Geodetic Systems Inc. (GSI), a leading U.S. provider of portable 3D coordinate measurement systems, has announced it will expand its distribution partnership with ESIC-SN of France. ESIC-SN, which specializes in the field of 3D measurement by optical techniques, will provide full market support for GSI in France and Belgium. ESIC-SN works primarily with clients in the power generation field, aeronautics and space, and the automotive industry.

Geodetic Systems is renowned as a solution provider in the field of industrial photogrammetry and 3D digital imaging—the only company based in the Americas that offers this technology for industrial measurement. With the launch of its all-new INCA3 digital photogrammetric camera (photo) this year, now the company’s flagship product, GSI has been focused on building product awareness for V-STARS family of 3D coordinate measurement systems, which is aimed at users involved in inspection applications in industries such as aerospace, nuclear power, automotive and shipbuilding. GSI is also planning for international growth, especially in the European marketplace.

In announcing the expansion of GSI’s partnership with ESIC-SN, Geodetic Systems president John D. Brown said, “ESIC-SN is the ideal V-STARS reseller with their emphasis on quality customer support, and in-depth industry knowledge. Metrologists and engineers in the French and Belgium marketplace benefit greatly from their expertise in the field of industrial photogrammetry.”

ESIC-SN is a well-established firm providing the full spectrum of sales, engineering services, technical support, installation and training to meet the needs of their user base. ESIC-SN will also focus their efforts on proactively marketing and expanding the V-STARS product line into new accounts, and upgrade accounts to the high-precision INCA3 camera.

Geodetic Systems Inc. (GSI) is an international supplier of industrial photogrammetry solutions for the industrial measurement/metrology marketplace. GSI develops and markets the V-STARS. GSI distributes its products via a worldwide network of industry partners. Founded in 1977, the privately-held company is located in Melbourne, Florida.

A partnership agreement has been announced by Objet Geometries, developer of inkjet-based, three-dimensional rapid prototyping systems and materials, for ACMA AB to sell its products in Scandinavia. Objet views Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland as an excellent market for its RP systems since there are many medium-to-small factories and manufacturers there, as well as large corporations who need to have a quality inkjet technology to produce accurate models quickly and reliably.

ACMA president and owner Ragnar Hasliger says he decided to work with Objet because of its extensive experience in inkjet technologies, and because of the appeal of its PolyJet™-based technology.

One recent Objet customer is Norway-based Vinn Design AS (formerly FEM Design AS), which develops and designs products for the electronics, satellite communications, medical and engineering industries. Vinn Design’s director of marketing, Rolf-Atle Tomassen, says the company invested in Object technology because of its ability to produce prototypes in every stage of product development quickly and accurately.

Nordic Light AB, which designs and manufactures high-performance energy-efficient display lighting fixtures, has also purchased an Objet system because it will speed product development and shorten its time to market.

The University of Wisconsin at Madison (UW-Madison) has signed a license with Trexel Inc. for the use of MuCell® microcellular process technology at its Polymer Engineering Center. The university has also purchased MuCell processing equipment.

UW-Madison offers instruction and research in polymer engineering and science. It is said to be the first American university to incorporate microcellular injection molding into a teaching curriculum and research program. Trexel is the exclusive worldwide developer and licenser of MuCell.

Professor Lih-Sheng (Tom) Turng, associate director of the Polymer Engineering Center, says: “A recent survey of members of the PEC industrial consortium determined that learning about microcellular molding was of paramount importance to them. We see this as indicative of MuCell’s emergence as a mainstream processing technology.”

He went on to say: “This acquisition will enable us to further understand the physics of the process and will allow us to work with industrial consortium members to implement the technology in specific industrial applications within such areas as the automotive, consumer electronics, and medical sectors.”

Visit the website of USF Surface Preparation Group and you’ll find a cleaner, more attractive appearance with revisions based on input by customers, employees and vendors. The site, at http://www.hoj.biz, is designed to communicate the group’s total solution for surface preparation throughout the world. It identifies products marketed and sold in the United States and Europe.

In a few months, the site will be translated into German and French, and a version specifically designed for the United Kingdom.

In an effort to streamline the site, its designers have grouped major product categories together on the home page. Choosing any of the product categories allows you to see the product subcategories and products that relate to each of the major headings. The result is a site that is more logical and user-friendly.

Guidelines in Choosing an Injection Mold Design

The importance of processing or creating plastic is not only based on the machine. Although it is where the process starts, the molding part is as important as the melting of the plastic. When the plastic has already been melted and it is transferred into the molding part where the plastic is being cool and hardened, the finished product is soon developed. However, the hard part in the molding process is choosing the right design that you must use.

When choosing your injection mold design there are some important factors that you need to consider. The first factor on the list is the thickness of the mold design. It is important that the thickness of the mold must be uniform to avoid the product from sinking, residual stress, and warping. The wall of the injection mold design must be thick enough in order for the product to have a good exterior design, which means not very thick or very thin. It must also have enough radius on its corner, which should be at least ¼ wall thickness or higher. However, it is still important that your injection mold design must be according to the size of the product that you’ll be processing. An appropriate thickness on the design will also determine the products cooling cycle. You must know the right time when the product is ready to be taken out of the injection mold design. It is also advisable to use a draft with its measurements to make the process much easier. You can also use a gusset or ribs to reduce the product’s thickness especially if it is not uniform.

Injection mold design will still vary on the product that you’ll be producing. Make a draft and calculate well the measurement so that your finish product will have a good quality.