Rapid Prototype Blog

Archive for November, 2010

3D Models and Their Uses.

3D or three dimensional models are used for a variety of purposes. Surgeons and filmmakers are only two of the many professions that use 3D models on a regular basis. 3D models are created by mapping various coordinates in a 3D space.

Medical professionals use detailed 3D models of organs to teach medical students, outline and plan surgical intervention as well as demonstrate procedures to students and patients. Plastic surgeons use detailed software to create 3D models of the body to demonstrate a “before and after” to the potential patient.

There are two types of 3D models: Solid and Shell. Solid models define the volume of the 3D model are solid, such as piece of stone. Solid 3D models may be used in many engineering models. They are used for simulations that are non-visual. Shell 3D models are more diverse and contain the outer layer, and represent the surface of a 3D model. Shell 3D models are used within film making and video game creation to allow the user to manipulate the model as needed.

3D models have many benefits over traditional 2D models, such as: the flexibility that is offered with the use of 3D models – we can change angles, or create animated imaged much quicker than using two dimensional models. 3D models combined with software enable us to make instant calculations. This is one of the reasons why Free 3D model are increasing in popularity with earth scientists and engineers. Lastly, 3D models allow us to have a concise picture of an object which allows for higher levels of accuracy when building, designing or figuring. Additionally, 3D models have the benefit of becoming easily animated to see all facets of a structure or object. It is this feature, the ability of 3D models to be turned on a sphere, from the middle point that has increased the functionality of the renderings.

3D Model use in Graphic Design….

3D models are used widely in graphic designs that contain 3D animations. A graphic is created by a coordination of points on a chart. A model does not become a graphic until it has been visually displayed by animation and rendering. There are three parts to creating a 3D model within a graphic design. First, 3D modeling occurs in which a shape is given to an object using the coordination points. These points are graphed onto a chart. In the case of graphic designs, the majority of models will be shell models which can be easily manipulated for size and shape.

Next, layout and animations occur which give can give movement to the object within its scene. Next comes the process of rendering, rendering the 3D object refers to creation of images from that particular object. This particular step gives the spacing between the image and the scene in which it is found it with by special measurements. Layout determines how the object is going to move over time, and if any change will occur within the object.

Rendering is the process in which the animation is taken from a 3d model to a graphic. It includes the visualization of an image that can be manipulated with style or light. Rendering has two basic processes: these are, scattering and transport. Scattering defines how the surface of the object will interact with the light and transport defines the process of how light will get to one place or another. There are two ways that a 3D image can be implemented into a software program. It can be created by the program, or another design program, or the image can be scanned into the computer with scanning software.

After a model has been rendered, it is easily transformed to 2D to ease the editing process, but the process of creating a 3D model from a 2D means the three step creation process must occur; (modeling, layout and rendering).

3D Model Use in the Medical Field..

More than likely, the most familiar Free 3D model in the medical field can be seen on a visit to the local Doctor’s office. Within that office there are 3D structures of organs, from the heart and lungs to the digestive or skeletal system. These models are used for teaching anatomy or medical students, or used to demonstrate abnormality, disease or procedures to patients. Although the organs lie inside the body, the 3D models give the patient an opportunity to visualize the organ in the correct manner.

Software has made it possible for surgeons to create surgical plans, and be assisted throughout the procedure. Specific software renders 3D images of the organs that are to be operated upon. These medical 3D models are accurate in size and shape but some also in detail – even texture. The models are created as similar to organs as possible. This feature allows surgeons to learn, before assisting with a procedure on a human body, to know the feel of an organ. Specific textures and materials are used to create 3D heart models, as the heart is certainly not made from hard plastic. Some specialists, such as plastic surgeons render 3D models to allow the patient to visualize the results of specific surgeries. In this process, a picture is taken of the patient, or, a personalized 3D model is created through the use of software based on specific measurements and coordinates to create the desired changes, and visualize these changes – instantly!

3D models have become valuable teaching tools. Many websites allow the user the opportunity to gain valuable insight into the inner working of organ through Free 3D model. These models are beneficial to students in a secondary school level, all the way to students in a Medical Doctor program. The accuracy is pristine and the renderings allow familiarity, and are easier to learn than a two dimensional image on a page.

Home plan design services are famous now days to get your dream house. House plans can be defined as a pictographic presentation or a diagram which contains dependencies between rooms, spaces, windows and related building components of a building structure. A house plan is a creative art and in that you can use your constructive ideas such as drawings, design patters and creativity. Generally home plans are made to improve your housing style.

