Underestimating distortion in thin lattice structures Lattice structures are a game-changer in additive manufacturing. By replacing solid volumes with interconnected struts, they reduce part weight while maintaining strength. However, as we push the limi... Nov 25, 2025
Did you know you can simulate cooling performance before mold production? When manufacturing high-performance injection molds, cooling performance is often a hidden variable that directly impacts cycle time, part quality, and tooling life. Fortunately, engineers don’t have ... Nov 25, 2025
Replacing solid cores with lattices for 40% weight savings Traditional part designs rely on solid internal volumes to maintain structural integrity. But in modern applications, especially in aerospace, automotive, and medical industries, weight reduction is c... Nov 25, 2025
Powder Recovery in Metal AM: Reuse is Not What You Think When people hear about “recycling powder” in metal 3D printing, they often assume unused material just goes back into the hopper. The truth is far more nuanced, and critical for part performance. Recy... Nov 25, 2025
More Lasers ≠ Better Prints: Why Calibration is King In the world of metal additive manufacturing, the industry often equates “more” with “better.” More lasers must mean faster prints and higher quality, right? Not exactly. While multi-laser systems can... Nov 25, 2025
Do You Always Need to Heat-Treat 3D Printed Parts? In the world of metal additive manufacturing, heat treatment is often seen as a non-negotiable step, but is it always necessary? Not quite. While some alloys require extensive post-processing to achie... Nov 18, 2025
What Is Volumetric Energy Density and Why It Matters Volumetric Energy Density (VED) is one of the most critical parameters in metal 3D printing, yet it’s often misunderstood. VED defines how much laser energy is applied per unit volume of material and ... Nov 18, 2025
Use Tapered Walls to Improve Powder Removal Depowdering is a critical post-processing step in metal additive manufacturing, especially for parts with internal cavities. However, trapped powder in vertical walls or blind holes can complicate the... Nov 18, 2025
Preheat to Print Better: Improve Flow, Minimize Defects Preheating metal powders before printing is a simple yet powerful technique to improve print quality. By warming the powder bed or the material itself before the printing process begins, manufacturers... Nov 11, 2025
Mind the Recoater: Clearance for Tall Parts In metal additive manufacturing, one overlooked design mistake can lead to costly print failures: forgetting to account for recoater clearance. The recoater blade spreads each new layer of powder, and... Nov 11, 2025
From Machined to Printed Manifold: Reducing Assembly Steps Redesigning a traditionally machined manifold into a single 3D-printed part unlocks a range of benefits for manufacturers. Instead of fabricating multiple components and welding or bolting them togeth... Nov 11, 2025
Are DMLS and SLM Really the Same? Understanding the Differences While DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) and SLM (Selective Laser Melting) are often used interchangeably in conversation, they are not identical in practice. These two metal 3D printing technologies... Nov 4, 2025