The Upload

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Overhang illustrations

Avoiding Scary Bad Designs: 12 Things Not to Do

Posted On October 26, 2022 By Protolabs
Examine these 12 common mistakes to help avoid disastrous issues with your parts
translucent orange abs part

Common Autoclave Compatible Materials

Posted On October 24, 2022 By Protolabs
Keep patients safe! Find out what materials can withstand an autoclave’s blistering heat and steam.
3D printed silicone parts

3D Printing with Silicone: A Worthy Complement to LSR Molding

Posted On October 20, 2022 By Protolabs
Ever wished you could print in silicone? Well, you can. Explore the advantages and disadvantages of silicone printed parts.
tolerance example unlidded

Working with Sheet Metal Tolerances

Posted On October 12, 2022 By Protolabs
Precision in sheet metal parts is possible, but it takes knowing some important design guidelines to get the parts you want. Fundamental to that is understanding tolerance.
3D Printed Parts

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

Posted On October 4, 2022 By Protolabs
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.
Bots ‘n’ Stuff Team

Bloodsport x Protolabs: Ready for BattleBots Action

Posted On September 28, 2022 By Protolabs
We’re pumped to be partnering with legendary bot Bloodsport, lending manufacturing assistance to get this bot ready for battle in the upcoming season of Battlebots!
Man writing on clear surface

Accelerating Hardware Prototyping for Startups and Small Companies

Posted On September 27, 2022 By Protolabs
Doing the right things in the prototyping phase is a bit more complex than it looks at first glance. Hardware requires special rules to get the results you need.
3D-printed Aluminum

Aluminum Alloys: Go-to Materials for Automotive, Aerospace, and More

Posted On September 27, 2022 By Protolabs
Aluminum is a common and popular metal that’s found everywhere and used in a stunningly wide range of parts and products: automotive parts, aerospace components, boat and marine gear, consumer electronics including smart phones, industrial machinery parts, HVAC systems, the list goes on.
Formula Berkley Team

Manufacturing Partnership Helps Fuel College Formula Team Electric Vehicles

Posted On September 22, 2022 By Protolabs
Supporting universities that are making breakthroughs in product innovation is a cause near and dear to us, and we love seeing what the next generation of product designers and engineers are up to!
Sample of swirling effect from a nylon material with yellow colorant.

Avoiding Flow Lines in Molded Parts

Posted On September 22, 2022 By Protolabs
For most molded parts, visible flow lines are undesirable. The good news is there are ways to avoid them, both in design and the way that the parts are manufactured.