RapidMade

RapidMade is a 3D printing, engineering services and additive manufacturing firm which serves start-up and established businesses in manufacturing, architecture, construction, advertising, medicine and art. The woman-owned firm was founded in 2011 by Renee and Mark Eaton (1). The business is based in Portland, Oregon with a regional office near Baltimore, Maryland. While sales are concentrated in the western states, RapidMade has experienced significant growth and is making inroads throughout the U.S. and Canada (2). General Overview of Products and Services Additive manufacturing (AM) involves using 3D models to build objects by layering a material to build it into the desired shape. Depending on the functional and material requirements, a variety of technologies can be utilized: Binder jetting – (Colorjet/M-One) – creates objects by squirting a binding agent into a powdered material Stereolithography (SLA) – vat photopolymerization – builds parts by using light to selectively cure layers of material in a vat of photopolymer Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) – powder bed fusion – selectively melts fine layers of powdered plastic or metal into solid objects using a laser Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) – powder bed fusion – selectively melts fine layers of powdered plastic or metal into solid objects using a laser Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), also known as fused filament fabrication – thermoplastic material extrusion – creates objects by extruding thin filaments of thermoplastic to build layers. It is often likened to a tube of toothpaste or a syringe Material jetting – (Objet/Projet) – builds parts by depositing small droplets of photopolymer (similar to an inkjet printer) which are then cured by exposure to light Directed energy deposition – (LENS/Optomec) – builds or repairs parts by using focused thermal energy to fuse materials as they are deposited on a substrate. Sheet lamination – (M-COR Iris) builds parts by trimming sheets of material and binding them together in layers (3)(4) AM overcomes many of the limitations traditional production methods face: Because structures and components can be printed, design restrictions can be relaxed, allowing high complexity and customization. Elaborate internal cavities and complicated assemblies can be built as single objects. Structures can be printed on site, eliminating long and vast supply chains. Material can be used only where it is specifically needed — and it can be locally sourced. Little to no labor is required. Beyond some need to post process, personnel can "set and forget" the printer (5).

RapidMade provides product design, reverse engineering, rapid prototyping (6), low-volume additive and traditional manufacturing, 3D printing and 3D scanning services to make products, parts, prototypes, patterns, tools, molds, and models (7) (8) (9). This technology enables the firm to create parts that cannot be traditionally made. In addition to producing products with complex designs that require no assembly, AM allows engineers to quickly test and modify designs to accelerate product development (10). Another popular application is using clients’ digital files to reproduce and display to-scale models of their industrial equipment and architectural designs which can be produced relatively quickly and cheaply (11). The models have become popular since transporting and staging large equipment can consume a significant portion of a company's marketing budget. Full-color prototypes and models of their products can easily be carried to and displayed on site for far less cost (12). Some firms have miniaturized their products to make custom promotional items such as business card holders (13).

RapidMade also makes custom medical models to improve patient education, surgical training and planning. A cancer research institute asked RapidMade to print out an exact replica of a section of a patient’s lung. Surgeons were trying to figure out the best way to surgically enter the lung, but they needed to see how the blood moved through the organ in three dimensions. RapidMade’s model included flexible veins and arteries that they could maneuver around (14) (15). Organizational Structure - RapidMade’s Management Team: Renee Eaton, Owner and CEO, has over 20 years of manufacturing management experience and an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. Micah Chaban, Operations Manager, has an extensive background in additive manufacturing technology and supply chain management. He earned his BA from the University of Oregon. David Shapiro, Engineering Manager, completed his Mechanical Engineering degree at Oregon State University, and his MS in the same field from the University of Washington. David is skilled in designing products and optimizing 3D models to be additively manufactured. Kristofer Beem, is the Business Development and Sales Manager. Kris graduated from Central Michigan University with a Bachelor's of Applied Arts in Entrepreneurial Business (16-20). Culture and Corporate Social Responsibility RapidMade’s culture emphasizes a long-term commitment to its employees, community and environment. Its founders “had both been through corporate America… and wanted to do something (to) create value and keep it local, hire people and be focused on more than just the next quarter.” Having been forced to downsize and ultimately close a plant of a former employer, the owners prioritize employee retention and development, creating something with and for the next generation (21). Using advanced technology to design and make novel products has also influenced the company’s values. To be successful, employees have to think creatively about achieving client objectives. This passion for innovation has led to some unique projects. The firm recently helped create a payload container that allowed Ninkasi Brewing to make history by launching live yeast strains into space (22) (23). Social responsibility is a central theme. RapidMade has partnered with E-Nable on a pro-bono basis to design and print an inexpensive functional prosthetic hand for an Oregon teen (24). Educating the community on the impact of Innovative Technologies has been another company goal (25) (25) (26)

References

(1) http://www.oregon.gov/gov/MWESB/GMP%202013%20Presentations/Certified%20Firm%20Success%20Stories%20-%20GMP2013.pdf (2) http://www.oregonbusiness.com/articles/161-may-2014/12846-the-printed-world (3) http://mbi-online.org/noon-seminar-additive-manufacturing-cost-competitive-micro-channel-and-heat-exchangers (4) http://www.oregon.gov/gov/MWESB/GMP%202013%20Presentations/3D%20Printing%20and%20Additive%20Manufacturin (5) http://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/additive-manufacturing-revolutionizing-architectural-and-construction-field (6) http://fatpencilstudio.com/printing-in-3d/ (7) http://cni.pmgnews.com/pt/9-news/226093-87964-life-in-3-d (8) http://urbanairship.com/blog/2014/03/04/urban-airship-ships-ibeacons2 (9) http://animationdynamics.com/2014/05/20/3d-printed-layers-of-design-part-ii/ (10) http://koin.com/2014/07/03/portland-ripe-to-be-a-3-d-printing-leader/ (11) http://cni.pmgnews.com/pt/9-news/226093-87964-life-in-3-d (12) http://www.oregonbusiness.com/articles/161-may-2014/12846-the-printed-world (13) http://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/trade-shows-making-use-of-3-d-printing-for-models/engineering (14) http://cni.pmgnews.com/pt/9-news/226093-87964-life-in-3-d (15) http://koin.com/2014/07/03/portland-ripe-to-be-a-3-d-printing-leader/ (16) http://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/additive-manufacturing-revolutionizing-architectural-and-construction-field (17) http://www.mlsummit.com/summit-delegates-renee-eaton-ceo-rapidmade/ (18) http://cni.pmgnews.com/pt/9-news/226093-87964-life-in-3-d (19) http://allevents.in/portland/lunch-meeting-the-future-of-metal-manufacturing/538003232977040 (20) http://www.oregon4biz.com/Business-Oregon-News/2013/December/index.php (21) http://www.oregonbusiness.com/articles/161-may-2014/12846-the-printed-world (22) http://www.ninkasibrewing.com/blogs/ninkasi-blog/2014/07/11/science-friday-dana-and-dana-on-nsp/