We recently made some additions to our finishing levels.   Download the print ready pdf here: 

Engineering Finishes - Overview

E2: Minimal cleanup for all processes.
SLA: supports removed.
Machining: burrs removed.
Casting: gate and flash removed.

E3: Part is lightly sanded and/or bead or vapor blasted to minimize evidence of the build process and achieve consistent finish.

E4: This is an upgraded E3 with customer specific instructions.  Example: further cleanup, fitting, clear coating for “engineering” level clarity etc. The end result is still considered an “engineering” model.

Appearance Finishes - Overview

A5: Part is sanded smooth on exterior surfaces, eliminating evidence of the process where necessary, and fitted if required. Part is primed and ready for final paint or rubber mold if part is being used as a pattern.

A6: Part is sanded smooth on exterior and interior surfaces and clear coated or polished for appearance purposes.

Engineering Finishes - Details

E2: Part receives minimal cleanup.

SLA Parts: Positive evidence of supports is removed, prior to the ultraviolet, post-curing process.  Most surfaces remain unfinished except evidence of mild sanding in areas where supports were removed. Machined Parts: Part is de-burred to eliminate overly sharp edges (unless advised otherwise).  Most surfaces will maintain a machined finish.

Cast Parts: Evidence of flash, gating and vents is removed. Most surfaces will maintain a natural finish, preserving the quality of the finished pattern.

E3: Standard engineering model finish.

SLA Parts: Part is lightly sanded and bead blasted or vapor honed to minimize evidence of the SLA build process. This results in a consistent surface quality. The E3 finish replaces the natural, semi-gloss finish and adds opacity to parts built using translucent resins to enhance surface visibility.

Machined Parts: Part is de-burred to eliminate overly sharp edges (unless advised otherwise).  Part is lightly sanded and bead blasted or vapor honed to minimize evidence of the machining process.  This results in a consistent surface quality.

Cast Parts: Part is lightly sanded and bead blasted or vapor honed for a consistent surface quality, further minimizing evidence of flash, gating and vents.

E4: This is essentially an upgraded E3 finish, with customer specific instructions.  Example: further cleanup or care to specified areas, fitting, clear coating for “engineering” level clarity, etc.  The end result is still considered an “engineering” model. This finish is applicable to any prototyping process.

Appearance Finishes - Details

A5: Part is sanded smooth on exterior surfaces, eliminating evidence of the manufacturing process where necessary and fitted, if required. The finished part is primed for rubber molding, if intended for use as a master pattern; part is primed and painted if intended for direct use as an appearance model. This finish is applicable to any prototyping process.

A6: This finish is necessary for appearance models that require extended finishing, beyond primer or standard painting.

SLA Parts: Part is sanded smooth on exterior and interior surfaces and clear coated or polished for appearance purposes. An A6 finish is usually requested to yield optimum clarity for parts produced from translucent SLA resins.

Machined Parts: To yield optimum clarity for parts machined from clear or translucent plastics, the part is sanded smooth on exterior and interior surfaces and clear coated or polished for appearance purposes.  An A6 finish would also apply when finishing metal parts that require polished or reflective surfaces, or in preparation for brushed finishes.

Cast Parts: Part is sanded smooth on exterior and interior surfaces and clear coated or polished for
appearance purposes. An A6 finish is usually requested to yield optimum clarity for parts produced from
clear or translucent urethanes.

Related Items:

Photos of SLA parts with different finishes.
Photo of a clear SLA part with different finishes.

Related Items:

• Thermally post curing SLA parts.
•  SLA product data sheets.

• E3 - Engineering Finish.
• E4 - Engineering Clear.
• A6 - Appearance Clear.

A print ready version of all of our finishing levels is available here.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - May 29, 2008 - As of June 1, 2008, Spectrum Plastics Group will be the new name of Midwest Plastic Components (MPC) headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. The former MPC purchased Peerless Injection Molding, Spectrum Plastics, and Dynacept in the last six months. The injection molding manufacturing companies and prototyping company are located in Southern California, Connecticut and New York, respectively.

 ”The new name, Spectrum Plastics Group, provides a more accurate description of our new footprint and capabilities,” explains CEO, Peter Thompson. “Each facility offers not only another location to existing customers but new services and capabilities, giving Spectrum Plastics Group an extremely well-rounded service offering that will certainly appeal to new customers as well.”  

 Debuting at MD& M East (Booth 1548) and Atlantic Design (Booth 212) shows, June 3 - 5 in New York, NY, Spectrum Plastics Group will be promoting their “Full Spectrum” of contract manufacturing services in the plastic injection molding industry. The acquisitions provide coverage across the US with contract manufacturing locations in each of the major medical OEM markets to better serve customers.

 The Spectrum Plastics Group California facility, formerly Peerless Injection Molding, located in Gardena, CA, offers a highly experienced staff with strong capabilities in engineering, injection molding, mold making and assembly services in several markets. In business for 31 years, the facility has tremendous potential for growth and is focused on servicing customers with locations along the west coast and southwest region. The facility currently produces and ships a significant amount of business to OEM’s who have established assembly facilities in the northern areas of Mexico.

 The Connecticut facility, formerly Spectrum Plastics, which is located in Ansonia, CT, will benefit most from the MD&M East show as it currently serves many Medical OEMs in the Northeast medical market. “Providing over 30 years of tight tolerance molding experience in the medical, electronics, consumer and industrial markets, this facility has room to expand with new and existing customers,” said Thompson.

