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Manufacturing Processes

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Custom Manufacturing for Medical Devices: Sourcing, Standards, and Design Considerations

Medical devices are manufactured using the same processes as other products, including CNC machining, injection molding, sheet metal fabrication, casting, and additive manufacturing. The difference lies in the expectations placed on quality systems, documentation, traceability, and process control. Successful sourcing depends on more than price and lead time. It requires suppliers capable of consistently producing […]

Article

The Impact of AI in Mechanical Engineering

Artificial Intelligence is no longer on the horizon for mechanical engineers—it’s already on our desktops, inside our CAD tools, and embedded in robotics on the factory floor. When I started working as a mechanical engineer 15 years ago, I didn’t think much about AI someday reshaping my job. Now the question has shifted from will […]

Article

U.S. Manufacturing Reaches Record $2.91 Trillion as Workforce Gap Threatens Next Decade of Growth

MISUMI Americas data highlights record output, a factory construction boom, and $2.42 trillion in foreign investment while backing bipartisan H.R. 9097 to help close a 3.8 million skilled-worker gap through advanced manufacturing training  San Francisco, Calif. – July 21, 2026 – MISUMI Americas, a specification-driven sourcing partner for mechanical components and assemblies, today announced The […]

Article

Injection Molding Cycle Time: What Drives It and How to Reduce It

At scale, cycle time is one of the most direct levers on injection molding costs. It affects both cost per part and maximum throughput, so any design or tooling decision that changes cycle time also changes piece price—at every production volume. For this reason, design engineers and manufacturing or tooling engineers must strike a balance […]

Article

Bridge Production Manufacturing: What It Is, When to Use It, and How to Plan for It

There’s a gap between the end of a prototyping phase and the beginning of mass production when lower volumes of product need to be manufactured. Steel injection molds and die casting tools, for example, can take weeks to complete. In the gap, product launches and regulatory submissions move inexorably forward, while pilot customers await the […]

Article

Robotic Arm Component Manufacturing: Process Selection and Domestic Sourcing Guide

You’re looking at a CAD file for a robotic joint link or actuator housing and need to make a sourcing decision. Maybe it’s a new design for a humanoid arm. Maybe it’s a replacement component for an automated line that can’t afford downtime. Maybe you’re a machine builder spec’ing structural parts for a custom automation […]

Article

Low-Volume Manufacturing: Processes, Costs, and Scaling Strategies

Low-volume manufacturing sits at a critical intersection in the product development cycle. Volumes are too large for pure prototyping, too small for mass production, yet perfectly positioned to accelerate how companies bring products to market.  Whether you’re validating an engineering design, launching a pilot production run, or serving a specialized market with complex assemblies, understanding […]

Article

4-Axis CNC Machining: Capabilities, Applications, and Design Guidelines

4-axis CNC machining is a subtractive manufacturing process that moves a cutting tool and workpiece along four axes of motion—the standard X, Y, and Z linear axes, plus a fourth rotational axis (the A-axis) that rotates the workpiece around the X-axis. That additional degree of freedom is what separates 4-axis from conventional 3-axis machining. The […]

Article

Large-Format 3D Printing: Process, Design, and Sourcing Guide

As product design cycles accelerate, the demand for large-format industrial 3D printing has shifted from rapid prototyping to functional applications. Moving beyond the constraints of consumer-grade desktop systems, large-scale 3D printing enables engineers to produce full-scale components, enclosures, jigs, and fixtures without the lead times associated with traditional tooling. What Is Large Format 3D Printing? […]

Article

eVTOL Aircraft Components: Custom vs. Standard Parts

The electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) industry has moved quickly from concept development to aircraft certification and early commercial operations. As development teams transition from prototype builds to scalable production, manufacturing decisions become increasingly important. These aircraft systems must meet demanding requirements for weight, safety, certification, reliability, and production efficiency. Component Categories Used in […]