> What an SLA model?

SLA is a stereo lithography technique in which lasers are directed into a tank of resin - where the laser is focussed, the resin sets. The shape of the product is built up one layer at a time until you end up with a solid model. It's a very fast way of prototyping complex designs.

> What's EMC testing

This is the testing that we must carry out to ensure that the product doesn't radiate radio frequencies (beyond a certain limit) and is immune to radio (and other) signals directed at it.

In our case, because the front panel is plastic, we have to coat it with a conductive material to prevent these emissions. If you look closely at a Mark 1 front panel, you can see that a wire mesh is embedded into it, and brought out to a conductive coating on the rear face around the edges, where it makes a ground contact with the metalwork.

This is the kind of thing that our clients don't usually see going on, but it takes a very large amount of our time and money to complete successfully. Without this testing we can't have FCC or CE approvals, and wouldn't be able to sell the product.

Rob