Now a day’s architectural house plan design is become very important in construction business. It can help you to create effective building structure without any difficulty. You can say that architectural house plans designs are important in the process because it contain each and every important aspect which is required while constructing a building.

The combined efforts of latest technology and experienced designers will help you in each and every way to get best house plan products, design services, and industry knowledge. There are number of house plan consultants available in market and they can help you to get house of your dreams within your budget and time period. House plan consultants also help you to customize your requirements.

Outsourcing house plan design firms not only provide you the best in home plan designs, they will also feel the need to give you as much information as you can handle about the housing trends, products, and other related issues. They are also dedicated to serving families construct and improve their homes by providing all of the resources according to client’s need at one place.

House plans designs are essential in the process because it contain each and every important aspect required while constructing a building. If you are looking for cost effective and quick house plan design services then outsourcing your needs is the best option available for you.

For any queries regarding home plan design and its applications, please feel free to contact us. For more details visit us at: http://www.autocaddraftingindia.com/2dimension/civildesigndrafting/home_plans.php

Related Product Design Services Articles

Time lapse video showing the manufacture of an ABS prototype using a Dimension SST 3D Printer in the workshop of Notre Dame Catholic College Product Design Department in Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.

A scanner is a device that has succeeded telephotography. These days, there are different scanners being sold in the market.

A scanner is an input device that:
- scans images
- prints text
- prints handwriting
- prints an object and converts it to digital images

Kinds of Scanners
- Drum scanners have rotating drums with a one-photo detector for a standard speed of 60 or 120 rpm. Using a telephone voice line to receptor, they can send linear analog AM signals. It prints the proportional intensity on special paper synchronously. This was used from the 1920s to the 1990s.

Color photos were sent as three separated and repeated RGB filtered images. This was only used occasionally because of the transmission cost.

- Desktop scanners or flatbed scanners found in offices are common examples of scanners. Documents are placed on the glass window for scanning.
- Handheld scanners are devices moved by hand. It evolves from text scanning to 3D scanners which are used for:
• industrial design
• reverse engineering
• test measurement
• orthotics
• gaming and more

These mechanically-driven scanners are used for large-format documents. Flatbed designs are not practical.

What these scanners use:
1. Modern scanners use image sensors such as:
• Charge-coupled device (CCD) or
• Contact Image Sensor (CIS)
2. Older drum scanners use a photomultiplier tube as its image sensor.
3. Rotary Scanner uses a CCD selection instead of a photomultiplier. Rotary Scanner is used for express document scanning. This is another type of drum scanner.
4. Planetary Scanner takes photographs of books and documents.
5. 3D Scanners are used for producing three-dimensional models of objects.

Other category of scanners:
Digital Camera Scanners
This is a reprographic camera. It becomes an attractive alternative to ordinary scanners. The disadvantages of this scanner are:
• distortion
• reflection
• shadows
• low contrast

Some of the advantages are:
• speed
• portability
• gentle digitizing of thick documents without damaging the book spine

The new scanning evolution combines 3D scanners with digital cameras. This is to make:
- full color
- photo realistic 3D model objects

Flatbed Scanners possess a glass pane with a bright light. These bright lights illuminate the pane and move optical selection which may be CCD or CIS.

These lights are usually:
• xenon or
• cold cathode fluorescent

Color scanners usually have three rows of sensors with:
• red
• green and
• blue filters

The images are scanned by placing images face down on the glass. An opaque cover is lowered over it so as to cover ambient light. The sensor selection will move over the pane in order to read the entire copy. Due to the reflecting light, the image becomes visible to the charge-coupled device. See-through images do not work this way. It needs special accessories in order to light them up from the upper side.

Scanning is only a part of the process. In order to make the scanned object useful, it must be transferred to an application running on the computer.

There are two basic issues with this:
1. the physical connection of the scanner to the computer and
2. the information retrieval of the application from the scanner
The Physical Connection of the Scanner to the Computer
The amount of data gathered by a scanner can be very large.
For example: A 600 DPI 9″ x 11″ uncompressed 24-bit image. It consumes about 100 megabytes. With this, uncompressed data is transferred and stored on the computer. The latest scanners can gather this volume of data in a matter of seconds. It makes a desirably fast connection.

