Investing in the Future of Engineering: A Look Back at a Successful Year for the Precision Board Donation Program

At Coastal Enterprises, we’re passionate about empowering the next generation of engineers, fabricators, and innovators. Through our Precision Board Donation Program, we proudly provide high-performance urethane tooling board to schools, universities, and student-led teams working on real-world engineering and manufacturing projects.

This year has been one of our most successful yet, marked by new partnerships, groundbreaking student innovations, and continued growth in programs that prepare young engineers for the industries of tomorrow.

Building the Next Generation of Makers

Whether it’s a lightweight mold for a solar-powered vehicle, a composite lay-up tool for an aerospace prototype, or a CNC-machined component for an electric racing car, students across the country are using Precision Board Urethane Tooling Board to bring complex ideas to life.

By working with a professional-grade material that’s trusted by manufacturers in aerospace, automotive, marine, and defense, students gain hands-on experience that mirrors the real demands of industry, learning how to design, fabricate, and problem-solve with precision.

Highlights from 2025

This year, Coastal Enterprises donated thousands of pounds of Precision Board to university and technical programs nationwide, supporting projects that blend creativity with technical expertise.

Some of our favorite highlights include:

University Engineering Teams – From Formula SAE to solar-powered racing cars, students used Precision Board to machine aerodynamic body molds, tooling fixtures, and composite lay-up tools that performed under pressure.

Aerospace & Manufacturing Programs – Engineering departments utilized Precision Board for prototypes, pattern tools, and aerodynamic testing components, taking advantage of its low CTE and high dimensional stability.

Vocational & Technical Schools – Future machinists and fabricators trained on CNC processes using Precision Board, gaining real-world experience with a versatile, easy-to-machine tooling material.

Each of these projects reflects the ingenuity and drive that define the next generation of engineers, and we’re honored to play a small role in their success.

Why It Matters

Supporting education isn’t just a part of what we do; it’s part of who we are. For over 50 years, Coastal Enterprises has proudly manufactured every sheet of Precision Board Urethane Tooling Board in the USA. Through our donation program, we’re giving students access to the same quality materials used in professional aerospace and advanced manufacturing environments.

These experiences prepare them for the challenges they’ll face in their careers and inspire them to push boundaries even further.

Looking Ahead

Looking ahead, we’re committed to supporting engineering and manufacturing programs, helping young innovators build the skills and confidence to lead the industry forward.

If your school or student team could benefit from high-quality tooling materials, we’d love to hear from you. Together, we can continue shaping the future of engineering and advanced manufacturing, one project at a time.

Learn more about the Precision Board Donation Program: https://precisionboard.com/donation-program/

Coastal Enterprises Company
Proudly manufacturing Precision Board Urethane Tooling Board in the USA for over 50 years — and investing in the innovators of the future.

Giving Life to Precision Board

Every year the next generation continues to impress us. After receiving the donated Precision Board Plus from Coastal Enterprises Company, these select creative minds brought life to what was once a block of urethane. Using PBLT hand in hand with 3D Printers, Paper Laser Cutters and CNC Milling machines, the students at Carleton University in Ottawa are working with cutting edge technology. They are incorporating materials and machinery to create amazing works of art.

PBLT 15 & PBLT 18, along with 3D printing, shows the intricate detail in the ‘Reef Project’

PB Bond-240 (one part Urethane adhesive) being applied to bond sheets of Precision Board, to achieve desired thickness for this project. Next step: CNC machining!

Brant Lucuik, a professional CNC technician, helped the students learn about and use the CNC machine to carve the Precision Board. There was a combination of densities used for this project. The students used PBLT-10 up to PBLT-20, though PBLT-15 and PBLT-18 were the norm. Everyone was pleased with how easy Precision Board was to work with, “It sands and mills beautifully and I would use it exclusively if I could” said Johan Voordouw, Professor of 2^nd year Modeling and responsible for the reef project.

The students at Carleton used several 3D printers from around campus in conjunction with the Precision Board to create this reef scene. Most of the 3D printers used were “smaller makerbots” to create the coral reef shapes. Superglue was used to bond the 3D art to CNC carved Precision Board.

Precision Board in conjunction with 3d printing make ideas become reality. For more information regarding these projects, contact Professor Johan at Carleton University. For any more information about a potential CNC project, contact Brant at Carleton University. To find out more about Carleton University, Click Here!

Our CNC Machine Finally Arrived…

Xpressive graphiX has created another stunning sign and has been chosen to be “Today’s Guest Blogger.” Tony Rose, Business Partner & Creative Director, with Xpressive graphiX writes the following…

Lock 9 Pizza a new business located in Duncan Falls, Ohio, came to us because they had seen several signs of ours around town. In particular, The Olde Falls Inn, that was featured on Coastal Enterprises blog a few years ago and was a winner in the Signs of the Times Magazine 2014 contest last year.

Up until this sign, all of our 3D projects had been hand made, and only certain parts were outsourced to be machined. We finally built up enough 3D business to have a Multicam 1000 CNC installed, and this sign is the very first project we machined with it. In fact, to meet the deadline, we jumped in with both feet and started machining the parts for this sign the first day our machine was installed! Nothing like the rush of throwing a $400 sheet of material onto a machine we had never used!

