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
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
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
Consolidating Brackets into One Printed Part One of the most transformative advantages of metal 3D printing is the ability to consolidate multiple components into a single structure. Traditional brackets often require multiple fasteners, welds, ... Dec 18, 2025
Designing for Powder Flow in Complex Channels In metal additive manufacturing, internal channels are often used for cooling, weight reduction, or fluid transport. However, many engineers overlook how critical powder flow is during the printing an... Dec 18, 2025
Thermal Mass Matters, Why Gradual Transitions Prevent Distortion One of the most common causes of distortion and cracking in metal additive manufacturing is sudden changes in wall thickness. When thin sections abruptly transition into thick areas, heat is absorbed ... Dec 11, 2025