The Four Connections used by Scanner
1. Parallel
2. Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
3. Universal Serial Bus (USB)
4. Fire Wire

Application Programming Interface
An application must be able to communicate with scanners such as Adobe Photoshop. There are different scanners and each scanner has different protocols. To simplify application for programming, Application Programming Interfaces were made. Hence, API gives a uniform interface to the scanner. The application does not require knowing the specific details of the scanner so as to access it directly.

In reality, there are problems with an application communicating with scanners. Maybe the application or the manufacturer of the scanner has made a mistake in their implementation of API.

Read theory and solve objective type questions related to electrical Concepts : http://www.electricalquizzes.com

Work Area for lab:

A work area should consist of a large workbench, desk, or table (preferably wooden) for performing circuit assembly, with household electrical power (120 volts AC) readily accessible to power soldering equipment, power supplies, and any test equipment. Inexpensive desks intended for computer use function very well for this purpose. Avoid a metal-surface desk, as the electrical conductivity of a metal surface creates both a shock hazard and the very distinct possibility of unintentional “short circuits” developing from circuit components touching the metal tabletop. Vinyl and plastic bench surfaces are to be avoided for their ability to generate and store large static-electric charges, which may damage sensitive electronic components. Also, these materials melt easily when exposed to hot soldering irons and molten solder droplets.

If you cannot obtain a wooden-surface workbench, you may turn any form of table or desk into one by laying a piece of plywood on top. If you are reasonably skilled with woodworking tools, you may construct your own desk using plywood and 2×4 boards.

The work area should be well-lit and comfortable. I have a small radio set up on my own workbench for listening to music or news as I experiment. My own workbench has a “power strip” receptacle and switch assembly mounted to the underside, into which I plug all 120 volt devices. It is convenient to have a single switch for shutting off all power in case of an accidental short-circuit!

Tools :

A few tools are required for basic electronics work. Most of these tools are inexpensive and easy to obtain. If you desire to keep the cost as low as possible, you might want to search for them at thrift stores and pawn shops before buying them new.

Multimeter :

First and foremost in your tool collection is a multimeter. This is an electrical instrument designed to measure voltage, current, resistance, and often other variables as well. Multimeters are manufactured in both digital and analog form. A digital multimeter is preferred for precision work, but analog meters are also useful for gaining an intuitive understanding of instrument sensitivity and range.

Digital multimeter :

Most analog multimeters sold today are quite inexpensive, and not necessarily precision test instruments. I recommend having both digital and analog meter types in your tool collection, spending as little money as possible on the analog multimeter and investing in a good-quality digital multimeter.

A test instrument I have found indispensable in my home work is a sensitive voltage detector, or sensitive audio detector. It is nothing more than a sensitized set of audio headphones, equipped with an attenuator (volume control) and limiting diodes to limit sound intensity from strong signals. Its purpose is to audibly indicate the presence of low-intensity voltage signals, DC or AC. In the absence of an oscilloscope, this is a most valuable tool, because it allows you to listen to an electronic signal, and thereby determine something of its nature.

Breadboard :

Also essential is a solderless breadboard, sometimes called a prototyping board, or proto-board. This device allows you to quickly join electronic components to one another without having to solder component terminals and wires together.

Wire stripping pliers :

When working with wire, you need a tool to “strip” the plastic insulation off the ends so that bare copper metal is exposed. This tool is called a wire stripper, and it is a special form of plier with several knife-edged holes in the jaw area sized just right for cutting through the plastic insulation and not the copper, for a multitude of wire sizes, or gauges.

Jumper Wires : 

In order to make quick, temporary connections between some electronic components, you need jumper wires with small “alligator-jaw” clips at each end. These may be purchased complete, or assembled from clips and wires.

Jumper wires (home-made) :

The home-made jumper wires with large, uninsulated (bare metal) alligator clips are okay to use so long as care is taken to avoid any unintentional contact between the bare clips and any other wires or components. For use in crowded breadboard circuits, jumper wires with insulated (rubber-covered) clips like the jumper are much preferred.

Needle-nose pliers :

Needle-nose pliers are designed to grasp small objects, and are especially useful for pushing wires into stubborn breadboard holes.

Screwdrivers :

No tool set would be complete without screwdrivers, and I recommend a complementary pair (3/16 inch slotted and #2 Phillips) as the starting point for your collection. You may later find it useful to invest in a set of jeweler’s screwdrivers for work with very small screws and screw-head adjustments.

