3D Printing
Overview: 3D Printing refers to additive manufacturing technologies used to build parts layer-by-layer from digital models.
- Strengths:
- Complex geometries achievable
- Low-cost prototyping
- Minimal tooling required
- Limitations:
- Layer lines may require finishing
- Material choices vary by process
- Mechanical properties differ from wrought materials
- Applications:
- Prototyping
- Low-volume production
- Complex internal structures, jigs, fixtures
Blow Molding
Overview: Blow Molding covers molding processes commonly used for producing plastic parts.
- Strengths:
- Excellent for high-volume production
- Repeatable parts with tight tolerances
- Good surface finish
- Limitations:
- High upfront tooling cost
- Design-for-manufacturing needed
- Material shrinkage must be managed
- Applications:
- Consumer plastics
- Automotive interiors
- Containers and housings
Chemical Cleaning
Overview: Chemical Cleaning is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
CNC Machining
Overview: CNC Machining is a subtractive manufacturing/fabrication process using computer-controlled tools.
- Strengths:
- High precision
- Wide range of materials
- Excellent surface finish and tolerances
- Limitations:
- Material waste (subtractive)
- Tooling wear
- Higher cost for complex geometries vs additive
- Applications:
- Functional prototypes
- Metal parts
- Tooling and dies
Compression Molding
Overview: Compression Molding covers molding processes commonly used for producing plastic parts.
- Strengths:
- Excellent for high-volume production
- Repeatable parts with tight tolerances
- Good surface finish
- Limitations:
- High upfront tooling cost
- Design-for-manufacturing needed
- Material shrinkage must be managed
- Applications:
- Consumer plastics
- Automotive interiors
- Containers and housings
Deburring
Overview: Deburring is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
Die Casting
Overview: Die Casting refers to casting processes that form metal parts by pouring molten metal into molds.
- Strengths:
- Cost-effective for mid-to-high volume
- Good repeatability
- Can produce complex shapes
- Limitations:
- Tooling costs
- Porosity and shrinkage control
- Post-machining often required
- Applications:
- Engine components
- Hardware, complex shapes
DMLS
Overview: DMLS refers to additive manufacturing technologies used to build parts layer-by-layer from digital models.
- Strengths:
- Complex geometries achievable
- Low-cost prototyping
- Minimal tooling required
- Limitations:
- Layer lines may require finishing
- Material choices vary by process
- Mechanical properties differ from wrought materials
- Applications:
- Prototyping
- Low-volume production
- Complex internal structures, jigs, fixtures
EDM
Overview: EDM includes processes for removing material using focused energy or abrasives.
- Strengths:
- Fast cutting
- Good for complex profiles
- Minimal mechanical force on parts (waterjet)
- Limitations:
- Heat-affected zones (laser/plasma)
- Material thickness limits
- Slower for very thick sections (waterjet can be slower)
- Applications:
- Sheet metal parts
- Prototyping
- Custom components
Electroplating
Overview: Electroplating is a metal or metal alloy commonly used for electrical, decorative, or structural parts.
- Strengths:
- Good electrical/thermal conductivity (copper alloys)
- Attractive finishes
- Good corrosion resistance for certain alloys
- Limitations:
- Softer than steels
- Cost and availability can vary
- Some (beryllium) require special handling
- Applications:
- Electrical components
- Fittings
- Decorative hardware
- Bearing/bronzeware
EMI Shielding
Overview: EMI Shielding is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
Engraving and Marking
Overview: Engraving and Marking is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
FDM
Overview: FDM refers to additive manufacturing technologies used to build parts layer-by-layer from digital models.
- Strengths:
- Complex geometries achievable
- Low-cost prototyping
- Minimal tooling required
- Limitations:
- Layer lines may require finishing
- Material choices vary by process
- Mechanical properties differ from wrought materials
- Applications:
- Prototyping
- Low-volume production
- Complex internal structures, jigs, fixtures
Forging
Overview: Forging is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
Galvanizing
Overview: Galvanizing is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
Grinding
Overview: Grinding is a subtractive manufacturing/fabrication process using computer-controlled tools.
