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Guide to Foamcore Joining Techniques

Foamcore (also known as foam board or foam core) is a lightweight building material typically consisting of an inner foam layer sandwiched by paper or another thin, lightweight material. If you have put together a poster for a school project or a work-related presentation, odds are you’re familiar with rigid foam core poster board. Foamcore […]

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Corrosion vs Oxidation vs Rust

It really grinds my gears when people use the word rust incorrectly. I spent years working as a metallurgist and design engineer analyzing material samples for failure. I love chemistry and have an obsession with relaying factual information. That’s why I dream of the day when all humans understand the difference between corrosion, oxidation, and […]

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Our Favorite Mechanical Inventions Helping the World Right Now

As an engineer, the peak in excitement and job satisfaction is the opportunity to create something that improves the lives of people around the world. While the field of biomedical engineering may be the most obvious area that directly helps people (which is why I began my studies in college in biomedical engineering) there are […]

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CNC Machining: Macros, Subprograms, and Parametric Programming

CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining is an automated, subtractive manufacturing process where a CNC machine is controlled with a set of commands that, when followed, will produce a part. CNC operators create these commands through a process called CNC programming. This article describes CNC programming and the different types of CNC programming methods. What Is […]

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Countersink Holes

Countersink holes and countersink compatible fasteners are used in all sorts of products and projects. From cellphones and computers to industrial equipment and cabinets, countersinking is used for machining metal stock, wood, sheet-metal, and even PCBs. Engineers and designers need to know what a countersink hole is and how it can be used (compatible fasteners […]

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NEW: Material Certifications for All US CNC Materials

We know how important it is to have confidence in the materials you source for critical builds. And whether you need material traceability for code compliance, meeting client requirements, or internal quality management purposes, it all starts with material certifications.  That’s why Fictiv has made it easy to add material certifications to your orders! You […]

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Fictiv and Heliospace Announce Partnership to Accelerate New Product Development for Cutting-Edge Space Technology

SAN FRANCISCO, May 10, 2023 — Fictiv, the operating system for custom manufacturing, today announced its partnership with Heliospace, harnessing the power of digital manufacturing to dramatically accelerate new product development for ground breaking space technology. Heliospace is an agile aerospace company that produces flight hardware, systems engineering, and mission formulation services to NASA, nonprofits, and commercial customers […]

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What to Know About Injection Molding Tooling Life

Injection molding tool life is the number of production cycles that an injection mold can complete before it needs to be replaced or repaired. A production cycle spans the closing of the mold, the injection of a “shot” of molten plastic material, cooling, the opening of the mold, and the removal of the part. Predicting […]

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Hot Runner vs. Cold Runner Molds

Injection molding is a widely used process to produce consumer goods from plastic, and many of our manufactured products are injection molded. From auto parts to appliance housings and cell phone cases, injected molded plastic parts are all around us.    Plastic injection molding has been around since before 1900, and there have been many improvements […]

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Injection Molding Trends in 2023

The market for plastic injection molding continues to grow due to increased spending, faster technological progress, the development of on-demand injection molding, and shorter supply chains through reshoring. However, reduced labor availability, especially in the United States, presents a challenge for injection molders.  This article discusses the trends that are poised to shape the injection […]