Practical guides for better manufacturing decisions.

Guide · Engineering

Guides

Practical engineering guidance to reduce risk, lead time and total part cost before production begins.

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Complex CNC machined aluminum component with deep pockets, bores and multiple controlled faces

Guide · CNC & Quality

CNC Design Guidelines

A practical guide to designing CNC machined parts with accessible geometry, stable walls, realistic tolerances and fewer expensive setups—without compromising the features that make the part work.

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Coordinate measuring machine inspecting a precision CNC machined component

Guide · CNC & Quality

CNC Tolerances

A practical guide to assigning CNC tolerances from function, choosing meaningful datums and fits, accounting for material and finishing, and building an inspection plan that can verify the result.

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ALL ENGINEERING GUIDES

Choose the problem you need to solve.

Engineering

Guides

Practical engineering guidance to reduce risk, lead time and total part cost before production begins.

CNC Design Guidelines

A practical guide to designing CNC machined parts with accessible geometry, stable walls, realistic tolerances and fewer expensive setups—without compromising the features that make the part work.

CNC Tolerances

A practical guide to assigning CNC tolerances from function, choosing meaningful datums and fits, accounting for material and finishing, and building an inspection plan that can verify the result.

CNC machined metal samples showing anodized, plated and polished surface finishes

Select and specify CNC part finishes by function, substrate, dimensional consequence and acceptance method—not color alone. This guide compares machined texture, mechanical preparation, conversion treatments, plating and organic coatings, then shows what belongs on the drawing and RFQ.

PROCESS VISUAL / TOOL ACCESS & ROTARY MOTIONUse only the motion the geometry requires.

Engineering

3-Axis vs 5-Axis

Choose the simplest machining strategy that can reach every feature, preserve critical datum relationships and control total process risk. Mockup treats axis count as an engineering routing decision—not a quality grade.

CNC Machining Cost

Practical engineering guidance to reduce risk, lead time and total part cost before production begins.

Choosing a Manufacturing Process

Practical engineering guidance to reduce risk, lead time and total part cost before production begins.

Injection Molding Wall Thickness

Practical engineering guidance to reduce risk, lead time and total part cost before production begins.

Designing Sheet Metal Parts

Practical engineering guidance to reduce risk, lead time and total part cost before production begins.

RELEASE VISUAL / MODEL + DRAWING + CONTEXTOne coherent manufacturing definition.

REVCCONTROLLED

Preparing CAD Files

A clean solid model defines nominal geometry; a controlled drawing defines manufacturing intent. Mockup uses both, together with revision, quantity and finish information, to quote and plan production without hidden assumptions.

Prototype to Production

A prototype proves a question; production proves a process. Move between them by converting design learning into a controlled revision, production-intent manufacturing route, approved first article and repeatable quality plan.