- Strengths:
- High precision
- Wide range of materials
- Excellent surface finish and tolerances
- Limitations:
- Material waste (subtractive)
- Tooling wear
- Higher cost for complex geometries vs additive
- Applications:
- Functional prototypes
- Metal parts
- Tooling and dies
Heat Treating
Overview: Heat Treating is a metal or metal alloy commonly used for electrical, decorative, or structural parts.
- Strengths:
- Good electrical/thermal conductivity (copper alloys)
- Attractive finishes
- Good corrosion resistance for certain alloys
- Limitations:
- Softer than steels
- Cost and availability can vary
- Some (beryllium) require special handling
- Applications:
- Electrical components
- Fittings
- Decorative hardware
- Bearing/bronzeware
Injection Molding
Overview: Injection Molding covers molding processes commonly used for producing plastic parts.
- Strengths:
- Excellent for high-volume production
- Repeatable parts with tight tolerances
- Good surface finish
- Limitations:
- High upfront tooling cost
- Design-for-manufacturing needed
- Material shrinkage must be managed
- Applications:
- Consumer plastics
- Automotive interiors
- Containers and housings
Investment Casting
Overview: Investment Casting refers to casting processes that form metal parts by pouring molten metal into molds.
- Strengths:
- Cost-effective for mid-to-high volume
- Good repeatability
- Can produce complex shapes
- Limitations:
- Tooling costs
- Porosity and shrinkage control
- Post-machining often required
- Applications:
- Engine components
- Hardware, complex shapes
Laser Cutting
Overview: Laser Cutting includes processes for removing material using focused energy or abrasives.
- Strengths:
- Fast cutting
- Good for complex profiles
- Minimal mechanical force on parts (waterjet)
- Limitations:
- Heat-affected zones (laser/plasma)
- Material thickness limits
- Slower for very thick sections (waterjet can be slower)
- Applications:
- Sheet metal parts
- Prototyping
- Custom components
Machining
Overview: Machining is a subtractive manufacturing/fabrication process using computer-controlled tools.
- Strengths:
- High precision
- Wide range of materials
- Excellent surface finish and tolerances
- Limitations:
- Material waste (subtractive)
- Tooling wear
- Higher cost for complex geometries vs additive
- Applications:
- Functional prototypes
- Metal parts
- Tooling and dies
Mill Finish
Overview: Mill Finish is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
Milling and Turning
Overview: Milling and Turning is a subtractive manufacturing/fabrication process using computer-controlled tools.
- Strengths:
- High precision
- Wide range of materials
- Excellent surface finish and tolerances
- Limitations:
- Material waste (subtractive)
- Tooling wear
- Higher cost for complex geometries vs additive
- Applications:
- Functional prototypes
- Metal parts
- Tooling and dies
Overmolding
Overview: Overmolding covers molding processes commonly used for producing plastic parts.
- Strengths:
- Excellent for high-volume production
- Repeatable parts with tight tolerances
- Good surface finish
- Limitations:
- High upfront tooling cost
- Design-for-manufacturing needed
- Material shrinkage must be managed
- Applications:
- Consumer plastics
- Automotive interiors
- Containers and housings
Painting
Overview: Painting is a metal or metal alloy commonly used for electrical, decorative, or structural parts.
- Strengths:
- Good electrical/thermal conductivity (copper alloys)
- Attractive finishes
- Good corrosion resistance for certain alloys
- Limitations:
- Softer than steels
- Cost and availability can vary
- Some (beryllium) require special handling
- Applications:
- Electrical components
- Fittings
- Decorative hardware
- Bearing/bronzeware
Plasma Cutting
Overview: Plasma Cutting includes processes for removing material using focused energy or abrasives.
