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Fictiv Appoints Former Twilio Executive Lynda Smith to Board of Directors

SAN FRANCISCO – March 10, 2023 – Fictiv, the operating system for custom manufacturing, today announced the appointment of Lynda Smith to its Board of Directors. Smith brings over 35 years of experience in product, marketing, sales, and general management across a diverse set of hardware and software industries and has spent over 25 years […]

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Consumer Electronics Certifications: FCC Regulations, EMC Testing, and More

You and your team have a killer consumer electronics product idea and the necessary skill set to bring it to market. But 50% of consumer electronics products fail EMC testing during their first pass. A failure in certification testing can stop your product development process dead in its tracks, resulting in large costs and significant […]

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What are Complex Parts: A Geometry Perspective

Com⠂plexadjective: complex/ˌkämˈpleks,kəmˈpleks,ˈkämˌpleks/not easy to analyze or understand; complicated or intricate.“a complex personality”Similar: complicated, involved, intricate, convoluted, tangled, elaborate What comes to mind when you hear the word complex? Maybe particle physics, the vast size of our universe, the enormity and reach of the world wide web, nuclear reactors, supplier sourcing? Any human relationship… ever? Perhaps […]

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Understanding Durometer: Rubber and Plastic Hardness

Material selection is one of the most important aspects of any engineering design. Depending upon your project requirements, you may need to balance the hardness or softness of a part in order to use a specific manufacturing method or tooling, or to meet end-use requirements for cushioning or impact resistance.  When working with rubbers or […]

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Problems with MCAD-ECAD Integration and How to Solve Them

Designing complex PCBAs for external enclosures requires meticulous attention to detail, ensuring compatibility between both mechanical and electrical aspects. In this article, we’ll discuss the importance of this integration and common problems that often arise during the process, then provide ways to avoid them.  Why MCAD and ECAD Integration is Important  Electronics and mechanical systems […]

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Understanding the Finite Element Method

The Finite Element Method (FEM) is a numerical analysis technique used to obtain approximate solutions to complex engineering and mathematical problems. It involves dividing a complicated object or system into smaller, more manageable parts, known as finite elements. These elements are connected together by nodes, and the governing equations for the entire system are expressed […]

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10 Tips to Improve Your CAD Designs for CNC Machining

The ultimate goal of DFM (Designing for Manufacturing) for CNC machining is to design parts that achieve the design requirements while reducing the complexity of machining operations and the potential for quality issues. When designing for CNC machining, the maxim, simplicity is the ultimate form of sophistication, applies.  Despite its automated nature, CNC machining can […]

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ENGINEERING FUNDAMENTALS Refresh: Ductility, Strain, and Toughness

Ductility, strain, and toughness are fundamental concepts in the field of engineering, particularly in materials science and mechanical engineering. Ductility is a measure of a material’s ability to deform plastically (permanently) before fracture. In other words, it’s a measure of a material’s ability to stretch or bend without breaking. Ductile materials, such as copper and […]

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Acrylic Injection Molding

Acrylic is a clear and commonly used injection molding plastic. The chemical name for acrylic is Poly(methyl methacrylate), which can be shortened to PMMA. The main advantage of injection molded acrylic is its transparency and shatter resistance. Acrylic is also strong and lightweight, which makes it a great substitute for glass. In addition, PMMA resists […]

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Polycarbonate Injection Molding

Polycarbonate injection molding is used to produce parts from polycarbonate (PC) plastic, a tough, transparent, and heat-resistant polymer with applications ranging from automotive parts and electronic components to consumer products and medical equipment. Polycarbonate is a commonly used thermoplastic that combines high durability and impact resistance with excellent mechanical properties such as high strength, stiffness, […]