All articles from the author
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It’s National Manufacturing Day, a great opportunity to reflect on the industry, where it’s headed, and how people feel about their work. Recently, I sat down with several Fictiv employees to get their take on the industry, what excites them about their work, and what advice they’d share with those considering careers in the field. […]
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When you’re a mechanical engineer like me, starting a new 3D model design is equally exciting and nerve-wracking as your mind fills with possibilities. Whether it’s a complex CNC part, a simple mechanical assembly, an innovative new product development (NPD) design, or a 3D printed mechanism, every project presents unique challenges and opportunities for innovation. […]
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Correctly preparing a solid model file for 3D printing is a critical step in the part-production process. Accurate preparation of a 3D model for 3D printing ensures that the final product is dimensionally correct and meets your desired specifications — the 3D printer will print the model as designed, so any errors will be replicated […]
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Think back twelve months ago. Most hardware companies were reeling from consecutive quarters of sub-par financial performance due to the significant — literally overnight — drop in demand caused by COVID. Previously profitable, growing companies were slashing discretionary spending, completely restructuring, and implementing workforce furloughs and reductions. Survival was paramount. Those worst hit were often […]
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We create Fictiv’s annual State of Manufacturing report to gain insight into the current trends, goals and concerns in the industry. In 2021, our survey of hundreds of manufacturing executives showed that driving supply chain resilience and new product introduction (NPI) are keys to success in a post-COVID world. Because these topics are at the […]
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Recently I sat down with MacroFab CEO Misha Govshteyn to talk about building supply chain resilience, during a webinar hosted by industry journalist Philip Stoten. We looked at supply chains in the COVID-19 era and explored how we got here, then discussed the digitally connected supply chain of the future. How we got here: a perfect […]
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There is no shortage of examples of additive manufacturing, or 3D Printing, helping in the fight against COVID-19. In this Bunker, we talked to executives from two of the companies on the vanguard of additive technology, who are both doing their part to address the COVID-19 crisis. Both Markforged and Carbon have quickly implemented responses […]
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As the COVID-19 crisis disrupts the world of manufacturing and supply chain, it challenges our perception of globalization. Governments around the world are acting to reduce dependency on China, with a bill in the United States and Japan providing billions in incentives to move supply chains. What does that mean for manufacturing, and what could […]
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This week we brought together two guests who have not just spent years in the manufacturing and supply chain industries, but who are regularly published as experts in their field. First up was Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, founder and host of podcast and blog “Let’s Talk Supply Chain” (LTSC). With 20 years in logistics and supply chain, Sarah […]
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This week, our focus was on robotics, and our guest was Marco Micheletti, Fresh Consulting’s Director of Automation. Marco has more than twenty years managing engineering teams and driving automation, product development, supply chain and manufacturing for products including the Xbox 360, Nike+ SportWatch GPS, Nike+ Fuelband, Steam Controller, and Steam Valve Index VR Kit. Headlines […]
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Today, Fictiv announced that hospitals and healthcare providers can begin ordering protective face shields in batches of up to 10,000 per order at cost for shipment as fast as one (1) day: https://www.fictiv.com/covid-19-face-shields. We’re leveraging our global manufacturing network and a newly designed tool to produce millions of face shields to help healthcare workers in […]
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This week, we focused on healthcare supply chains, with two stellar expert guests. First up, sharing her insight into the latest legislative and administrative issues related to the healthcare supply chain, was Lorraine Marchand, life sciences consultant, speaker, writer, and professor. Lorraine was joined by Greg Schulte, Director of Engineering at Mindtribe (Part of Accenture Industry X.0), […]
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In this week’s episode, we welcomed two vastly experienced supply chain experts. John Jacobson has held supply chain roles in enterprises and startups, including Cisco and Sonos. John, or JJ to his friends, was joined by Howell Wang connecting live from Shenzhen, China. Thanks for getting up so early, Howell; you’re a star! Howell Wang is CEO of Insight […]