- Strengths:
- Fast cutting
- Good for complex profiles
- Minimal mechanical force on parts (waterjet)
- Limitations:
- Heat-affected zones (laser/plasma)
- Material thickness limits
- Slower for very thick sections (waterjet can be slower)
- Applications:
- Sheet metal parts
- Prototyping
- Custom components
Plating
Overview: Plating is a metal or metal alloy commonly used for electrical, decorative, or structural parts.
- Strengths:
- Good electrical/thermal conductivity (copper alloys)
- Attractive finishes
- Good corrosion resistance for certain alloys
- Limitations:
- Softer than steels
- Cost and availability can vary
- Some (beryllium) require special handling
- Applications:
- Electrical components
- Fittings
- Decorative hardware
- Bearing/bronzeware
Polishing
Overview: Polishing is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
Powder Coating
Overview: Powder Coating is a metal or metal alloy commonly used for electrical, decorative, or structural parts.
- Strengths:
- Good electrical/thermal conductivity (copper alloys)
- Attractive finishes
- Good corrosion resistance for certain alloys
- Limitations:
- Softer than steels
- Cost and availability can vary
- Some (beryllium) require special handling
- Applications:
- Electrical components
- Fittings
- Decorative hardware
- Bearing/bronzeware
Priming
Overview: Priming refers to surface treatment or finishing processes applied after primary fabrication.
- Strengths:
- Improves corrosion resistance
- Enhances aesthetics
- Adds wear resistance
- Limitations:
- Additional cost and process time
- May require masking/fixturing
- Possible environmental controls
- Applications:
- Finished consumer goods
- Protective coatings
- Decorative surfaces
RF Shielding
Overview: RF Shielding is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
Rotational Molding
Overview: Rotational Molding covers molding processes commonly used for producing plastic parts.
- Strengths:
- Excellent for high-volume production
- Repeatable parts with tight tolerances
- Good surface finish
- Limitations:
- High upfront tooling cost
- Design-for-manufacturing needed
- Material shrinkage must be managed
- Applications:
- Consumer plastics
- Automotive interiors
- Containers and housings
RTV Molding
Overview: RTV Molding covers molding processes commonly used for producing plastic parts.
- Strengths:
- Excellent for high-volume production
- Repeatable parts with tight tolerances
- Good surface finish
- Limitations:
- High upfront tooling cost
- Design-for-manufacturing needed
- Material shrinkage must be managed
- Applications:
- Consumer plastics
- Automotive interiors
- Containers and housings
Sand Blasting
Overview: Sand Blasting refers to casting processes that form metal parts by pouring molten metal into molds.
- Strengths:
- Cost-effective for mid-to-high volume
- Good repeatability
- Can produce complex shapes
- Limitations:
- Tooling costs
- Porosity and shrinkage control
- Post-machining often required
- Applications:
- Engine components
- Hardware, complex shapes
Sand Mold Casting
Overview: Sand Mold Casting refers to casting processes that form metal parts by pouring molten metal into molds.
- Strengths:
- Cost-effective for mid-to-high volume
- Good repeatability
- Can produce complex shapes
- Limitations:
- Tooling costs
- Porosity and shrinkage control
- Post-machining often required
- Applications:
- Engine components
- Hardware, complex shapes
Screw Machining
Overview: Screw Machining is a subtractive manufacturing/fabrication process using computer-controlled tools.
- Strengths:
- High precision
- Wide range of materials
- Excellent surface finish and tolerances
- Limitations:
- Material waste (subtractive)
- Tooling wear
- Higher cost for complex geometries vs additive
- Applications:
- Functional prototypes
- Metal parts
- Tooling and dies
Shot Blasting
Overview: Shot Blasting is a metal or metal alloy commonly used for electrical, decorative, or structural parts.
