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5 practical tips for plastic part designers: Design for Manufacturability

Manufactur-ability is an integral part of the design process. By aligning structural design principles with the realities of molding and tooling, engineers can reduce rework, improve dimensional stability, and ensure consistent part quality. Engineers from Kemal Precision Manufacturing share their 5 Top Tips for Designing for Manufacturability. Very good info here.
Read the full article.

Holding firm: Standard parts with increased clamping force

JW Winco has upgraded its proven hand knob nuts, star knob screws, and adjustable hand levers with increased clamping force. Their clamping surface with ball bearing doubles the clamping force while protecting the surface from damage. With typical screws and nuts, roughly half the tightening torque is lost to under-head friction. Get high axial clamping force purely by hand and without tools with these new JW Winco standard parts.
See all your new clamping options.

Trick out your workstation: FATH components for T-slotted rails

Automation-Direct has added additional FATH components for T-slotted aluminum rail including sleek casters with lifting foot options for mobility and stability, an ergonomic dual monitor workstation, monitor mount extensions, and a wide array of tool hooks, holders, and accessories that streamline organization and workflow. From cup holders to storage trays and fastening hardware, every component is crafted for durability and seamless integration into industrial and lean workstation environments.
Learn more.

How a wave spring improves valve performance

Discover how a Smalley Crest-to-Crest^® Wave Spring enhances the performance of a sliding gate valve in this application spotlight snippet. The spring applies a constant load to keep the main shaft threads engaged, delivering precise and repeatable control of flow and pressure. Watch the video to see the internal motion and how this design can elevate your own applications!
View the video.

New materials and finishes from Quickparts

Quickparts has introduced DuraKor, ThermaKor, and vapor smoothing to expand its production-capable materials and finishing portfolio. The new plastics provide polypropylene-like toughness, chemical resistance, and high-temperature stability, while vapor smoothing improves sealing and surface quality. Together, these capabilities help engineers validate designs, refine performance, and transition efficiently from prototypes to scalable manufacturing.
Learn more.

High-performance fastening for aerospace interiors

The ONSERT fastening element from Böllhoff and DELO PHOTOBOND FB4151 adhesive enable lightweight, flame-retardant, drill-free fastening for aircraft interiors. The UV-curing acrylate cures in seconds, delivers high strength and flexibility, and supports automated, scalable production for cable routing and other lightweight cabin structures. This tech has already demonstrated its potential in the fastening of cable routing in business class seats from Recaro.
Learn more and read about the Recaro seat application.

Tech Tip: Why pins walk and how to ensure it doesn't happen

Lateral movement of installed solid, slotted, or coiled spring pins, commonly referred to as "walking," can occur within a dynamic application if proper design guidelines are not followed. Issues with different pin types may have different causes. Learn the many reasons why pins walk and the design best practices you should follow to avoid the condition.
Read this informative SPIROL Tech Tip.

Engineer's Toolbox: What they didn't teach you about fittings in engineering school

Do you know why an old standard "Christmas-tree" barbed fitting may not be your best choice for your miniature fluid power application? Experts at Beswick Engineering run through the common types of fittings used in these smaller pneumatic applications, along with thread sizes and seals to help you make the correct choice. They also touch on pressure and temp ranges, chemical compatibility issues, rigid and flexible lines, and the ease of assembly and maintenance.
Read the full article.

When metals can't survive: Machined ceramics as an alternative

Technical Ceramics are so hard and wear resistant that they cannot be machined with conventional tools -- but they can outlast and outperform other materials in demanding or harsh applications. INSACO's proprietary diamond grinding process and specialized techniques developed over many decades allow the company to produce and document parts to exacting specifications consistently. Learn all about the alternatives you have when metals just can't take it.
Read the INSACO article.

What's the latest in SLA 3D printing?

Learn about the latest offerings in SLA printing from 3D Systems, including the introduction of SLA 825 Dual, the company's most advanced large-frame Stereolithography printer. Other new products include ArrayCast investment casting software that allows users to effortlessly create customized casting trees (complete with configurable runners, sprues, and end effectors), Accura SbF (the latest SLA casting resin), and Accura Xtreme Black (which delivers low shrinkage, large, functional SLA prototype parts with sharp detail).
Learn about all the new 3D Systems products.

When to use Multi Jet Fusion to make your parts

According to the experts at TriMech Advanced Manufacturing, "Multi Jet Fusion is an industrial 3D-printing technology that fuses powdered materials layer by layer into solid plastic parts. It was developed by HP and was commercialized in 2016." Learn the strengths and limits of MJF and key technology benefits in this thorough overview, which also includes: part optimization, standard materials (Nylon PA12) and specs, applications, and post-processing options.
Read the full TriMech article. A solid primer.