Soldering iron and solder (“rosin core”) :

For projects involving printed-circuit board assembly or repair, a small soldering iron and a spool of “rosin-core” solder are essential tools. I recommend a 25 watt soldering iron, no larger for printed circuit board work, and the thinnest solder you can find. Do not use “acid-core” solder! Acid-core solder is intended for the soldering of copper tubes (plumbing), where a small amount of acid helps to clean the copper of surface impurities and provide a stronger bond. If used for electrical work, the residual acid will cause wires to corrode. Also, you should avoid solder containing the metal lead, opting instead for silver-alloy solder. If you do not already wear glasses, a pair of safety glasses is highly recommended while soldering, to prevent bits of molten solder from accidently landing in your eye should a wire release from the joint during the soldering process and fling bits of solder toward you.

Soldering gun :

Projects requiring the joining of large wires by soldering will necessitate a more powerful heat source than a 25 watt soldering iron. A soldering gun is a practical option.

Utility knife :

Knives, like screwdrivers, are essential tools for all kinds of work. For safety’s sake, I recommend a “utility” knife with retracting blade. These knives are also advantageous to have for their ability to accept replacement blades.

Slip-joint pliers/Adjustable-joint pliers :

Pliers other than the needle-nose type are useful for the assembly and disassembly of electronic device chassis. Two types I recommend are slip-joint and adjustable-joint (“Channel-lock”).

Hand drill :

Drilling may be required for the assembly of large projects. Although power drills work well, I have found that a simple hand-crank drill does a remarkable job drilling through plastic, wood, and most metals. It is certainly safer and quieter than a power drill, and costs quite a bit less.

Supplies :

Some experiments will require a source of audio-frequency voltage signals. Normally, this type of signal is generated in an electronics laboratory by a device called a signal generator or function generator. While building such a device is not impossible (nor difficult!), it often requires the use of an oscilloscope to fine-tune, and oscilloscopes are usually outside the budgetary range of the home experimenter. A relatively inexpensive alternative to a commercial signal generator is an electronic keyboard of the musical type. You need not be a musician to operate one for the purposes of generating an audio signal (just press any key on the board!), and they may be obtained quite readily at second-hand stores for substantially less than new price. The electronic signal generated by the keyboard is conducted to your circuit via a headphone cable plugged into the “headphones” jack.

Spool of 22-gauge, solid copper wire :

Wire used in solderless breadboards must be 22-gauge, solid copper. Spools of this wire are available from electronic supply stores and some hardware stores, in different insulation colors. Insulation color has no bearing on the wire’s performance, but different colors are sometimes useful for “color-coding” wire functions in a complex circuit.

Wire-wrap wire and wrapping tool :

An alternative to solderless breadboard circuit construction is wire-wrap, where 30-gauge (very thin!) solid copper wire is tightly wrapped around the terminals of components inserted through the holes of a fiberglass board. No soldering is required, and the connections made are at least as durable as soldered connections, perhaps more. Wire-wrapping requires a spool of this very thin wire, and a special wrapping tool, the simplest kind resembling a small screwdriver.

Component box :

During the course of building many circuits, you will accumulate a large number of small components. One technique for keeping these components organized is to keep them in a plastic “organizer” box like the type used for fishing tackle.

Find More Breadboard Articles

It is considered that Proto Bulgarians (also known as Bulgars or Bolgars) belong to the Turkic speaking people and Turkic ethnos. Their first settlements were in Central Asia where most of the Turkic tribes were formed. There are many hypotheses about the origin of the name “Bulgars”. The oldest explanation can be found in Joseph Genesius chronicle of 11th century. Accordind to it, the name “Bulgar” comes from the name of their master Bulgar.

In 12th century a theory occurred that the name comes from the name of the Volga river, called by Proto Bulgarians “Bulga”. Nowadays there is a theory that the name comes from the Turkic verb “bulg” meaning mix, stir. According to other theory that means also rebels, mutineers. Lately another theory occurred claiming that the name comes from a totem “Bulgar” – rodent in the family Squiridae. In 5th -6th centuries the Proto Bulgarians divided into two groups: Kutrigurs and Utigurs. The Kutrigurs inhabited the land in the north of the Black sea and in the west of the river Don. In the beginning of 7th century they became part of the Old Great Bulgaria of khan Kubrat. The Utrigurs lived in the east of the river Don. In 7th century the Utrigurian tribes also became part of the Old Great Bulgaria of khan Kubrat. After the death of khan Kubrat, his sons Asparuh and Kuber set out for the river of Danube. Another group, led by Alzek, traveled west and reached the todays Italy. Asparuh settled around the Danube delta and in 681 his group founded the state of Bulgaria.. Kuber’s group settled first in Panonia and then in Bitola but the Byzantine chronoclea called this settlement Bulgaria too.

