All posts tagged: products

Realize 3D printed service parts for vintage cars

Realize, Inc. partners with Calsonic Kansei to create new parts for vintage vehicles.

Realize has been helping a company to fulfill the needs of a client in looking for replacement parts of vintage instruments in older vehicles. This required team work between the two organizations to come up with the right solutions to get the needed results from the parts. Our team used our collective knowledge about SLA and 3D Printing to find the right answers and provide the right look and feel to make their customers satisfied.

Alan Conlu, Sales Manager at Realize, was thrilled to be working on this project with Calsonic Kansei.  

 “We were excited about the challenge Calsonic Kansei presented us with this unique project. Upon hearing about their intended use as OEM(original equipment manufacturer) parts and after some initial test runs, we were glad to hear that painted SLAs were going to work as suitable replacements parts. Over the years, we’ve worked closely with their team to perfect our process in order to match the quality and look of the original parts. They have been a valued client ever since and we hope to continue to work with them in any way we can.”

 

We talked with Geoff Lackey, Sr. Manager Purchasing Department at CKNA about the experience working with Realize.

Providing service parts for OEM’s is somewhat difficult at times, because there are several issues to contend with; tooling that is no longer available or has no life left. Finding alternate or new suppliers and tooling is equally difficult due to lack of interest from potential suppliers for low-volume parts, as well as internal funding issues for new tooling. However, our customers prefer to hear what we can do, not what we cannot do. So we reached out to Realize, Inc., not knowing whether the type of service they provide could solve our issues.  But we ordered some samples, trialed them, received customer approval, and have not only shipped replacement parts to customers who were waiting on their vehicles to be repaired, but are now using SLA parts from Realize, Inc. to fulfill these ongoing service orders. Specifically, we manufacture instrument clusters for a major Japanese OEM, and Realize, Inc. has helped us maintain our on-time delivery rating with this customer.  We appreciate the solution they provide!”

For Realize these are the types of stories we like to share. Just a small example of what makes our job so exciting and fulfilling. Working together with a client to make what was difficult and challenging a reality. Advancing excellence!

RayRealize 3D printed service parts for vintage cars
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The Realize Photo of the Week

We created this 3D Printed Hellcat wheel prototype for DSM and after a US tour of trade shows we are now featuring this beauty as the Realize Photo of the Week!

3dprintedwheel

mereedThe Realize Photo of the Week
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The Realize BB8 Gift

Sometimes the things we do can expand out in ways never imagined. In this case, a video about a project we worked on lead us to a brave young man that is fighting a difficult battle everyday.

After posting the videos and stories about our Star Wars BB8 3D Printing project, our President(Todd Reese) was contacted with a special request. Our video about the creation of the prototype was shared with a courageous young man named Gavin and he was thrilled that we worked on the BB8 project, as he is a huge Star Wars fan. Sadly, he has been very ill recently and didn’t get to see the new movie. In some small way watching our video helped perk him up a bit. He has a disease called Mitochondrial Disease which is now causing him to have a variety of side effects and other illnesses. The request was; if they were to send us a mini BB8 robot, would the Realize team sign it for him. Of course we were thrilled that, in some small way, we could make Gavin smile and made a plan to do as much as we could.

Gavin watching the Realize BB8 video.

Gavin watching the Realize BB8 video.

We decided to 3D Print him an X-wing fighter, light saber & included some other goodies too.

The goods

The goods

Another local business owner found out about this story and was kind enough to contact us and include some of her products customized just for Gavin. The owner of Sweet Home Cupcakes, Nazarine Terstegge, donated BB8 cake pops and decorated some pretzel logs to look like light sabers for him. Thanks for your kindness!

Nazerine from Sweet Home Cupcakes.

 

The best part.

The best part.

Here is a description about the disease from Gavin’s grandmother.

