Intro The surface finish of your part should be specified on every drawing you submit to a machine shop. It can determine how well your part works and how expensive it is to make. In this quick guide, we’ll explain everything you need to know…
Intro When you’re designing a part, there are a lot of things to consider: what material will you use, how will you design the features, and what fit will you specify? If you didn’t consider the final question, then you came to the right place…
Intro A lot of people have heard the terms “fillet” and “chamfer”, and they might use them interchangeably. The truth is that these features are very different, and they can dramatically change the function of your parts. In this guide, we’ll explain the real difference…
Intro When you’re looking to make a new product, you’ll probably start with a prototyping phase. This includes creating physical versions of your product and trying them out. When it comes to prototyping, people typically choose between 3D printing and CNC machining. In a lot…
Intro A lot of people can benefit from powder coating their metal parts. In almost every industry, there are plenty of applications where powder coating makes sense. It can save you money, boost the performance of your parts, and leave your parts with a smooth…
Intro Light pipes are a type of optical component that is used to guide light from one location to another. They are commonly used in a variety of applications, including lighting, automotive, consumer products, and home use. But, did you know that they can be…
Intro When it comes to designing a part for manufacturing, there’s a lot to consider. It’s something that takes a lot of practice before you can get really good at it. To speed up your path to perfection, our machinist put together this quick guide. …
Intro We noticed that a lot of people use the terms “jig” and “fixture” interchangeably. These two terms are very different and describe separate parts. In this guide, we’ll explain what a jig is, what a fixture is, and when you might use either option…
From all of us at Rapid Axis, we want to wish you a happy holiday season! The holidays are a time for giving back, and as we reflect on the year and all that has happened, we want to take this opportunity to recognize a…
Intro Once you make an injection-molded part, you might have some extra steps you want to perform. A lot of people want to brand their products, change the aesthetics, and boost the performance of their parts. This is where post-processing comes in. However, post-processing plastic…
Intro In a lot of cases, plastic is the hardest-working material. In almost any industry, there’s at least one application where plastic does a much better job than metal or wood. Still, people don’t understand how plastic can be machined or used. In this guide,…
Intro Heat-treating a piece of metal can result in a range of different benefits. A lot of people will use heat-treated metals to improve their operation and gain an advantage over their competitors. If you want to make the most out of your metal parts,…