Fabrication
FABRICATION
What sets our fabrication shop apart is the breadth of our capabilities plus the quality of our machine tooling. We offer extensive digital capabilities—including CNC machining, 3D printing, laser engraving, and a full-service print shop—all under one roof. These cutting-edge modalities exist alongside our more traditional services including mold-making, sculpting, blacksmithing, painting, welding, and woodworking. The backbone of our success is our team of highly trained experts in their respective fields. Each member shines brightly on their own, but The Specialists blows away the competition by harnessing their collective power. At the forefront of our practice is an emphasis on material knowledge, material excellence, and technology. Like a four-star chef, we understand the importance of raw materials. They are the foundation for turning ideas in to tangible things, and we’re constantly on the hunt for something new to unlock a unique structural or aesthetic effect. As for technology, we have an industry-leading fleet of 3D printers and CNC machines which we leverage to improve our speed and efficiency—but even more importantly, to expand what’s possible.
Everything about our practice is optimized for making high-fidelity props for the entertainment industry. Our work is so prevalent in this field, it would be difficult to turn on the TV on a given night and not see our fabricated props. Making film and TV props is where it all started for us, and it’s something we’re very passionate about.
A lot of our capabilities center on making items that are just really big. Our 5-axis CNC router bed is oversized, our Massivit 3D printer is as large as they come, and our shop is 60,000 square feet. All of these elements, coupled with our extensive team of makers, allows us to create with precision at an unprecedented scale.
We work extensively in the field of experiential marketing and creative advertising, offering support to industry-leading brands with all aspects of their activations and permanent architectural fixtures. We collaborate with design firms, agencies, contractors and architects, offering engineering solutions to aid their design teams, and providing fabrication, installation and logistics.
Our 3D printing lab is a thing of beauty. It can produce almost any shape imaginable. With a broad range of applications—including manufacturing, art, architecture, prototyping, prop-making, and design—3D printing has become a major component of our practice. It gives us the ability to build complex geometries that are all but impossible with subtractive manufacturing techniques. For prototyping and prop-making, the ability to create a complex shape in a short amount of time is paramount—all while avoiding expensive tooling and setup costs. With our vast array of 3D printers, we can print in a range of materials—including different kinds of plastics, rubbers, and metal—in almost any color. This allows for on-demand production and customization on a much higher level than with traditional manufacturing methods. Our fleet of 3D laser scanners allows us to quickly produce a 3D model of any real-world shape, from organic forms to entire buildings.
OUR 3D PRINTERS & SCANNERS
OUR 3D PRINTERS & SCANNERS
3D PRINTERS
- Massivit 1800 Pro Flagship 3D Printer – FRB plastic, 300 mm/sec linear speed 35cm /13.7” on Z axis per hour*, 57” x 44” x 70” build envelope.
- Fortus F400 FDM Printer – ABS plastic, .005 in.- .013 in. build layer resolutions. 16”x16”14” build envelope.
- Objet 260Connex Polyjet printer – Digital ABS Photopolymer. Available in rigid and rubber like materials. 10”x9”8” build envelope. Recommended for highly detailed models.
- Fortus F170 FDM Printer – Rapid ABS plastic, .005 in.- .013 in. build layer resolutions. 10”x 10”10” build envelope.
- EOS 290 DMLS Metal 3D Printer – Stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, Inconel 9.85”x 9.85” x 12.8” build envelope.
- RADOR Surface Finish Processor- Superior Surface finishing for FDM, Polyjet, DMLS,SLS, SLA materials.
3D SCANNERS
- RADOR Surface Finish Processor- Superior Surface finishing for FDM, Polyjet, DMLS,SLS, SLA materials.
- ARTEC LEO- Fully mobile realtime handheld scanner with a large field of view.
- ARTEC SPIDER- Highly Precise for accurate and high-resolution needs.
- ARTEC EVA- Rapid scanner for general volumes and less complex geometry.
We offer a wide scope of design and engineering capabilities, including concept artwork, Photoshop renderings, 3D models, CAD drafting, and stamped drawings. We are an established R&D shop. We are capable of both product development and the production of product packaging. Our clients turn to us for help with complex design challenges, which we love. We enjoy a puzzle as much as we enjoy the chance to use our hard-earned expertise. It is a testament to our range of skills and knowledge that we have produced work for so many different industries beyond film and television: art, architecture, advertising, textile, industrial manufacturing, tech, electronics, and medical.
