading this then you fit the general profile of a creative, intelligent person of good taste and breeding. You’re also interested in engineering, science and technology, all of which we applaud. Well, prepare to have your mind blown. When working with product design and manufacturing, whether it be for […]

Plastic Injection Material For Dummies

No, not plastics to make dummies out of, although you could do that. We want to talk about the kinds of plastics you need for the plastic injection process, and how to make sense of the dizzying array of choices out there. Plastic injection molding is, by far, the most popular industrial technique for making […]

5 Great Ways To Get Started In Design

Sanding

Think about the products you use on a daily basis. Whether they’re physical products like laptops or digital ones like apps, we’re surrounded by innovative product design examples everywhere we look. These products represent the work of product designers. From a consumer perspective, we only see the end result and don’t know what took place […]

Will The Internet Of Things Affect Your Future Prototype Designs?

It’s a pretty cool name, the Internet of Things. Attributed to Kevin Ashton in 1999 while he worked at Proctor and Gamble, it’s used to describe the connected world we’re rapidly heading towards, a world in which everyday, ordinary devices carry RFID chips and other low-cost, embedded communication devices. These devices will share information in […]

Getting A Handle On Surface Finish

We’ve talked before about color on a prototype, and the subtle ways that color affects our emotional response to a manufactured object. The final surface finish of a part is also important, not only for the mechanical fitness for a given application but also for the visceral appeal to the end user, although describing this phenomena […]

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