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The VMT blog is dedicated to sharing our hard-earned knowledge in prototype manufacturing. We hope these articles will help you optimize your product designs and gain deeper insight into the world of rapid prototyping. Enjoy the read!
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2026 02 21 Strain hardening (also known as work hardening) are the phenomenon that: if you are machining the metal in an inappropriate way, then there will be the situation that localized plastic deformation occurs on the surface of the part, resulting in a hardened layer; the other is refer to strain hardening metal like aluminum or the steel such as aluminum 5052-H32 or cold rolled steel 1018. In this article, you will gain a clear understanding of strain hardening basics and equation, how it works, strain hardening metal examples; how their strength changes, and how to manage strain hardening during CNC machining.
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VMT 2026 02 19 Many high-volume industrial components begin their life through a process known as cold forming. Whether it is the general fasteners, electronic parts, or the intricate gears and valves for automotive industry, this cold forming plays a vital role in producing high-strength parts with good utilization of metal material. This article will introduce the cold forming processes, suitable cold forming metal materials, its difference from sheet metal fabrication and hot forging, and why you may need CNC machining for secondary refining your cold form parts.
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VMT 2026 02 17 Dating back to 3700 BC, investment casting is an ancient manufacturing legacy that remains a suitable method especially for complex components of modern industry. Often referred to as lost-wax casting, the process is defined by its name: a sacrificial wax pattern is 'invested' (surrounded) by a refractory ceramic material. Once the shell hardens, the wax is melted away to create a hollow cavity for molten metal. This method offers remarkable freedom in part size and material selection, achieving a standard precision of ±0.1mm. It is the go-to solution for complex surfaces, intricate internal cavities, and medium-to-large components. With tooling costs lower than die casting and accuracy far superior to sand casting, investment casting provides a perfect middle ground. However, for ultra-precise features like threaded holes or tight-tolerance bores, secondary CNC machining is essential. This article explores the investment casting process, its pros and cons, suitable materials, and how it compares to other manufacturing techniques.
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VMT 2026 02 15 Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW), widely known as stick welding, is the workhorse of the welding industry. While the technology traces its roots back to 1888 and the inventions of Nikolay Gavrilovich Slavyanov, it remains one of the most vital joining processes in modern construction, shipbuilding, and heavy fabrication. But what exactly is SMAW welding meaning, suitable materials and notable tips, and how does it compare to other common welding processes like GMAW or SAW? In this guide, we break down the SMAW welding process, the equipment required, and how CNC machining plays the role in preparing for high-strength welds.
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VMT 2026 02 13 In this article, the sand casting process, its modern evolution, and its unique advantages — and comparison between sand casting and other typical manufacturing processes will be introduced. These can provide you with a fully and clear understanding of the sand casting trade-offs in surface precision, material range, part size, cost, and production scale.
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VMT 2026 02 11 Bright nickel plating serves as decorative coatings or primer for nickel-chromium plating surface treatment and is extensively utilized for stainless steel CNC machined parts, brass CNC machined parts, and more. From automotive components and hardware to high-precision electronic elements, a bright nickel finish enhances the aesthetic luster of these parts, fills microscopic depressions or flaws, and also contributes to corrosion and wear resistance. Furthermore, this coating offers good electrical conductivity. In this article, we will explore the applications of bright nickel plating in CNC machined parts, detailing how this surface treatment process is applied and its ultimate impact on the quality of your finished products.
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VMT 2026 02 09 Of the many carbon and alloy steels available, both 5160 steel vs 1055 steel can be used to manufacture different sword or knife tools, general engineering parts like gears, sprockets, and couplings. But for medium carbon steel 1055(AISI 1055) with about 0.55% carbon content, it has high toughness and hardness with far better machinability while 5160 high-carbon alloy steel(AISI 5160) with about 0.6% carbon content and 0.8% chromium has higher toughness, hardness, and much better elasticity; and this is why 5160 steel also called spring steel. These "structural steel" or "steel for mechanical parts" are different from their chemical composition and then lead to properties, heat treatment, welding, machining differences although they share parts of same characteristics; and these are what this article is aiming at sharing.
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VMT 2026 02 08 Stainless steel is performed actively among many industrial uses like the most daily cookware, decorative trims, industrial fasteners, and electronic metallic housings. For these applications, all of them can be manufactured by 430 stainless steel, as a more cost-effective material alternative to 304 stainless steels; while SS 430 shows other properties that SS304 doesn't have: like magnetism, good electromagnetic induction and temperature resistance. This article demonstrates key characteristics and uses of 430 grade stainless steel, analyzing its properties and manufacturing features as well as comparing it to SS304 to explain why and when you may choose SS430 as a better alternative to SS304.
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