Articles

Explore a collection of articles written by Xometry’s engineers and professionals, providing valuable insights and expertise.

  • CNC Machining (25) cross-icon
  • 3D Printing (57) cross-icon
  • Sheet Metal Fabrication (10) cross-icon
  • Injection Molding (14) cross-icon
  • Die Casting (4) cross-icon
  • Vacuum Casting (6) cross-icon
  • Compression Molding (4) cross-icon
  • Plastic Extrusion (1) cross-icon
  • Thermoforming (1) cross-icon
  • Materials (25) cross-icon
  • Design (19) cross-icon
  • Post-Processing (11) cross-icon
  • Manufacturing Insights (5) cross-icon
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  • CNC Machining (25) cross-icon
  • 3D Printing (57) cross-icon
  • Sheet Metal Fabrication (10) cross-icon
  • Injection Molding (14) cross-icon
  • Die Casting (4) cross-icon
  • Vacuum Casting (6) cross-icon
  • Compression Molding (4) cross-icon
  • Plastic Extrusion (1) cross-icon
  • Thermoforming (1) cross-icon
  • Materials (25) cross-icon
  • Design (19) cross-icon
  • Post-Processing (11) cross-icon
  • Manufacturing Insights (5) cross-icon
  • Clear all tags

CNC Machining

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10 min

Threaded Inserts for Plastics: Types, Comparison and Selection Tips

This article reviews threaded inserts for plastics, covering press-fit, heat-set, helical, and molded-in inserts. It highlights their applications, benefits, and suitable materials & production technologies as well as explains how to order parts with threaded inserts.

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CNC-threaded cylinders with high-precision

CNC Machining Size Limitations: Everything You Need to Know

CNC Machining and Injection Molding to Produce Mechanical Parts for the Electronics Industry

Flame test with a lighter on an FDM ULTEM 9085 part

Flame Retardant Plastics & UL 94 Flammability Standards In Parts Manufacturing

Students using a 3D printer and a laptop, they are printing plastic prototypes

Unlocking Efficiency: The Power of Rapid Prototyping in Modern Manufacturing

Basic CNC Machining Articles

Latest CNC Machining Articles

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5 min

Cutting Fluids for CNC Machining Processes

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2 min

Choosing Right File Formats for Manufacturing

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13 min

CNC Machining Material Selection

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5 min
CNC machining vs. 3D printing

Polymer CNC Machining vs. 3D Printing: Checklist To Choose the Right One

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7 min
Sheet metal laser cut parts

Steel Hardening Explained

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5 min

Surface Finishes for CNC Machining

All CNC Machining Articles

3D Printing

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10 min

Threaded Inserts for Plastics: Types, Comparison and Selection Tips

This article reviews threaded inserts for plastics, covering press-fit, heat-set, helical, and molded-in inserts. It highlights their applications, benefits, and suitable materials & production technologies as well as explains how to order parts with threaded inserts.

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3D Printing File Formats Compared: STL, AMF, 3MF and OBJ

MJF vs. SLS: Comparing Two Major 3D Printing Technologies

3d printed guitar picks experiment with Niko at Xometry

Will It Break? A Live Experiment With 3D Printed Guitar Picks

Surface Roughness In 3D Printing

Basic 3D Printing Articles

Latest 3D Printing Articles

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5 min
Flame test with a lighter on an FDM ULTEM 9085 part

Flame Retardant Plastics & UL 94 Flammability Standards In Parts Manufacturing

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5 min

PA11 vs. PA12: What Are the Differences?

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6 min
Students using a 3D printer and a laptop, they are printing plastic prototypes

Unlocking Efficiency: The Power of Rapid Prototyping in Modern Manufacturing

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5 min

HP MJF 3D Printing Design Guidelines

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2 min

Choosing Right File Formats for Manufacturing

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Infographic: Design Rules for 3D Printing

All 3D Printing Articles

Sheet Metal Fabrication

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5 min

Sheet Metal Finishes: Plating And Polishing Options

This article is aimed at providing an overview of the options for sheet metal finishes available at Xometry.

