Materials & Finishes

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Blasting and anodizing order on aluminum parts
Materials & Finishes
Hello! need help - am working on a set of 6061-T6 aluminum control knobs for a small instrument panel, and the surface finish is important since they’ll be handled frequently and remain visible. The... read more
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Nov 27
Gasket material for short-term hydrotest on carbon steel piping
Materials & Finishes
Looking for advice on selecting a gasket material for temporary spool joints during a hydrotest on carbon steel piping in a refinery. The test medium will be demineralized water (low conductivity, no additives), and... read more
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Nov 26
Acrylic or pc for outdoor enclosures
Materials & Finishes
hi! For transparent cover for an outdoor sensor needs to stay clear, handle some impacts, and resist sunlight - would you go with acrylic or polycarbonate? Acrylic has better UV and scratch resistance, but... read more
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Nov 26
Best flexible 3D printing material for vibration-damping motor mounts
Materials & Finishes
Hi Everyone! We’re designing a vibration-damping mounting bracket (approx. 150×80×40 mm) for a small electric motor housing, and we’re considering 3D printing it in a flexible material. Given the operating environment includes oil exposure,... read more
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67
Nov 27
Best 3D printing material for child-safe educational toy prototype
Materials & Finishes
Hello! I need advice on a small prototype for an educational toy aimed at children aged 3–6. It consists of interlocking geometric shapes (around 8–10 parts per set), with no mechanical function. I’m planning... read more
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1.2k
Jul 16
Alodine coating enough for avionics enclosures?
Materials & Finishes
Hi there, my project is a CNC machined enclosure in 6061-T6 aluminum for an avionics module that’ll be mounted in a wing compartment exposed to temperature swings, some humidity, but not direct salt spray.... read more
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1.2k
Jul 15
Resistant material for small gear system
Materials & Finishes
Looking for the best material for a locking mechanism for an electric vehicle charging connector. Essentially a small gear system that engages to prevent unplugging during charging. The gear teeth are low-load but need... read more
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1.1k
Jul 04
Effect of zinc flake coating thickness on bolt performance
Materials & Finishes
In an automotive subframe project using M12 class 10.9 bolts, exposed to salt spray and vibration, I’m looking into zinc flake coatings for corrosion protection. Curious if doubling the coating thickness—from 8 µm to... read more
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1.3k
Jun 26
direct metal laser sintering
Materials & Finishes
I need to obtain hole/channel sizes of 0.65 mm. will this be obtainable with a 40-60 layer thickness in tool steel?
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895
Jun 13
SLA material for outdoor indicator lenses
Materials & Finishes
hi,  I'm recreating two small indicator lenses for a 1980s motorcycle restoration. These need to be clear, UV-stable, and able to handle exposure to sun and rain long-term. I’m planning to go with SLA... read more
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999
Jun 24

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