Starbound Labs is a fascinating British engineering business. They design and manufacture drones that fly in synchronised formations of hundreds, using coloured lights to create spectacular aerial displays. Weighing just 285 g, they use sophisticated positioning technology to fly with centimetre-level accuracy. The UK needs more companies like Starbound Labs – they are making cool things with an enthusiasm and energy which is contagious.
Developing technology like this isn’t without its challenges. When adhesive bonding failures during flight trials threatened to delay progress, Starbound turned to Intertronics for help.
Our involvement went beyond recommending a better adhesive. It wasn’t just a case of “try this one”. Working with Starbound’s engineers, we explored how adhesive selection, bond geometry, surface preparation and application methods could contribute to a more reliable bonding process. The result was the selection of Born2Bond Ultra K85 cyanoacrylate adhesive, alongside improvements Starbound made to its design before it was finalised.
As Dan Aljassas, Product Designer at Starbound Labs, put it: “Getting Intertronics’ insights before we finalised the design has taken months off this development phase.”
It’s a useful reminder that adhesive selection is only one part of successful bonding, and that getting specialist advice early can save considerable time and cost.
Read the full case study to find out how we helped Starbound overcome its bonding challenges.
