FORECAST3D GENIUS™
The Future of Fire Fighting
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Factory Headquarters
San Diego, CA
2221 Rutherford Road
Carlsbad, CA 92009-1541
toll-free: 800-549-5414
fax: 760-929-9357
Todd Chezum
main: 760-929-9380
email: Todd@Forecast3D.com
Carlsbad, CA
Brian Lau
main: 714-546-1133
email: Brian@Forecast3D.com
Orange County, CA
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main: 818-654-5994
email: Nicole@Forecast3D.com
Los Angeles, CA
Jared Probst
main: 510-894-3271
email: Jared@Forecast3D.com
San Fransisco, CA
Whitaker White
main: 801-704-0932
email: Whit@Forecast3D.com
Salt Lake City, UT
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main: 951-302-1383
email: Leslie@Forecast3D.com
Pheonix, AZ
David Helms
main: 770-454-7331
email: DHelms@Forecast3D.com
Southeastern U.S.
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main: 317-288-7346
email: Scott@Forecast3D.com
Midwest U.S.
Chris Boensel
main: 781-963-4049
email: Chris@Forecast3D.com
Northeastern U.S.
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In August, a crew for the Discovery Channel's new program Prototype This! paid a visit to Forecast 3D's headquarters to film and document the product development process -- the latest innovations in personal protective gear for urban firefighters. Prototype This! debuted October 15, 2008. During the show its hosts conceived, designed and prototyped an array of gadgets, consumer electronics and industrial devices. Forecast 3D product development services will be featured during one of the episodes in the 13-week series.
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| FROM PROTOTYPE TO PRODUCTION |
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 Great Minds Think Alike
Discovery Channel Prototype This! hosts inspect a torso unit of the Pyro Pack prototype moments after delivery. Several components were prototyped at Forecast 3D in California using the Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) process. The Prototype This! hosts' diverse combination of personality and expertise make for a promising new reality show certain to capture the attention of product development enthusiasts everywhere. Prototype This! hosts include:
- Zoz Brooks: Ph.D. Robotics from MIT
- Joe Grand: President of Grand Ideas and Make Magazine Advisory Board Member
- Terry Sandin: 18-Year Film Industry Veteran
- Mike North: Ph.D. Material Sciences w/ Biometrics Specialty
Photo, from left: Zoz Brooks, Unknown Camerman, Joe Grand, Terry Sandin, Mike North. Photo Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News
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| RAPID PROTOTYPING TECHNOLOGY |
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 SLS, SLA & DMLS
Prototype This! co-host Joe Grand demonstrates the future of firefighting equipment with a hand freeing device intended to allow a firefighter to direct dry-chem from an extinguisher onto a fire without hands. Forecast 3D prototyped the arm unit using EOS material and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) -- a process chosen for its ability to build integral moving parts with complex shapes.
Not shown in picture: Forecast 3D delivered waterclear Stereolithography (SLA) and polished Direct Metal Laser Sintered (DMLS) components for a firefighter headset that will also appear during the Prototype This! episode.
Photo: Joe Grand. Photo Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News
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| INDUSTRIAL DESIGN |
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 Reverse Engineering & Laser Scanning
Prototype This! co-host Mike North assists Joe Grand as a backpack prototype is adjusted to his frame. During the project's early conceptualization stage, geometrical data of a human torso was captured using a 3D laser scanning system. The data was then manipulated by Scott Summit who is an industry leader in Industrial Design (ID) and the principal and founder of Summit ID, who reverse engineered a human frame in order to create CAD data for prototyping the custom-fit backpack. The design called for a large ball and socket joint and due its the complexity, Forecast 3D used Selective Laser Sintering (SLS). Once the build was complete and the loose powder knocked down, the component fit perfectly to the shape of a human torso.
The Pyro Pack is intended to house a dry-chem fire extinguisher, oxygen tank, battery pack and lights -- safety gear firefighters normally carry by hand.
Photo, from left: Unknown Cameraman, Mike North, Terry Sandin and Joe Grand. Photo Credit: Daniel Terdiman/CNET News | |
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Forecast 3D and Directed MFG, are leading providers of rapid prototyping, rapid manufacturing, direct digital manufacturing and injection molding services. The 45,000 sq. ft. ISO9001 compliant facility headquarters Forecast 3D and Directed MFG, a subsidiary company which produces AS9100B certified SLS and DMLS parts. The company's combined capabilities include Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Hybrid RTV Tooling, Injection Molding, Industrial Machining (CNC), ProCAST RTV (a proprietary in-house process for casting urethane, silicone, epoxies and elastomers), Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and Metal Casting. In 2002, the company developed a Hybrid Tooling process that combines resin casting with CNC machining technologies, further advancing innovation in the rapid prototyping and direct manufacturing industries. Forecast 3D was established in 1994 and Directed MFG was established in 2006. For more information, visit our recently redesigned websites: |
| www.forecast3d.com | www.directedmfg.com More news at: www.rapidproductdevelopment.biz |
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