| A Word from the Chair
"We are an organization For Users, By Users!" |
Time sure flies as the Executive Board continues to work hard to prepare for an outstanding 2009 3DS Users Group Conference in Daytona Beach, Florida. Now that our Agenda is set and your participation forms are coming in, I want to focus on your Sponsorship. As many of you know, our conference keeps low registration costs due to our awesome sponsors who provide help at many different levels. If you want to sponsor and also become a vendor at our two day Vendor Fair, please apply when you Register Online with Cvent. You can also visit our website at 3DSUG.org for more information.
Brian Bauman, DSM Somos & 2009 3DSUG Chairperson
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Question and AnswersSLA Finish Levels |
In a recent interview, Met-L-Flo President Carl Dekker, discussed frequently asked questions regarding stereolithography finish levels.
Q: What is Basic Finish?
A: The basic finish is our most frequently produced finish level for patterns. Your pattern will have all of the supports removed and the supported area sanded. Next the entire pattern will be liquid honed to produce a homogeneous finish. This finish is often used for fit and function evaluations where appearance is not critical.
Q: What is Mold Ready?
A: If your project requires cast replicates, this is your pattern. To achieve a mold ready finish, we begin by removing all supports and all stair- stepping from the visual surface. Any surface imperfections are also removed and the pattern has a primer applied to ensure features are duplicated accurately. This level of finish produces cast replicates with the consistency of production parts.
Q: What is Premium Finish?
A: At this level, your pattern will have all of the supports removed and the entire part will be sanded to remove all stair steps, producing smooth contours and radii. The entire pattern will then be liquid honed to produce a smooth, homogeneous finish. This finish level is ideal for spherical parts or parts with a lot of rounded edges.
Q: What is Photometric?
A: A photometric finished pattern will have all surface imperfections eliminated and a distinctive finish coat applied to it. These patterns are finished for molding to produce clear cast parts. This type of finish is used for covers that facilitate viewing of internal working parts and lenses for back lighting from optical sources or refraction of lighting.Q: What is Custom Finish?
A: Custom finishes can be used for focus groups, marketing presentations, trade shows, and new product launches or photo shoots. Examples include but are not limited to matte or high gloss paint finishing, standard or PMS matched paint colors, clear coating, texturing, logos and graphics.
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The Sorovetz Report
Four Months To Go! |
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It is hard to believe, but as I am writing this, we are only 123 days (or approximately 4 months) away from the start of the 2009 3DS Users Group Conference in sunny Daytona Beach, Florida. Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday we were just wrapping up a very successful 2008 User Conference.
As the Executive Board is working hard on the 2009 3DS Users Group Conference, I am asking everyone to find a new User, Vendor, and Sponsor for the event. Even though the tough economics times have been hard on the various industries, companies are still purchasing new and used 3D Systems equipment. If each one of us tracks down one new attendee, one new vendor, and one new sponsor this would help insure a very successful 2009 User Conference. Over the years, many attendees have asked of ways to get involved without being on the Executive Board. Going out and soliciting new attendees, vendors, and sponsors is definitely a great way of giving back to the User community
As budgets for travel is being highly scrutinized and in some cases non-existent, the Executive Board is working hard to help qualify the need to attend the 2009 3DS Users Group Conferenceto management. One of the ways we are doing this is by having more hands on training. The various Universities and Colleges as well as experts in the field will instruct these training courses. Upon completion of these hands on training programs, a Certificate of Completion will be available. The Executive Board is focused on making the 2009 3DS Users Group Conference a huge benefit for the attendee, so if you have any thoughts or suggestions to make it a better Conference please contact Brian Bauman at chairperson@3dsug.org.
