blog header

The Digital Thread

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

Past 'UL' posts

Return to blog home
Stacked translucent acrylic blocks with labels, set against a blurred background.
Materials Science
07/10/2026

Polypropylene or Polyethylene? Evaluating Two Popular Polymers

Both plastics are among the most used materials, but key differentiators dictate their application.
By Protolabs
Read More
Injection Moulding Tool
Injection Moulding
25/08/2026

Soft vs. Hard Tooling: Injection Moulding Comparison Guide

Compare aluminium and steel injection moulds to choose the right tooling for your production volume, budget, and timeline
By Protolabs
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
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
Read More
A pile of white Nylon Resin pellets
Materials Science
25/11/2025

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Glass-Filled Nylon

Making nylon parts stronger isn’t difficult. All it takes is the addition of glass to your base material. Explore the pros and cons of glass-filled nylon.
By Protolabs
Read More
injection molding living hinge diagram
Tech Tips
03/10/2025

MJF vs. SLS: A Comparison of Polyamide 3D Printing Technologies

A look at the key differences between Multi Jet Fusion and selective laser sintering and how to determine the optimal process for your application.
By Protolabs
Read More
Injection Moulding
injection moulding
03/10/2025

Common Applications of Injection Moulding

See where injection moulding shines across industries, with examples, design tips, and scaling strategies.
By Protolabs
Read More
Flame-Retardant Thermoplastics and UL Classifications
Materials
25/08/2025

UL 94 Classification and Flame-Retardant Materials

An overview of materials with flame-retardant characteristics and the UL 94 classification.
By Protolabs
Read More
Orange part

Traceability in Manufacturing and Why it Matters

Explore how digital manufacturing techniques aid in process traceability for injection moulding.
By Protolabs
Read More
ABS material
Material Science
07/11/2024

In and Out - ABS Injection Moulding

This blogs deep dives into ABS injection moulding. Easy to work with, with a quality surface finish and relatively low purchase cost are just some of the reasons ABS is so popular for mass production. Continue reading to find out more.
By Protolabs
Read More
MJF part
Tech Tips
05/09/2024

Designing a part for Multi Jet Fusion

Designing for Multi Jet Fusion differs from other 3D printing processes. In this blog we explore considerations and pitfalls when designing a part for MJF.
By Protolabs
Read More