Hasta La Ideas

The 2024 Core77 Design Awards has wrapped, but we’re not done until the trophies have shipped to the winners. Our trophies are individually milled and engraved from solid aluminum blanks, and this year we’re thrilled to be working with the good folks at RapidDirect, an advanced manufacturer with an easy-to-use online quoting and ordering platform and state of the art facilities.

RapidDirect launched its online manufacturing platform in 2019 to provide rapid prototyping and custom manufacturing services worldwide. Through this platform, users can upload design files and receive instant quotes within seconds, saving time and eliminating unnecessary back-and-forth emails.

Since 2023, RapidDirect has expanded its original CNC machining instant quote feature to include 3D printing services and sheet metal services, making custom manufacturing even more accessible. Powered by AI, RapidDirect’s online manufacturing platform bridges the gap between design and production, making custom manufacturing easier for everyone.

Before we show you how it is done, below are a few shots of this year’s finished product:

For those of you not familiar with CNC machining processes, here’s a video and some detailed images of how the trophies get made:

It all starts at the RapidDirect facility in Shenzhen, China. Operating within their own factory enables fast turn-around times, providing tight control over production speed and quality.

To improve efficiency and consistency, trophy production is staged: first, rough machining shapes the raw material with a 3-axis CNC; then, the cavity and top surface are machined.

After rough machining, the trophy’s outer surface is bead blasted to remove burrs, mask tool marks, and enhance surface finish.

The cavity and top surface are finely machined, with a custom small end mill used to engrave the winner’s name on each trophy.

To achieve a mirror-like finish on the top surface, three polishing stages are performed, from coarse to fine, with careful hand polishing.

Ultrasonic cleaning is used to remove oil and grease from the trophies, ensuring they arrive in excellent condition.

All parts manufactured by RapidDirect undergo a full dimensional inspection to ensure they meet the required specifications. In this image, a inspector uses a CMM machine to check the trophies’ dimensions for accuracy.

We’re really happy to be working with RapidDirect this year on our trophy production project. If you’re seeking a manufacturing partner that can deliver high quality parts quickly and affordably we encourage you to give them a try.

And mark your calendars for the 2025 Core77 Design Awards – open for entries in January, 2025!