2012

  1. home
  2. blog
  3. 2012
Realize Employee Profiles – Dana Andrews

Realize Employee Profiles – Dana Andrews

 

What do you do at Realize?

 

Finishing. I get the machines cleaned up sanded, painted, whatever needs to be done. Take prototypes out of the SLA machines and soak them in a solution and release the excess resin. We use a two bath alcohol rinse, depending on the material we will clean it up and blow dry it…we use syringes, toothbrushes, and other large brushes.

 

What is the strangest item you have used to finish a part?

 

We will use a guitar string…they are small and can penetrate tiny openings and get the resin out. During the curing process we sometimes insert the string into tiny holes that may look like they have excess resin in them…don’t want the hole to close up….if it does we may need to re-do the part.

 

Most difficult part of your job?

 

Actually getting it off the platform or grid from the SLA machine…removing parts without breaking them is the toughest part…it can be 5 seconds or 50 minutes…every prototype is different.

 

What attributes are needed to be a finisher?

 

Detailed oriented, patient, and you can’t be afraid to get a little dirty! Not the cleanest job…we don’t wear anything too expensive in our department.

 

Name some of your favorite things in the world.

 

Panning for gold. The Travel Channel gold-rush fascinates me….geology….gem or jewelry side of things…my favorite gem is the sapphire. I’ve been out mining for them in Montana…and learned how to cut gems….
ATV 4 wheeling….outdoors….hiking…golf…I’m somewhere around a 20 handicap.

 

How does Realize do things differently than the competition?

 

I think that if someone is unhappy we go out of our way to resolve the issue….we go that extra step that other companies tend not to bother with.

 

Favorite meal?

 

Anything barbecued…pulled bbq pork, scalloped potatoes, and a good salad with Italian dressing..and cheesecake for dessert.

 

What music are you listening to right now?

 

I listen to the rock of the 70’s and 80’s and light jazz….one of my favs is Tom Petty.

 

You can take two movies with you to space…which do you bring?

 

James Bond with Ursala Andress…Dr. No and the Godfather.

 

One word that describes you?

 

Diversified.

 

One personal thing you would like to Rapid Prototype?

 

I would like to have a 3D prototype of my family….my sister and parents.

 

[lenslider id=”c76f2e89f1″]

December 19, 2012
mereedRealize Employee Profiles – Dana Andrews
read more
The Realize Process

The Realize Process

One thing that’s exciting about visiting Realize is the tour of our facility.

Rapid Prototyping not only sounds like something cool, it’s an interesting process.

Watching the team take on new projects is something special…so I snuck in one day and bothered them to give you this report.

I give you…the Realize process…or at the very least my version of it:)  Enjoy  – Ray

 

Step 1 – contact

Our friendly client success managers will answer and ask questions to find out the scope of your project to find the best solutions for you, in between group sing a longs and youtube viewing parties of course.

Friendly CSM!

Step 2 – Quoting

We will then work on getting your quote. It’s a formula driven estimate that combines equipment and a human element. And other technical stuff too I’m sure…but could not find pictures of that.

Some serious staged pointing going on here.

 Step 3- Stereolithography process

Once we agree on a direction for your project then we execute the stereolithography process. This is science and art driven. Our expertise will provide the best part in the end. I misspelled Stereolithography several times in this post btw.

NEVER stare directly into the lasers…

 Step 4 – The Machines!

Our machines not only are state of the art, we also have named each of them after supermodels. It’s where science and fun come together in a truly magical way.

Rapid Prototyping has never looked better!

Step 5 – Clean up

The clean up process involves several steps. Removing Support, liquid resin stripped away and a curing process. There are many secrets we can’t reveal that occur during this phase…I could tell you but then I would have to…well you know.

[lenslider id=”d2ed814d73″]

Step 6-Delivery

You will get the finest prototype part that can be created combining technology and the human element…and some candy too!

What is a part, or anything really without some candy?

 

December 12, 2012
mereedThe Realize Process
read more
Realize Employee Profiles – Brian Cazzell

Realize Employee Profiles – Brian Cazzell

Brian Cazzell


What do you do at Realize?


I’m a Client Success Manager – manage and oversee projects and quotes for clients. Finding solutions for prototyping challenges, helping them pick out material. Finding a different way to make parts. It’s a collaborative effort with the client.


What separates Realize from the competition?


Personalized service and we have an expert level of knowledge. We deliver project management, not just at sale but we are with you through the entire project. Most places seem to be behind the scenes, we are hands on. We assist in picking out production materials. For example a client calls in with an order that will be a polyethylene based plastic at a production level and they are looking for something in the Rapid Prototyping world that will mimic that…we consult and discuss all the resin choices. We try to educate them upfront about price vs quality.


