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The first step in designing a part is to determine what material it should be made out of. If you decide the part should be plastic, and it should be CNC machined, the selection does not simply stop there. There is a plethora of machinable plastic to choose from for plastic machining in 2022, each […]

You’ve envisioned it, you’ve modeled it, and you’ve printed it. As it turns out, however, your newly printed prototype may need a bit more TLC before it appears, or functions as intended. 3D printed part finishing often involves a cleaning step to improve appearances or remove unwanted support material.  The purpose of this article is […]

The purpose of this article is to detail the different finishing methods for FDM and PolyJet 3D printed parts and the techniques/tips that can elevate the look and feel of your prototypes. A simple Apple Watch stand design will be utilized as a case study. This stand is a model with pockets and internal and […]

Depending on the intended use case for your 3D printed part, structural integrity can be a crucial ingredient. It could be a matter of ensuring that your product doesn’t collapse when used or even a matter of ensuring user safety. The world in 2022 seeing a vastly accelerated need for 3D printed parts in mult-disciplinary […]

Previously, we discussed how CNC (Computer Numerical Control) supports manufacturing processes and reduces human error. We have also described CNC Milling, where the cutting tool moves while the workpiece is fixed in place. In this article, we‘ll explore CNC Turning, where the workpiece rotates while the cutting tool remains stationary.  CNC Lathes vs. CNC Turning Centers […]

Gladiatorial. Technological. Destructive. Exciting. These are all words that describe the television spectacle known as BattleBots. But before the sparks fly and the destruction begins, a lot of work goes into making the machines ready for the arena. We’re sitting down to talk with Team RoboGym about their BattleBot named Deadlift, the thrills of competing […]

3D printing, urethane casting, and injection molding: they’re each suited to different stages of the product development and production process, but how do you know when to use each one? A few factors go into this decision: cost, lead time, and quality. In this article, we’ll discuss indirect and direct costs and lead times for […]

Flash. It’s what you get when there’s a problem with your injection mold or with the injection molding process itself. Although flash can be addressed during post-processing, you may decide that it’s better to prevent mold flash in the first place. That’s often a function of tooling costs since flash-free molds are more expensive. For […]

Nowhere is the precision and quality of CNC machining more important than in the aerospace and aeronautics industries. But crafting components that are both light enough to fly and strong enough to land requires milling a variety of exotic materials to incredibly tight tolerances. In this webinar, experts discuss the challenges of designing and manufacturing […]

If you’ve ever designed and 3D printed a part that required high dimensional accuracy, you were probably disappointed with the outcome. Maybe a bolt didn’t fit into a 3D printed hole, or a 3D printed bracket didn’t fit into its intended recess. Whatever the dimensional intention, it’s likely that the 3D printed part didn’t serve […]