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The global supply chain has experienced severe disruptions in recent years, due to shutdowns and restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, political changes, the wars in Ukraine and Israel, and an evolving business landscape. Slowdowns, rising prices, and logistical challenges have caused everyday supply chain processes and supplier relationships to change. But while leaders talk […]

Prototyping is the process of physically building a model or draft of an idea. As engineers, prototyping is a crucial step in the product development process whereby a solid model comes to life, and we can touch, see, and interact with it.  Historically, traditional prototyping has been a lengthy and expensive process, but modern, rapid […]

Medical injection molding lets designers prototype and manufacture a wide range of products for the medical, dental, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries. Some products, such as catheters, are tightly regulated. Other products have fewer requirements or are subject to regulatory guidance, such as wellness items. There are also injected molded parts (e.g., gaskets) that are not […]

HDPE injection molding uses high-density polyethylene (HDPE), a cost-effective thermoplastic with good tensile strength and high impact resistance. This commodity plastic also has strong moisture resistance and is relatively easy to injection mold. HDPE is used in many applications, but it has a high rate of thermal expansion. Consequently, injection-molded HDPE parts are prone to […]

Glass filled nylon is a composite material that contains nylon and a specific percentage of glass fibers, typically 30% to 50%. Nylon injection molding produces strong and heat-resistant parts, but unfilled nylon lacks the performance properties required for more demanding applications. With the addition of glass fibers, however, nylon’s thermal and mechanical properties improve. The […]

Hard coat anodizing is a surface treatment process used to upgrade the solidness, erosion obstruction, and wear opposition of metal parts. Hard anodizing is an electrochemical cycle that makes a thick oxide layer on the outer layer of metals, giving various advantages across different enterprises. This article will dig into the subtleties of hard coat […]

If you have ever been in a quality lab where complex or precision CNC machined parts are inspected, you have likely seen a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). A CMM is a sophisticated, automated metrology instrument used to accurately measure dimensions and geometric relationships. A CMM plays a significant role in guaranteeing that manufactured parts meet […]

Fictiv’s guide to fasteners for 3D printed parts includes an overview of threaded inserts, self-threading screws, captured hex nuts, as well as how to design threads and cut threads with a tap. In this article, we’ll examine plastic fastening assemblies for CNC machined and 3D printed parts, including:  This guide will help you choose the […]

Newly expanded capabilities, advanced configuration options, and a significant pricing reduction delivers full-suite additive manufacturing capabilities for prototyping & production in the USA. SAN FRANCISCO, October 17, 2023 – Fictiv, the operating system for custom manufacturing, today announced a series of exciting new updates to its 3D printing service in order to meet the needs […]

One of the most important factors in machining is the geometry of the cutting tool, and one component of that is the rake angle. A tool’s rake angle will affect how much material can be removed, how easily chips form and break, the horsepower required to cut, and even the tool’s life. It must be […]