3D printing + RFID

Sherpa Design (a mechanical engineering services company specializing in design and product development, through 3D printing) and RFTrax have worked out this odd concept:

Project/Experience: RFID security system for shipping containers enclosure design and development

Working closely with the client’s RFID and IR Supply Chain security technology group Sherpa Design has developed a number of enclosure and bracket assemblies that can be adapted to a variety of different applications. The housings can mount to the inside of most shipping containers used throughout the world as well as crates, mail bins, and other types of containers. These RFID Tags had to be environmentally rugged for the extreme conditions they experience during international transit.

Drawing on our experience with plastics, security systems, and sheet metal we delivered functioning prototypes for the client to be first to market with this new RFID technology. From conceptual models and prototypes (plaster and FDM), to detailed mechanical design, mold construction, and assembled working units for field trials, we helped them get there.

Sherpa Design continues to provide complete molded part and bracket assemblies and assist with their ongoing design and development programs.

I actually don’t get the whole meaning of this… almost an instantiation of a spime?
This company do 3D modeling/prototyping but I don’t really get what they designed here with RFID tags, might be a tracking system for containers but is the RFID included in the object?

This entry was posted on Monday, March 20th, 2006 at 4:58 pm and is filed under Weird. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

7 Responses to “3D printing + RFID”

  1. csven Says:
    March 20th, 2006 at 6:19 pm

    This just sounds like a tracking system to me; very similar to the sorts of things I worked on in the mid-90’s.

    It’s probably worth mentioning that Aironet, a well-known wireless system, originated inside a company that manufactured barcode scanners (patent conflicts with Symbol forced them to go wireless).

    I suspect the first spime was actually made at that company. I’m fairly certain the people I knew who were heading up the Aironet division (I do recall one name; I should contact him) were aware of the positional data they could derive from the radio technology they’d developed. I can’t be 100% certain, but as a former navigator on a U.S. Navy ship, I can’t imagine how that *didn’t* come up in our conversations. Before GPS, I frequently relied on radio beacons (Loran-C, aso).

    I think the term “spime” could use a bit more clarification, however. For example, to be part of a “cradle to grave” system, does the device need to maintain it’s own inventory of componentry or is it sufficient that this be online in some network database? I assumed a “spime” would have some autonomy. It’s history, inventory, identity all being maintained onboard. Maybe I’m expecting it to be more than what I suspect has already come and gone.

  2. csven Says:
    March 21st, 2006 at 3:10 am

    I took some time to google that name. Looks like he’s been busy:
    http://www.wipo.int/ipdl/IPDL-CIMAGES/view/pct/getbykey5?KEY=05/22292.050519

    I believe he’s now the CTO of this company, basically doing the same thing you’re mentioning here:

    http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/printDS/37892.php

    http://www.scs-mag.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1081&Itemid=45

    I can’t find anything on the device itself, but he’s a very hands-on person. I have no doubt it’s very interesting and ahead of most anything else out there.

  3. Nicolas Says:
    March 21st, 2006 at 10:02 am

    Thanks a lot for thoses pointers!

  4. csven Says:
    March 21st, 2006 at 3:26 pm

    I thought that Zigbee chip was interesting (mentioned in the scs-mag link). Something I intend to investigate at some point.

    In the meantime, I’ve emailed him to get more information on their product; images at least. Perhaps he’ll respond.

  5. Nicolas Says:
    March 21st, 2006 at 4:55 pm

    Ok tell me if you get more!

  6. Maggy Says:
    December 9th, 2006 at 1:15 pm

    i wanna know details regarding the physics of enclosure, which shape will be helpful in reducing noise… how will be the sound propagation..etc…
    please help……….

  7. Maggy Says:
    December 9th, 2006 at 1:18 pm

    i want to understand basics of enclosure of a printer, literature related to it , links, and which will be better shape ?

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