What started as a high-end machining technique focused on machining complex shapes has now transitioned to a nearly industry standard technology to optimize the CNC Milling industry. 5-axis machining has veritably reinvented how we think about milling parts. Machining with 5-axis machines allows us to cut costs on machining time, achieve higher precision on complex…

An Engineer’s guide to understanding and implementing additive manufacturing in the production process…  Introduction Image Source: Marines Additive manufacturing (AM) is a term used to described the set of manufacturing processes that progressively add layers of material to manufacture your products, and it could change the way you go about engineering your products. Instead of…

Computer-aided design changed the engineering realm just a few decades ago. The latest change to the tools available to engineers is the full integration of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) into CAD programs. Let’s take a look at the biggest benefits that a CAD/CAM integrated workspace brings us as engineers. One thing that CAD did when it first was implemented…

Image Source The days of affordable rapid prototyping and instantaneous production are upon us, but how have they changed the manufacturing industry as a whole? Initial hype around the 3D printing industry had everyone believing that they would be able to print whatever they want in their own home. While this is true, it isn’t…

If you’ve ever taken shop class in high-school or watched an episode of how it’s made, you probably have some idea how lathes and other metalworking machines function. As technology and computers have improved over the years, a new high-precision computer controlled manufacturing technique called CNC machining has spawned. CNC machines, or computer numerically controlled…

Image Source Additive manufacturing isn’t only limited to parts manufacturing, rather it is beginning to transform how electronics engineers manufacture circuits. When examining the realms of additive manufacturing within the constraints of electronics, there are 2 distinct production methods. There are 2inkjet-stylele printing techniques used to produce circuit boards. Typically, this method involves a printhead…

Design for manufacturability is a proactive process used to maximize the design of components for the intended manufacturing process. Let’s take a look at how we can use this process can be improved or eliminated with the use of additive techniques. Looking over the typical manufacturing processes of machining, casting, injection molding, and forming, we…

Image Source: Wikipedia The concept of a digital twin in manufacturing is one that has grown out of increasing connectivity. It’s a concept that allows manufacturers to monitor a product’s performance in real time using a digital model that responds identically to the real world product. As Industry 4.0 continues to drive forward the manufacturing…

Image Source: Wikimedia The global manufacturing industry is looking to the future now more than ever. Manufacturing specific technologies are advancing at a rapid rate bringing on Industry 4.0 making the time for innovation now. This idea of a connected manufacturing environment has been around for many years, but it seems that constant innovation in recent…

CAM is the future, so it becomes unequivocally important to discuss the future of CAM. Let’s take a look at the ways in which CAM is changing in order to accommodate the future of manufacturing How CAM is Evolving The industry just 5 years ago involved a lot of stress between disciplines. Engineers designed and…

Additive manufacturing has taken off in recent years, but two main barriers to entry still remain. Start up cost for purchasing machines is one major hurdle for smaller manufacturers, however, this hurdle is slowly coming down. The far more hindering barrier to additive adoption is that of speed. For most mass manufacturing applications, additive manufacturing…