The majority of the Proto Bulgarians lived in yurtas – large tents made of skins and leather, similar to the Native American wigwams. The main activity of the Proto Bulgarians was the raising and breeding of all sorts of cattle and especially horses which were used in the powerful Bulgarian cavalry, the backbone of the Proto Bulgarian army. The horses were used also for transportation, and their meat and the mares’ milk were important parts of the Proto Bulgarian everyday diet. Agriculture was slowly finding a place in the activities of the Proto Bulgarians and was primarily a supplement to the cattle-raising, as well as hunting and fishing. Most agricultural products were either taken by force from or were exchanged (usually with the neighboring Slavic tribes). There were skilled proto-Bulgarian artisans, smiths, builders, and jewelers. Slavery was widespread, even though it never became the backbone of Proto Bulgarian economy. The slaves were usually prisoners of war, who were used as shepherds, domestic servants, and builders of fortresses etc. Some of the Proto Bulgarian titles are as follows: khan (king), boil (boyar), kanartikin (accessor), kavkhan (vice khan), boila kavkhan (chief kavkhan), ichirgu boil (Major General Commandant), khana boila kolobar (chief priest,) tarkan (khan’s advisor), boritarkan (city mayor), kolobar (barbar, doctor and priest), khana boila kolobrus (barber of the khan’s commanding officers) etc.

In the 20th century the most popular hypothesis relative to Proto Bulgarians’ origin is that Bulgars came from the Huns. As most of the modern nations, the Bulgarian nation was formed by uniting a lot of ethnoses and tribes, probably more than hundred but the biggest ones were the Slavs and the Bulgars.

take a look and see how the proto rail works
Video Rating: 4 / 5

The digital age has spread around the world. More and more people are turning away from printed media like marketing print postcards and going digital with online advertising. With its cheaper costs, and interactive content, this kind of advertising has probably a long life ahead of it. But this does not mean postcard printing is dead. In fact this is an opportunity to innovate your view on postcard printing.

Since interactivity is the buzz nowadays, you can apply it to a lot of marketing strategies. So why not try it on print postcards? Discover the concept of the interactive postcard. They are basically postcards that require people to respond to them in some way. This makes postcard printing interesting; making people pay more attention on the design. Also, since it encourages people to “participate” in the design or customize it in some way people will not find it boring. They may even want to send more of these kinds of postcards.

So as you can see, this new kind of postcard printing strategy is a good way to change your direction in terms of postcard making or marketing. If you are interested in this promising idea then read on. We have a few examples of typical interactive postcards below, that you may find inspiration from.

The puzzle postcard One of the first interactive postcards that appeared on the market was the puzzle postcards. These were print postcards that have some kind of puzzle or problem that you needed to solve. In most cases, it was just a neat and trivial puzzle or problem like a crossword, or those “find the object or person” games. Others had mental problems and puzzles like “Sudoku”, the Japanese number puzzle. It did not take long for people to innovate and try out a few special puzzles. One of the best examples was a simple crossword that when completed, spelled out the postcard’s special greeting in one line. This gave the receiver of the print postcard a special thrill in finally answering the solution.

With that kind of interactivity, the puzzle postcards were far from boring. Added with some creative advertising phrases and images, it became a nice platform for marketing with an interactive touch. It provided more exposure that a normal postcard and it had “replay” value as people showed the postcard to others.

Holographic or 3D postcards Another kind of interactive postcard are the holographic or 3D postcards. These kinds of postcard printing can be a bit more expensive to produce, but they do have a very eye catching property. These cards are printed with holograms that capture a 3D object within the design. A variation of this form is the puzzle 3d postcard. This kind had those “3d” puzzles where you had to look for the object or image in 3D within a seemingly abstract design. These designs of course causes people to look at the postcard design more closely as they move the postcard from left to right, trying to see the object in 3D. Along with some helpful marketing phrases and images, it is again a good platform for marketing using postcards.