Typically we hand carve Precision Board Plus which gives us a 3-4 week turnaround time. But, thanks to our new CNC, it only took 7-days (without working overtime)! What a drastic difference it has made!

It worked flawlessly, considering I had never used Multicam or EnRoute Software before this project. I quickly understood the basics of EnRoute and by following the steps on Dan Sawatzy’s Blog I also learned other 3D techniques.

This sign measures 12” x 4’ x 8’ and is made from 2” PBLT-18 to get that awesome 3D look. We then glued SIX different sizes and shaped layers onto a steel internal frame using PB Bond 240 adhesive and finished it off with locally sourced PPG exterior latex paints and glazes, which we mixed ourselves.

We have been using Precision Board Plus for the past 3 years and love how easy it is to work with. For this project in particular, we were blown away on how effortlessly it machined along with the quality of the results and the effects Precision Board can achieve.

Most importantly our customer was very impressed with the detail and quality of the sign! She loved the results so much that additional Precision Board signs were requested, instead of the traditional aluminum and vinyl for their parking and directional signs.

Request your free sample today, by simply clicking here!

Or for more information call us at 800-845-0745 and one of our Sales Reps will be happy to assist you.

Two Densities One Sign

Synergy Sign & Graphics LLC is at it again and we’ve got the inside track on how they continually have success no matter what project they are working on!

First and foremost, they take advantage of Precision Board’s wide selection of products. For this sign, they used our higher density PBLT-30 to machine extra durable crisp lettering while utilizing our easy to machine industry standard PBLT-15 for the core. Using our PB-Bond 240 urethane adhesive they are able to combine two densities for one amazing sign.

Secondly, they save time and money by using our special formulated texture coatings to easily create incredible looking signs. On this sign they achieved an impressive textured effect by using our TSF-45 texture surface finish. This single-component, high solids flexible coating is a great choice to get unique textures in exterior or interior applications.

Now that the secret is out… Take advantage of the entire Precision Board Plus line and let us help you fabricate a truly superior sign.

Remember Coastal Enterprises Company is here for YOU!

Rustic Signmaking With HDU: Glazing A Sign To A Cool Finish

Almost medieval looking, the sign crafted by Synergy Sign & Graphics for Teal Insurance practically looks like it was made with ancient wood and hardened steel. In reality, Synergy used 30lb Precision Board Plus and a combination of other materials to give their sign a rustic, aged look.

We’ve worked with Synergy Sign & Graphics on several articles now, and one of the nicest things about working with them is that Jim Dawson, the owner, is an amateur photographer and takes excellent photographs documenting his signs every step of the way.

This unique sign began its life in Adobe Illustrator, based off an initial proof provided to him by the customer, before Jim generated a 3-D model with CAM software.

Initial proof (left) and final Enroute Pro design (right).

Once the design was finalized, Jim’s MultiCam CNC transformed a piece of Precision Board Plus PBLT-30 HDU into the design he made in Enroute.

Since he sure didn’t want to see this beautiful sign get damaged by the weather or anything else, Jim reinforced the sign with a custom welded steel bracket, sandwiched into a routed slot in between each sign face. Once inserted, the sign faces were laminate bonded together with PB Bond-240, a single part urethane adhesive. A small opening at the top allowed space for eyebolts attached to the inner frame to mount to the faux tree – a simple, yet complex strategy.

To compliment his sign, and because Synergy Sign & Graphics refuses to make anything run of the mill or standard, Jim designed and built a custom faux tree from which he would mount the sign. The tree’s core was built from a custom-welded piece of steel.

Using an epoxy clay, Jim added a subtle, yet major touch to the signs appearance. The brackets surrounding the sign would be formed with the epoxy clay, and painted to look like hammered steel.

A wire mesh frame provided the perfect foundation for the fiberglass reinforced concrete to be applied to and sculpted into a tree and surrounding rocks.

This sign is a great example of the “jack of all trades” skill set that it takes to make a sign. So far, this project has required welding, CNC machining and masonry, and the finishing steps will include painting and glazing – in short, beautiful signs are a lot of work!

Sign primed with FSC-88WB (left), 3 coats of exterior grade latex paint (right).

After priming the sign with FSC-88WB Primer/Filler, and coating with three separate coats of light brown exterior grade paint, it was time to start the glazing process on both the faux tree and actual sign (to see the glazing process, please visit Jim’s blog). Once the three-stage glazing process was complete, the sign was clear coated with exterior grade flat latex clear, resulting in one of the most unique hanging signs we’ve seen!

The recipients of the Teal Sign stated that it was “More amazing than they could have possibly imagined,” which is a real testament to the skill and craftsmanship of Jim Dawson and the entire crew at Synergy Sign & Graphic! Be sure to visit www.synergysign.com for more information and pictures!

Investing in the Future of Engineering: A Look Back at a Successful Year for the Precision Board Donation Program