Intro There are a lot of ways to make a sheet metal piece very expensive. The worst part is that you might not even realize you’re making one of these common mistakes until you get a crazy-high quote from a manufacturer. Our machinists put together…
Intro Since the first introduction of CNC machining, multiple industries and applications have radically changed. Even today, we see shifts as CNC machinery becomes more advanced and tackles new challenges. To say that CNCs changed the industry is underselling exactly how impactful these machines are. …
Intro Metal fabrication is the process of taking stock metal pieces and turning them into production items. Anything made from metal has gone through a metal fabrication method. There are actually a lot of different ways to make something out of metal. In this guide,…
Intro Low-volume production is gaining more popularity across the market. People will often use 3D printing to make low-run batches of units before committing to full-scale production. But, what is low-volume production, why is it so popular, and what are common uses for this style…
If you have to design a sheet metal piece, you need to be careful. Sheet metal uses completely different fabrication techniques, equipment, and expertise as compared to a standard solid piece. For better results, we put together this cheat sheet for designing sheet metal pieces. …
Intro Threads are a big component when it comes to making a part for fabrication. Assemblies in every industry and application can benefit from removable pieces. Knowing what they are, how to design them, and how a CNC machinist will thread your piece are all…
Intro When it comes to precision machining, the smallest decisions could result in wasted time and money. Luckily, there are certain tips to help you avoid these pitfalls. One of the big tips is to implement on-machine inspection. Our machining experts put together this piece…
Intro Did you know that the tolerances on your drawings could be wasting a ton of money each year? They’re just a few numbers on a drawing sheet, but it could result in you paying 45 times more for each part. The simple fact is…
Intro Material selection is often the most important part of making the best 3D printed parts. As you look around, you’ll notice a ton of different materials that offer different results. A popular lane of materials is thermoplastics. The two major types of 3D printing…
Intro Working with sheet metal is common in most machine shops. If you want a sheet metal piece to be fabricated, there are a few methods to choose from. The following sections will outline 7 of the most common fabrication methods for sheet metal along…
Intro Material selection is a huge consideration to make for every design. Even with the importance of this decision, many designers hold onto myths that could waste time and money. To dispel some myths, we put together a list of 6 myths that pertain to…
Intro Whenever an engineer puts together a technical drawing package for an outside machine shop, there’s a risk of overengineering. Something that looks perfectly reasonable on the drafting table can destroy your budget when it comes to CNC machining a part. Not sure where to…