Why CNC Machining Beats Traditional Machining Every Time
The advent of computers brought the concept of numerical systems to reality for many industries. Manufacturing, in particular, has widely embraced the technology, with CNC
Category: Manufacturing Processes
Revolutionary New Metal 3D Printing Technology (Selective LED-based Melting)
Metal 3D printing can also be known as DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering), and DMLM (Direct Metal Laser Melting) is an additive layer technology. A
CNC Fabrication: 3, 4 and 5-Axis CNC Explained
CNC fabrication involves the use of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines to shape and resize a block of material (known as a workpiece) by automatically
What is Parylene coating and when should you use it?
Deciding on the ideal coating for your engineering application is always a very difficult task, you need to decide on chemical, process, mechanical and component
HALT Testing (Highly Accelerated Life Testing)
Highly Accelerated Life Testing (HALT) refers to a reliability testing technique that aims to expose the weaknesses of a product. The main objective is to
What is Burnishing and what is it used for?
Burnishing is the process of rubbing metal with a small hard tool, which can be either a ball type or roller type, to compact the
What is Electroforming and where is it used?
The best way to describe electroforming is a metal forming process used to manufacture parts using electrolyte deposition onto a model. In the manufacturing industry
What is Thermoforming and what is it used for?
Thermoforming is a plastic manufacturing process where a thermoplastic sheet is deformed into a specific shape. The process starts with the heating of a flat
A Guide to Shot Blasting / Shot Peening
Shot peening (also known as shot blasting) is a surface conditioning process carried out after various manufacturing processes. In simple terms it increases/improves the surface
What is Parkerizing, how does it work?
Parkerizing is a method used on ferrous metals such as wrought iron, cast iron, steel and alloy steel, offering added protection from corrosion. This process
What is Electropolishing and what is it used for?
Electropolishing is a material removal process using an electrically powered chemical process called electrolysis. In this process the amount of material being removed is very
Introduction to Hydraulic Pumps
Hydraulic pumps are omnipresent and used in applications ranging from mud pumping (drilling site) to movement of the antenna in space stations. They convert the
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
Circular sawing – process description and design guide
Circular sawing involves the use of a rotating cutting blade that can be fed horizontally, vertically, or at an angle into the material. Circular sawing
Bandsawing – process description and design guide
Bandsawing: As per the name of the process, the saw is formed as a band and is continuously cycled in one direction around pulley wheels.
EDM Machine – types & working principles
EDM stands for Electrical Discharge Machining. An EDM machine is the piece of equipment used to carry out this manufacturing process. The principle behind EDM
Centrifugal Casting – process overview
Centrifugal casting is a permanent mold process which makes use of centrifugal force to fill a mold with molten material. There are 3 types of
Compression Molding – manufacturing process guide
Compression molding is one of the oldest and most widely used processes for the production of thermosetting plastic parts. Compression molding machines consist of platens
Linear Broaching & Rotary Broaching: Process Guide
What is Broaching? How does a broach work? Broaching is a subtractive manufacturing process that produces features by removing material form a part with a
Electron Beam Melting (EBM): process, materials, uses
Many types of additive layer manufacturing processes have become well-known in recent years, but Electron Beam Melting (EBM) is still relatively new an uncommon. Electron
Ionized Gas As Fuel – Useful Information
Is it possible to use ionized gas as fuel? Have you ever wondered what makes those neon signs glow? Or what makes the auroras so
The Key Principles of Inventory Management
When The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt came in 1984, readers weren’t sure how to treat it: was it a management help book, a drama with
Shot Tower – How Lead Shot is Made
History is littered with innovative ideas and processes which we often take for granted today but were groundbreaking in their day. Something as simple as
Die Casting – design guide, materials, advantages and disadvantages
Die casting is a permanent mould casting process in which molten metal is poured into a mould and removed after solidification. There are two main
Viscosity of Water – the Ultimate Guide
Viscosity refers to the amount that a fluid (gas or liquid) resists changing shape. In other words, how much a fluid opposes flow. Therefore, the
What is the best ERP software for plastic injection moulding products?
Injection moulding seems like it would be a straightforward process. Simply insert the plastic pellets into the hopper, inject the molten material into a mould,
CNC prototyping: 5 things you need to know
Computer Aided Design (CAD) was seen by many as a turning point in the world of business but now we have Computerised Numerical Control (CNC).
Composite Spraying
Composite spraying is an open-mould composite manufacturing process which makes use of a manually controlled spray gun to spray a chopped fibre with catalysed resin
The Steam Hammer: An industrial monster
Even though the original concept of a steam hammer dates back to James Watt in 1784 it was not until the 1840s that the first
Extreme manufacturing danger: the steel mill cobble
While many of us will be well aware of the dangers of working in a steel mill, the excessive temperatures and molten steel, few people
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
Swaging: Rotary and Extrusion
Swaging is a process that belongs to the forging class of manufacturing processes, where the dimensions of the work piece is changed using dies which
Additive Manufacturing in the Aerospace Industry
You know a trend transitioned from a hobbyist tool and news candy to solid production asset when aeronautics and aerospace officially start using it. Additive
Blow Moulding
Blow moulding is a permanent mould process used for the manufacturing of hollow plastic parts. The process can be divided into two main types: extrusion
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
What are the main advantages of injection moulding over traditional manufacturing?
To the untrained eye it may be easy to assume that injection moulding is simply a quicker and more cost-effective method of manufacturing when compared
Metal Forging
Metal forging is the oldest metal forming process which produces parts by the process of metal deformation. The forging process is classified into two different
Lathe Machine Parts – A Quick Guide
In this article we will give an overview of the components of a lathe; the lathe machine parts and their primary functions. Lathes refer to
Automation Basics – An Introduction
Automation basics: The term automation is derived from the Greek root words of ‘Auto’, meaning “self”, and ‘Matos’, meaning “moving”. So, automation can be described
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
