Steel is not a single material but a family of alloys built around iron and carbon. The performance of steel changes dramatically with adjustments to carbon percentage and the addition of other alloying elements. For engineers, two categories appear most frequently in design and production: carbon steel and alloy steel.
Questions like “what is carbon …
Aluminum has become one of the most widely applied materials in modern manufacturing. Lightweight structure, corrosion resistance, and excellent machinability make aluminum suitable for industries ranging from aerospace to medical technology. A natural oxide film forms on untreated aluminum, but this film lacks uniform thickness and limited durability. Anodizing provides a controlled method to create …
In modern manufacturing, the performance of a part depends on more than just dimensional accuracy. Even when tolerances are met, the way a surface interacts with its environment—through friction, wear, sealing, or coating adhesion—can determine whether the part succeeds or fails in service. This is why surface finish has become a critical specification across industries …
Powder coating has become one of the most trusted finishing methods in modern manufacturing, widely applied across markets ranging from consumer goods to heavy-duty industrial equipment. The process offers a durable, solvent-free alternative to liquid paint, allowing manufacturers to protect parts while enhancing appearance. Powder coating is now common on everything from automotive wheels and …
CNC prototyping is one of the most effective methods to create high-quality prototypes during product development. Unlike conceptual models made by 3D printing, CNC prototypes are fully functional parts manufactured from real engineering materials. Many companies rely on rapid CNC prototyping to shorten design cycles, evaluate mechanical properties, and prepare for pilot production runs before …
In precision manufacturing, the final quality of a machined bore often determines whether a part will perform reliably in service. Conventional machining methods—drilling, boring, or reaming—can bring a hole close to its intended size, but they rarely achieve the exact tolerances, geometry, and surface texture required in demanding applications. This is where the honing process…
Among engineering plastics, Delrin (Polyoxymethylene, POM) and Nylon (Polyamide, PA) are often compared in CNC machining projects. Both plastics combine durability with machinability and are widely used for gears, bushings, housings, and small-batch prototypes. Engineers evaluating Delrin vs Nylon CNC machining typically want to know which plastic performs better in terms of tolerances, wear resistance, …
Steel remains one of the most widely used engineering materials, but its susceptibility to corrosion in humid or chemically aggressive environments has always been a limitation. Galvanizing—coating steel with a thin but durable layer of zinc—emerged as one of the most cost-effective solutions to extend the service life of steel. Galvanized steel today is used …
The history of rivets extends back centuries. Blacksmiths once used iron rivets to secure armor plates and ship hulls, while during the Industrial Revolution, rivets became indispensable in locomotives, boilers, and large bridges. Iconic structures such as the Golden Gate Bridge used millions of rivets during construction. Even today, rivets remain essential in aerospace—modern aircraft …
In modern manufacturing, metals often undergo extensive machining, forming, and welding before they can be used in final products. Each of these processes introduces internal stresses, changes in grain structure, or increased brittleness. Annealing is the most common and effective heat treatment to restore ductility, refine microstructure, and reduce hardness. From aerospace turbine alloys to …