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Choosing Right File Formats for Manufacturing

Metal sheets with galvanised painted finish

Sheet Metal Materials Selection Guide

Sheet metal bending machine closeup

Minimum Bend Radius Reference Table For Sheet Metal

Introduction to Laser Cutting

Basic Sheet Metal Articles

Latest Sheet Metal Articles

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6 min

Design Tips for Sheet Metal Bending

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4 min

Introduction to Sheet Metal Fabrication

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An Overview of Waterjet Cutting

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2 min

An Overview of Plasma Cutting

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Nesting Files for Sheet Metal Cutting: Tips & Best Practices

All Sheet Metal Articles

Injection Molding

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10 min

Threaded Inserts for Plastics: Types, Comparison and Selection Tips

This article reviews threaded inserts for plastics, covering press-fit, heat-set, helical, and molded-in inserts. It highlights their applications, benefits, and suitable materials & production technologies as well as explains how to order parts with threaded inserts.

Featured content

Top view of a complex injection mold used in plastic manufacturing

Injection Molding Molds: Types, Lifespan and Design Tips

Infographic: Formative Manufacturing Technologies Selection Guide

CNC Machining and Injection Molding to Produce Mechanical Parts for the Electronics Industry

Injection Molding Surface Finishes: SPI and VDI

Basic Injection Molding Articles

Latest Injection Molding Articles

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5 min
Flame test with a lighter on an FDM ULTEM 9085 part

Flame Retardant Plastics & UL 94 Flammability Standards In Parts Manufacturing

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9 min
Mix Plastic pellets

Injection Molding Materials Selection Guide

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6 min

Design Tips for Injection Molding

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4 min
3D printing vs. injection moulding

Injection Molding vs 3D Printing: Which One To Choose?

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6 min

Tolerances in Injection Molding

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Injection Molding Technology Overview

All Injection Molding Articles

Die Casting

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Infographic: Formative Manufacturing Technologies Selection Guide

Explore our detailed guide on 7 formative manufacturing technologies, highlighting their key aspects. This infographic offers a concise comparison to help you select the best process for your manufacturing needs.

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ADC12 aluminium die cast parts

Die Casting Material Selection Guide

Design Tips for Die Casting

Die Casting General Overview: Process, Materials & Applications

Basic Die Casting Articles

Vacuum Casting

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6 min

Vacuum Casting vs. Injection Molding – What’s the Difference?

This article will describe the similarities and differences between vacuum casting and injection moulding to help you determine which process is best for your project.

Featured content

Infographic: Formative Manufacturing Technologies Selection Guide

Vacuum cast parts

Design Tips for Vacuum Casting

Students using a 3D printer and a laptop, they are printing plastic prototypes

Unlocking Efficiency: The Power of Rapid Prototyping in Modern Manufacturing

Vacuum cast parts

Vacuum Casting Material Selection

Basic Vacuum Casting Articles

Latest Vacuum Casting Articles

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6 min

Vacuum Casting: Technology Overview

All Vacuum Casting Articles

Compression Molding

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< 1 min

Infographic: Formative Manufacturing Technologies Selection Guide

Explore our detailed guide on 7 formative manufacturing technologies, highlighting their key aspects. This infographic offers a concise comparison to help you select the best process for your manufacturing needs.

Featured content

Compression Molding Design Tips

Injection Molding vs. Compression Molding: Differences and Comparison

Compression Molding: Technology Overview

Basic Compression Molding Articles

Plastic Extrusion

White plastic windowsill
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9 min

Plastic Extrusion Technology Overview

This article will unravel the intricate aspects of the plastic extrusion process, from its foundational principles to its widespread applications.

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Basic Plastic Extrusion Articles

Thermoforming

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9 min

Thermoforming Technology Overview

This article will give you some insights into plastic thermoforming, from delving deep into the technical aspects of the process and understanding its pros and cons to its applications across industries.

