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Composite Layup: A Practical Guide to the Manufacturing of High-Performance Composites

Composite layup is not a single manufacturing method—it’s a family of precise practices that transform fibers and resin into high-performance engineered materials. When fiber orientation, consolidation, and cure are executed according to Design for Manufacturability (DFM) principles, the result is a part with an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio.  This manufacturing approach underpins lightweight structural performance in […]

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Metal Stamping Guide to Processes, Tooling, and Design for Manufacturability

Stamping is a family of metal manufacturing processes primarily used to produce high volumes of sheet metal parts quickly and cost-effectively. It relies on custom tooling—called dies— mounted in a stamping press to cut, bend, and form flat metal into finished components. Once the tooling is built, a stamping press can produce dozens to hundreds […]

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Design of Experiments (DOE) in Engineering: A Practical Guide for Product Optimization

In the product development process, testing and iteration are essential to ensure a design performs reliably and as intended. Rather than validating a design through isolated trials or ad hoc adjustments, engineers benefit from a structured approach that systematically evaluates how key variables influence performance. Design of Experiments (DOE) provides a disciplined framework for intentionally […]

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Sheet Metal Welding Design Guide

A crucial part of sheet metal fabrication is planning how the assembly will be welded into a complete unit, known as a weldment. An optimized design makes the weldment process more efficient and cost-effective, while also improving structural strength, reducing the risk of rework, and preventing issues like weak welds or cracking. This guide will […]

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Mechanical Fasteners: A Complete Hardware Guide for Engineers and Product Designers

Mechanical fasteners have been around for millennia, with basic forms dating back to 3500 BCE in Mesopotamia. To this day, fasteners remain one of the most foundational joining methods in engineering, even as other assembly and joining methods, such as adhesives and welding, continue to advance. From aerospace assemblies to consumer electronics, mechanical fasteners offer […]

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The Future of Climate Tech Manufacturing: Trends, Challenges, and Emerging Solutions

Climate tech is evolving into a new era defined not only by scientific breakthroughs but also by the rapid evolution of hardware manufacturing needed to bring those breakthroughs to market. From fusion reactors to hydrogen systems, and advanced batteries to high-performance materials, companies driving the energy transition rely on fast, precise, and resilient manufacturing to […]

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Keep the Assembly Line Happy: 10 Design for Assembly Rules to Live By

“Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery Your day isn’t going well when your boss quotes a French novelist at you. In this case, my design was rejected because my boss thought that it wasn’t “elegant”… What? Days […]

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Living Hinge Design: How to Design a Living Hinge

A living hinge is a thin, flexible strip made from the same material as the connected parts, designed to let them bend or rotate without additional hardware. They are low-cost, easy to manufacture, and have little wear or friction involved in operation. But while the idea is simple, the execution can be more complicated. Living […]

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First Article Inspection (FAI): The Guide for Engineers and Manufacturers

In manufacturing, quality control is engineered and measured. Before production launch, you need proof that your design can be built repeatedly as intended. That data comes from a verification process called First Article Inspection (FAI). During product development, engineers put considerable effort into ensuring the design is near perfect—from dialing in dimensions and tolerances to […]

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Fictiv 2025 Year in Review: Building the Future of Manufacturing

Global leader in manufacturing and supply chain transformation achieves record growth, significant platform advancements, and expanded global production capabilities to power the next generation of manufacturing innovation San Francisco, Calif. – December 2, 2025 – Fictiv, a global leader in supply chain and manufacturing, today announced a significant expansion of its platform and portfolio of […]