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Things are moving fast right now, and the impact of the COVID-19 coronavirus is being felt in more places than we ever imagined. From toilet paper shortages and event cancellations to the aviation and tourism industries being turned on their heads, the world is changing faster than ever. At Fictiv, we’ve been in the thick […]
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Since our update last week, the coronavirus situation has regrettably worsened. As of this morning, the number of confirmed cases in mainland China has increased to over 40,000 and the death toll has tragically risen to over 900 people. The Chinese government is currently taking significant steps to prevent the spread of the virus and is doing […]
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Last month, we were busy advising customers about the predictable supply chain disruption related to the celebration of the Lunar New Year in China and helping ensure that everyone’s parts could be delivered on time. This week we have seen something unpredictable that will pile on additional disruption at the worst possible time. The WHO […]
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The global trade war has been a topic top of mind for nearly all manufacturers and product creators over the last few years, and the topic has started to affect their bottom lines more seriously. Ricardo Ortiz, Fictiv’s International Logistics Lead, joined Dragon Innovation’s VP of Strategic Planning Shawn Chang to answer questions about the […]
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Our roundup video host this month is Panos, a Technical Project Manager here at Fictiv! He’s adding a multi-language spin to this month’s roundup. We’re diving into chainless bikes, robotic grippers, and the first robot-assisted remote heart surgery. Hardware Knowledge UAV Turbines has successfully completed the first flight of a drone with a microturbine […]
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Manufacturing is a key component of economic growth. However, in August 2019, with the global trade war raging, the direction of manufacturing growth in the U.S. was below the neutral 50.0 threshold for the first time in a decade. The index then fell again in September almost two more percentage points, causing the weakest growth since […]
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Our roundup host this month is Swetha, a manufacturing engineer on our operations team! This month, we’re taking a look at origami robots, stick-on health sensors, and autonomous flight. Hardware Knowledge These origami-like soft robots are fully untethered and move in response to external stimuli. + A tiny, two-legged PCB robot. The Air Force is […]
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Our roundup host this month is Drew, our Content Marketing Manager here at Fictiv! We’re diving into brain-machine interfaces, prosthetic arms, and robotic actuators. Hardware Knowledge Tesla is working on building a giant new casting machine to produce the Model Y frame in almost a single piece. Sumitomo has developed an “energy harvester” tire that […]
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Our June Hardware Roundup video host is Kat, a Software Engineer here at Fictiv! Our highlights this month include cell tower balloons, unique robotic designs, and tariff tension updates. Hardware Knowledge The time-intensive CNC process behind Apple’s new Mac Pro grille design. + End-of-life AirPod impact. Rivian’s battery system can transition to stationary energy […]
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Our roundup video this month is hosted by Andy, Fictiv’s Director of Supply! We’ll be diving into butterfly mechanisms, digital circuit breakers, and the latest in sanctions. We’ve also included a special section dedicated to the most compelling findings from our State of Hardware report. Hardware Knowledge Fictiv’s 2019 State of Hardware Results Industry News […]
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Our April roundup video is hosted by Danielle, a Technical Project Manager on our manufacturing team! Be sure to check out our video below to view some roundup highlights. This month’s roundup highlights innovation in aviation, battery pack design, e-recycling technology, and much more. Hardware Knowledge Industry News Events + Community 2019 State of Hardware […]
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Our roundup video this time is hosted by Mo, a Senior Technical Program Manager here at Fictiv! Check out this month’s video to learn about the latest news in the hardware space. This edition of the roundup dives into the evolution of spaceflight, sustainable technology, and new 3D printed metamaterials. Industry News Private companies are […]
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We wanted to bring you a new way to experience the hardware roundup this month. Our latest edition of the roundup includes a teaser video hosted by the Head of Program Management on our manufacturing team, Sean! Sean is a hardware enthusiast, and he’ll guide you through trends in global manufacturing, innovative hardware design, and […]
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Dave here, co-founder and CEO of Fictiv. I’ve decided to hijack the first hardware roundup of the year and make it a special edition! I’m here at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Vegas and wanted to share some of the products I’ve seen that have me really excited. This roundup is going to take […]
