CNC Machining
Tight tolerances and finishing capabilities, as fast as 2 days.
Sheet Metal
Experience the versatility & cost efficiency with flexible application options.
Injection Molding
Production-grade steel tooling, as fast as weeks.
Die Casting
Create high quality custom mechanicals with precision and accuracy.
3D Printing
FDM, SLS, SLA, PolyJet, MJF technologies.
Compression Molding
Experience lower tooling costs with high-quality durable parts.
Urethane Casting
Production quality parts without the tooling investment.
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Article
Casting enables the efficient production of complex metal parts, but it also introduces a distinct set of quality challenges. Unlike machined parts, cast components are formed by the flow and solidification of molten metal—meaning defects can appear as a result of fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and material behavior. Understanding casting defects is critical for engineers […]
Article
Product engineering teams rely heavily on simulation tools to predict how a product will behave before it’s ever built. These tools make it possible to quickly explore design ideas and catch potential issues before they arise. Even the most advanced simulation, though, cannot perfectly predict real-world behavior—which is why simulation validation and structured prototyping are […]
Article
Quick Evaluation Tool for Process Selection Compare die casting and CNC machining to determine the best process for your prototyping or production requirements. CNC vs Die Casting Scorecard Score each category from 0–2 based on your part requirements. Category 0 (CNC) 1 (Neutral) 2 (Casting) Your Score Production Volume <1,000 1,000–5,000 >5,000 012 Target Lead […]
Article
CNC machining involves far more than simply uploading a CAD model and cutting parts. Every part is shaped by the material, machine types, cutting tools, finishes, and design constraints that work together to determine cost, quality, and performance. To help engineers better understand these relationships, the Fictiv team created the CNC Periodic Table of Elements—a […]
Article
How to choose between CNC vs. Injection Molding vs. Sheet Metal vs. 3D Printing vs. Die Casting Finding the lowest-cost manufacturing process can be harder than you might think. Cost isn’t a static attribute of a part; it’s a dynamic variable influenced by volume, part geometry, speed to market, and many other factors. Industry data […]
Article
Harsh environments call for rugged hardware. Just how rugged depends on the specific environmental conditions the product will face. Designing ruggedized hardware for unforgiving environments requires understanding the conditions a product will encounter in service and accounting for them before the design is finalized. Engineers must anticipate how temperature extremes, moisture, vibration, UV exposure, and […]
Article
High-Pressure Engineering in a Small Form Factor The Breville Bambino Plus compresses key espresso machine architectures—thermal management, pump-driven pressure control, and automated milk texturing—into a compact footprint. At the $500 price point, it occupies the middle ground between entry-level (home) and professional-grade (fancy bistro). After unboxing, we did what any sane engineering team would do: […]
Article
In mechanical and manufacturing design, tolerances are the unsung heroes (or villains) of product quality, cost, manufacturability, and design intent. Not the ability to tolerate scope creep, schedule changes, or miscommunication in DFM collaboration—though that helps too. We’re talking dimensional and geometric tolerances. Every part, whether a simple bracket or a complex aerospace component, is […]
Article
As product development cycles accelerate, engineering leaders face a recurring strategic question: How fast can we prototype—and where does it make financial sense to build? With premium compensation levels for mechanical engineers (especially with seniority and years of experience), the opportunity cost of hands-on prototyping has never been higher. When factoring in loaded labor rates, […]
