Fabrication

Have you heard of plastic extrusion? Like other extrusion processes, it involves forcing liquefied material through a die. As the material goes through the die, it takes the die’s shape. Plastic extrusion uses this same principle to create three-dimensional objects … Read More

Grinding is machining process that’s used to remove material from a workpiece via a grinding wheel. As the grinding wheel turns, it cuts material off the workpiece while creating a smooth surface texture in the process. While grinding sounds simple … Read More

Calendaring is a finishing process used in the manufacturing industry to create high-performance rubber, as well as other materials, for use in products such as gaskets, seals and O-rings. Rather than using standard rubber to produce products such as these, … Read More

From bottle caps and kids’ toys to patio chairs and small gears, plastic injection molding is used to make a variety of consumer products. It’s a highly effective, and efficient, way to produce large volumes of plastic products. After creating … Read More

Whether it’s steel, iron, aluminum or copper, metal is often exposed to heat to alter its physical properties. Known as heat treatment, it’s been around for thousands of years, with some of the earliest examples dating back to the eighth … Read More

Compression molding is a molding process that’s characterized by the use of a heated mold that’s exposed to pressure. Like other molding processes, it involves placing a material, typically plastic or a similar polymer, in a mold cavity. After the … Read More

A lathe is a turning machine used to perform a variety of machining operations, including cutting, knurling, facing and drilling. The workpiece is secured inside the lathe, at which point it’s exposed to a rotating tool bit. As the tool … Read More