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Materials

Flame test with a lighter on an FDM ULTEM 9085 part
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5 min

Flame Retardant Plastics & UL 94 Flammability Standards In Parts Manufacturing

This article delves into flame-retardant plastics typically used to produce parts through 3D printing, CNC machining, and formative manufacturing technologies. It also covers the complexities of flame retardancy and industry standards, such as the UL 94 rating.

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Hand bending a flexible 3D-printed plastic part to demonstrate material flexibility

Shore Hardness for Plastics and Rubbers: Shore A and Shore D

Hardness tester machine with monitor display

Hardness Testing of Metals: Rockwell, Brinell, Vickers, Knoop, and Leeb Tests

PA11 vs. PA12: What Are the Differences?

3D Printing Materials Selection Guide

Basic Materials Articles

Latest Materials Articles

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13 min

CNC Machining Material Selection

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4 min
ADC12 aluminium die cast parts

Die Casting Material Selection Guide

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9 min
Mix Plastic pellets

Injection Molding Materials Selection Guide

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7 min
Metal sheets with galvanised painted finish

Sheet Metal Materials Selection Guide

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7 min
Sheet metal laser cut parts

Steel Hardening Explained

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7 min
Vacuum cast parts

Vacuum Casting Material Selection

All Materials Articles

Design

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10 min

Threaded Inserts for Plastics: Types, Comparison and Selection Tips

This article reviews threaded inserts for plastics, covering press-fit, heat-set, helical, and molded-in inserts. It highlights their applications, benefits, and suitable materials & production technologies as well as explains how to order parts with threaded inserts.

Featured content

A person using a digital caliper to measure the thickness of a black 3D-printed part, with the caliper

Impact of Post-Processing on Dimensional Accuracy of Parts

3D Printing File Formats Compared: STL, AMF, 3MF and OBJ

Compression Molding Design Tips

Vacuum cast parts

Design Tips for Vacuum Casting

Basic Design Articles

Latest Design Articles

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5 min

HP MJF 3D Printing Design Guidelines

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Infographic: Design Rules for 3D Printing

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3 min
FDM PLA parts

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D Printing Design Tips

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4 min
SLS Nylon PA12 as-printed sample part

Design Tips for Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D Printing

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3 min

Design Tips for Direct Metal Laser Sintering 3D Printing

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2 min

Design Tips for Carbon DLS™ 3D Printing

All Design Articles

Post-Processing

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5 min

Sheet Metal Finishes: Plating And Polishing Options

This article is aimed at providing an overview of the options for sheet metal finishes available at Xometry.

Featured content

A person using a digital caliper to measure the thickness of a black 3D-printed part, with the caliper

Impact of Post-Processing on Dimensional Accuracy of Parts

Injection Molding Surface Finishes: SPI and VDI

Post-processing for MJF and SLS

Post-processing for MJF and SLS 3D Printed Parts

Surface Finishes for 3D Printing

Latest Post-Processing Articles

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5 min

Surface Finishes for CNC Machining

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4 min
Sheet metal aluminium black anodised part

Everything You Need to Know About Black Anodizing

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4 min
Colored 3D printed parts

Color 3D Printing Options Overview

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5 min

Powder Coating vs. Anodizing for Aluminium

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5 min

Anodizing Aluminum: An Effective Finishing for Corrosion Resistance

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5 min

Vapor Smoothing: An Effective Surface Finish Process in 3D Printing

All Post-Processing Articles

Manufacturing Insights

Engineer technician designing drawings mechanical parts
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7 min

How Design for Manufacturing (DFM) Improves Prototyping

This blog will unpack the essentials of DFM, offering insights into its application in modern prototyping. You will learn how to integrate it effectively, grasp its benefits, and ensure your prototyping journey is innovative and feasible.

Featured content

Students using a 3D printer and a laptop, they are printing plastic prototypes

Unlocking Efficiency: The Power of Rapid Prototyping in Modern Manufacturing

CNC Machining process

On-Demand Manufacturing: What it is and How it Works

Cloud Manufacturing: Past, Present, and Future – an Academic Review

Illustration of digital manufacturing for the automotive industry

Analysis of the Largest Early Adopter in the Cloud Manufacturing Market: Xometry