So are you inspired to make interactive postcards? They are a promising medium to print for marketing. Explore the limits of your imagination and maybe you can think of another kind of interactive postcard that will promise you exposure in your target market.

For comments and inquiries about the article visit: Print Postcards

Fifteen years ago, there was almost no website prototyping. At most, people used to draw a rough sketch of the appearance of the page. Fortunately, this has changed a lot, and we can create prototypes to a high level of detail.

Let’s detail how they can be and what are their uses.

Paper and pencil prototype

The first prototypes. Most usability tests still use them, although there are better ways to do that. In a framework that involves software to prototype, paper can be used to sketch, doodle ideas and cut out the best ones.

Of course, this requires a great amount of imagination to understand a website, or great drawing skills.

Some people also use other simple wireframing tools.

Low fidelity prototype

These are prototypes that work as websites. Some fields change according to users reactions, data can be manipulated, events occur according to designated behaviours.

These can be used to identify features of the programs, define requirements and make everyone understand what the project is meant to be. There is yet no need to use full detailed graphics, real text or perfected animations.

It requires the use of software or HTML coding hability.

High fidelity prototype

It’s almost the final website, quickly coded. It requires software to be build, such as Justinmind Prototyper. A fully functional high fidelity prototype of a website can have pop-ups, data entries, sums, conditional behaviour such as a link that only works when you type the right password, embedded objects such as detailed images, graphics, videos or Flash animations.

The main difference between a prototype and the final coded project is that today, human coded software is still better organized and smaller. However, to test with final users, present to clients or other co-workers, it is perfect, and has a smaller development time.

Can I use just one software from wireframe to prototype?

Justinmind Prototyper is designer to be used from the first wireframe drafts, mind maps and navigation flowcharts to the final presentation of the high fidelity prototype. It also allows the collaboration between all the professionals involved in the development, and manages requirements, comments and version control to allow it to be produced as quickly and organized as it can be.

Today injection moulding is an integral process to the mass manufacture of products in the consumer goods, automotive, medical, aerospace, construction and packaging markets. With high production rates, design and material flexibility, low labour cost and minimal wastage it is easy to see how plastic injection moulding is the most common form of part manufacturing.

So how did we get here?

The injection mould process was born in the mid 19th century whereby a cellulose derived material was heated and moulded to retain a solid shape when cooled. The fragile nature of this material limited its uses. American inventor, John Wesley Hyatt creates Celluloid, an improved cheaper, stronger and stable material.

The potential uses of this technology saw Hyatt and his Brother patent the first injection moulding machine in 1872. Although it was but a simple plunger injecting plastic through a heated cylinder, Injection moulding provided the cheap, easy creation of multiple small parts like buttons and hair combs. However, it wasn’t until World War II that the demand for inexpensive, mass production saw the development of the first screw injection machine improving precision and quality of the plastic injection mould process. It was this 1946 amendment by James Hendry that revolutionized the injection moulding industry allowing recycled and colored plastics to be mixed with the new material before being injected.

Hendry created the first gas-assisted injection moulding process in the 1970s which allowed the quick production of complex, hollow articles. This improvement expanded the uses of injection moulding with increased design flexibility and product strength as well as reducing costs, weight and wastage.

Injection moulding uses polymers and thermoplastics. With thousands of different types of polymers and alloys, it is important you consult expert engineers to ensure you have the most appropriate material for your application.

The injection moulding process involves having a complete computer-aided drawing (CAD) of the part and mould in which to create a high quality Plastic Injection Mould for prototyping and production. Once the mould or tool is constructed, usually out of steel or aluminium, the plastic material is heated and mixed. The plastic is then forced into the mould cavity where it is pressurized by the weight of the Injection Moulding Machine. Once cooled, the hardened product can be ejected.

Plastic Injection Moulds can be manufactured for a single or multi cavity production. It is important to get quality prototypes of the part in order to discover costly design faults and mistakes before going into mould or tool production. Stereo lithography (SLA) creates prototypes using CAD and Lasers to build a resin model based on the 3D drawings.

If you are looking for design flexibility, repeatability with tolerances, low labour costs, little to no finishing of parts, minimum wastage with a wide range of material options, than you need Supaflow Engineering. For all your Brisbane Injection Moulding needs, with 25 years experience and high quality customer assurance, Supaflow Engineering is the plastic toolmakers and Brisbane injection moulders for you.

