Latest

Article

3D Printing Materials Overview

Fictiv offers a variety of 3D printing materials and can produce parts using Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), and Carbon Digital Light Synthesis (DLS)  technologies. For each of these 3D printing processes, the table below lists the available materials and colors along with their average lead […]

Article

Scaling Up: From 3D Printed Prototypes to Injection Mold-Ready Designs

Are you ready to scale up from 3D printing to injection molding? Then it’s time to tailor your part design for a process that uses metal tooling and has its own unique design requirements. This article begins with some injection molding basics and then explains how to optimize your part design to reduce tooling costs […]

Article

How to Finish 3D Printed Parts – Get the Ultimate Guide

Index Overview of Post-ProcessingABS (Printed on a Dimension Elite) ABS 3D Printed Part Finishing Process Materials Needed ABS 3D Printed Part Sanding Repairing the Incomplete Layer ABS 3D Printed Part Priming and Painting ABS 3D Printed Part: The Final ResultVeroBlack (Printed on an Objet30) VeroBlack 3D Printed Part Materials Needed VeroBlack 3D Printed Part Sanding […]

Article

A Basic Introduction to CNC Turning

CNC turning services offer a widespread technology for manufacturing cylindrical parts from various materials. Unlike CNC milling, CNC turning rotates the workpiece and introduces a stationary tool into the workpiece. Advanced CNC turning centers take this further by adding milling functionality to the machine to produce highly complex parts like those in the image below: […]

Article

Troubleshooting Injection Molding Flash

Injection molding flash, or flashing, is excess plastic that forms on the surface of injection molded parts. Although some amount of flash is considered to be a normal part of the plastic injection molding process, excessive flash can mar the surface finish of parts or interfere with part seating, mating, or assembly.  In this article, […]

Article

The 3 Essential Methods for Gear Machining

Historically, gear fabrication methods have been classified into three main categories: generation, forming, and form cutting. As new gear manufacturing technologies are developed, new methods will be added to the list, but for now, those three are still the most common ways for machining a gear: Gear Generation Sunderland Method Rack-type cutters are one of […]

Article

How to Select & Source the Right Materials

So, you’ve finished the initial design for a new product or part… congratulations! Your R&D stage is complete, which means you’ve started iterating on the design and have a clear vision of:  The next, critical step in the development process is to research the best materials for prototyping and ultimately for mass production — a […]

Article

How to Communicate Color, Material, and Finish Effectively

Note: This article is based on a previously published version by Sylvia Wu and has been updated to reflect Fictiv’s current capabilities, as well as 2022 innovations. When designing a product for the consumer market, industrial usage, or aerospace industry, how the product looks, feels, and functions is critical. Color, material and finish (CMF) are […]

Article

Best CNC Machining Robotics Components

The year is 2050, and robots… are… everywhere. They’re delivering packages, driving cars, piloting airplanes, and tending to the sick and elderly.  Okay, maybe that’s a stretch, but it’s no joke that robots are more common with each passing year. In my house, I have a robotic vacuum, a robotic speaker, robotic toys, and some […]

Article

Aluminum Anodizing: All You Need to Know

Aluminum Anodizing Overview The anodizing process (sometimes known as anodization) converts the surface of aluminum into a thicker, more uniform oxide layer through an electrolytic process. Electrochemically anodizing aluminum produces an aluminum oxide surface that has: Corrosion resistance A pleasing appearance Wear resistance Improved paint or adhesive bonding Improved lubricity Improved plating adhesion This article […]