The Power of SOLIDWORKS Sheet Metal
The Sheet Metal module of Solidworks is an extremely useful addition to the Solidworks modelling box of tricks that sometimes get overlooked. This collection of
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SolidWorks Bend Table: Sheet Metal Gauge Tables
This article will teach you how to use SolidWorks bend table when working with sheet metal. We will also look at how you can create
The fine-art of sheet metal bending
This is a great 9 page PDF entitled “BendWorks: the fine art of Sheet Metal Bending”. This is a basic guide to the main processes
Processes Used in Metal Fabrication
The history of metal fabrication, alternatively known as metalworking, dates back to ancient times with the development of civilisation largely being down to the discovery
AISI 304 Stainless Steel: Specification and Datasheet
The SAE/ANSI 304 (AISI 304) is the most commonly available and used type of stainless steel. It is also referred to as 18/8 stainless steel,
Carbon Steel: The Ultimate Guide – 4 Main Types, Properties, and Applications
Carbon steel is an alloy of iron and carbon, with a carbon content of up to 2.1 wt.%. Unlike other types of steel, carbon
The Ultimate SOLIDWORKS Price Guide – All Options!
This article is a SOLIDWORKS price guide for the United States. For British prices, please see SOLIDWORKS prices in the UK section of this article.
Types of Screws
Types of screws and their uses are part of the basic DIY knowledgebase. Screws are the inconspicuous objects that hold the world together. Well, maybe
SOLIDWORKS Boundary Surface
The boundary surface features within SOLIDWORKS allows users to make surfaces that can be curvature or tangent continuously in both directions, i.e. every surface of
SOLIDWORKS Lip and Groove Tool Tutorial
Here we have a concise yet comprehensive SOLIDWORKS Lip and Grove tool tutorial. Lip and Groove features are very common on plastic items like enclosures
The SOLIDWORKS Mounting Boss Tool Tutorial
Take apart any modern consumer item, such as a Laptop or TV, and it’s likely that that you’ll find a common feature – the mounting
SOLIDWORKS external thread: The SOLIDWORKS thread tool
Let’s look at SOLIDWORKS external thread. In this tutorial you will learn how to create an external thread in SOLIDWORKS using the Thread Tool. SOLIDWORKS
Autodesk Fusion 360 vs Inventor – Critical Differences
Fusion 360 vs Inventor Compare these two Autodesk CAD programs in less than 2 minutes! Understand weak and strong points and make the right choice!
SOLIDWORKS Material Library: The Ultimate 4 Step Tutorial
Materials are an essential way of gaining an extra insight into your designs. This can be achieved by acting as a part of a simulation,
SolidWorks Lofted Boss/Base: Creating Lofted Features in Solidworks
This is a clear a concise SolidWorks Lofted Boss/Base tutorial with multiple screenshots to guide you step by step. Lofts use two or more profiles
AutoCAD vs. SolidWorks. What is the difference? Which is easier to learn?
AutoCAD vs SolidWorks – which is better? AutoCAD and SolidWorks both enable its users to design in both 2D and 3D, and perform as an
SolidWorks Standard vs Professional
What differences can be ascertained between SolidWorks Standard vs Professional? The results to this commonly asked question depend on a variety of factors that affect
Selecting your certified Solidworks reseller in the UK
When you finally made your choice between different CAD softwares, and settled on Solidworks, you need to consider which reseller you are going to choose.
What do engineers REALLY think about Tesla’s Cybertruck?
This week Tesla unveiled their highly anticipated cyberpunk inspired Cybertruck much to the amusement of the automobile industry experts. Elon Musk presented Cybertruck as a
Fed up with modeling parts from scratch? Use a CAD library
Computer Aided Design is an integral part of the engineering industry, improving efficiency and reducing project timescales. The ability to create and test products in
55 types of hammers – the ultimate guide
This post was originally published in October 2016, and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness. When we use the term “hammer” we all
Explosive Forming
Explosive forming is a process in which forces produced by an explosion are used to shape a workpiece. The explosive energy replaces the male part
Karl Benz and the world’s first car patent
Karl Benz has a name synonymous with cars not to mention a career which literally changed transport around the world. Born in Germany on 25
A Basic Guide to Tooling Design
The discipline of tooling design is fundamental to manufacturing. The cost of manufacturing and of the end product depends heavily upon tool design. Tool design affects
10 Material Properties Every Mechanical Design Engineer Should Know
For a beginning engineering student, it might not be totally clear what is meant by “material properties”. What we consider material properties in engineering are those
Design it! The nuts and bolts of getting started…
This article has been written with the novice or beginner designer/inventor in mind. The intent of this article is to hopefully guide you through some
Solving the unsolvable: Alex Jones, product design consultant
Welcome to the first in a new series of articles, where we get inside the heads of successful and highly talented mechanical engineers and industrial
Aluminium alloy wheels manufacturing process, materials and design
Aluminium alloy wheels manufacturing process have developed a lot since 1970s. Due to sophisticated wheels design, casting has become the dominant manufacturing process. Alloy wheel
Cutting processes – tolerance and surface roughness
Here’s a useful table of tolerance and surface roughness achievable with cutting and machining process (collectively termed “material removal processes” or “Subtractive Manufacturing“). More useful
Laser Beam Machining (LBM)
Laser Beam Machining: A coherent beam of monochromatic light is focused on the workpiece causing material removal by vaporisation. Machines are generally CAD/CAM compatible, with
10 Engineering Materials You Must NEVER Use
Are you an engineer in the industrial or commercial sector? If you are part of the design team, you must know that selecting the best
7Cr17MoV vs 7Cr17 Stainless Steel
7Cr17MoV vs 7Cr17 Stainless Steel – what is the difference? 7Cr17MoV stainless steel is the Chinese GB standard grade martensitic steel created by adding a
What is Garolite? Your guide to G10 Material – Its Properties & Applications
What is Garolite? Garolite is a composite material and brand name for G10 – FR4, which is developed by curing epoxy and fiberglass under high
Cold Rolling – process overview
In simple terms, cold rolling is an industrial process used to change the material properties of sheets or strips of metal. The metal is fed
4130 Steel Properties and Applications
It is very useful for any mechanical engineer to be aware of 4130 steel properties. 4130 steel, otherwise known as Chromoly or chromium molybdenum steel
7075-T6 aluminium: overview & properties
Have you ever wondered what the ‘perfect’ choice of aluminium for your project is? Aluminium is the most widely used non-ferrous metal, and there are
Material Database – Top 9 Engineering Materials Resources on the Web
A material database is a great way to store material data according to their type, physical characteristics, mechanical properties, and standard classifications. This makes material
How a SAFE is Designed (Part 1: Ingenious Engineering Against Attack)
A safe is a safe, is a safe, right? It’s just a big metal box? Actually. nothing could be further from the truth – the
MatWeb – Top 6 Alternative Websites
Material scientists and engineers rely on good quality and reliable information provided via the internet. Gone are the days of huge compendiums of material data
5 Absolutely Mental Manufacturing Processes
What you’re about to witness is a roundup of some absolutely mental manufacturing techniques that are insanely interesting, and just a little bit wacky. Some
