Stay ahead with technical guides, industry trends, and manufacturing best practices written by our engineering team. Valuable insights for engineers, procurement specialists, and OEMs seeking precision metal parts solutions.

CNC machining vs gear hobbing for prototype gears

I have spent 18 years sourcing prototype gears. The CNC vs gear hobbing question depends on quantity, tolerance, and how fast you need parts. CNC wins at...

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How to read a material certificate for stainless steel 316L

A practical guide to reading a stainless steel 316L material certificate: EN 10204 types, ASTM A240 chemistry limits, mechanical minimums, heat number...

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How to vet a Chinese metal parts manufacturer before ordering

Sourcing metal parts from China can save 30 to 50 percent on unit cost, or cost you six months of delay and a container of scrap. This guide covers five...

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How to calculate landed cost for imported metal parts

Landed cost is the total cost of getting a finished part from the supplier's dock to your warehouse, including unit price, freight, customs duty, insurance,...

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Metal parts PPAP submission checklist for buyers

Metal parts PPAP submission checklist for buyers When you source custom metal parts from a supplier in China or anywhere overseas, you need proof that the...

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When to choose MIM over CNC machining for small metal parts

When to choose MIM over CNC machining for small metal parts I have spent enough time in quoting meetings to know that the question "should we MIM this or...

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