- Strengths:
- Good electrical/thermal conductivity (copper alloys)
- Attractive finishes
- Good corrosion resistance for certain alloys
- Limitations:
- Softer than steels
- Cost and availability can vary
- Some (beryllium) require special handling
- Applications:
- Electrical components
- Fittings
- Decorative hardware
- Bearing/bronzeware
Shot Peening
Overview: Shot Peening is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
Silk-Screen Printing
Overview: Silk-Screen Printing refers to additive manufacturing technologies used to build parts layer-by-layer from digital models.
- Strengths:
- Complex geometries achievable
- Low-cost prototyping
- Minimal tooling required
- Limitations:
- Layer lines may require finishing
- Material choices vary by process
- Mechanical properties differ from wrought materials
- Applications:
- Prototyping
- Low-volume production
- Complex internal structures, jigs, fixtures
SLA
Overview: SLA refers to additive manufacturing technologies used to build parts layer-by-layer from digital models.
- Strengths:
- Complex geometries achievable
- Low-cost prototyping
- Minimal tooling required
- Limitations:
- Layer lines may require finishing
- Material choices vary by process
- Mechanical properties differ from wrought materials
- Applications:
- Prototyping
- Low-volume production
- Complex internal structures, jigs, fixtures
SLS
Overview: SLS refers to additive manufacturing technologies used to build parts layer-by-layer from digital models.
- Strengths:
- Complex geometries achievable
- Low-cost prototyping
- Minimal tooling required
- Limitations:
- Layer lines may require finishing
- Material choices vary by process
- Mechanical properties differ from wrought materials
- Applications:
- Prototyping
- Low-volume production
- Complex internal structures, jigs, fixtures
Stamping
Overview: Stamping is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
Structural Foam Molding
Overview: Structural Foam Molding covers molding processes commonly used for producing plastic parts.
- Strengths:
- Excellent for high-volume production
- Repeatable parts with tight tolerances
- Good surface finish
- Limitations:
- High upfront tooling cost
- Design-for-manufacturing needed
- Material shrinkage must be managed
- Applications:
- Consumer plastics
- Automotive interiors
- Containers and housings
Surface Treating
Overview: Surface Treating is a metal or metal alloy commonly used for electrical, decorative, or structural parts.
- Strengths:
- Good electrical/thermal conductivity (copper alloys)
- Attractive finishes
- Good corrosion resistance for certain alloys
- Limitations:
- Softer than steels
- Cost and availability can vary
- Some (beryllium) require special handling
- Applications:
- Electrical components
- Fittings
- Decorative hardware
- Bearing/bronzeware
Swiss Machining
Overview: Swiss Machining is a subtractive manufacturing/fabrication process using computer-controlled tools.
- Strengths:
- High precision
- Wide range of materials
- Excellent surface finish and tolerances
- Limitations:
- Material waste (subtractive)
- Tooling wear
- Higher cost for complex geometries vs additive
- Applications:
- Functional prototypes
- Metal parts
- Tooling and dies
Thermoset
Overview: Thermoset is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications
Turning
Overview: Turning is a subtractive manufacturing/fabrication process using computer-controlled tools.
- Strengths:
- High precision
- Wide range of materials
- Excellent surface finish and tolerances
- Limitations:
- Material waste (subtractive)
- Tooling wear
- Higher cost for complex geometries vs additive
- Applications:
- Functional prototypes
- Metal parts
- Tooling and dies
Waterjet Cutting
Overview: Waterjet Cutting includes processes for removing material using focused energy or abrasives.
- Strengths:
- Fast cutting
- Good for complex profiles
- Minimal mechanical force on parts (waterjet)
- Limitations:
- Heat-affected zones (laser/plasma)
- Material thickness limits
- Slower for very thick sections (waterjet can be slower)
- Applications:
- Sheet metal parts
- Prototyping
- Custom components
Welding
Overview: Welding is used in manufacturing with properties that depend on alloy/grade.
- Strengths:
- Versatile
- Well-understood processes
- Limitations:
- Material-specific considerations
- Applications:
- Various industrial applications