Stamping sheet metal is an efficient form of manufacturing, capable of cranking hundreds or thousands of items an hour. The annoying thing is that making new stamping dies is a long, costly process.

In modern product development, speed and accuracy are critical. Before mass production begins, engineers must verify that their designs work mechanically, structurally, and functionally. This is where ...

Precision Optical Manufacturing Co. Inc. (POM), Plymouth, Mich., has introduced a new technique that provides manufacturers with the capability to produce fully dense metal prototypes. The Direct ...

Designers having prototypes made for their clients to view and hold has become a normal part of the designing process. Physical models are much easier to explain and understand than a drawing.

Ford Motor Co. is raising the stakes in rapid prototyping, making testable prototype metal parts ranging from brake rotors to transmission cases with three-dimensional (3D) printers. Using ...

Now printers can make metal objects quickly and cheaply. While 3-D printing has been around for decades, it has remained largely in the domain of hobbyists and designers producing one-off prototypes.

The high energy capacity of lithium-ion batteries has led to them powering everything from tiny mobile devices to huge trucks. But current lithium-ion battery technology is nearing its limits and the ...

As a US Marine Corps combat engineer serving in Iraq, Jim Monroe used MacGyver-like hacks to repair mine rollers. Meant to detonate and clear mines, these heavy studded wheels are mounted on the ...

What are the common methods of making metal prototypes? What is metal injection molding (MIM)? What are the benefits of MIM? What is DMLS? What are the benefits of DMLS? What is CNC machining?

One broken screw can derail an entire manufacturing process. Run out of spares and you face a crisis if your supplier overseas needs six weeks to deliver new screws. However, if you have a metal 3D ...

Why should engineers consider machined-metal prototype parts? How does it compare to other prototyping processes? What are some of the difference in machining hard versus soft metal prototypes?