by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Most shops can quote a one-off prototype. The trouble starts when the customer says, “We’ll need three revisions before we lock the design.” Suddenly you’re guessing at rework, material changes, and schedule shifts — all while trying to keep...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Most shops don’t lose money on cycle time. They lose it on everything that happens before the spindle starts or the print head moves. Workholding, tool loading, program verification, first-article inspection — these steps eat hours but rarely show up as line...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Powder bed fusion (PBF) — whether laser or electron beam — is the workhorse of metal additive manufacturing. But every shop running DMLS, SLM, or EBM knows the sinking feeling when a 40-hour build crashes on hour 38. A recoater blade hits a curled edge. Supports...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Most shops have a solid handle on machine time. They know how long a CNC cycle takes, or how many hours a powder-bed fusion build needs. Where quotes go sideways is everything that happens after the part leaves the machine. Why Post-Processing Gets Underestimated...
by Chris Anjel | Aug 26, 2026 | Uncategorized
Quoting the core manufacturing step — CNC machining, 3D printing, or sheet metal fabrication — is something most shops have dialed in. But the moment a part needs anodizing, plating, powder coating, or heat treatment, the quote often turns into a guess. Vendors have...