Teardown
In Part 1 of this teardown, we ventured inside 3 of Nintendo’s first controllers: the NES, Super Nintendo, and (our favorite) the N64. Now we’re making our way towards the present with Part 2, looking at the Gamecube, Wii Mote and finally the latest Wii U Gamepad. (Honorable mentions go out to the Virtual Boy controller and the Power […]
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If you’re super busy at work—and you just keep getting busier—you’re not alone. An astounding 75 percent of manufacturing personnel at machine shops report that they currently perform three or more roles in their organizations. That’s one of the key findings in Fictiv’s 2018 State of Hardware Report. It used to be that most products […]
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Fictiv today announced the opening of its office in Portland, Oregon. The office will serve as a sales center, where Fictiv will hire and develop new sales talent to support the company’s growing business. The office marks the second office expansion in 6 months, following the opening of its China headquarters in Guangzhou, China. “As […]
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Funding to accelerate virtual manufacturing platform’s global expansion and development of workflow optimization tools; investors include Accel Partners, Intel Capital, Bill Gates and FJ Labs Palm Desert, CA – May 8, 2018 – Fictiv today announced from the Intel Capital Global Summit that it closed a $15 million Series B led by Sinovation Ventures […]
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At Fictiv, our vision has always been to enable product developers to build hardware at the speed of software. Today we’re excited to announce we’re accelerating and realizing this vision with a $33M investment by G2VP, Mitsui & Co., Intel Capital, Sinovation, Bill Gates, Accel, and Tandon Group. Like us, these partners share our vision […]
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To gain actionable insights on how real hardware products are developed and manufactured, we interviewed top engineers and designers in the San Francisco Bay Area in our Hardware Sessions series. In this edition of Hardware Sessions, we sit down with Hind Hobeika, a mechanical engineer and founder of Instabeat, a connected accessory for swimming goggles […]
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In today’s rapidly changing manufacturing environment, engineers are constantly trying to find their way through a very complex ecosystem to gain a competitive advantage and leverage the right tools to build their next product. Just last month, we hosted an event where a Abby Soong, a Mechanical Design Engineer at Momentum Machines, said that her […]
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There are so many different ways to prototype and manufacture physical products, and at times, the list of materials and processes can feel daunting even for the most experienced engineers. At Fictiv, we’re working to give people more streamlined access to the best fabrication technology available. We’re also dedicated to helping engineers learn which fabrication […]
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Three years ago, I embarked on a journey with my brother to transform the way people discover and access tools for hardware development and manufacturing. We named our company Fictiv, which means “created by imagination.” Today, Fictiv launches its CNC machining service, providing customers with precision parts fabricated and delivered in just 3 days, all […]
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On track/off track is a “get stuff done” framework shared with us by business coach Kate Purmal, to help us drive projects end-to-end and focus on sharing results-based updates. Meeting fatigue infects many companies, stealing valuable time and status meetings are especially ineffective when people spend too much time reporting activities (“Last week, I worked […]
Teardown
One of the coolest new products we’ve seen hit the shelves for the holiday season is the Wilson X Connected Basketball. It uses Bluetooth LE and an accelerometer to track your shooting stats so you can improve your game. The ball also pairs with the Wilson X App so you can track shooting percentage and range […]
Teardown
For this edition of our Hardware DNA series we’re taking apart a very unique product: The Muse brain sensing headband. What the heck is a brain sensing headband, you ask? Well, essentially it uses sensors to measure brain activity across your frontal cortex and then, using the app, gives you real-time feedback on what’s happening in […]
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We talk a lot about iteration here at Fictiv because it’s the foundation for lean hardware development and lean hardware development is the key to bringing successful hardware products to market. Iteration refers to the cyclic process of refining a design until you’ve achieved the established product requirements, outlined in your PRD (product requirements document). […]
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One of the most popular questions I get from hardware companies concerns the pros and cons of 3D printer ownership. The question generally goes something like, if i’m iterating all the time, doesn’t it make sense for me to buy my own machine that I can access whenever I need it? That’s precisely the question I […]
