Manufacturing Processes
Manufacturing Methods
A manufacturing process is a manufacturing method to transform raw materials into a finished products. It may require several manufacturing processes to complete the final product. Listed below are categories for different manufacturing methods: 3D printing, casting, coatings, forming, joining, part marking, machining and moulding.
3D Printing
3D Printing, also known as additive manufacturing is a manufacturing process where a digital file is used to manufacture a three dimensional object. Many methods are available such as FFF, FDM, DLP, SLA, SLS, material jetting, metal printing and large scale 3d printing.
Casting
Casting is a manufacturing process in which a liquid material is filled into a mould, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowed to solidify. Many methods are available such as centrifugal casting, continuous casting, die casting, investment casting, permanent mould casting, resin casting and sand casting.
Coatings
Coatings are designed to protect the object by extending its life from deterioration to due corrosion and wear. Some coatings are specifically engineered for certain objects or conditions. Coatings are also used for decorative reasons. There are many methods available such as vapour deposition, chemical & electrochemical, spraying, dipcoating, painting and films.
Forming
Metal forming is most widely used manufacturing processes. During the Forming process, the metal is plastically deformed by a force that exceeds the material yield strength where strain hardening occurs. There are many forming techniques such as forging, rolling, extruding, pressing, bending and shearing.
Joining
Joining is a manufacturing process where two or more materials can be permanently or temporarily or assembled together. Typical joining processes include forging, rolling, extruding, pressing, bending and shearing.
Part Marking
Typical part marking processes include laser engraving, inkjet printing, chemial vapour deposition, sputter deposition, plating and thermal spraying.
Machining
Typical machining processes include milling, mills, planing, honing, turning, drilling and reaming.
Moulding
Typical moulding processes include powder metallurgy, plastic injection moulding, dip moulding, rotat moudling, shrink wrapping and vacuum moulding.