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The Digital Thread

Your blog feed for manufacturing resources, in-depth features, and industry news.

Latest Posts

PolyJet 3D-Printed Part
3D Printing
26/05/2026

How 3D Printing Is Transforming Medical Tool and Equipment Production

How additive manufacturing helps create custom medical tools faster and more efficiently.
By Protolabs
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part sample finished with electroless nickel plating
Finishing Options
26/05/2026

Advantages of Electroless Nickel Plating

How electroless nickel coatings improve corrosion resistance and wear performance.
By Protolabs
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Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE)
Materials Science
11/05/2026

Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) for Injection Moulding

Thermoplastic elastomers come in a variety of formulations, and each is unique in its own way. That makes picking the right one an important task among many when you are designing your parts.
By Protolabs
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3D Printing part
3D Printing
03/04/2026

3D Printing Design Optimisation: Strength vs. Aesthetics

How to design parts that perform under load while maintaining a refined, customer-ready finish.
By Protolabs
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CNC surface finishing
post-processing
11/03/2026

Finishes That Prevent Rust in Metal Parts

Protective coatings and surface treatments that extend part life and improve corrosion resistance
By Protolabs
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Drones
3D Printing
06/03/2026

Manufacturing Lightweight Drone Parts with Advanced MJF

With advanced Multi Jet Fusion technology, engineers can build lighter parts for drones.
By Protolabs
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SLS jig and fixture
product life cycle
03/03/2026

MRO Manufacturing for On-demand Production Support

Fast, reliable MRO manufacturing to support maintenance, repair, and operations without long lead times
By Protolabs
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cnc milling a blue nylon block
Materials Science
23/01/2026

Types of Nylon: How They Stack Up

There are many varieties of strong, durable nylon. Find out the right one for your application.
By Protolabs
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How Cyber Essentials Supports Secure Manufacturing in the UK
resources
23/01/2026

How Cyber Essentials Supports Secure Manufacturing in the UK

Our Cyber Essentials certification is one of the ways that we protect your data for more secure digital manufacturing.
By Protolabs
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Metals
materials
13/01/2026

Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Metals: A Guide for Engineers

Compare ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Learn how iron content affects strength, weight, corrosion resistance, and material selection for real-world applications.
By Protolabs
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Gas Welding
post-processing
12/01/2026

Guide to Gas Welding

Learn what gas welding is, how it works, its pros and cons, and common applications in manufacturing. 
By Protolabs
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The advantages of Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
3D Printing
03/12/2025

Selective Laser Sintering – Its Advantages and Disadvantages

Here we take a brief look at selective laser sintering advantages and disadvantages to see if it could be the right choice for you.
By Protolabs
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