Automotive companies constantly seek to improve vehicle operating efficiency and thus improve fuel efficiency, especially in light of the ongoing upward climb in gas prices. Improving efficiency, however, is no longer easy; the low hanging fruit has … [Read more...] about Axle manufacturer “sees” its way to a better design that enables better fuel efficiency
Injection Molding Production
What color is your prototype?
Injection molded parts, for all their many shapes and sizes, all start out pretty much the same—as small plastic pellets. The base colors of those pellets vary somewhat depending on the resin, but they all fall somewhere on a monochromatic scale from … [Read more...] about What color is your prototype?
QuickCutCNC™ Online Interactive Quoting system now detects threaded holes
Quickparts®, a 3D Systems company (NASDAQ: TDSC), announced further enhancements to QuickCutCNC™. This rapid CNC machining service, launched by Quickparts®, now has the ability to automatically identify and quote threaded holes as part of the … [Read more...] about QuickCutCNC™ Online Interactive Quoting system now detects threaded holes
RAPID 2011; Simthsonian Curator and founding fathers of additive manufacturing to speak
A Smithsonian curator and the CEOs of four companies who have pioneered the development of additive manufacturing will be featured speakers at RAPID 2011 Conference & Exposition in conjunction with the 3D Imaging event, at the Hyatt Regency in … [Read more...] about RAPID 2011; Simthsonian Curator and founding fathers of additive manufacturing to speak
RIM design tip: Designing outside the box
When it comes to rapid prototyping, product design presents you with a series of choices involving the function and aesthetic of the product, the methods of manufacture to be used to realize the product, and physical, financial, timeline, and other … [Read more...] about RIM design tip: Designing outside the box
Keeping Your Part in Line – Protomold’s September Design Tip
When you are developing a 3D CAD model to be injection molded, you may not spend much time thinking about where its parting line will be, but it’s worth keeping in mind as the location can affect your part in several ways. On some parts … [Read more...] about Keeping Your Part in Line – Protomold’s September Design Tip
Beyond Prototyping
It is usually the designer who decides on the production method at the beginning of the design process. So get ready for these five trends as vendors continue to improve their prototyping systems and materials. Now that “rapid prototyping” … [Read more...] about Beyond Prototyping
Design tip: Texture — When Things Get Rough
Surface finish on a plastic part can serve many functions, from improving grip to hiding fingerprints to facilitating paint adhesion. Protomold offers seven finishes on molded parts: five polishes and two textures. The five levels of polish are … [Read more...] about Design tip: Texture — When Things Get Rough
Design Tip for Rapid Injection Molding from Protomold
A bump-off is a small undercut in a part design that can be safely removed from a straight-pull mold without the use of side actions. It works like the snaps on the wind flap of a parka or the snaps on a western style shirt—push to close, … [Read more...] about Design Tip for Rapid Injection Molding from Protomold
Design Tips for Rapid Injection Molding
When it comes to rapid injection molding, there are four "rules" that are equally important. Ignore any one of them and it can stop you in your tracks. Thus, the four #1 rules for successful rapid injection molding are: 1a) Maintain uniform wall … [Read more...] about Design Tips for Rapid Injection Molding