Appliance Design - September 2007 - (Page 74) Enhanced Hardcoat Printability NEW BERLIN, WI – Tekra industrial coatings, such as Marnot and ProTek, have been tested to a heightened level of first surface (hardcoat side) printability with UV inks. With good adhesion even after 10 pre-exposure passes, Tekra’s standard hardcoats provide processors with important advantages. “Registering to a clear, even to a texture clear, is very difficult,” states one industry insider. “Allowing multiple color passes on the reverse side prior to running a texturing or clearing ink radically reduces scrap from poorly registered sheets.” During tests at Tekra’s Research and Development facility in New Berlin, WI, Tekra hardcoats significantly outperformed other hardcoats in adhesion after 10 or more passes through typical UV energy exposures prior to printing on the first surface. The testing verified that the 10 pass capability existed on both polycarbonate and polyester hardcoat substrates. According to Tekra, the tests demonstrate that its hardcoats allow much greater latitude in part design compared with other industrial hardcoats, which commonly require that the first pass be texturing ink. SOFTWARE These issues often force engineering partners and suppliers to purchase several CAD systems or invest in costly translation software for each CAD format they deal with. “This is unrealistic for many partners,” says John Clauson, CAD and drafting manager at the INDAK Group, a provider of design and manufacturing services to many of the world’s largest automotive, electronics, and appliance companies. “Unfortunately, there have been few effective alternatives to address the problems.” To overcome the challenge, INDAK started using the latest version of Acrobat 3D to convert various CAD files received from customers to neutral formats like STEP or IGES without needing expensive CAD translators. Within Acrobat 3D Version 8, all translators for major CAD formats are included and a highly compressible, precise B-rep solid model is maintained. “People involved in downstream manufacturing processes like tool and mold design or CNC machining can now access versatile, reliable 3D CAD data,” says Clauson. 800-448-3572 www.tekra.com © 2007 Tekra Corporation For more Information Enter 150 AD09074Tek2.indd 1 Engaging partners 8/14/07 9:42:22 AMDesign approaches built on collaborating TOWER– QUALITY TO PROTECT PEOPLE LCDIs • GFCIs • ALCIs LCDI GFCI ALCI • Customized to meet your specs • Priced from our own Asian plant to keep you competitive • Customer service from our USA headquarters for quick satisfaction TOWERManufacturing Corporation 25 Reservoir Avenue, Providence, RI 02907 • Tel: 401-467-7550 • Fax: 401-461-2710 early and often result in quicker detection of problems — when they are cheaper and faster to fix — accelerated design cycles, reduced development costs, and happier customers. The key is finding tools that overcome traditional obstacles to sharing information and working on files, so that project teams can access details anytime and anyplace. In today’s dispersed environments, where dozens of people in downstream engineering and manufacturing processes rely on every project document produced, better collaboration strategies are necessities. “We’ve seen major advantages by improving how we manage and exchange 3D models across our design team, partners, and customers,” says Dominick from Atrus. “Whether we’re early in the design process, working with manufacturers, or communicating final product information to customers, the power of engaging, easily accessible project documents cannot be underestimated.” < For more information, enter number. . . . . . . . . . 307 www.towermfg.com For more Information Enter 151 74 applianceDESIGN AD09074Tow2.indd 1 September 2007 8/2/07 10:28:44 AM www.applianceDESIGN.com http://www.tekra.com http://www.tekra.com http://www.towermfg.com http://www.towermfg.com http://www.appliancedesign.com
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