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Aerospace Materials and Finishes: Component Design for Spacecraft and Satellites

Engineering for Vacuum, Thermal Extremes, and Reliability Aerospace materials and finishes for spacecraft must be selected to withstand vacuum, radiation, thermal cycling, and outgassing. These conditions introduce failure modes such as cold welding, material degradation, and contamination of sensitive components, requiring material and surface finish selection to be evaluated together to ensure reliable performance in […]

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High-Strength CNC Machining Materials: Selection, Trade-offs, and Design Considerations

Material strength is a primary design factor directly linked to product performance. High-strength materials allow for smaller parts, thinner walls, higher load-bearing capacity, and greater resistance to deformation. More strongly bonded materials also withstand extreme operating conditions better without deformation or failure.   Material selection for CNC machining, though, is rarely as simple as selecting the […]

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Overmolding Materials Guide: Material Bond Compatibility

Overmolding is widely used to combine materials with different properties—such as rigid substrates and soft-touch elastomers—into a single component. Common examples include tool grips, seals, and consumer products like toothbrushes. However, successful overmolding depends heavily on material compatibility. Poor adhesion between materials can lead to delamination and part failure, making proper material selection and interface […]

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Material Selection for Medical Device Manufacturing: The Best Medical Grade and Biocompatible Options

Medical device materials must meet strict requirements for biocompatibility, sterilization compatibility, traceability, and regulatory documentation. Engineers selecting materials for medical device development must balance mechanical performance, manufacturability, cost, and regulatory compliance across the entire development lifecycle—from early prototypes to full-scale production.  Medical devices range from simple disposables to complex multi-material systems. This guide explains common […]

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Environmental Resistance of Materials: Chemical, Thermal & Corrosion Performance Compared

Environmental resistance describes a material’s ability to withstand chemical exposure, corrosion, UV radiation, moisture, and elevated temperatures without degrading. When selecting plastics or metals for CNC machining, injection molding, or sheet metal fabrication, engineers must evaluate long-term durability under real-world operating conditions.  This guide ranks common engineering materials by overall environmental durability, corrosion resistance, and […]

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POM(Acetal/Delrin®) Plastic: Properties, Advantages, and Material Comparisons

Imagine designing a complex assembly with rotating parts that come into contact with each other. You have dialed in your dimensions and tolerances, ordered fasteners, and assembled your prototype parts. But as you rotate the components, they bind against each other, or even make grinding or squeaking noises. In this case, you may need a […]

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Sustainable Plastics Manufacturing: Advancements in Eco-Friendly Injection Molding

As sustainability becomes a greater priority, the plastic manufacturing industry is undergoing a shift to adapt to the changing times. With mounting environmental pressures and a global push for greener solutions, sustainable plastic manufacturing redefines how we produce everyday goods.  At the center of this transformation lies injection molding, one of the most common manufacturing […]

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Powder Coating: Process, Benefits, and Industry Applications

The next time you stop to admire the quality of your sleek blue bicycle or bright red grill, you may have powder coating to thank. It’s commonly used to enhance the appearance and longevity of products all around us. This article will discuss powder coating, the steps involved in the process, its benefits and drawbacks, […]

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Advanced Materials Guide for Injection Molding

The advent of CAD systems, additive manufacturing, and CNC machining have made the design and manufacture of complex part designs almost routine. Engineers today are tasked with designing components that may be subjected to a variety of factors, including extreme weather conditions, chemicals, bodily fluids, high stress or loads, impacts, and other elements that could […]

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Finding the Right Secondary Operations after CNC machining, Part I: Heat Treatments

Welcome to the world of post-CNC heat treatment! Now that you’ve successfully CNC machined your parts, it’s time to give them the TLC they deserve. Don’t let those raw components go out into the world without a little extra oomph.  Once you’ve finished CNC machining your parts, your work isn’t done. Those raw components might […]