Well worry no more, LMT Onsrud, the experts in plastic routing have a router bit search tool to help you select the proper bit. Using the correct router bit will allow you to maintain the best RPM and feed rates possible, decreasing cutting time and maximizing machining production.

Check out this video of a Zund router cutting Precision Board Plus PBLT-30 very quickly:

The result was an amazing reproduction of the piece his father had created years earlier, finished by brushing on Sculpt Nouveau Type C Bronze Coating, and spraying on a Tiffany Green Patina finish. When he found out how impressed we were with his creation, he shipped it to us so we could see it in person.

We were then about to see just how fast (and talented) Dan Keith was. We told him we were considering displaying the Crow Indian Head sculpture at ISA 2012, and he quickly offered to create a newer, and larger model using a higher density Precision Board Plus, PBLT-30. Not more than a couple of days later, Dan sent us pictures of the new sculpture. It was also similarly finished like the original using Sculpt Nouveau and a Tiffany Green Patina finish. He then made a plaque commemorating his father, and the result was a fantastic art creation, completed in record time.

Take a look at Dan’s blog at: http://www.dansfoundry.blogspot.com/ to see more of his impressive projects. His shop specializes in metal casting, welding, plasma cutting, wood working, CNC routing, digital design, stained glass, gourd art, mold making, metal fabrication, metal forming, prop making, blacksmithing and more!

The Crow Indian Head sculpture will be on display at our booth #2188 at ISA 2012 in Orlando, FL, from March 22-24 at the Orange County Convention Center if you would like to meet us and check it out in person!

Precision Board Plus PBLT-15:

The original sculpture (left) and the PBLT-30 version (right)

NextEngine Laser Scan:

Precision Board Plus PBLT-30:

Founded in 1971, Signetics, located near Dayton, OH, is a full-service sign manufacturer serving the United States and the World. Originally targeting the golf industry in the form of interior and exterior signage, Signetics grew quickly based on reputation of quality and craftsmanship. Today, over 5,000 golf courses and businesses worldwide have signage crafted from their facility.

It’s the attention to detail that led Signetics’ President, Jeff Mize, to again use Precision Board Plus for their routed and sand carved high-density urethane signage. “After using Precision Board long ago and not sold on the quality, I vowed never to use it again. I never would use the word ‘never’ again,” says Jeff.

Getting a call from Coastal Enterprises in 2008, he reluctantly tried a sample of the new Precision Board Plus. Jeff adds, “I immediately knew they’d made a product I had to start using again. Sandblasting is the lifeblood of our facility and our craftsmen take great pride in producing the highest quality blast possible and Precision Board Plus helps us achieve that. Plus, I missed the customer service only Coastal Enterprises gives us because I know when I have a question – I get an answer.”

You can contact Signetics for your high-quality sandblasted and routed signage needs at (800)776-4152 or at www.signetics1.com.

LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a certification developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2000, and is aimed at promoting practical and measurable “green” building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. A LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building, home or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

The benefits offered by a LEED certified building include lower operating costs, waste reduction, water conservation, greenhouse gas emission reduction and a healthy and safer building. Many cities offer very beneficial tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives to companies that choose to achieve a LEED certification.

Certification is given by the Green Building Certification Institute using the LEED rating system. Buildings are issued a certain amount of LEED points and the total number of points decides which of the four certification levels are granted. All of the points are awarded depending on how the buildings strategies will impact CO2 emissions and also energy efficiency.

While the USGBC does not certify or endorse any specific product, Precision Board Plus assists in meeting LEED requirements for obtaining USGBC and ICC 700 building credits. The ICC 700-2008 National Green Building Standard is a similar standard for rating the environmental performance of residential buildings. Green signage and tooling is becoming more and more of a requirement instead of an option for many customers, and Precision Board Plus, with a rapidly renewable resource content increased from 18.9% to 23.9% and certified Carbon Footprint of 3:1, ensures that our customers will be using the greenest signage and tooling substrate available. Visit our Green Facts page for more info.

The Hearst Tower in New York City, New York is a Gold LEED Certified Building, with over 90% of the structural steel used containing recycled materials.