See you in sunny Daytona Beach,
Thomas Sorovetz, Chrysler LLC & 3DSUG Site Coordinator
E: coordinator@3dsug.org |
| buyCASTINGS.com Recognized
Company Inducted to Inc. Magazine 500 List |
 Inc. Magazine recently recognized buyCASTINGS as number 240 on the 2008 Inc.500 list. The Inc.500 list celebrates the fastest-growing private companies in America. To establish the rankings, Inc. Magazine measures revenue growth from 2004 through 2007. Companies must be based in the U.S. and have had annual revenues of at least $200,000 in 2004 and $2 million in 2007. For more than 27 years, the Inc.5000 has served as a benchmark for the most innovative, dynamic, and successful companies in the nation. As an Inc.5000 honoree, buyCASTINGS is honored to now be a member of one of the most influential business clubs in America. Other Inc.5000 alumni include Bill Gates of Microsoft, Larry Ellison of Oracle, and many more. This achievement puts buyCASTINGS among an elite group that over the years has included Microsoft, Timberland, Cold Stone Creamery, Go Daddy, Intuit, Jamba Juice, Oracle, and UnderArmour. Many of today's most successful U.S. companies received their first public recognition when they appeared on the Inc. list. buyCASTINGS ranked No. 2 in Ohio and No. 32 in the Top 100 Business Services Companies. For more information, visit: www.buycastings.com. |
| Technical Awards Competition
Call For Participation: Winners Announced March 17, 2009 |
 At the 2009 3DS Users Group Conference in Daytona Beach, Florida, we will hold our Third Annual Technical Competition. This competition will recognize the outstanding work by members in categories of "Advanced Concepts" and "Advanced Finishing."
On Monday, March 16th, 2008, a panel of judges comprised of former "Dinosaur Award" recipients will judge user entries in two categories. The judges will select a winner and runnerup for each category. Awards will be presented to the winners and runner-ups at the annual Awards Banquet, Tuesday evening. In addition, complimentary conference tickets will be provided to the winners to attend RAPID 2009 Conference & Exposition organized by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) and Certificates of Participation will be presented to all entries.
This annual competition offers an excellent forum for members to present their innovative and advanced uses of 3D Systems technologies and to cast the spotlight on their finishing departments for their outstanding presentation of Stereolithography, Selective Laser Sintering, and 3D Printing models - bring your best show model and lets see how it stacks up to the competition!
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| 3DSUG 2009 Golf Scramble
The Legends Course Saturday, March 14, 2009 |
 LPGA International has two championship courses, each designed by an award winning architect. The Legends Course, designed by Arthur Hills, opened in October 1998. It compliments the first course, designed by Rees Jones, which opened in July 1994. Named the Champions course, the Jones links-style design has been selected for many awards such as GOLF Magazine's "Top Ten You Can Play" public access courses.
- $95 Per Person Price Includes:
Greens Fees w/ Cart plus Cart Gifts
Lunch at the Club
Prize Drawings
Driving Range w/ Unlimited Balls
Prizes for Skill
Signup Early! Anyone wishing to sponsor or donate prizes, please contact Bob Dzugan: rdzugan@buyCASTINGS.com or 937-259-1341. Download Golf Flyer for more information. |
| Industry News
New Websites |
 Orchard Park, New York Curbell Plastics, one of the nation's leading suppliers of plastic materials, has redesigned its website with an extensive array of product information, new functionality, and numerous technical resources for its visitors. The website, www.curbellplastics.com, features three key areas: products, markets, and technical resources. Each is designed to make information easy to find.
Langhorne, Pensylvania Paramount PDS is among the world's most experienced prototype manufacturers and providers of product development services, including product design and engineering, rapid prototyping, rapid tooling and new direct digital rapid manufacturing technology that produces custom parts direct from digital input. For more information visit www.paramountind.com.
Santa Clara, California Laser Reproductions launched its newest website addition-Rapid Quote at www.laserrepro.com. This online quoting system allows users to upload pertinent prototyping information to the Laser Web site and receive an accurate, electronic project quote within seconds. Now, Laser Reproductions can move customers through the prototyping process quicker, which allows customers to see their inventions come to fruition sooner than through the standard quoting process. Seattle, Washington
Nadra Angerman launched www.rapidproductdevelopment.biz to promote leaders in the Rapid Prototyping and Directed Manufacturing industy. Free corporate listing for all 3DSUG Sponsors! |
| Online Registration Available
Conference and Event Sign Up Has Never Been Easier! |
 Online registration for the 2009 3DS Users Group Conference is available on our website: | |
