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The Digital Thread

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

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Flash on a moulded part
Tech Tips
18/04/2024

Injection Moulding Defects and How to Prevent Them

This blog explores some of the most common injection moulding defects, how to identify them, how problematic they are and how to prevent them.
By Protolabs
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A person inspecting a high-precision aluminium mould in a workshop
Tech Tips
11/04/2024

What is Short Run Injection Moulding? Benefits and Use Cases

Understand what benefits short run injection moulding can provide to product teams, such as reducing time to market and development costs.
By Lucas Tofteland
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Green plastic part
Tech Tips
25/01/2024

Understanding Injection Moulding Tolerances

Why is tolerancing critical in the moulding process? It ensures your parts are made accurately and function properly.
By Protolabs
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Mould Tool
Tech Tips
11/01/2024

An A-to-Z Guide for Injection Moulding Terminology

No matter your level of experience, as engineers, we often come across a term that we don't quite understand. Visit Protolabs to explore our A to Z of IM.
By Protolabs
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agriculture drones
Tech Tips
07/01/2024

Digital Manufacturing: The Growing Appetite in Food and Agriculture

It's no secret that digital manufacturing is revolutionising the agriculture industry. In this blog, we explore the five root causes of the insatiable appetite for digital manufacturing adoption in agriculture to understand how is making such an impact.
By Protolabs
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Mould A Side
Tech Tips
04/01/2024

Unveiling the Secrets: The Anatomy of a Mould Tool

Have you ever wondered what an injection mould tool consists of? Explore our comprehensive guide to learn more about the ins and outs of mould tool anatomy.
By Protolabs
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agriculture robots
Tech Tips
22/08/2023

Turning Over a New Leaf: Digital Manufacturing in Agriculture

In this blog, we explore ways digital manufacturing is helping the agriculture industry tackle new issues and age-old concerns that impact efficiency, sustainability, and the future of our food supply.
By Protolabs
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sla part being finished
Tech Tips
27/02/2023

Secondary Services in a Race to Come First

When working in the Space industry, post-processing options are often the difference between a good idea and a successful project. Whilst most of your focus will be on primary production methods, this blog outlines how secondary services can greatly impact your final project.
By Protolabs
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aerospace part being taken out of delivery box
Tech Tips
13/02/2023

Production Methods for the new frontier

Driving innovation in any industry is difficult, but it’s particularly tricky in the space industry. Parts need to be reliable, withstand increasingly harsh conditions, function for extended periods without maintenance and remain lightweight yet tough enough to withstand the forces of launch and space travel. With these requirements in mind, it's important to select the right manufacturing method.
By Protolabs
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3D printed plastic prototypes: What’s Next?
Industry Spotlight
26/01/2023

3D printed plastic prototypes: What’s Next?

3D printing is often a great entry route to prototyping plastic parts mainly because it is a quick, flexible, and cost-effective process. But what happens once you are ready to move forward with your product development plan?
By Alex Edwards
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ultem for CNC machining
Materials Matchup
23/01/2023

Using High-Performance PEEK, PEI Plastics for Machining, Moulding

Consider cost, part performance when choosing PEEK or PEI (Ultem) Plastics for CNC machining or injection moulding your parts.
By Steve Konick
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Moving from 3D printing to Injection Moulpding Blog
3D Printing
17/01/2023

3D Printed Plastic: Prototypes: What's Next?

3D printing is often a great entry route to prototyping plastic parts mainly because it is a quick, flexible, and cost-effective process. But what happens next?
By Protolabs
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