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The Digital Thread

Your blog feed for manufacturing resources, in-depth features, and industry news.

Latest Posts

Sustainable mobility
Industry Spotlight
26/03/2024

The Route to Success: Critical Factors for Achieving Sustainable Mobility

Sustainable Mobility can be defined in many ways. Is it a concept for transforming how we transport from an ecological standpoint or Is it taking into account the accessibility of travel? In this blog, we explore key areas that play a crucial role in defining sustainable mobility.
By Protolabs
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5 axis indexed milling
CNC Machining
21/03/2024

Why Engineers Choose 5-Axis Indexed Milling for Product Innovation

Discover why engineers are selecting 5-axis indexed milling for their parts. This blog looks at the advantages of 5-axis indexed milling.
By Alex Edwards
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CNC machine
CNC Machining
21/03/2024

An A-Z Guide to CNC Machining Technology

CNC machining, where precision meets innovation. In this blog we'll explore the macroscopic number of technical terms that shape the landscape of CNC machining, and dismantle them - to gain a true understanding of their meaning.
By Protolabs
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shop floor machines
Supply Chain
14/03/2024

What is Lean Manufacturing? And What are the 5 Principles?

Lean Manufacturing (or Lean Production) has been around for years (since 1450 to be precise), but what is lean manufacturing and why is it important? Learn more
By Protolabs
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Custom manufacturing in  progress

Unleashing Creativity: The Power of Custom Manufacturing Services

Advances in the technology used in custom manufacturing has opened up a world of possibility for product designers and developers. Find out more at Protolabs
By Protolabs
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Aluminium material for mould tooling
Industry Insight
28/02/2024

How Have Aluminium Mould Tools Reshaped the Manufacturing Industry?

Traditional mould materials for injection moulding have evolved over the years. This blog looks at Aluminium mould tools and how they are reshaping the manufacturing industry.
By Protolabs
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CAD drawing of Parker Hannifin
Tech Tips
22/02/2024

How Does an Engineering Drawing Differ from CAD?

Regardless of which drawing method you use, it's almost impossible to perfect it first time around. This is where DFM and DFAM come in...
By Protolabs
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Luer Lock Design

Navigating From Additive Manufacturing to Injection Moulding

Designers can benefit from integrating 3D printing and injection moulding for an end-to-end product life cycle from prototyping to production.
By Gus Breiland/Eric Utley
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3D printing machines
3D Printing
15/02/2024

An A to Z Guide of 3D Printing Terminology

Whether you're new to 3D print or a seasoned engineer with years of experience under your belt, visit Protolabs to delve into our dictionary of 3D print.
By Protolabs
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Supply chain resilience with JIT Manufacturing
Supply Chain
12/02/2024

How a Modified Just-in-Time Manufacturing Approach Evolved for Supply Chains

Just-in-time manufacturing was created to cure supply chain woes, but something happened…
By Protolabs
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3D Printed Parts
Tech Tips
08/02/2024

3D Printing Part Orientation: How it Affects Strength, Accuracy, and Surface Finish

Part orientation is an important but often overlooked design requirement of 3D printing, especially for stereolithography (SLA). Let’s examine the factors that should be considered.
By Protolabs
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Woman running on a blue track

Paralympic Gold Medalist Creates Custom Prosthetics for Athletes

BioDapt’s prosthetics allow adaptive athletes to continue doing what they love
By Protolabs
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