Products come in all shapes and sizes, and customers demand solutions tailored to their needs. With mass customization software, these two facts can be reconciled in an automated, customer-facing experience called a product configurator. In this engineering.com research report, we examine the different levels of mass customization with the pyramid of product configurators. Taking a look at real-world case studies, we discover how the highest level of the pyramid can enable true engineering automation, saving time and increasing customer satisfaction. Download Now

We at engineering.com continually hear how engineers and designers will be doing simulation, such as FEA and CFD, and that they will be doing it early in the design cycle. Is this wishful thinking? We found out what it is really like in industry. Read more now. Download Now

The function of a circuit breaker is to provide overload (thermal) and short-circuit (magnetic) protection to a circuit and its downstream components. A circuit breaker functions like an airbag in a car, protecting circuit components and people by tripping the circuit to interrupt the current flow if it detects a fault condition in the control system. Download Now

As with any new technology, getting into large-format 3D printing begins with investigation. The first question may be a simple one: what does “large-format” mean? For 3D printers, “large” is a relative term. Many extrusion-based (FFF) 3D printers are referred to as desktop machines, because they fit on table space. Some of these have very respectable build volumes – but when it comes to “large-format,” the machines will need their own dedicated floor space. Large-format 3D printers have significant build volumes and are most often found in professional settings, like manufacturing facilities and R&D centers. Download Now