Award Presentation to Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. of San Diego, CA 2006, Nashville SPE Conference
The winner of the Multipart Assembly Award features seven pressure-formed parts that enclose a multiplexing microarray processor used for genomics and proteomics testing. The sweeping curve of the design is a key visual element, along with the crisp appearance of the pressure-formed panels and the concealment of fasteners.
The industrial design demanded an aesthetically appealing and functional
enclosure. Operation of the unit requires frequent lifting of the front panel by
an automated hydraulic mechanism and opening of the side panel doors by the
operator. To achieve accuracy of assembly and realignment after opening, the
components incorporate a formed-in undercut design, with tooled double-tiered
steps locating the adjacent single-tiered step to the mating part. Mating lines
of the multiple parts intersect in nine locations.
Award Presentation to Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. of San Diego, CA. 2005, Milwaukee SPE Conference.
Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. (SMI) is once again the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE) Thermoforming Division parts competition winner in the “Twin Sheet Product” category.
The award was for an elective medical device tray used on a ultrasound cart, designed by Philips Medical Systems. The iE33 echocardiography, along with other Philips systems, utilizes the award-winning tray. The iE33 incorporates intelligent design and intelligent control to combine revolutionary clinical performance and workflow.
Philips design criteria for the tray included structural integrity, durability and enhanced aesthetics. The Twin Sheet process was chosen as it produces a lightweight, hollow tray that offers superior rigidity. The application also presented a unique design challenge to overcome cantilevered loads and impact forces. SMI was able to satisfy the application challenges by incorporating “Pressure Forming” into the Twin Sheet process. One of pressure forming’s key features is the ability to insert-mold threaded nutserts, rather than installing in a costly secondary operation. This was especially challenging due to close proximity of adjacent walls, restricting material flow, (see photo). Traditionally Twin Sheet components have a visible perimeter pinch-line. SMI created a style-line that eliminated the visible pinch-line and vastly improved the components aesthetics, (see photo). An additional feature was the ability to precisely pressure form the mold in texture from the tool on the entire exterior surface of the tray. Combining the texture with a Kydex Acrylic/PVC in custom color material avoided paint costs and additional time to market.
Twin Sheet, pressure form aluminum tooling was CNC machined and assembled by Protogenesis, an affiliate of SMI, both are located in San Diego, CA.
Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE) award to Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. for Philips medical system parts.
Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. (SMI) of San Diego, CA was selected by Philips to produce the enclosure components by the pressure forming process. Key considerations included time to market, comparative lower costs/capital expenditures and design change flexibility.
Philips engineers incorporated several SMI design suggestions to enhance appearance and assembly operations. By using a combination of molded undercuts, formed in openings and sophisticated trim techniques through 5-axis CNC and surface repeatability, fastener count was dramatically reduced, as well as achieving aesthetic requirements. Undercuts were also used to create design lines and joggles for underlap mating of components.
A custom color match in the raw material avoided painting and was combined with a tool surface acid etched texture to produce parts with a clean, crisp appearance.
The Society of Plastics Engineers Thermoforming Division presented SMI the “Multi-Part Assembly Award” in 2004 for the Philips Skylight Pressure Formed Enclosure Components in the Multiple Part Assembly category.
Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. receives SPE award for medical device packaging.
The Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE) recognized Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. (SMI) for a 5 piece Medical Device Handling Tray, produced for Kyphon, Inc. The fully integrated tray design supports the medical device market for the treatment of osteoporosis.
The trays unique pocket design provides individual containment and isolation of various size devices, while offering ease of access and a compact package. Individual trays perform both lid and base functions. Formed in stacking lugs allow for secure alignment in assembly, as well as individual or multiple tray de-nesting by operating room personnel.
Design Award of Excellence Presented to: Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. by the Society of Plastic Engineers Thermoforming Division 2002 Thermoforming Conference Parts Competition Winner for Cut Sheet Electronic Enclosure
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| Final Assembly |
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| Cross cut of door |
SMI entered their Digital Imaging Pressure Formed assembly part in the national design and parts competition sponsored by the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE) at the National Thermoformers Conference held in Nashville, TN in September. The assembly was entered in the Pressure Formed Cut Sheet Category which included components submitted by Thermoformers from across North America.
Based on the judgment of the consistent quality and originality of the assemblies entered, the category proved to be very competitive. The judging criteria included technical mastery, creativity, surface finish, distinct quality, originality and mold complexity, among other factors.
SMI has been involved in the SPE Conference for over 10 years and have noted the continuous growth in quality and notoriety of the parts competition. The unique design and creativity of the final product truly showcased the "Science in the Pressure Form Process."
The assembly is a Laser System, 20 Watt Holmium Powersuite, developed for the
Urology market.
The 5 outer skins (which make up the assembly) are produced in the Pressure
Form process, incorporating formed in logos, component openings, extensive
undercuts and unique angled venting.
All tooling was CNC machined aluminum. Material is F.R. ABS.
The assembly was designed for crisp, tight appearance, with clean mating
surfaces
and unique attachment points.
The enclosure is Control Panel Housing, designed in the Pressure Form process.
All outside features of the housing are formed in to achieve precise location, crisp detail and tight radius. Through holes are achieved by back milling the formed features from the reverse side. Other features include formed in threaded inserts, logo, counterbore holes and vent openings. The mating design line between top and bottom enclosure incorporates a double joggle return (or undercut), which produces a clean and parallel appearance. Precision 5-axis CNC routing was used in all trimming operations.
Specialty Manufacturing Inc. - Winner of the SPE Twin Sheet Excellence Award.
Hot air duct molded in Polycarbonate using the Twin Sheet thermoforming process. The air duct is formed of .080 thick F6000 black material, which challenged the process due to potential heat loss in the sealing of edges. The complex curved shape of the duct requires special tooling considerations to ensure dimensional consistency and uniform geometry.
Copyright © 2003-2005 by Specialty Manufacturing Inc.
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14 October, 2006 10:02 PM
