Agile, an operational framework that prioritizes cross-functionality, collaboration, and flexibility, was initially created by and for software developers. However, its unique methodologies can be applied across industries to elevate operational efficiency and increase both short- and lo

Superior designs aren’t made overnight — they are the product of rounds of iteration, testing, and adaptation. In fact, every successful part that we encounter in our daily lives has undergone a thorough product development process to optimize the part’s design and manufacturability.

Critical parts or components are those that, if they fail or become damaged, could catastrophically impact the performance of their applications or could compromise the safety of the end user. Because of this, critical parts are often subject to strict regulatory standards, and some indu

Injection molding involves injecting molten plastic into a mold, cooling it, and ejecting it. Manufacturers can repeat the process to quickly and cost-efficiently to create thousands of identical parts. Several subprocesses fall under the general umbrella of injection molding, includi

When you think of the cost of injection molding, your mind might immediately jump to molds and tooling — namely, their cost. Molds alone can cost anywhere from $2,500 to $100,000 or more. However, the actual cost of plastic injection molding is more than the cost of the mold alone. You a

Injection molding is an efficient production method when high volumes of identical parts are needed. However, it also requires a high degree of technical expertise to master. With so many different variables in play, small, seemingly minor mistakes in early phases of product development

Izzy de la Guardia, Senior Design and Development Engineer, and Kathleen Bollito, Customer Application Engineer The journey toward producing sustainable parts doesn’t stop with sustainable design or supply chain practices. Since some materials are more eco-friendly than others, making tho

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important for businesses and consumers alike. Not only can businesses capitalize on opportunities for tax credits and more stable energy prices, but in the long run, companies that commit to sustainability will see greater success with consumers as

A contract manufacturer is a company that produces a certain number of products over a certain period for another company. By outsourcing work to an off-site factory, you can cut back on or eliminate the hassle of in-house manufacturing. You might contract a manufacturer to prototype new

The additive manufacturing industry is older than many people think. In fact, roughly the past 40 years are peppered with significant advances in 3D printing. Engineers started using stereolithography (SLA) technology for manufacturing prototypes in the 1980s and use of fused deposition

Outsourcing production to an experienced 3D printing partner can make all the difference in your final product. Here’s what you need to know. Today, the 3D printing market is larger than ever, and it’s still growing as more and more people explore its many advantages. 3D printing offe

What is binder jetting? In 1993, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology developed this Inkjet-in-powder-bed form of 3D printing to print complex parts out of a variety of materials. Today, there are binder jetting applications in several industries, and you can create everything from

Today, companies can use injection molding or 3D printing to produce near-identical runs of complex, high-quality final products. However, you might be better off using one over the other, depending on your project’s specific requirements. If you aren’t sure whether injection molding or

Engineering drawings are essential for clearly communicating your requirements to the manufacturer and ensuring the final product turns out exactly how you envisioned it. An engineering drawing offers the key details about your part’s critical elements, and trying to produce a part witho

Whether you’re manufacturing parts for motorcycles or rebar-tying robots, you’ll need to start with a computer-aided design (CAD) file. These digital files contain 3D designs and other material, texture, and tolerance data to help product teams accurately plan, visualize, and manufacture

A fast and cost-effective process, injection molding is well-suited for high-volume production runs of precise, repeatable parts. Historically, injection molded parts have been made from weaker materials. Recently, however, product teams have begun to explore what’s possible when they us

Have you heard of Industry 4.0, or “the Fourth Industrial Revolution?” The Industry 4.0 market has been expanding for years, but it’s seen explosive growth recently due to the coronavirus pandemic and the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. In fact

3D printers build components in layers using files of digital 3D models. These files contain data-carrying bits, which 3D slicers use to divide models into horizontal layers and generate G-code, a language that tells 3D printers which movements to make. However, you can’t use just any fi

Design for manufacturing (DFM) involves optimizing part design so manufacturers can fabricate high-quality parts with the lowest possible cost-per-unit. By taking the manufacturing method and its restrictions into account, designers can reduce production time, cut costs, and prevent exte

3D printing used to be used primarily to manufacture prototypes; however, the field has expanded now that printer costs have dropped, cutting-edge materials are more widely available, and printing techniques have become more advanced. Manufacturers can now print durable end-use parts wit