Tech Tip: Mastering sheet metal bend calculations in Onshape

Mastering bend calculations in sheet metal design is a key skill that can impact the accuracy and manufactur-ability of your designs significantly. Explore the various options available to become a pro in this Onshape Tech Tip: K Factor, bend allowance, and bend deduction, with guidance on when each should be used. You will probably learn something even if you don't use this software.
Read the Onshape blog.

meviy cuts CNC milling lead times to just 4 days

meviy, the on-demand custom parts manufacturing service developed by MISUMI Group, has upgraded its Expedite+ service with improved lead times for CNC Milled parts. Customers can now have their parts shipped in as few as four days through meviy's fastest delivery option. The enhanced service helps manufacturers and engineers stay on schedule when projects are behind or production is interrupted. Supported materials include steels and aluminums. Check out their instant quoting too.
Learn more.

Turn-to-lock latches: New concepts from JW Winco

JW Winco has expanded its portfolio of latches, adding stainless steel versions and new functional concepts, such as the GN 115.8 series of hook-type latches that use a hook to engage with a mating catch by moving radially to the axis of rotation instead of a latch arm that moves behind a frame. When operated with a socket key, the latches can be used even in extremely wet environments. Also available are classic cam latches and rotary clamping latches.
Learn about latching options from JW Winco.

New Air Cradle for quick and efficient air gun storage

EXAIR now offers the new Air Cradle Safety Air Gun Mount, a simple but innovative accessory designed to keep safety air guns and similarly sized tools within easy reach at workstations and machine centers. With its strong magnetic loop design, the Air Cradle provides a convenient, highly accessible hang point for safety air guns, helping improve workflow, minimize tool misplacement, and promote a more organized, efficient work environment across manufacturing, assembly, shipping, and other general shop applications.
Learn more.

Warning: Cost of copper must double to meet basic copper needs

The price of copper must at least double in order to spur the development of new copper mines to meet the world's growing demand for the metal, according to a team led by a University of Michigan (U-M) researcher.

A research team led by U-M geologist Adam Simon examined barriers to producing the copper necessary to meet demands for the metal under different scenarios. They found that meeting basic copper demand is possible, but it will require higher prices and reforms to the permitting process to encourage mining.

In order to meet "business-as-usual" demands for copper -- the normal socioeconomic development of infrastructure, electricity, heating, cooling, and other modern technologies -- the world will need about 37 million tons of copper per year by 2050. That's compared to about 23 million tons mined in 2025. However, to switch to energy provided by 100% renewable resources, and all-electric vehicles, that need jumps to 91.7 million tons per year.

Either way, we will have difficulty meeting that demand if the price of copper does not rise, or if the ability to mine it does not become streamlined, according to Simon, U-M Professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences, and his co-authors. Their perspective paper is published in the journal Energy Research & Social Science.

"Copper is the fundamental linchpin for socioeconomic development, acting as the connective artery for infrastructure; digital intelligence; and electricity generation, transmission, and storage. Without substantially increasing copper supply, global development will not happen," said Simon.

The price for copper, which currently sells for about $13,000 per ton, needs to at least double in order to incentivize mining companies to pursue new mines, according to the researchers. To determine this number, the researchers used industry reports, databases, and confidential merchant bank data to calculate how much it costs to develop existing mine projects across the world.

They found that the development of a copper mine in Mongolia costs $18,916 per ton of copper produced annually. A copper mine in Panama costs $31,318 per ton of copper produced annually, while a copper mine in the United States costs $29,614 per ton of copper. Twenty-six copper mines are expected to begin operations by 2030; on average, they're expected to cost $22,359 per ton of copper produced annually.

"A near certainty is that copper price must rise substantially if mining rates are to meet as-usual expectations -- even from their highs currently," Simon said.

The researchers also examined alternative sources of copper and materials that could be used as alternatives to copper. They project that recycling could provide about 13.4 million tons of copper by 2050, or about a third of what is needed for business as usual. Mining low-grade rocks -- rocks with small amounts of copper -- and leaching copper from materials left over from mining could provide an additional 4 million tons of copper annually. Alternatives to copper such as stainless steel, aluminum, and plastics could alleviate some of the demand, but potentially with the tradeoff of higher emissions.

The researchers also argue that faster, more predictable permitting is necessary, without sacrificing environmental and community safeguards.

"Policies that would encourage mining include streamlining and simplifying the permitting processes, improving global market transparency, liquidity, governance, price discovery, and guaranteed off-take agreements to make capital-intensive, long-term mining projects economically viable," Simon said.

In addition to business-as-usual economic development, Simon and his co-authors noted that developing countries still need copper for basic construction such as electricity distribution and telecommunications; air conditioning and heating; plumbing; industrial equipment; and rail and public transportation systems and vehicles.

For example, they write, for every person in the United States, European Union, and other high-income countries, the built environment already contains about 441 lb (200 kg) of copper. For each person in India and countries across Africa, the built environment contains less than 1 lb (about 0.5 kg) of copper. Economic development to raise the standard of living in these regions will require an enormous amount of copper.

"The world is not running out of copper; it is running out of time to produce it. Getting it out of the ground fast enough to meet rapidly growing demand will require immense political prioritization and broad public support for mining," Simon said.

Source: University of Michigan

Published February 2026

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