Navigator #6, October 2000

Load, Reload and UPLOAD

Transferring files just got easier! Now you can go to www.vistatek.com and upload files to our web site. It is as easy as clicking the mouse. On Vista's homepage, there is an icon to upload files. After clicking on the icon, the directions will lead the way. You can still send us files by e-mail at prototype@vistatek.com or by uploading them to our FTP site. Just remember, please attach a company name, your name, and phone and fax number. This way, you can get your quote faster. Click, click, click!

Expanding Sales Force

Vista Technologies, LLC is once again exceeding your expectations this time with customer service and care. With so many new customers jumping on board to use Vista for their prototyping needs, Vista wants to make sure new and current customers receive the attention and care they deserve.

Vista's sales staff has increased to four people. Outside sales representatives will handle the Twin Cities and five-state region. This will make handling accounts in Maple Plain, Eden Prairie, Red Wing, Wisconsin and the Dakotas more convenient.

The two new sales reps are Doug Knapp and Jason Lilla. Doug comes to Vista with more than 15 years of experience as a manufacturing sales representative in the food service and medical industries. He lives in Minnetonka with his wife and three children. Doug enjoys fishing, hunting, golfing and helping coach his kids' soccer and baseball teams.

Jason has five years of sales experience with a beverage distributor and an education background in sales and marketing. Jason is married and lives with his wife and golden retriever in Woodbury. Jason enjoys his free time playing golf, hockey, and softball.


Doug Knapp (left) handles southwest Twin Cities, along with South Dakota and western Iowa. Jason Lilla (right) handles east-side Twin Cities along with Wisconsin.

More Capacity

Vista Technologies, LLC has brought in another SLA 5000. This machine was purchased to replace the smaller SLA 3500. With this strategic decision, Vista has more capacity to run larger parts, more parts, and run them faster. This helps our customers with price and lead time. Vista is now eqipped with five SLA machines; three SLA5000s and two SLA250s. The SLA5000 has a platform size of 20x20x23 inches, which is the largest platform of its kind. With the addition of the new equipment, Vista has become one of the premiere state-of-the-art facilities in the region.

Texture

Vista Technologies, LLC is now offering advanced texturing on SLAs. This new method of texturing is applied to the outside of the SLA. The texture can mimic any pattern from snakeskin and starts to circles and heavy EDM finish.

Once the Texture is applied, it can be painted over for a show sample or it can be used as a master pattern for RTV molding or epoxy tooling. The texture is passed onto the parts that are pulled from the original mold.

The cost of texturing is a few hundred dollars and can be completed in several days. For more details, please contact your sales rep for samples.

Rapid Prototyping Notes:
Still Pushing

Vista Technologies, LLC is still pushing the envelope on the uses and practically of stereolithography in different applications. The most recent experimentation was done in blow molding. With the help of Imperial Custom Mold, we made molds to blow mold for a small football. The molds were made using a form of "Direct Aim" mold building. The mold is constructed by using an SLA outer shell that contains all of the part details. Shells are then filled with aluminum-filled epoxy. During the backfilling operation, cooling coils are inserted so they are situated approximately an eighth inch from the SLA shell.

If you would like to see pictures of the Direct Aim process of mold building, the procedure is well documented in the Volume 2, Number 1 issue of The Navigator. The experimentation in blow molding was successful. The football was blow molded from polyethelene. After fifty shots there appeared to be no wear on the tools. The blow molding was done at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) with shop air at 125 psi. Care does have to be taken when clamping pressure. Damage was done to the mold resulting in excessive flashing and more part clean up.


Pictured here: A SLA blow mold backed with a 2-part aluminum epoxy

Trade Shows 2000

Trade Shows 2000 Vista is currently committed to the four trade shows for the year 2000. The Pro-E Users Group (conference & trade show) was held April 13th at St Anthony Main in Minneapolis. This was our third year in attendance, and it was great to see a lot of familiar faces! Look for us at these upcoming tradeshows.

• Biomedical Focus
  July 17-18, 2000
• AmCon -- American Contract Manufacturers Show
  October 10-12, 2000
• MD&M --Medical Design & Manufacturing Show
  October 25-26, 2000

Quick Quip "The harder you work, the luckier you get" -Gary Player, golfer