A new
lenticular lens technology patented by National Graphics of Brookfield, WI
reduces materials costs by 40 percent, improves resolution, and enables very
fine print and barcodes to be legible under the lens. The surface of the lens
can accept ink jet printing for additional printing. The flexibility and
thinness of the material permit use of plastic processes such as in-mold
decorating. A cup submitted to Design News' judges shows an animation
of a boy kicking and then chasing a soccer ball. The technology also permits
use of flashing arrows or changing colors to point out a hazard on a safety
sign. The high-definition offers superior quality of detail. When used as
part of an in-mold system, the material is only 0.007-inch thick, reducing
materials costs. Materials typically used in the system, as cited in the
patent, are one or more of: polyester, polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and amorphous polyethylene terephthalate
(APET). "National can place almost twice the amount of information under this
lens than others outside of the patent boundaries resulting in a photographic
like presentation of animated information," says Donald Krause, president of
National graphics.
Lenticular technology was
created in the 1940s but has evolved to show more motion and increased depth.
Lenses are a transparent plastic sheet or web, typically including an array of
identical curved or ribbed surfaces that are formed on the front surface. The
back surface of the lens is typically flat. www.extremevision.com
Almost every automaker has had to 'pick a side' when it comes to alternative fuel options and ways to divest from a reliance on gasoline. Fiat is looking to back compressed natural gas or liquid propane as an interim solution.
Designing and filling a new type of water bottle might take less engineering work, but the description will help kids understand how science, math, and engineering influence their lives even through things that seem mundane.
Against a backdrop of mounting product complexity and a need to keep a lid on development costs, companies are recognizing a need to make simulation a more integral part of the design process. In response, vendors in the CAD world are building out CAE functionality as part of their CAD suites while simulation vendors are building tighter integrations to leading CAD tools. Keith Meintjes, Ph.D., Practice Manager, Simulation and Analysis at CIMdata, Inc., joins Design News CAD Editor Beth Stackpole in this radio program to explore the new face of integrated CAD and CAE, how companies are benefitting from this tighter partnership between platforms, and how integrating CAE earlier in the development cycle pays off in optimized product designs.
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A new
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