A water-like texture was first routed into PBLT-15, along with the lettering and grass, and it was then painted entirely by hand.  To finish it off, an automotive type clear coat was then applied to protect against UV. Because it was to be a suspended sign, an aluminum backer and supporting aluminum band were added for additional strength. What an impressive finish by THD!

When asked why he prefers working with Precision Board Plus, Tim stated: “I like working with Precision Board Plus because of the ease of machining. When I previously worked with wood, it was slow going when routing it. With Precision Board Plus, our router is running at 800 inches per minute, versus the 300 inches per minute when routing wood.”

Check out other projects by THD, Inc. at: http://www.thddesign.com/

NASA is one of several U.S. government agencies that play a crucial role in helping to plan, develop and implement NextGen. Some of the planned improvements include new landing techniques that save fuel and time, computer models that predict more accurately the influence of weather on flight paths, and air traffic control solutions that allow more takeoffs and landings in the same amount of time.

How will this affect individual consumers? According to Leighton Quon, project manager of NextGen Systems Analysis, Integration and Evaluation at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA, “it will allow more planes in the sky, which allows more air travel options. Route efficiency will also improve, getting consumers to destinations quicker, and with fewer emissions. It will also reduce noise for people living near airports.”

They also have a very interesting video simulating a day’s air travel over the United States, complete with major air hubs. Did you know that during peak travel times there can be more than 5,000 aircraft over America at once?

To see more questions answered by Leighton Quon, and the rest of this story on NASA’s website, click here.

Also check out this United States air traffic video and see how storms, time of day and location affect air travel for millions of people in real-time simulation. The video also shows how aircraft controllers were able to ground all aircraft in the United States within 3 hours on September 11, 2001.

Our blog is updated twice weekly with interesting news topics, tips and featured customers. To receive notifications when the blog is updated either Like us on Facebook, Connect to us on LinkedIn, or Follow us on Twitter.

When they first started sculpting around 2001, they originally used a combination of plywood and fiberglass cloth resin for the sculptures, which was not quite as durable as what they were looking for. Through a connection in the aerospace industry, Rick was introduced to Precision Board Plus HDU and was immediately drawn to the advantages of high-density urethane; namely the fact that it is non-toxic, impervious to most oils and paints and because moisture cannot be absorbed into it.

The Art Basel International Art Fair originated in Basel, Switzerland, and is known as “the Olympics of the Art World.” It is also the biggest art show in the world. Ten years ago Miami starting hosting a sister exhibition, Art Basel Art Fair, which attracts over 40,000 people each year, and is where Dual Nature was first viewed publicly. Dual Nature is currently on display at the mouth of the Miami River, to coincide with the Miami International Art Fair, and will soon be traveling to Blue Springs, MO to be on display there.

Cecilia is also a very respected mural artist, and her very impressive work can be seen on their website, along with additional sculptures completed by both she and Rick at: http://www.lueza.com/.

Dual Nature:

In addition, Athlete is also equipped with an array of stereoscopic camera’s, allowing 3D vision. This will allow the controller the ability to navigate whichever foreign world Athlete may find itself on with complete depth perception.

Check out the video of Athlete in action, and more exciting details about Athlete at Gizmodo. The dexterity of this robot is AMAZING!

To see more of the amazing work Signcraft does, visit www.signcraftsm.com.

Thanks Mark for sending all of these great pictures!

Wolfpack Sign Group in Vista, CA is working on a very exciting project for a cultural center located in Hong Kong.  Once complete, it will be 30″ tall  x 240′ in length.

Joseph Parrish, Director of Operations, explained that the customer wanted to reproduce the city skyline, which is quite extensive, in a bronze casting. However, after looking into the cost and weight of casting so much solid bronze, they reached out to their vendors for a creative solution.

Utilizing Precision Board Plus PBLT-30 HDU, in sections of 30” x48” and hours of CNC time, they machined a 2” sheet to give it the appearance of much more depth, so it would better replicate the skyline. Once machining was completed, the entire piece was coated in LuminOre, sprayable metal coating, and polished.

“We were very pleased with how easy the Precision Board was to machine, and the tremendous customer service in working with us and LuminOre to get the process methods worked out.” Says Joseph.

“We are very glad to have had such a solid partner on this exciting, creative project!”

To see additional work that Wolfpack Sign Group offers, please see their web site or give Joseph a call at (760) 736-4500 ext. 206.