Rapid Metal Casting: Advantages and Applications
26
Sep
Supply Chain, Process

Rapid Metal Casting: Advantages and Applications

Title: Rapid Metal Casting: Advantages and Applications Introduction Metal casting is a manufacturing process with a long history, but in recent decades new technologies have emerged to greatly accelerate the speed and flexibility of the casting process. Known as rapid casting methods, these innovative techniques can produce finished metal parts in just hours or days rather than the weeks or months required with conventional casting. Rapid casting processes are revolutionizing prototype development, product design iterations, and low-volume production across automotive, aerospace, medical, and many other metalworking industries. In this blog, we’ll examine the benefits of rapid casting over traditional casting…
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What is 5-Axis CNC Machining and How Does it Work?
26
Sep
Manufacturing Technology knowledge

What is 5-Axis CNC Machining and How Does it Work?

What is 5-Axis CNC Machining and How Does it Work? Introduction: 5-axis CNC machining opens up new possibilities for producing highly complex, sculptural parts with undercuts, complex contours, and intricate features from a variety of materials. By adding two more axes of motion on top of traditional 3-axis machining, 5-axis CNC enables precise angular cutting and unrestricted part access ideal for detailed components with complex geometries. This advanced CNC method is transforming prototyping and production across industries like aerospace, medical, automotive, and more. In this blog, we’ll break down what 5-axis CNC machining is, discuss its key components and programming…
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7 Ways to Avoid Part Deformation in Aluminum CNC Machining
26
Sep
Material knowledge

7 Ways to Avoid Part Deformation in Aluminum CNC Machining

7 Ways to Avoid Part Deformation in Aluminum CNC Machining Introduction: Aluminum is a popular material choice for CNC machined parts due to its lightweight, high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and excellent thermal and electrical conductivity. However, aluminum's low melting point and high thermal expansion coefficient make it susceptible to distortion and deformation during CNC machining processes like milling, turning, and drilling. Part deformation can lead to scrap parts that are out of tolerance and unusable. In this blog post, we will discuss 7 methods to prevent and minimize part deformation when CNC machining aluminum components. Properly controlling machining factors…
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How to Choose CNC Machining Materials for Your CNC Milling Applications
25
Sep
Material knowledge

How to Choose CNC Machining Materials for Your CNC Milling Applications

How to Choose CNC Machining Materials for Your CNC Milling Applications Introduction One of the first and most critical choices when CNC machining parts is selecting the optimal material. The workpiece material impacts key factors from machinability and tool wear to dimensional stability, strength, and cosmetic appearance. With the wide range of materials available for CNC milling, deciding on the right one for your application can be challenging. Properties like hardness, rigidity, chemical resistance, friction, thermal behavior, damping, and cost all come into play depending on functional requirements. This article provides a detailed overview of common CNC machining materials, their…
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Advantages of Rapid Tooling and Low-Volume Molding
25
Sep
molding tooling

Advantages of Rapid Tooling and Low-Volume Molding

Advantages of Rapid Tooling and Low-Volume Molding Introduction Plastic injection molding is a ubiquitous manufacturing process used across countless industries to produce millions of plastic parts every day. However, the high cost of injection molds traditionally made mass production volumes necessary to justify the investment. Recent advances in mold manufacturing methods now enable low-volume production to be viable and affordable. New rapid tooling techniques facilitate faster and cheaper mold-making for short runs. Companies can leverage these technologies for limited production of new products for market testing before high-volume tooling commitment. This article will examine the advantages of creating tooling for…
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How to Make Precise Parts & Mold Cavities
25
Sep
Manufacturing Technology knowledge

How to Make Precise Parts & Mold Cavities

How to Make Precise Parts & Mold Cavities Introduction Precision manufacturing is essential across industries like aerospace, automotive, medical devices, and consumer products. Engineers strive to produce parts and products with tight dimensional tolerances, excellent surface finishes, and repeatable accuracy. For plastic parts, injection molds must also meet stringent requirements to yield flawless production quality. A mold cavity needs highly polished surfaces to prevent defects. Cooling channels, ejector pins, and other features require precision engineering. Achieving this level of accuracy and repeatability requires skilled technicians, precision tools, and processes optimized for ultra-fine tolerances. Both CNC machining and EDM (electrical discharge…
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How can CNC Machining be used on 3D Printed Parts?
25
Sep
3D Printing Plastics

How can CNC Machining be used on 3D Printed Parts?

How can CNC Machining be used on 3D Printed Parts? 3D printing and computer numerical control (CNC) machining are two of the most disruptive manufacturing technologies to emerge in recent decades. Both technologies allow for the creation of highly complex and customizable parts with accuracy and repeatability. However, each technology has its own strengths and limitations. Used together in a complementary fashion, 3D printing, and CNC machining provide unparalleled design flexibility and enable the production of parts that would be impossible or impractical to make using either technology alone. In this blog post, we will explore how CNC machining can…
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Advantages of Outsourcing Machining to China
22
Sep
Manufacturing Technology knowledge

Advantages of Outsourcing Machining to China

Advantages of Outsourcing Machining to China With its unique combination of capabilities, outsourcing manufacturing to China offers compelling benefits for companies worldwide seeking high-quality, cost-effective production of machined parts and components. In this comprehensive guide, we examine the multiple advantages of working with Chinese machine shops along with key strategies for successfully outsourcing machining to maximize value. Cost Savings China’s competitive labor rates, economies of scale, and manufacturing competence enable machine shops to deliver significant per-unit cost reduction versus domestic providers for US and European companies. Savings of 30-50% are common. Labor hour rates are 50-70% lower for skilled CNC…
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Machining Factors That Could Affect Lead Times and Price Quotes
22
Sep
Costs

Machining Factors That Could Affect Lead Times and Price Quotes

Machining Factors That Could Affect Lead Times and Price Quotes When getting price quotes for CNC machined parts, lead times and pricing can vary dramatically between machine shops. Many complex factors impact the time and cost to manufacture components through machining processes like milling, turning, drilling, and grinding. In this guide, we'll examine the key technical elements that affect machining pricing and lead times. Understanding these factors helps designers and engineers work with manufacturers to achieve cost-effective production. Part Attributes that Influence Machining Costs Several characteristics specific to the component design greatly influence machining pricing: -Dimensional Tolerances - Tighter tolerances…
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Rapid Prototyping Advantages and Applications
22
Sep
3D Printing Plastics

Rapid Prototyping Advantages and Applications

Rapid Prototyping Advantages and Applications Rapid prototyping refers to technologies that enable physical prototype models or parts to be quickly created directly from digital data such as CAD files. By synthesizing parts layer-by-layer based on cross-sectional slices of the 3D model, complex geometries can be fabricated without the need for tooling or machining. Compared to traditional prototype methods, rapid prototyping offers enormous time and cost savings. It speeds up design verification and product development cycles significantly. In this comprehensive guide, we will examine the key benefits of rapid prototyping and provide an overview of popular techniques used along with their…
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