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 ...

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.

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 ...

Electron Beam Melting (EBM) is a new alternative for both rapid manufacturing and prototyping metal components, with direct benefits to the aerospace industry. This technology is fast gaining ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Researchers have designed a new type of battery prototype that might just stop battery explosions, enable the storage of much more energy per battery, and dramatically open up the electric car market.

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?