Teardown
As a bunch of Nintendo nerds, we’re really excited about this week’s teardown, where we’re looking at the evolution of Nintendo controllers since the very beginning. From the old-school NES controller with only 8 buttons to the game-changing N64 controller with the first joystick to the latest Wii U gamepad with a touch screen and […]
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Every day, we work with young hardware startups to help them bring new products to market. While there is no deficit of passion and motivation in these zealous hardware entrepreneurs, we do see them make mistakes from time to time. Here are the 3 most common mistakes we see and strategies to avoid them so […]
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The manufacturing industry is a system that’s incredibly difficult to navigate. Engineers are continuously trying to wade their way through the complex landscape of manufacturing capabilities to find the right partner to bring their product to market. One of the biggest challenges here is that the best manufacturing partners are often: As an engineer I’ve […]
Teardown
Recently TiVo came out with a new set-top box called Bolt and the internet had a lot to say about it. Because, well, it looks like this: Is it winking at us? We’re not sure. But we are sure that we want to further investigate the design of this thing, as well as what lies beneath. Packaging […]
Teardown
Big thanks to Dyson for reviewing this teardown. By the Numbers: 167 parts 74 fasteners 7 types of plastics 1 PCB 2 mechanical switches We’ve long been fans of the innovative work of Dyson. Their products are immensely creative, beautifully designed, and mechanically impressive. And on top of that, we love Dyson’s transparency and willingness to […]
Teardown
At Fictiv, we’re seeking to uncover, decodify, and share how physical products are made — what we like to call the DNA of hardware development. As part of that mission (and our hardware geekery) we’re starting a new teardown series to reveal in a more tangible way the magic behind a wide variety of amazing hardware products. […]
Teardown
At Fictiv, we’re seeking to uncover, decodify, and share how physical products are made—what we like to call the DNA of hardware development. As part of that mission (and our hardware geekery) we’re starting a new series to reveal in a more tangible way the magic behind a wide variety of amazing hardware products. As soon […]
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Just having the right tool doesn’t mean you’re necessarily getting the most out of it. Here are 3 best practices to help you get started using your chosen CAD software effectively. 1. Keep it Simple With digital tools, it’s easy to create intricate features that look great but are unnecessarily, and unrealistically, complex. So before […]
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We receive a lot of questions about how to reduce the cost of 3D printing. One of the best ways to do this is to ensure your model fits on a smaller build bed to ensure the fastest build time on the cheapest machine available to produce your part. In this article we’ll show you […]
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Injection molding has long been the best method of bulk production, while 3D printing has recently become the best choice for early stage prototyping. But when and how should you make the switch from single volume production with 3D prints to high volume production? With small run production it can be hard to find the […]
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We get a lot of questions about the performance of different 3D printed materials and technologies, specifically as it relates to parts printed on hobbyist vs commercial-grade machines. There are plenty of off-the-cuff ways of making such evaluations, but empirical data is certainly better. So we were pretty excited when we came across a recent academic […]
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A 3D printing toolbox isn’t complete without the spare components necessary to build, maintain, and fix a machine. Below we highlight what each of those compnents are and what they are used for. Nuts & Bolts & Washers 3D printers commonly utilize metric components, ranging from M2 to M10-12 components for desktop models. The “M” […]
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Brim A brim consists of 3D printed material that surrounds and attaches to the base of an object to aid in adhering to a bed/print surface. EEprom EEprom is like RAM for a 3D printer’s electronics. Some values can be stored here and accessed quickly, in addition to what is known in firmware and held […]
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Building a 3D printer from scratch is hard enough, let alone trying to build it without the right tools. Below we highlight some of the most common tools for fixing and building a 3D printer. Calipers Calipers are used to measure the distance between opposite sides of an object. Although they appear in many industries […]
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Having the first layer stick to your 3D printing buildbed is crucial. See below for a list of common adhesives to avoid print failures and prevent warping. Tapes Kapton tape is used commonly in the aerospace industry and prized for its ability to endure considerable heat without degrading. When layering Kapton tape on a print-bed, it […]
