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Cutting, bending, welding and assembly processes.
CNC machining, milling, turning and best practices.
Design and manufacturing of metal enclosures.
Metals, alloys and material selection guides.
Surface treatment, coating and finishing options.
Design for manufacturability tips and guidelines.
Real-world applications across different industries.
In-depth guides to help you make better design and manufacturing decisions.
Helical milling is a method that uses a spiral tool path to cut into metal. The cutter moves in a circular path while also plunging downward, like a screw. This reduces cutting force, lowers heat buildup, and improves chip evacuation. It’s often used for machining holes, threads, and pockets, especially in harder materials.
Direct metal laser sintering is a type of metal 3D printing. It uses a laser to melt metal powder into solid layers. The laser follows a digital design file. Each layer is fused onto the last until the final part is complete.
This process does not need molds or cutting tools. It makes it possible to build shapes that are hard or impossible to create with traditional methods. The final parts are strong and ready for functional use.
3D printing builds parts layer by layer, ideal for complex designs and quick prototypes. CNC machining cuts material away, creating durable, high-precision parts. Your choice depends on material, budget, and project goals.
Most metals, plastics, wood, and paper-based products can be laser cut. However, some materials like PVC, polycarbonate, or reflective metals should be avoided. These can damage the machine or release harmful gases. Choosing the right material depends on your part’s function, thickness, and edge quality needs.
CNC laser cutting is a process that uses a focused laser beam to cut materials. The term “CNC” stands for computer numerical control. That means the cutting path is controlled by software.
The laser moves based on instructions from a digital design file. It cuts through the material with heat. This process is clean, quick, and ideal for complex shapes or fine details.
SLA gives you higher detail, smoother finishes, and is best for small, precise parts. FDM is cheaper, faster, and better for simple or larger designs. Your ideal choice depends on your part’s use, required detail, and budget. If accuracy and finish matter most, go with SLA. If strength, size, or cost matters more, FDM usually wins.
Titanium Nitride (TiN) is a ceramic coating. It has a metallic gold color and is applied to metal surfaces using a vacuum. The coating is skinny—just a few microns—but tough.
TiN forms a strong outer layer that resists wear, heat, and corrosion. It sticks well to metals like steel, titanium, and carbide. This makes it useful for cutting tools, molds, and medical devices.
Fiber laser cutting is a process that uses a high-powered laser beam to cut through metal. The beam comes from a fiber optic cable, which delivers focused light to a small point on the surface. That light heats the material until it melts or vaporizes. A gas, like nitrogen or oxygen, blows the melted material away. This leaves a clean and narrow cut behind.
3+2 machining, or positional 5-axis machining, means the part is rotated into a set position using two rotational axes. Once fixed, the tool performs the cutting using three-axis motion. The rotary axes don’t move during the actual cutting. They only move before cutting starts to position the part.
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