FIXATION POINTS: Why Less Is Often More At first glance, adding multiple fixation or mounting points to a part might seem like a safe strategy to ensure structural stability. But in mechanical design, over-constraining a part can actually b... Feb 13, 2026
Machining Stock: The Small Detail That Prevents Big Failures In metal additive manufacturing, achieving net-shape doesn’t always mean achieving net-tolerance. Critical surfaces, such as sealing faces, bearing seats, or assembly features, often require post-proc... Feb 13, 2026
Build Orientation and Fatigue Life in Metal AM In powder bed fusion, anisotropy is an inherent characteristic, parts do not have uniform properties in all directions. This directional dependence means the orientation in which a part is built has a... Feb 13, 2026
Smart Orientation = Cleaner Prints + Fewer Supports Part orientation is often underestimated in additive manufacturing, yet it can dramatically influence build success, cost, and post-processing time. One of the primary considerations in AM setup is su... Feb 13, 2026
Thread Orientation in AM: Why Vertical Bosses Matter Threads are essential features in many metal and polymer components, but their performance depends heavily on how they’re printed and finished. In additive manufacturing, it’s common to post-machine t... Jan 14, 2026
Argon vs. Nitrogen – Choosing the Right Shielding Gas in Metal AM In powder bed fusion systems, the role of shielding gas is often underestimated. Yet, the choice between argon and nitrogen can profoundly impact the final properties of 3D-printed metal parts. These ... Jan 7, 2026
Scan Strategy Isn’t a Detail — It’s a Structural Foundation In metal additive manufacturing, residual stress is an invisible but powerful force that can distort parts, crack surfaces, or even cause complete build failures. One of the most effective ways to con... Jan 7, 2026
Denser Isn’t Always Faster – Understanding Recoater Limitations When designing build layouts for metal additive manufacturing, it’s tempting to assume that packing as many parts as possible will automatically lead to faster, more efficient production. However, thi... Jan 7, 2026
Unlocking Lightweight Performance with Lattice Infill Lightweighting is a central design goal in industries like aerospace, drones, and robotics, where reducing mass translates directly to better performance. In this case study, a drone arm previously ma... Jan 6, 2026
The High Stakes of Undersized Escape Holes in Ceramic AM When working with ceramic-filled powders or other high-viscosity materials in additive manufacturing, small details make a massive difference, especially escape hole sizing. As the Scojet graphic emph... Dec 18, 2025
Thin-Wall Designs Without Compromise Lightweight doesn’t have to mean fragile. One of the greatest misconceptions in engineering is that thin walls automatically imply weakness. In metal additive manufacturing, that assumption is outdate... Dec 18, 2025
Add Relief Cuts to Reduce Thermal Stress Concentration In the world of metal 3D printing, thermal stress is an unavoidable consequence of localized heating and rapid cooling. As each layer fuses, internal stresses begin to build, often culminating in visi... Dec 18, 2025