Finalists in Prototype Design Award announced

An Accelerated Technologies product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 15, 2001

Accelerated Technologies has announced finalists in the WaterClear 2001 Prototype Design Award competition, which showcases the design opportunities made possible by WaterClear resin

Accelerated Technologies has announced finalists in the WaterClear 2001 Prototype Design Award competition.

The award showcases unique design opportunities made possible by the recent release of DSM Somos 10120 WaterClear optically-clear prototyping resin.

Entries are being accepted until October 15, 2001, 11:59 pm EST.

Various prizes are awarded to all winners, and the grand prize winner will receive a trip to Frankfurt, Germany for the Euromold Fair, a Palm m505 handheld product, a free WaterClear model, and $5000 in rapid prototyping services.

Finalists to-date include: Douglas D Greenwood, owner, Product Development Services, Durham, N.C., whose entry features WaterClear prototype models of the human nasal passage enabling improved visualization and analysis of air/particulate flow for toxicity studies.

Mr.Amardeep Singh, Senior Project Engineer, Smith International, Houston, Texas, whose conceptual sports bike, The Singh Raptor benefits from a WaterClear prototype model.

The transparent clarity of the part displays the intent of the design in an accurate and favorable way, emphasizing the styling of the exterior body without hiding the details of the frame, engine and other components.

Mr.Ron Barranco, owner, 3D Guys, Kihei, Hawaii, whose Paintball Marker design previously depended on expensive animations as operational representations.

Using WaterClear prototypes enables a clear visual of the complex nature of the design's air passages and helps in establishing an understanding of the critical seal and operation of the mechanisms.

The WaterClear 2001 Prototype Design Award has generated worldwide entries from as far west as Hawaii and as far east as Israel.

Contest entries are evaluated on four factors including a demonstration of the power and benefits of optically- clear rapid prototypes, the uniqueness of concept or application, visual impact, and originality.

Other entries of note include: A Smartsite valve designed by Mr.Karl Leinsing, Senior Design Engineer, Alaris Medical Systems, Creedmoor, NC, in which the use of WaterClear prototypes allows a view of the inner workings of the valve to better understand how it works.

A bottle design by Alexander Ekrut, Mechanical Engineer, Design and Assembly Concepts, Georgetown, Texas featuring a snap feature for retention during non-use plus an open center section into which a cold packet can be inserted to keep water cool.

Using WaterClear prototypes in this application provides the ability to review snap mechanisms and to actually see how the snap bends and flexes by looking through the water bottle.

Geometric sculptor, Dr.George W Hart, Northport, NY, used WaterClear to create an engaging structure which provides what he describes as "an aesthetic mathematical experience for the viewer - open - light - crystalline, unique, and most beautiful." The WaterClear 2001 Prototype Design Award is an opportunity for designers to demonstrate their expertise to the world.

Winning entries, selected by an independent panel of expert judges, will be shared through visibility in major national and international trade publications.

Judges include: Terry Wohlers, President, Wohlers Associates, Jeffrey Rowe, Contributing Editor, MCADCafe.com, Jean Hoffman, Associate Editor, Machine Design, Pat Toensmeier, Editor-in-Chief, Modern Plastics, Jim Reitz, Business Manager, DSM Somos and Mike Durham, General Manager, Accelerated Technologies,.