Product category:
Materials and components
News Release from: Martello | Subject: ThinRim resins
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 03 December 2002
DAB receiver is a case for prototyping
The product development team for the novel Pocket DAB radio selected Martello Design to produce prototype caseworks and ultimately a preproduction run of 65 sets of parts.
An exciting new era in radio reception has arrived with the launch of a pocket sized digital audio broadcasting receiver, offering high quality audio accompanied by text and pictures The Pocket DAB radio was designed by Roke Manor Research near Romsey, Hampshire, part of the Siemens group of companies
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 9 Oct 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Rapid low-cost tooling speeds small-batch pieces
Martello is claiming a breakthrough in rapid low-cost tooling for short production runs of plastic mouldings.
Moulding process cuts down on production tooling
Leak detector manufacturer Primayer needed a manufacturing process that would deliver high quality products with minimal outlay on production tooling.
The Pocket DAB is a marvel of miniaturisation, incorporating a sophisticated DAB receiver and a full dot matrix display in an ergonomically designed case measuring just 50 x 76 x 24mm.
The headphones supply digital quality sound while doubling as the receiving antenna.
The product development team at Roke Manor selected Martello Design to produce prototype caseworks and ultimately a preproduction run of 65 sets of parts.
The original prototypes were machined in aluminium on Martello's high speed machining centre with full use being made of the digitally controlled indexing head to vary the orientation of the workpiece.
Cutters as small as 0.5mm diameter were required with spindle speeds up to 40,000rev/min.
The preproduction series were produced in Martello's proprietary ThinRim polyurethane resins using silicone rubber moulds generated from machined patterns.
The casework and battery cover were manufactured in a robust 'ABS-like' polyurethane, fully pigmented in a range of colours.
The LCD windows were produced in a UV stable, water clear resin and the key buttons in a tough, elastomeric polyurethane.
Although Martello uses rapid prototyping masters for many projects, machined patterns were preferred on this occasion due to the fine details of the design and the requirement for excellent cosmetic finish.
The patterns also ensured consistency and accuracy between repeat silicone rubber moulds.
Martello's ThinRim resins are widely used for production caseworks for electronic and medical equipments and are available in high temperature, UV stable and flame retardant variants of the 'ABS-like' resin.
Elastomeric resins are available for keymats, overmoulds and seals in a range of Shore hardness ratings from 10 to 95A.
• Martello: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Engineeringtalk email newsletter
• Engineeringtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
