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Enclosure Design for Injection Molding

As one of the fastest and most precise manufacturing methods, it’s no wonder why injection molding is often chosen for mass producing plastic enclosures. Design for injection molding is therefore an important part of the enclosure design process, and following design for manufacturing (DFM) principles is a critical element of producing a successful product. Today, […]

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How to Create the Perfect Plastic Prototype

Are you ready to create the perfect plastic prototype? You’ll probably need more than one type of prototype during the design process, which means choosing between various plastic prototyping methods and materials. Some techniques don’t support certain plastics, however, and they each offer different prototyping speeds, part tolerances, resolution, and cost. So, where do you […]

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Calculating the Cost of CNC Machining Custom Parts

CNC machining is a complex and revolutionary subtractive manufacturing method whereby a metal or engineering plastic raw material is turned into a complex part. Whether components for aerospace, medical, automotive, consumer products, or robotics, CNC-machined parts are in high demand.  Once a new product is designed a critical part of the new product development process […]

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316 vs 304 Steel: Choosing Between Two Great Metals

Steel is an alloy composed primarily of iron and carbon that’s rigid and sturdy, so it’s used for heavy-duty applications like infrastructure, industrial equipment, and tooling for CNC machining. Unalloyed iron is soft and has limited uses, but the addition of carbon makes a much stronger and harder material.   Stainless steel (SS) is an alloy […]

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Tips for 3D Scanning to CNC Machine Repair and Overhaul Parts

If you’re involved in the operation and maintenance of a manufacturing facility, chances are that you need to procure Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul Parts (MRO) from time to time. In the past, you may have spent hours measuring minute details to create a drawing or solid model of the component you are hoping to replace.  […]

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Threaded Locking Methods for Secure Connections

Threaded fasteners, such as bolts and nuts, are used in many applications, ranging from plastic toys to massive bridges. And all threaded fastener connections need to stay together when we want them to, but also come apart when needed. For example, the valve covers on an engine must remain in place while driving, but we […]

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Supplier Selection Process Best Practices

If you are to the point in the design process where you can begin conversations with potential suppliers, congratulations! Ideally, you will begin this conversation sooner rather than later so you can get critical design for manufacturability (DFM) feedback, and reduce the number of design iterations required. But finding a supplier who can turn your […]

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Fictiv Launches Fictiv Premium to Help Teams Collaborate and Simplify Custom Manufacturing with High Visibility and Control

New paid annual membership program enables Fictiv customers to unify cross-functional sourcing activities, control access to information, optimize orders for target delivery dates, and access exclusive discounts. SAN FRANCISCO, October 4, 2022 – Fictiv, the operating system for custom manufacturing, announced today the commercial availability of Fictiv Premium, a first-of-its-kind paid annual membership program that […]

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How to Design for Part Stiffness Using a Geometric Approach

Designing products for load bearing applications is a complex and multifaceted task, so it’s important for a designer to have a “toolbox” of techniques that improve design quality. Designing for part stiffness through geometric controls is one of these important tools. While part stiffness can be modified with geometry, material stiffness is a property of […]

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Casting vs. CNC Machining: Which Process Is Best for Your Part?

We’re no longer in the Bronze Age, but some manufacturing techniques stand the test of time. Casting, a process where molten metal is poured into a mold, has been around for over 6,000 years and is still widely used and prominent in manufacturing to this day Advances in casting technology enable the casting of high-quality […]