 Also exhibiting at the New York show in the Atlantic Design area, Dynacept located in Brewster, NY, approximately 45 minutes from the Connecticut facility. Dynacept brings rapid prototyping and rapid tooling expertise, offering customers a well-rounded portfolio of services. Dynacept is a division of Spectrum Plastics Group and has been a leading rapid prototyping services bureau for over 34 years. Thompson said, “We are excited to provide our customers a full range of services from prototyping through production”.

Thompson states, “Midwest Plastic Components listened to our customers as we searched to expand our service offerings.  By acquiring these four successful and growing companies that shared a common customer focused strategy, selecting a new company name to reflect the breadth of our expanded capabilities and locations, we are now an integrated “One-Stop” company focused on the unique needs of each and every customer.”

 All three companies, Peerless Injection Molding, Dynacept, and Spectrum Plastics have outstanding reputations for quality manufacturing. Each business offers new and expanded capabilities to current and potential new customers while providing multiple geographic facility options for our common customers as well. These acquisitions enhance our business strategy and service offerings of providing contract manufactured quality injection molded components, sub-assemblies and finished goods delivered on-time.”

Contact:
Jane M. Burbach
Marketing Manager
Spectrum Plastics Group
Phone Direct: 952.927.2424
Email: jburbach@hq.spectrumplasticsgroup.com

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New Viper SLA Machine
New Haas CNC

 Related Items:

DMX-SL 100 Product Page
Tensile Bar Abuse Video
DMX-SL 100 Product Data Sheet

ln general, parts will become a bit stiffer and elongation at break will decrease after the thermal post cure process. Thermally post cured parts will also change color, turning slightly yellow / brown.  The picture below shows the color differences with parts built in Somos 10122 WaterClear Ultra before and after thermal post cure.  The process of thermal post curing parts can add an additional day to our normal speedy delivery.

A complete list of our resins and product data sheets can be found on our Downloads page. Resins that can be thermally post cured are called out. If you have any questions regarding thermal post cure, please contact one of our estimators, or your project manager.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – April 8, 2008 - Midwest Plastic Components (MPC), a contract manufacturer providing plastic injection molding services, has recently purchased three well established plastic molding companies, Peerless Molding, Dynacept Corporation, and Spectrum Plastics, to enhance the service offerings provided to customers.

The acquisition of Peerless Molding, located in Gardena, CA, took place on December 18, 2007. Continuing to do business as Peerless Molding, the plastic molding contract manufacturer specializes in injection molding, mold making and assembly services in the following markets: medical and dental devices, aerospace components, office and consumer products, industrial components, safety products, packaging and more. “Peerless Molding offers customers manufacturing in the California market with a highly experienced staff and facility,” states Peter Thompson, CEO, Midwest Plastic Components.

Dynacept Corporation, located in Brewster, NY was also acquired on December 18, 2007 and will operate as a division of Midwest Plastic Components. With over 34 years of industry experience, Dynacept Corporation brings rapid prototyping expertise to Midwest Plastic Components’ portfolio. Thompson said, “The ability to offer rapid prototyping sets MPC apart from other plastic contract manufacturers and provides our customers service continuity from the design stage all the way through production.”

The most recent acquisition, completed February 19, 2008, was Spectrum Plastics, which is located in Ansonia, CT, approximately 45 minutes from the Brewster, NY Dynacept facility. “With 30 years of tight tolerance molding experience in the medical, electronics, consumer and industrial markets, Spectrum compliments MPC with manufacturing in the Northeast market.” said Thompson.

Thompson states, “All three companies, Peerless Molding, Dynacept Corporation, and Spectrum Plastics have outstanding reputations for quality manufacturing. Each business offers new and expanded capabilities to the customer. These acquisitions broaden our service offerings and provide multiple geographic facility options for the customer. These acquisitions enhance our business strategy and service offerings of providing contract manufactured quality injection molded components, sub-assemblies and finished goods delivered on-time.”

Contact:
Jane M. Burbach
Marketing Manager
Midwest Plastic Components
Phone Direct: 952.927.2424
Email: jburbach@mpc-mn.com

Our Current Roster of CNC Equipment Includes:

• (2) Roders High Speed Machining Centers
• (2) Haas VM-2 Machining Centers
• (2) Haas VF-O Machining Centers
• Haas VF-2 Machining Center
• Fadal 4020 Machining Center
• Chevalier Mill with 3 axis Prototrak
• (3) Bridgeport Mills with 2 axis Prototraks
• (2) Bridgeport Mills with 3 axis Prototraks
• Bridgeport CNC Lathe with E-Z Path

Our current SLA machine roster includes:

• 7 Viper si2’s with Hi Resolution (HR) capabilities.
• 1 Viper Pro - The largest SLA build platform available.
• 1 SLA 5000.
• 1 SLA 3500.

SLA resins currently available:

• DSM Somos 18420 ProtoGen O-XT
• DSM Somos 11122 WaterShed XC
• DSM Somos 9120
• DSM Somos DMX-SL 100
• DSM Somos 10122 WaterClear Ultra (New)
• 3D Systems Accura 55 Plastic
• 3D Systems Accura 60 Plastic

Product data sheets available Here.

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OpenMoko
CAD Files
Dynacept Portfolio
OpenMoko Press Announcement

Click on each image for a larger view.

Uses for vacuum metalized parts include:

• Lamp reflectors.
• Kitchen & bath fixtures.
• Kitchen utensils & cookware.
• Hand & garden tools.

Contact your account manager to get your project started.

Related Items:

dynacept-finish-level-descriptions.pdf

Finish level descriptions- pdf (Updated)