Name some of your favorite things in the world.


Music, electric guitar (Ibanez RG old beater put together pieces parts) and my fav amp is a PV JSX half stack can’t turn up past one..it shakes the house. If you asked me to play something for you it would be Crushing Day  by Joe Satriani. I love motor sports of all kinds. Enjoy watching my son take off  in sports like football and track. I have two boys 14 and 17…one is in culinary arts at high school


Favorite meal?


Good country fried steak mashed potatoes and gravy – it’s best in Texas… really at any  restaurant..


What music are you listening to right now?


Foo Fighters on Spotify was the most recent thing…


You can take two movies with you to space…which do you bring?


Vacation – the original, and Nacho Libre


One word that describes you?


Consistent.


One item from your life that you would like to Rapid Prototype?


My 72 Gran Torino Ford….I went to car shows with my family and bought the car at one so it meant a lot to me….

[lenslider id=”6ca35dedb6″]

December 7, 2012
mereedRealize Employee Profiles – Brian Cazzell
read more
Realize and the Materialise AM Forum

Realize and the Materialise AM Forum

Realize traveled to the Materialise AM Forum in Leuven, Belgium to learn and be a part of something special.

AM stands for Additive Manufacturing which describes technologies that can be used anywhere throughout the product life cycle from pre-production (i.e. rapid prototyping) to full scale production and even for tooling applications or post production customization.

The Materialise AM Forum is for high level owners and decision makers for Internal and External Services Bureaus.  It’s a chance to see the latest in software development for AM and to mingle with experts in AM. Many of the participants learn from each other and really remain in close contact after. The event took place October 21–23. This was the 3rd time the event was offered.

Jamie Milas, the marketing manager for Materialise enjoys the inspirational tone, “I love hosting the AM Forum’s at our Headquarters in Belgium. It’s very rewarding to see everyone talking and sharing ideas. There’s a strong sense of excitement and inspiration in the air.”

Materialise 2012

Abbey Delaney, a marketing manager from Materialise, talks about the scope and experience of the event, “18 companies from all over the globe attended, including 9 from North America, 8 from Europe, and 1 from Asia.  We also asked Realize and others to present on their real life experiences with e-Stage and Streamics.  These testimonials got the audience excited at the potential that both e-Stage and Streamics could bring their business. Prior to the conclusion of the event, each company had the opportunity to sit down in a one-on-one meeting with top management and other key people of RP&M. These meetings were key for creating momentum toward future sales.”

The team at Materialise interacted with Realize, Inc President Todd Reese at the event.

“We are very grateful to Todd and Realize for being an instrumental part of our event.  His presentation talking about their hands on experience with e-Stage helped show other customers how truly beneficial the solution can be. We value our relationship with Realize and look forward to working together more.”

Todd had an amazing experience at Materialise and enjoyed making new connections.

“Realize has been using Materialise software solutions since early 2010, and we’ve become a big fan.  It was an honor and a pleasure to speak about e-Stage, a software solution that has really made an impact in our SLA operation.”

Group photo at Materialise AM Forum 2012.

 

November 16, 2012
mereedRealize and the Materialise AM Forum
read more

Realize rockets out to space!

Realize and Rockets

What do Realize and rocket engines have in common?

They are both working with Shirley, Indiana company Tech Castings.

Tech Castings – Shirley, IN

 

Tech Castings manufactures engine parts for rockets!

Realize provides them with stereolithography patterns which they use to cast aerospace engine parts.

Jeff Lantz is the owner/CEO of Tech Castings and we talked with him about the project.

“What’s great about working with Realize is how fast the turn around is in getting the patterns needed for our parts. If we used traditional methods to order these items it would take weeks or months for them to come in, with Realize we send it over and can have it in a few days. That is a huge advantage for us.”

 

Tech Casting CEO/Owner Jeff Lantz displaying an SLA pattern after a coating of shell material.

 

Tech Castings and Realize work together in order to create what will become working components for a rocket engine.

We have produced seven unique geometries, and hundreds of SLA patterns for Tech Castings to investment cast into rocket aerospace engine parts.

“When Tech Castings first approached us about supplying SLA patterns for their investment casting foundry, we were excited about the opportunity, but recognized the challenge in producing the high-quality patterns they required and expected.  Working closely with Jeff and his team allowed us to ramp up rapidly, which was critical in meeting the aggressive delivery schedule his customer required.  It has been a great partnership and we’re proud to play a small part in such a neat program.” says Realize President, Todd Reese.

 

Here are some photos of the process.

A 30lb shell encapsulates an SLA pattern for the engine manifold.

The shell is placed into a furnace where 2000 degrees burns out the SLA pattern.

November 7, 2012
mereedRealize rockets out to space!
read more