The Knowledge Base
Learn to design better parts for 3D printing, CNC machining, injection molding and sheet metal fabrication. Compare materials and post-processing methods. Keep leveling up your digital manufacturing expertise.
Learn how to manufacture better parts
Industry and lifecycle
How to manufacture parts for different industries and product lifecycle stages.
Read morePost-processes & finishes
Understanding materials for manufacturing and how to get the most out of the last step of the manufacturing process?
Read moreStandards & technical data
What are the technical standards for digital manufacturing? Bookmark these rules and resources.
Read moreWhat engineers are reading now
Efficient high-volume injection molding for large-scale production
Injection molding is one of the most reliable ways to produce large volumes of high-quality parts, and digital manufacturing platforms are making it easier and more efficient than ever to scale production.
Read more
What is subtractive manufacturing?
Learn how subtractive manufacturing shapes parts by removing material. Explore CNC, drilling, laser cutting, and how it compares to additive methods.
Read more
The advantages of 5-axis CNC machining
Five-axis CNC machining gives engineers a lot more freedom when it comes to making complex, high-precision parts. Instead of cutting from one direction at a time, the machine can pivot and rotate the tool or part to reach tricky angles.
Read more
What is Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS)?
Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) applies the 'as-a-service' model, made famous by software and cloud computing, to the manufacturing industry. By leveraging digital platforms, MaaS connects businesses to a distributed solution.
Read moreYour complete, practical resource for everything digital manufacturing
Digital manufacturing is a complex topic. There's always more to learn, especially as designers and engineers develop astounding new technologies and manufacturing processes evolve (and automate). The more you know about manufacturing technologies like 3D printing, CNC machining, injection molding and sheet metal fabrication, the better equipped you are to design products that can be manufactured easily and at the price point that works for you.
For nearly a decade, Metal Market has worked to produce comprehensive resources to help you develop revolutionary products. These include The 3D Printing Handbook, our complete guides on every Metal Market technology and the Knowledge Base, a growing collection of articles for new and seasoned engineers. The Knowledge Base is a tool for learning about manufacturing technologies, how to design for every process, key standards and best practices and a lot more.
The manufacturing knowledge in this resource will help you develop products faster and more cost-efficiently, advising on custom part sourcing for any stage of the innovation process. Whether you're creating an initial prototype, sourcing parts for a more functional prototype, looking to scale toward full production or making parts to bring an older product back to life, the Knowledge Base is here to guide you.
Ready to transform your CAD file into a custom part?
Upload your designs for a free, instant quote.
Get an instant quote