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The Bimetallic Strip Explained

While you may not be familiar with bimetallic strips, you likely have encountered thermometers that utilize them. Bimetallic strips are most often used in modern electronic and mechanical devices such as thermal circuit breakers, thermometers, temperature-sensitive switches, fire alarms, timers, relays, and motor starters. This article discusses what a bimetallic strip is, where it originated, […]

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10 New 3D Printing Materials

Fictiv is now better prepared than ever to meet your most demanding 3D printing project needs. We’ve supercharged our portfolio of capabilities with 10 new 3D printing materials for Stereolithography (SLA), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), and Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technologies.  We also now have bigger bed sizes and can 3D […]

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Parts of a CNC Machine Explained

Producing complex parts with tight tolerances requires extensive experience, and even the best operators spend years fine-tuning their skills. CNC machines are the gold standard for high-quality and high-repeatability machining because they automate the machining process — computers and sensors control the machining operations. CNC machining is used in almost every industry due to the […]

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Top 10 Design Tips for Reducing CNC Lead Times

DESIGN TIPS FOR REDUCING CNC LEAD TIMES CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machining is a manufacturing process that uses computer-controlled machines to create precision parts from raw materials. CNC machining is widely used in industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, and many others where precision and quality are crucial.  And machining highly precise, high-quality components has […]

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How Digital Manufacturing Reduces Supply Chain Disruptions

We all know by now that supply chain disruptions are an immutable part of business in 2023 and beyond. Plenty of digital ink has been spilled discussing the various major supply chain disruptions of the past few years, so I won’t bore you by rehashing them here. Suffice it to say, building strong supply chains […]

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8 Creative Ways to Recruit Skilled Mechanical Engineers

Recruiting skilled engineers is a daunting task — factors like job security, income, and benefits are a good start in attracting mechanical engineers, but you need to go the extra mile to attract highly skilled, passionate, and motivated engineers. Engineering candidates typically use logic when deciding to take a job and will often utilize a […]

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Polystyrene Injection Molding

Polystyrene (PS) is a commodity thermoplastic with an amorphous structure. It has excellent resistance to gamma rays and, therefore, supports sterilization by radiation. Polystyrene plastics can be either transparent or opaque, and unmodified polystyrene is clear, rigid, brittle and moderately strong. Also, polystyrene is cost-effective and supports injection molding. Grades of polystyrene include GPPS and […]

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5 Ways to Combat the Machinist Shortage in 2023

Over the past few decades, there has been a steady increase in manufacturing demand, but simultaneously, there’s been a drop in the number of machinists entering the market. This shortage is hindering the growth of many businesses that have plenty of demand but simply cannot find the right people to drive growth on the manufacturing […]

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Heat Exchanger Material Selection

One of my favorite jobs as a mechanical engineer was as a heat exchanger designer for commercial aerospace. While it may appear straightforward, there are a lot of  considerations in good heat exchanger design, including:  Now, I could rant for days about optimal fin design, methods for joining plates and fins, and even flow-stream mechanical […]

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Fictiv’s Jose Manuel Del Angel Named One of Supply & Demand Chain Executive’s 2023 Pros to Know

This award recognizes outstanding executives whose accomplishments offer a roadmap for other leaders looking to leverage supply chains for competitive advantage. SAN FRANCISCO, CA —March 22, 2023 —Supply & Demand Chain Executive, the only publication covering the entire global supply chain, today announced Jose Manuel Del Angel, Fictiv’s Vice President of Development and Services Operations, […]