Skip to content


Certifications ISO 13485:2016 | AS9100D | ITAR | FDA Registered | CAGE Code 5TTR7 

Knowledge Base

Learn to design better parts with these CNC machining articles. Compare materials and surface finishes. Keep leveling up your hardware product development and production expertise.

Article Collections

Engineer's Guide to CNC Machining

Explore article collection

CNC Machining Materials

Explore article collection

Mechanical Properties

Explore article collection

All articles
A machinist manually loads a cutting tool into a 3-axis end mill

What is CNC machining?
Graphic illustrating a good DFM part and a bad DFM part

What is GD&T?
Screenshot of a 3D CAD model with an open chat between engineers discussing DFM

What is DFM?
Screenshot of an engineering drawing with multi datums and feature control frames

What is an engineering drawing?
Coolant being sprayed onto workpiece in between milling operations

What is cutting fluid?
ABS

What is ABS?
Screenshot of an engineering drawing with datums A, B, and C called out

What is a datum?
Nylon

What is Nylon?
Machinist visually inspects an endmill while setting up a 3-axis mill

What is CNC milling?
A milled component made of steel

What to know about machining steel?
CNC machinist finishes a setup on a Swiss type lathe

What is CNC turning?
PEEK

What is PEEK?
A production specialist prepares parts for anodize

What is surface finish?
A milled component made of stainless steel

What to know about machining stainless steel?
PCTFE

What is PCTFE?
An engineer examines a piece of sheet metal

What is ductility?
Machinist tests an aluminum plate's hardness

What is hardness?
PTFE

What is PTFE?
A milled component made of bronze

What to know about machining bronze?
Screenshot of a quote with the order price called out

What is machining cost?
A finished aluminum component sits on a work bench with an engineer working in the background

How to choose the right material?
A machinist loads an aluminum plate into a 3-axis mill

What is elasticity?
Acetal

What is Acetal?
Close-up of a milled component made with Inconel

What to know about machining Inconel?
A milled component made of Monel

What to know about machining Monel?
HDPE

What is HDPE?
Machinist manually inspects a part with calipers

What is strength?
A finished part sits on a work bench

What is toughness?
PVDF

What is PVDF?
A milled component made of copper

What to know about machining copper?
Close-up of an engineering drawing with the feature control frames highlighted

What is a feature control frame?
UHMW

What is UHMW?
An engineer visually inspects a sheet metal part's flatness

What is fatigue resistance?
A milled component made of aluminum

What to know about machining aluminum?
PPSU

What is PPSU?
A milled component made of titanium

What to know about machining titanium?
A milled component made of brass

What to know about machining brass?
Ultem

What is Ultem?
Noryl

What is Noryl?
Engineers examine a milled component and review an engineering drawing

What is design intent?
Close-up of an engineering drawing with the maximum material condition called out in a feature control frame

What is a material condition modifier?
PET

What is PET?
Acrylic

What is Acrylic?
Polycarbonate

What is Polycarbonate?
PVC

What is PVC?
Polysulfone

What is Polysulfone?

SOS! I can't find the resource I need! Got a manufacturing challenge you need help solving? Tell us about it below and we'll get back to you!