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Wall Thickness for Injection Molding Best Practices

Plastic injection molding can produce anywhere from a few hundred to a few million parts. To ensure that parts are produced consistently, with minimal defects, and at the lowest possible cost, designers should follow some established guidelines. Wall thickness is a key consideration critical to the success of your injection molding project.  Download Fictiv’s Injection […]

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Cable Strain-Relief: Design Tips for Durability and Aesthetic Appeal

You reach over to plug in your phone, and you feel that spark — and not in a metaphorical “I love this product!” kind of way. The wire’s insulation is cracked, and yet another charging cable is about to make its way to a landfill. And you have to make a midnight run to the […]

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Casting vs CNC Machining: We’re No Longer in the Bronze Age, But Is It Right for Your Part?

Casting, a process whereby molten metal is poured into a mold, has been around for over 6,000 years and is still widely used today. Advances in casting technology enable the casting of high quality parts with tight tolerances, not unlike CNC machining, a newer manufacturing method that’s also widely used.  But have you ever considered […]

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How To Make a Great Engineering Drawing Manufacturers Will Understand

Before the invention of CNC (Computer Numerical Control), machinists relied solely on 2D engineering drawings to determine machining steps and parameters. Manufacturing has come a long way since then, thanks to precise 3D modeling and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) programs.  In 2022, we’re fortunate to be able to import solid 3D models into a CNC […]

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Precision CNC Machining: How Can You Make Your Parts More Precise?

When you hear precision CNC machining, what comes to mind? Isn’t all CNC machining “precision?” In a sense, yes. CNC machining allows you quickly manufacture precise parts in large volumes. However, it goes much further than that. In this article, we’ll discuss: So What Does Precision Really Mean? Precision and accuracy are often confused and […]

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Recommended Wall Thickness for 3D Printing

One of the most important considerations when designing parts for 3D printing in 2022 is the 3D printing wall thickness, sometimes referred to as the wall thickness. While 3D printing makes prototyping easier than ever—not only in terms of cost and speed, but also in regards to DFM (design for manufacturing), you can’t disregard DFM […]

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3 Tips for Stronger 3D Printed Parts

Depending on the intended use case for your 3D printed part, structural integrity can be a crucial ingredient. It could be a matter of ensuring that your product doesn’t collapse when used or even a matter of ensuring user safety. The world in 2022 seeing a vastly accelerated need for 3D printed parts in mult-disciplinary […]

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Stress Concentrations: How to Identify and Reduce Them in Your Designs

Today’s product complexity, along with increasing downward pressure on overall pricing, has led to an inevitable increase in the geometric complexity of mechanical components. The increased geometric complexity allows components to be utilized in an advanced way, typically performing multiple functions. This multi-functional utilization has led to complex load transfers, resulting in new stress concentrations. […]

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Fictiv DFM Feedback Glossary

When you upload a part to the Fictiv platform, you receive instant design for manufacturability (DFM) feedback. Here are some explanations for why you received that feedback and what you can do to get your part ready to machine! Fillets to be added Explanation Fillets will be added to sharp internal corners or areas where […]

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When, Why and How You Should Switch from Die Casting Parts to CNC Machining Them

Deciding which manufacturing process to choose can be difficult; there are many different factors to consider. You may start out with a die casting process because it can deliver the quantity you need and meet your required tolerances. However, down the line you may need to change to a different manufacturing process. This may happen […]