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The Digital Thread

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

Latest Posts

Complex, 8mm object produced by xolography

Protolabs Acquires Online Manufacturing Platform 3D Hubs

We’re excited to announce that we will be able to serve even more of your manufacturing needs with the acquisition of 3D Hubs. That’s right, 3D Hubs is joining the Protolabs family to create the world’s largest digital manufacturing platform.
By Protolabs
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img from protolabs ecom platform
Tech Tips
02/11/2020

How to: Quoting, Design Analysis, and Part Ordering

We're here, right now, because we’ve revolutionised manufacturing once again with our all-new digital experience engineered with you—our customer—in mind. From quoting to production to quality control, we’ve rebuilt our entire manufacturing system around speed to help transform ideas to products and optimize manufacturing throughout the product life cycle, prototyping to on-demand production.
By Matthew Hatch
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Thin walls in protolabs ecom platform
Tech Tips
02/11/2020

How to: A Deep Dive into Design Analysis

In this, our second post in the series, we take a closer look at what is arguably the most important benefit of the platform, sandwiched between your request for analysis and actual placement of your order. It’s our automated, interactive design analysis. And with the relaunch of our new platform, you’ll see that we’ve given it a modern interface along with some new features you’ll find valuable.
By Matthew Hatch
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analysis in protolabs ecom platform
Tech Tips
02/11/2020

Why Change is Good: The Evolution of a Digital Manufacturing Platform

We launched our company and its digital manufacturing model more than 20 years ago, and a necessary constant throughout those past two decades in the industry has been change. You simply cannot survive as a technology-forward manufacturing company that is complacent with where it is as at—you have to be future-facing.
By Matthew Hatch
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Welcome to Your All New Digital Manufacturing Platform
Tech Tips
02/11/2020

Welcome to Your All New Digital Manufacturing Platform

When we launched more than 20 years ago, our digital manufacturing model was revolutionary. But it’s been necessary to continuously evolve ever since – by expanding our manufacturing services and enhancing our capabilities way beyond the original prototyping service. Many of the customers we serve have grown along with us, so expectation is being continuously elevated.
By Matt Hatch
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Our on-demand manufacturing (ODM) service through our new quoting platform
Tech Tips
02/11/2020

Our ODM service delivers more options and greater flexibility

Our brand new online quoting platform is not the only exciting launch from Protolabs recently. We are also now offering on-demand manufacturing (ODM) as well as prototyping. This means that we can now support you further through your product life-cycle journey.
By Matt Hatch
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injection moulding analysis
Tech Tips
20/10/2020

What's Changing by Service Line: Injection moulding

In this particular article we’ll take a look at the new platform for when uploading parts for injection moulding – Protolabs’ world-leading service for rapid prototypes and end-use production parts.
By Matthew Hatch
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CNC machining quoting platform
Tech Tips
20/10/2020

What's Changing by Service Line: CNC Machining

In this particular article we’ll take a look at the new platform for when uploading parts for CNC machining – Protolabs’ world-leading service for rapid prototypes and end-use production parts.
By Matthew Hatch
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3D printing cad design
Tech Tips
20/10/2020

What's Changing by Service Line: 3D Printing

In this particular article we’ll take a look at the new platform for when uploading parts for 3D printing – Protolabs’ world-leading service for rapid prototypes and functional parts.
By Matthew Hatch
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3D Printing | Ultrasint™ TPU01: A new versatile and fast processing material for Multi Jet Fusion 3D printing
Material Science
01/06/2020

Ultrasint™ TPU01: A Versatile and Fast Processing Material for Multi Jet Fusion

We have expanded our Multi Jet Fusion Service. Ultrasint™ TPU01, a new material, with rubber-like elasticity that is tear and abrasion resistant as well as resistant to grease and oil. This material offers unlimited design possibilities and excellent part accuracy for prototypes and low-volume production parts.
By Ashlea Hoang
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CNC machining
CNC Machining
05/05/2020

New Big Block CNC Machined Parts in a day from Protolabs

We’ve launched a big block rapid CNC machining service for aluminium 6082 parts. With a reliable shipping time as fast as 1 day from the initial CAD upload, we can now mill from blocks of up to 559mm x 356mm x 95mm.
By Matt Hatch
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Delrin part examples
Materials Science
28/01/2020

Delrin Material Properties Offer Strong, Versatile Plastic Alternative to Metal

Consider Delrin as an excellent plastic replacement for metal because of its strength, versatility.
By Protolabs
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