OUR SERVICES & MATERIALS
OUR SERVICES & MATERIALS
SERVICES
- Concept Design
- Engineering
- CAD Drafting
- Prototyping
- Product Development
- R&D
- Photoshop Renders
MATERIALS
- Cloth
- Fabrics
- Fiberglass
- Foam (EPS, XLPE, HDU, XPS)
- Latex
- Rubber
- Neoprene
- Paper
- Plastics (Polycarbonate, PVC, ABS, Nylon, Delrin)
- Plywoods (MDF, LDF, Masonite)
- Silicone
- Urethane
- Textiles
- Vinyl
- Metal
- Laminates (Dibond, Formica, Chemetal)
In industries like film, fashion, entertainment and marketing, the importance of a high-quality paint and finishing department cannot be understated. Without it, even the most structurally sound creations will not achieve the desired look. We pride ourselves on the quality and breadth of our painting and finishing, offering a wide range of options for almost any material.
OUR PAINT & FINISHES
OUR PAINT & FINISHES
PAINT
- Durable and flexible mirror spray chrome
- Hard-coating
- Aging and distressing
- Spectra-chrome
- HVLP spraying and airbrushing
- Automotive finishes and glosses
- Marbling
- Ragging
- Wood graining and texturing
- Faux finishes on various substrates, including resin, foam, plastic, wood, silicone, rubber, metal
- Color matching to Pantone color system
FINISHES
- Polishing – sand and bead blasting, hand and machine polishing
- Metal Plating – gold, silver, copper, nickel
- Anodization
- Bluing
- Powder coating
- Patination
- Engraving
- Ultra-fine ceramic polishing on plastic and metal
- Wood sanding and staining
- Acrylic polishing
Our fiber and C02 lasers allow us to cut and engrave a wide spectrum of materials such as acrylics, plastics, rubbers, wood, and metal. Our machines are equipped with rotary axes so that we can engrave and mark curved surfaces. In addition, we can utilize our lasers with classical acid etching techniques to create deep and accurate engravings in materials such as brass and stainless steel.
OUR EQUIPMENT
OUR EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
- Epilog Laser 150w CO2
- Epilog Laser Fusion M2- 75w C02 50w fibre
- Epilog Laser Helix-50w CO2
We have extensive CNC machining capabilities including large-format 5-axis routing, 3-axis routing, drag knife cutting, water jetting, 4-axis milling, CNC lathing with C&Y axes and bar feeding. Our large fleet of CNC machines can do everything from large 5-axis foam cutting to high-tolerance machining in titanium and Inconel. The versatility of our machines allows us to cut almost any precision part or component for manufacturing. Our programmers and operators have a deep knowledge of materials, cutting tools, and feeds and speeds.
OUR CAPABILITIES & EQUIPMENT
OUR CAPABILITIES & EQUIPMENT
CAPABILITIES
- 3, 4 and 5-axis CNC Router
- 3 and 4-axis CNC Milling
- CNC Lathe with live tooling
- Water jetting
EQUIPMENT
- Haas VF4SS milling machine with 4th axis
- Haas ST15Y lathe with C & Y axes and bar feeder
- Multicam 8000 5-axis router with 70x120 inch bed and 36 inch Z-height
- Multicam 5000 3-axis router with 50x100 inch bed
- Colex SXC knife table 60x120” bed with conveyor
We mold and cast in a variety of materials, including polyurethanes, acrylic, fiberglass, silicone, plaster, bronze and stone. We also provide original sculpting and lifecasting for artists, architects, and model makers.
TYPES OF MOLDING & CASTING
TYPES OF MOLDING & CASTING
TYPES OF CASTING
- Silicone
- Rubber
- Life casting
- Enlargements & reductions
- Restorations
- Ornamental moldings
- Sculpting
- Waste
TYPES OF MOLDING
- Urethance
- Epoxy resin
- Silicone
- Metal
- Acrylic
- Plaster
- Wax bronze
- Bonded bronze
- Bonded stone
- Bonded aluminum
- Aqua-resin
- Fiberglass