Manufacturing Insights
Engineering guides, sourcing strategies, and market analysis for US manufacturing buyers.
Aluminum CNC Machining Cost Guide 2026
Complete 2026 cost breakdown for aluminum CNC machining — per-part pricing by complexity, alloy comparison, tolerance cost curves, surface finish costs, and US vs Vietnam landed cost analysis.
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Xometry vs Fictiv vs Dewin: Custom Parts Platforms Compared
Honest comparison of Xometry, Fictiv, and Dewin for custom manufactured parts — real pricing on 5 sample parts, lead times, quality systems, and when each platform makes sense.
Read More → How to Reduce Manufacturing Costs 30–50% in 2026
Proven strategies for US companies to cut manufacturing costs with offshore partners — real data on labor arbitrage, tooling savings, tariff optimization, and landed cost analysis.
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Injection Molding: Vietnam vs China — 2026 Comparison
Head-to-head comparison of tooling costs, part pricing, tariffs, lead times, quality, and materials availability for US injection molding buyers.
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Custom Metal Fabrication Offshore: What US Buyers Need to Know
Sheet metal, welding, and stamping offshore. Real cost benchmarks, material availability, tolerances, finishing options, and how to spec parts for overseas fab.
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How to Evaluate a Manufacturing Partner: A Practical Checklist
50-point evaluation framework covering quality systems, capability, financials, IP protection, communication, and logistics. Includes red flags and scoring.
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Supply Chain Diversification: Beyond China in 2026
Why and how to diversify manufacturing beyond China. Country-by-country comparison of Vietnam, India, and Mexico with transition roadmap and cost modeling.
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CNC Machining Tolerances: The Engineer's Sourcing Guide
What tolerances can offshore CNC shops actually hold? Practical tables by process, material deep dives (AL6061-T6, SS304, brass, titanium), cost-per-decimal analysis, and spec-writing rules.
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Blow Molding Sourcing: How to Cut Costs Without Cutting Corners
Process selection, material specs, tolerance expectations, cost benchmarks, supplier evaluation, and design-for-manufacturing tips for blow molded plastic parts.
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Design for Manufacturability (DFM): What Engineers Get Wrong
A practical guide to DFM principles that reduce manufacturing costs and improve part quality.
Read More → 7 Common Injection Molding Defects: Causes and Prevention
Identify and prevent the most common injection molding defects with practical guidance for engineers and sourcing managers.
Read More → 10 Injection Molding Design Rules That Prevent Costly Tooling Revisions
Wall thickness, draft angles, gate placement, rib design, and defect prevention — the essential checklist before cutting steel.
Read More → Sheet Metal Design Tips: 8 Rules for Cost-Effective Fabrication
Bend radii, hole placement, tolerances, and nesting — practical guidelines that keep sheet metal parts manufacturable.
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3 Things Every Engineer Should Know Before Specifying a Sintered Part
Material codes, design constraints, and cost math — the engineer's checklist for sintering success.
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The Buyer's Guide to Die Casting
Advantages, limitations, metal options, and how to evaluate whether die casting is right.
Read More → Powder Metallurgy in 2025: Why Adoption Is Accelerating
PM accounts for 70%+ of automotive parts in developed markets.
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Die Casting 101: Process, Speed, and When to Use It
A no-nonsense breakdown of how die casting works.
Read More → Why Sintering Is Where Quality Is Won or Lost in PM
The sintering step determines part strength, density, and dimensional stability.
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Is Powder Metallurgy Right for Your Part?
Two simple criteria that determine whether PM will save you money.
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How We Developed a Custom Fuel Filter That Didn't Exist
From supplier audit to burst-strength testing — the full story.
Read More → Ocean Freight Economics: What Every Sourcing Manager Should Track
Freight rates can swing 5-10% monthly.
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