Like car insurance or self-assessment, it’s easy to see the Service Level Agreement (SLA) as a bit of a black art; but they’re vital in ensuring IT service providers deliver availability, responsiveness, quality and communication.  Also, with managed services climbing the IT agenda and other disciplines like Software as a Service gaining serious momentum, a watertight SLA can make the difference between the success and failure of your critical business systems and even the business itself.

So, what makes for a good SLA?

1. Service Summary or Description

Should detail the names of the provider and the customer, along with the obligations the latter has to fulfil to stay within the bounds of the SLA.  You’ll typically be asked to provide up-to-date contacts, network topologies and escalation paths for example.

Should also list the support level – gold or platinum say – you’re buying into ie. How fast will the service provider respond to service requests?  How many requests are you permitted during the weekly or monthly service period? What’s the notification process?

Most importantly of all, what is your general service availability guarantee?

2. Hardware

Whether installed onsite or managed remotely, the SLA should state clearly what hardware is to be provided.  Once you’re sure of the hardware in use, ask more specific questions about spec, performance, throughput, size, upgrades, and so on.

3. Software

Most providers use products from name-brand vendors.  Others use open-source software.  Many use both.  In any event it’s important to know what software your service is subject to and where, particularly if you have special requirements or stipulations such as bans on unsupported software.  Visibility over the software being used will also give an insight into the provider/software vendor relationship.  For example, if your supplier is provisioning your firewall using Cisco PIX but has no qualified CCIEs on staff, you need to know about it.

4. Service Availability

Probably the most important element of the agreement, this section should describe precisely what you’re guaranteed under the terms of the SLA, including critical aspects like guaranteed uptime percentage.  This is particularly crucial as, while an uptime figure such as 99.5% looks pretty high at first glance, it would mean your systems could be down for as much as 216 minutes per month without the provider incurring any penalty.  (You should be compensated for any downtime outside this tolerance, which is generally a case of the provider not invoicing for the period in question.)

But beware the provider offering 100% availability.  Few do and for good reason; even if it were possible to deliver 100% availability – which is to say the least debatable – it would be prohibitively expensive for both provider and customer.  Also, as Martin Saunders, Group Product Manager at Claranet puts it, 100% SLAs are meaningless and misleading. “In the real world there are outage; no system is perfect.  It is important for customers to be realistic.  It is then the responsibility of a good MSP to design a solution that balances the number of 9s in the availability guarantee (99.9%? 99.99%? 99.999%?) to the number of £££ the customer is prepared to pay.  An MSP SLA stating 100% means the customer has no way of knowing what the ‘real’ performance will be.”

5. Defining Downtime

It’s vital to have a clear understanding of how the service provider defines ‘downtime’.  Most don’t consider that upgrades constitute service downtime for example, so won’t compensate you for them.  Pin down details such as how fast the provider will respond to service requests, how long they’ll take to detect, report and action problems, how long upgrades will take and so on.

6. Service Requests

Most SLAs allow a set number of service and emergency requests during each service period and it’s important to understand the difference. Some providers, for example, class any task performed outside standard business hours as an emergency, which could become an issue if most of your requests fall outside the hours of 9 and 5.  Some providers limit the number of your IT personnel permitted to initiate requests; some define certain tasks as constituting more than one request; some charge extra for certain service requests.

7. Monitoring & Reporting

Many providers have substantially improved their processes for reporting on metrics such as bandwidth utilisation and uptime in recent years, but capabilities still vary greatly from provider to provider, so ask questions.  Is the most up-to-date configuration available for review online? How often will you get reports based on firewall, IDS or VPN logs?  How about ad hoc and custom reporting?

8. Other Components

Some providers, especially ASPs, source their services from multiple third parties – network providers, infrastructure providers, application management providers – each with their own SLAs that may in turn impact yours.  Find out what components of the overall solution are covered under your SLA.
Ask about guarantees against dropped connections.  Some SLAs offer money-back for the time your connection is down.
Some providers measure network traffic rates based on the packets going in and out but don’t allow for dropped packets.  Push for a guaranteed packet loss rate in your SLA.

Overall if the provider won’t give key guarantees, look for a replacement.  But remember, an SLA has to work for both parties and shouldn’t be simply a big stick with which to hit the supplier in the event of a problem.

Defining, negotiating and measuring can be difficult, but it’s also vital if you want a meaningful SLA.

Subscribe to Insight Blog

Discuss this on our Forum