The Digital Thread

Often, injection moulding is considered the most cost-effective production option for SKUs with estimated annual usage in the low-thousands for volume. It comes down to economies of scale—you just set up once to run tens or hundreds of thousands of parts. The highest volumes often bring you the lowest per unit price tags. But, the production setting also typically carries something else with it if you’re thoughtful—cost control, and lots of it.

Adding to Protolabs’ available technologies for rapid prototyping and on-demand production, Carbon’s suite of software, hardware, and materials provides another production method for end-use parts.

This blog answers your questions about batch production. When is it suitable? What are the advantages? And more,

A lack of expertise and skilled personnel is holding the maritime industry back, according to a new survey by the IMarEST and Protolabs – but solving it could open up a wealth of opportunity.

Unique products are amazing until parts break and you can’t obtain replacements. Enter 3D printing.

Manufacturing is changing. In the past, manufacturing was all about mass production and economies of scale, but now shifting consumer demands are driving a transformation of the industry. In this blog, we break down some of the key trends piloting these changes.

Using the field of Information Science to learn more deeply explore additive manufacturing.

A look back at the last 40 years of 3D printing and how digital manufacturing has evolved.

For the manufacture of goods, efficiency is paramount. A process that reaps lean operations and inventory management is just-in-time (JIT) manufacturing. Learn more.

Torn between 3D printing, CNC machining and Injection Moulding as a manufacturing process for your product? Learn how to pick the right process at Protolabs

If we want our product to be useful, fit for purpose, and marketable, we need to consider many factors, starting with its design. Whether you've identified a product need or a market gap, you'll want to ensure your end product is appropriate.

Discover why engineers are selecting 5-axis indexed milling for their parts. This blog looks at the advantages of 5-axis indexed milling.