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The Digital Thread

Your blog feed for manufacturing resources, in-depth features, and industry news.
Protolabs CNC Machining Facility
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January 11, 2019

How Do You Move 295 CNC Machines? Glad You Asked.

As demand for machined parts continues to grow at Protolabs, we needed to expand our operations. Here's a look at how we scouted out a new location and executed a move of 295 CNC machines over five weeks.
By Protolabs
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Latest Posts

3D printing overhangs
The Short List
May 17, 2025

How to Design 4 Common Metal 3D Printing Features

Product designers and engineers commonly rely on metal 3D printing to manufacture complex geometries, reduce the number of components in an assembly, or even lightweight objects.
By Matt Ahart
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Computing power at Protolabs
Eye on Innovation
October 4, 2018

New Products Highlight Advances in Robotics, Drone Technology

Innovative new robotics and drone products include a wearable exoskeleton, a robot museum guide, and a self-riding motorcycle.
By Protolabs
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insert molding part
Tech Tips
October 2, 2018

Design Complex Components with Insert Molding

Learn how insert molding can add functionality, strength, and complexity to plastic parts.
By Tony Holtz
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EDM machines at Protolabs
Tech Tips
May 17, 2018

Electrical Discharge Machining: How EDM Improves Your Mold

Learn how electrical discharge machining is used to fabricate injection molding tools with sharp features that cannot be machined with CNC milling.
By Protolabs
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3D-Printed Molds vs. Aluminum Tooling
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May 1, 2018

3D-Printed Molds vs. Aluminum Tooling

Compare the pros and cons of molds that are 3D printed in plastic versus tooling that is milled from aluminum.
By Protolabs
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image
Journal
April 26, 2018

The Curious World of 3D Printing

We deconstruct the layers of 3D printing to find the substance beneath the style.
By Will Martin
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screw boss diagram
Tech Tips
April 26, 2018

Rapid Prototyping: There’s More Than One Way to Skin a CAD

设计塑料螺丝的几个注意事项bosses on molded parts that are mechanically strong and free of cosmetic defects.
By Protolabs
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screw boss diagram
Tech Tips
April 26, 2018

Ask An Engineer: Sheet Metal Basics, Complex Molding Design

This installment of our Ask an Engineer series covers the fundamentals of sheet metal fabrication and complex injection molding techniques.
By Protolabs
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injection molding living hinge diagram
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April 25, 2018

How Digital Manufacturing Accelerates Time to Market and Improves Efficiencies

Digital manufacturing can help companies accelerate their products’ time to market and improve supply chain efficiencies.
By Rob Bodor
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image
Journal
January 3, 2018

The Sporting Life

Developing an innovative product to compete in the sports market means first understanding the athlete it’s built for.
By Will Martin
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Injection Molding: Aluminum vs. Steel Tooling
Tech Tips
December 21, 2017

Injection Molding: Aluminum vs. Steel Tooling

A comparison between aluminum and steel tooling for injection-molded parts.
By Tony Holtz
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molding an aluminum mold for production
Eye on Innovation
October 10, 2017

John Deere Harvests Technology in San Francisco

Farm machinery manufacturer John Deere pursues ‘precision agriculture’ through greater use of automation and robotics.
By Angelo Gentile
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