 

“When Gavin was diagnosed, it was rare. The more research they do on it, the more they connect it with other auto immune, and genetic diseases. Gavin’s started with tremors that affected his whole body. He has several kinds of seizures, sometimes several a day. It has affected his brain and his speech. His thought process is very slow. One of the main things that has affected Gavin, is he has no energy. He is in a wheelchair. The chair isn’t needed in the house. He has been in Hospice care for 2 years. Something as simple as the flu can kill him. He’s a fighter, and is a very brave little guy.”

 

To learn more about this disease and how you can help:

Gavin’s Facebook page  & More information on the disease

We wish Gavin many more days filled with smiles and joy. May the force be with you Gavin.

BB8 for Gavin

BB8 for Gavin

mereedThe Realize BB8 Gift
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Realize 3D Printed Star Wars Project

The Realize, Inc. Star Wars Project

Realize was thrilled to take part in the creation of a 3D Printed version of the BB8 Droid from Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens. The prototype was used to create the display models of BB8 which were in stores across the country for Force Friday. This is the story of how we received the project and how we decided to make a fully realized version for ourselves. Enjoy and may the force be with you!

 

 

Music by Brian Cazzell
Thanks to the Realize team for all of their hard work and enthusiasm on this exciting project.

3d printed BB8_PaintFinal_08 (1)
mereedRealize 3D Printed Star Wars Project
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The Realize Featured Project: The Feinger

At Realize we have many different projects and ideas for prototypes that come through our doors. It’s always exciting to take on a new challenge and help develop new ideas clients bring to us. We also enjoy reflecting on the product and experience once it’s completed and out in the market. We talked with the creators of The Feinger about the development of their product, the 3D printing/additive manufacturing industry, and what they are up to now.

 

dash hand still

1- Tell us about your business/product and how we started working together.

 

Our business is the Feinger, we are manufactures of a mobile device accessory that allows a user to secure their device on their hand, in their vehicle, home or office, literally anywhere with a flat surface. Our product is very sensitive to fit and we knew we had to get prototypes made prior to building our production die. After searching through Indianapolis listings, we found Realize and immediately reached out for a consultation.

 

2- How did you use Realize and 3D Printing to help with your project?

 

We were able to implement Realize 3D printing to test different designs to find the best fit for our product. Without this ability to visualize and physically test our concept, the production die development would have been much more costly and lengthy.

 

3- How do you think you will use additive manufacturing in the future and are there any new directions or capabilities you would like to see in the industry?

 

After experiencing the value of Realize, we will continue to use additive manufacturing during each product development. Again, in order for our product to be successful our fit of our ball and socket design must be precise. The implementation of additive manufacturing has allowed us to save so much time and money by being able to physically inspect the concept. If there were anything I would have changed in regards to the industry, it would be to continue to improve the resins to simulate particular plastic combinations a bit more accurately and reducing breakdown.

 

DSC00664

4- What were the biggest challenges with creating the parts we did for you?

 

Obviously there were not many challenges at all working with your organization. Everyone was always very friendly and professional that we interacted with. Again, the only possible change that I could see that may have benefited us is the ability to get the order resin finish to be able to test the ball and socket it as it is popped on and off.

 

5- What is something that you personally would like to have 3D Printed?

 

Personally, because I am so intimately involved with our product, it is hard to think of anything other than an our concepts in development. We have some very exciting things happening in regards to integrating our product into cell phone cases, developing pocket clips, and a universal handle bar mount that can be used on a bike, motorcycle, baby stroller, grocery cart, literally anything with a bar. However on a lighter note, if I was able to get something printed for fun, it would be a bust of Albert Einstein.

 

6- What else do we need to know about The Feinger and where can we get one?

 

The Feinger is an exciting new accessory that is just beginning to developed a strong market. Our product is the most versatile compared to all of our competition. The product is affordable and available online at www.thefeingernow.com We will soon be launching a selection of popular smart phone cases that will be Feinger ready. This will allow for no mistakes during installation and we are very excited as we believe it will get a better response from consumers. Pop It, Lock It, You Won’t Drop It!TM

 

COLOR CAEES III

mereedThe Realize Featured Project: The Feinger
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