Manufacturing discovery
Manufacturing processes
Explore process families represented in the Metraxio Manufacturing Graph. Public discovery helps you start a project — it is not technical qualification.
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CNC Machining
CNC machining supports the production of precision components from metals and engineering plastics using controlled milling, turning and multi-axis operations. It is suited to prototypes, complex geometries, tight-tolerance parts and repeat production where dimensional consistency is important. Manufacturing requirements can include material grade, tolerances, surface finish, inspection criteria and production volume.
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Sheet Metal Fabrication
Sheet metal fabrication combines processes such as laser or profile cutting, bending, forming, punching and joining to manufacture parts and assemblies from flat sheet materials. It supports enclosures, brackets, panels, frames and more complex fabricated products across prototype and production quantities. Requirements may include material and thickness, bend geometry, tolerances, welding, surface treatment and inspection criteria.
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Injection Molding
Injection molding produces repeatable plastic components by injecting molten material into a controlled mold cavity. The process supports complex geometries, integrated features and a wide range of thermoplastic materials for low-to-high production volumes. Manufacturing requirements can include resin and grade, tooling, surface texture, dimensional tolerances, color and inspection criteria.
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Casting
Casting enables metal parts to be produced by forming molten material within a mold or die. Depending on geometry, material, quantity and performance requirements, manufacturing routes can include sand casting, investment casting, die casting and other specialized methods. Projects may require control of alloy grade, dimensional tolerances, machining allowances, heat treatment, surface quality and inspection.
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Forging
Forging shapes metal through controlled compressive forces to produce components with favorable grain flow and mechanical performance. It is commonly considered for structural, load-bearing and safety-critical parts where strength and fatigue resistance matter. Requirements may include alloy grade, forging method, heat treatment, machining allowances, testing and dimensional inspection.
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Extrusion
Extrusion forms material through a shaped die to create continuous profiles with a defined cross-section. It is used for aluminum and other metals as well as selected plastics, supporting both standard and custom profile geometries. Manufacturing requirements can include material grade, profile dimensions, tolerances, tooling, cut length, surface treatment and secondary machining.
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Additive Manufacturing
Additive manufacturing builds components directly from digital geometry, enabling complex shapes that may be difficult or inefficient to manufacture conventionally. Available processes can support rapid prototypes, tooling aids and functional end-use parts in polymers or metals. Selection depends on material, geometry, dimensional accuracy, surface requirements, mechanical performance and production quantity.
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Welding & Joining
Welding and joining processes create permanent connections between components for fabricated structures, machinery, pressure-containing equipment and precision assemblies. Suitable methods depend on base material, thickness, joint geometry, accessibility and required mechanical performance. Projects may specify weld procedures, qualifications, inspection methods, dimensional control and applicable standards.
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Surface Treatment
Surface treatment modifies or protects component surfaces to meet corrosion, wear, appearance, friction or functional requirements. Processes can include anodizing, plating, coating, blasting, polishing and other chemical or mechanical treatments. Selection depends on substrate material, service environment, required thickness, finish specification, color and applicable testing requirements.
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Heat Treatment
Heat treatment uses controlled heating and cooling cycles to modify the mechanical and metallurgical properties of metal components. Processes may include annealing, hardening, tempering, stress relieving and case-hardening treatments depending on the material and performance target. Requirements can specify material grade, hardness range, treatment standard, case depth, distortion limits and verification testing.
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Metal Forming
Metal forming changes the geometry of metal without removing significant material, using controlled forces to create required shapes and features. The category covers a range of cold and hot forming methods selected according to material, thickness, geometry and production volume. Projects may specify forming tolerances, material condition, tooling, secondary operations and dimensional inspection.
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Metal Stamping
Metal stamping uses press tooling to manufacture repeatable sheet metal components through operations such as blanking, piercing, bending and forming. It is particularly suited to recurring and higher-volume production where dedicated tooling can improve consistency and cycle time. Requirements may include material and thickness, tooling, tolerances, burr control, surface finish and inspection criteria.
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Grinding & Finishing
Grinding and finishing processes are used to refine manufactured parts after primary machining, forming or heat treatment. They can improve dimensional accuracy, surface roughness, flatness, roundness and other critical characteristics. Requirements may define material condition, final dimensions, geometric tolerances, surface roughness and inspection methods.
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Electrical Discharge Machining
Electrical discharge machining removes material through controlled electrical discharges rather than conventional cutting forces. Wire EDM and sinker EDM can produce intricate geometries, narrow features and precision details in hardened or difficult-to-machine conductive materials. Projects may specify material, geometry, tolerance, surface finish, electrode requirements and inspection criteria.
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Gear Manufacturing
Gear manufacturing covers the production of spur, helical, bevel and other toothed components using processes selected for geometry, accuracy and production volume. Manufacturing can combine cutting, hobbing, shaping, grinding, heat treatment and inspection operations. Requirements may include gear geometry, module or pitch, material, hardness, accuracy class, surface finish and dimensional verification.
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Plastics Processing
Plastics processing covers manufacturing routes used to shape, machine, form or fabricate thermoplastic and other polymer components. The appropriate process depends on resin type, geometry, dimensional requirements, mechanical performance and production quantity. Projects may include material-grade control, forming or machining requirements, joining, finishing and dimensional inspection.
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Composite Manufacturing
Composite manufacturing combines reinforcement materials and resin systems to produce components with tailored strength, stiffness and weight characteristics. Processes can support structural panels, molded components and complex geometries using different layup, molding and curing methods. Requirements may define fiber and resin system, laminate structure, tooling, cure cycle, dimensional criteria and inspection.
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Industrial Fabrication
Industrial fabrication combines multiple manufacturing operations to produce custom equipment, structures and heavy or medium-scale assemblies. Projects can involve plate and profile cutting, forming, machining, welding, fitting and final assembly under a coordinated manufacturing plan. Requirements may include drawings, materials, welding standards, dimensional control, surface protection and inspection documentation.
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Assembly
Assembly brings individual manufactured or sourced components together into functional subassemblies or finished products. Work can include mechanical fastening, fitting, bonding, wiring and integration depending on the product and production scope. Requirements may define assembly instructions, torque values, traceability, functional checks, inspection points, packaging and documentation.
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Inspection & Metrology
Inspection and metrology verify that manufactured components conform to specified dimensions, tolerances and geometric requirements. Capabilities may include conventional gauges, optical systems, CMM measurement and other calibrated inspection methods. Projects can require first-article inspection, dimensional reports, measurement plans, traceability and documented acceptance criteria.
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Non-Destructive Testing
Non-destructive testing evaluates materials, components and welds without permanently altering the inspected item. Methods may include ultrasonic, radiographic, magnetic particle, liquid penetrant and other techniques selected according to material and defect type. Requirements can specify method, acceptance standard, inspection coverage, personnel qualification and reporting documentation.
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Testing & Validation
Testing and validation provide evidence that a manufactured component, assembly or product meets defined functional and performance requirements. Programs can include mechanical, dimensional, environmental, endurance or application-specific testing depending on the project. Requirements should define test conditions, acceptance criteria, applicable standards, sample quantities and required reports or certificates.