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Teardown

Teardown: The Breville Bambino Plus

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: […]

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How to Build a BOM Strategically and Cost Down Your Part List

Chefs create recipes. Hardware engineers create BOMs and SOPs.  The bill of materials (BOM) acts as your product’s ingredient list—accounting for every part, material, and component—while standard operating procedures (SOP) are step-by-step build instructions. In this article, we’ll explain how to build a BOM that will help you clearly communicate your product’s material specifications to […]

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Living Hinge Design: How to Design a Living Hinge

A living hinge is a thin, flexible strip made from the same material as the connected parts, designed to let them bend or rotate without additional hardware. They are low-cost, easy to manufacture, and have little wear or friction involved in operation. But while the idea is simple, the execution can be more complicated. Living […]

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How to Design Snap Fit Components

Designing components with snap-fits can save you time and money in production by reducing material costs and part quantities, as well as making assembly easier. Typically in the past, injection molding was the most viable method for producing snap-fit joints in plastics. Today, however, CNC machining and 3D printing have opened up both new opportunities […]

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Injection Molding Design Guide: Best Practices for Molded Plastic Parts

The Injection Molding Design Guide and all information in this article is available as a free e-book download. Download the Injection Molding Design Guide  Injection molding design focuses on creating plastic parts that can be manufactured efficiently while maintaining strength, quality, and consistency. By following key design guidelines—such as proper wall thickness, draft angles, rib […]

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GD&T 101: Our Guide to Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T or GD and T) is a standardized system that uses symbolic language to define and communicate product geometry, design intent, and engineering dimensions and tolerances, ensuring precise control over manufacturing variations.  Download the free eBook version and master the fundamentals of GD&T— including tips, terms, and best practices, all in […]

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Understanding the Types of Fit in Engineering: Clearance, Transition, and Interference

In engineering, the term “fit” describes the relationship between two mating parts, such as a shaft and a hole. The way these parts interact—whether they fit snugly together, move freely, or press into one another—is crucial to the performance and functionality of the mechanical system.  The correct fit ensures that parts function optimally, whether they […]

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Plastic Joining Methods: A Guide to Mechanical Fastener Options From Snap Fits to Adhesives

There are many ways to join or fasten plastic parts, and the right method depends on your design goals, materials, and production needs. Options range from simple mechanical fasteners like screws or inserts, to molded-in features such as snap-fits, to adhesives, welding, and other specialty techniques. Each comes with its own strengths in terms of […]

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9 Tips for Better Engineering Drawings that Save Time and Money

This article was revised by Tessa Axsom in September 2023 Even in 2023, with the rising popularity of model-based definitions, engineering drawings are still a great way to communicate design intent for CNC machined parts that require tight tolerances, material specifications, or other special requirements. That’s why many Fictiv customers in the robotics, aerospace, automotive, […]

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How to Design Wire Guides that are Functional and Beautiful

A robot performing parkour was impossible 30 years ago, but now, Boston Dynamic’s Atlas robot can traverse an obstacle course gracefully and precisely. Boston Dynamics uses Atlas as an exercise to unlock the next generation of mobility, perception, and athletic intelligence in robotics. The Atlas robot is constructed of a beautiful combination of 3D-printed titanium […]