The Upload

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Past 'plastic' posts

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Blue block of nylon
Materials Science
November 30, 2023

Perusing Polyamides: Comparing the Many Types of Nylon

There are many varieties of strong, durable nylon. Find out the right one for your application.
By Protolabs
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Stacked translucent acrylic blocks with labels, set against a blurred background.
Materials Science
November 16, 2023

Polypropylene or Polyethylene? Evaluating Two Popular Polymers

Both plastics are among the most used materials, but key differentiators dictate their application.
By Protolabs
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Black and green injection molded parts
Materials Science
August 18, 2023

ABS vs. Polypropylene (PP): Deciding Between Two Popular Plastics

ABS and polypropylene (PP) are strong contenders for many projects, but what are the differences?
By Protolabs
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Shipping containers
Supply Chain
May 1, 2023

5 Supply Chain Risks to Watch Out for in 2023

Will the next year bring a repeat of 2022? Here are the big risks we’re looking at in 2023.
By Protolabs
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Green plastic part
Tech Tips
February 7, 2023

Understanding Injection Molding Tolerances

Why is tolerancing critical in the molding process? It ensures your parts are made accurately and function properly.
By Protolabs
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Green plastic part
Tech Tips
January 23, 2023

How to Avoid Flash on Injection-Molded Parts

Flash in never desirable in injection-molded parts. Find out how to design to avoid it.
By Protolabs
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Sample of swirling effect from a nylon material with yellow colorant.
Tech Tips
September 22, 2022

Avoiding Flow Lines in Molded Parts

For most molded parts, visible flow lines are undesirable. The good news is there are ways to avoid them, both in design and the way that the parts are manufactured.
By Protolabs
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HDPE resin pellets closeup
Materials Science
September 7, 2022

Translucent and Clear Plastic Injection-Molded Parts

Choosing the best translucent material for your molded parts isn’t always crystal clear. There are quite a few things to think about before making your final choice of materials and design.
By Protolabs
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Clear ABS resin pellets
Materials Science
August 4, 2022

ABS vs. PC: Comparing Two Common Thermoplastics

Choosing to use ABS, polycarbonate (PC), or combining them is a popular way to get strong machined, printed, or molded parts. There are a lot of similarities, but also some significant differences that might help you find just the right one for your parts.
By Protolabs
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Recommended wall thickness in injection molding design
Tech Tips
June 8, 2022

Thin Wall Injection Molding Tips and Considerations

Thin walls in injection-molded parts can present a variety of issues. Dive into these considerations to ensure optimal part molding and performance.
By Protolabs
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Garçon Wines’ flat bottle design
Eye on Innovation
June 11, 2021

Plastics and 3D Printing Companies Leading Shift to Sustainability

As consumer demand drives a shift to sustainably-sourced products, suppliers that embrace this change set themselves ahead of competitors
By Nicole Hopper
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Consultative Design Analysis
MFG 360
October 22, 2020

Consultative Design Analysis Prepares Parts for Production

Our new consultative design service addresses design feedback and gets your parts ready for manufacturability within our automated system.
By Nicole Hopper
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