Beginner Metal Laser Cutting Tips

A 10 step introduction to metal laser cutting — from software to file prep to selecting the right metal. Here’s what you need to know to begin preparing for your custom sheet metal project. A great introduction for first-timers and reminder of best-practices for pros too!

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John Diffenderfer
7 Websites for Free and Inexpensive DXF Files

Where are the best places to get the files you need without spending a lot of time and money to find them? We’ve compiled a list of the top places to find .dxf files to use for your next project. Something to keep in mind when anything online is free, is to be sure to double check the quality of the design and file before downloading and using it.

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John Diffenderfer
The 4 Main Types of Welding

There are more 30 different types of welding, but only four are commonly used in metal fabrication: MIG/MAG, TIG, Stick, and Flux Core welding. Here are handy overviews of these common welding techniques and illustrations to show how they work.

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John Diffenderfer
Top 5 Websites to Learn SOLIDWORKS Online in 2020

SOLIDWORKS is a solid modeling computer-aided design (CAD) software program for designing and engineering 3D objects. There are many places online that provide excellent SOLIDWORKS training. We’ve compiled an updated list of a few of the best places you can start learning about the SOLIDWORKS system today!

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John Diffenderfer
The 7 Basic Steps of Metal Fabrication

Because the metal fabrication business has applications in nearly every industry, there are many different processes and techniques that are used to create an endless variety of products. The floor of a metal fabrication shop is a diverse place full of tools for cutting, stamping, bending, hole punching, melting, coating, and more. Here are the 7 steps that make up most metal fabrication projects.

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John Diffenderfer
Advanced Metal Laser Cutting Tips

The top 8 advanced tips and tricks to getting the perfect results for your custom metal laser cut project. Ideal for manufacturers and engineers. Here's how to plan your laser design file and get the highest quality steel or aluminum sheet metal or plate products.

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John Diffenderfer
The Types of Steel

There are more than 3,500 types of steel, each with its own unique properties. When you are designing a project that includes steel, it is important to choose the steel with the right hardness, flexibility, workability, economic value, tensile strength, and more. This article is a guide to understanding the four basic types: Carbon Steel, Alloy Steel, Stainless Steel, and Tool Steel.

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John Diffenderfer