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Oxford Instruments: Desktop Magnet designed by Crucible Industrial Design

Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is renowned for producing functional parts that are durable enough to withstand extensive testing and assembly trials. However, there is considerably more to SLS than just tough parts, as it is also possible to produce a high standard of aesthetic finish with the right skills and equipment.

3T RPD Ltd has a team of highly skilled modelmakers who offer a range of finishing techniques, generating parts with quality aesthetics that are often comparable to the final manufactured item. Various levels of finishing are available, from the application of a single coat of paint to a fully finished marketing model with a high gloss finish. The inclusion of additional parts such as mechanical components or screw threads produces fully working prototypes, with minimal time added to the delivery.

These bespoke services enable the designer to see their creations in 3D reality, clearly and effectively demonstrating their features and benefits, and ultimately allowing them to sell the concept more effectively to their customer or end user.

Crucible Industrial Design Ltd were able to take advantage of 3T's expertise in this area when their customer, Oxford Instruments, asked them to develop casings and production methods for a new range of desktop magnets for analysing a range of substances, including moisture in food. 3T produced a fully painted model of the product, successfully combining the functionality of SLS with high quality aesthetics.

The model was launched at PITTCON in May 2006 and the results have been very successful, including a prize for design excellence in the 13th annual International Business Outlook (IBO) Industrial Design Awards in Los Angeles. The prototype was the basis for the mould that would eventually be used to produce the unit's polyurethane casing.

Barry Jones, Business Manager of Process NMR for Oxford Instruments' Molecular Biotools Division says, "Crucible's design thoroughly deserves the International Business Outlook Award. It has given our new range of benchtop NMR instruments a refreshing new look that is a significant departure from traditional designs. Although it has only recently been launched into the market, we are already receiving some very positive feedback and we're confident the design will contribute to the success of this product."

For further information relating to 3T's finishing services, please contact them on 01635 580284 or email post@3trpd.co.uk to discuss your project in more detail.

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3T RPD LTD
Fulton Court, Wofford Way, New Greenham Park, Newbury, Berkshire, RG19 6HD, UK
Telephone: +44 (0)1635 580284 | Fax: +44 (0)1635 569857 | E-mail: post@3trpd.co.uk