Technical Toolbox

Explore the intricacies of ultrasonic welding, its varied methods, compatible materials, advantages and disadvantages, and its significant applications across industries in this informative guide.

Electrical discharge machining (EDM) is a non-traditional form of precision machining that uses thermal energy instead of mechanical force to remove material from a workpiece.

An introduction to CNC Machining CNC Machining is seen by many as a vital element to the core processes of manufacturing. Working alongside Computer-Aided Design, CNC Machining is the process of mass-producing parts and materials of specific designs and dimensions through the use of computer numerical control. That is to say, a computer directs the machine responsible for creating the final product.

Find out more about CNC Turning with our introductory guide. Learn more about the CNC turning process and when to use CNC turning to produce your parts.

CNC milling is a specific type of CNC machining; if you would like to find out more about CNC machining process, check out our in-depth guide. Computerised controls produce a custom-designed part or product of high quality and precise finish. It is favoured in many industries due to its accuracy, consistency, and ability to increase production and uniformity. The CNC milling process begins with a CAD drawing (computer-aided design), and it is used to control the outputs of the CNC milling machine.

Injection moulding is a manufacturing process used to produce a wide variety of everyday goods. Most mass-produced products will contain plastic injection moulded components, for example, the casing on games consoles and the majority of parts on vacuum cleaners. Top Tip: Click here to read our detailed guide on injection moulding to find out what plastics can be used for injection moulding.

This resource will touch upon all the key areas you will need to correctly define your threaded holes on your parts. It will teach you the standardised format for defining threaded holes and some best practices along the way.

Find out what 5 Axis CNC Machining is, and the benefits using 5 Axis CNC Machining for your project.

In this article we take a look at the different types of CNC Machines and their uses.

Understanding surface finish symbols is vital in ensuring the success of any component outlined within an engineering drawing.

In plastic injection moulding, there are two key classes of plastics that are readily utilised to create many popular everyday products we know and use today: Thermoplastics and Thermosets. Understanding these two classes and what they can offer will help determine which material is best to use for your project. This guide will discuss the properties, benefits, and performance of both thermosets and thermoplastics to help you with sourcing decisions and product designs.

CNC machines come in a range of forms with various applications and specialities. One of these models is five-axis machining.

In this guide, Get It Made shares everything you need to know about surface roughness in manufacturing.

CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control. In essence, this refers to a computer supplying a series of numerical coordinates and information to a machine to control the machine's function

Not sure how to find the best CAD software? We explore the various different CAD packages available in our latest article.

Learn how to design your parts for Injection Moulding with our comprehensive how-to guide.

Learn about the five main types of Stainless Steel and how to choose the correct grade for your CNC machining project.

Precision machining is given to a subset of CNC machining where high precision is critical. The accuracy of the final part needs to be perfect down to +/-0.05mm and beyond. Precision machined components can be found in everyday products and specific, high-end products, where precision is critical, such as aerospace parts or medical equipment.

Mechanical material testing defines a material's characteristics independent of the part's geometry. It is an essential step in the design process to know a material's mechanical properties to ensure it is suitable for its designated purpose. This resource will cover the types of mechanical material testing available and the methods used to calculate a material's mechanical characteristics.

This guide will discuss what insert moulding is, how it works, what plastic is involved in the process, and its many benefits.

Designing parts with square corners is a common CNC machining pitfall. Check out some great design solutions below.

Detailed specifications for metric threads, both coarse and fine pitch. We have dedicated page for each thread linked in the coarse table below.

Unlike other machining processes, a plastic injection moulding surface finish is achieved during the injection moulding process, rather than an additional step of finishing once a mould has been manufactured.

This resource will teach you everything you need to know about Dimensioning & Tolerancing for your parts.

CNC machining per hour can vary from £10 to £21 in China and around £30 the UK. But the main factors determining how much a CNC machining project will cost are the design, material and quantity.

In general, injection moulding tooling can cost from £2k to £100k. Costs for moulded parts can range from a few pence to a hundreds of pounds each.

Whether you are an established designer or an entrepreneur looking to turn a new idea into reality, getting parts and products manufactured can be a daunting prospect

Learn more about Injection Moulding in our guide to the process. Discover the anatomy of an Injection Moulding machine and the different types of moulding available.

Learn more about Gas Assisted Injection Moulding and the differences between internal and external gas assisted injection moulding.

Draft angles are a key design feature that should be one of your top priorities when designing a high-quality injection moulded part. Without sufficient draft (taper), parts cannot be cleanly released from the mould and risk being damaged or broken. In the worst-case scenario, parts can damage the mould by getting stuck, and when moulds cost tens of thousands, this can be very costly. Below we will discuss why a draft angle is critical and how to apply it to create an efficient, high-quality production process that prevents unnecessary setbacks.

Aluminium extrusion tools can cost from £500, often £2000, and as high as £5000. Part costs largely depend on part weight and any additional secondary processes like machining and anodising.

The cost for aluminium die casting has a large initial investment for tooling, often from as low as £4k. Part costs depend on part size and volume.

Learn more about common injection moulding defects and how to redesign your parts to avoid them.

Mechanical, manufacturing and design engineers often rely on CNC Machining to develop and manufacture bespoke parts. This guide is for engineers designing parts for CNC.

An overview on the factors that contribute to the cost of CNC machined parts, and how to reduce them.

As we evolve, we learn ways to make things easier – to take up less of our time and effort.

Get It Made produce many CNC parts for robotic applications. This month's industry insight focuses on how CNC Machining can be used within the Robotics Industry.

Learn more about how CNC Machining can be used in the green energy industry.

This article will cover the basics of the CNC milling process. If you would like a learn how to design parts for CNC milling check out our guide here.

In general, CNC Machining is trusted to mass-produce various products and parts for a wide variety of industries. Thanks to the advent of CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design & Manufacture), the cost of human error is vastly reduced. CNC machines follow instructions, known as G-Code, generated by CNC programs. This allows parts to be manufactured precisely to the 3D CAD file design.

CNC machined parts can often vary in complexity. From simple planar parts to demanding, highly complex curved geometries, it’s vital to choose the correct CNC machine for the job. Different types of CNC machines exist and can be used for different parts.

The following resource will detail the reasoning behind conducting material chemical analysis, the methods through which this analysis can be conducted, and its many benefits.

Learn more about how CNC Machining can be utilised in the medical industry

How do you choose the right material for your injection moulding project? Learn more in our latest blog post!

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the most common CAD formats and which you should choose for CNC Machining.

Learn everything there is to know about CNC machining in our CNC Machining Guide.

For a fully comprehensive guide on CNC machining, check out of CNC Machining Guide.

Additive and subtractive manufacturing both function via CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software. Both forms of manufacturing can be highly accurate and used for intricate designs for various industries and uses. Both have their niches and benefits for specific aims, which we will delve into below.