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Field notes on mechanical engineering — CAD, DFM, FEA, and GD&T. Written by the FixtureLabs team for engineers who build.

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12+ articles

Heat Transfer Basics: Conduction, Convection, and Radiation
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Heat Transfer Basics: Conduction, Convection, and Radiation

Heat moves in three ways, and real designs use all of them. Learn conduction, convection, and radiation with clear examples you will not forget.

FixtureLabs Inc.6 min read
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Gear Basics for Mechanical Engineers: Ratios, Module, and Tooth Profiles

Gear Basics for Mechanical Engineers: Ratios, Module, and Tooth Profiles

Gears follow a handful of clear rules. Learn ratios, module, and tooth profiles so you can size and pair gears with confidence.

FixtureLabs Inc.6 min read
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Stiffness vs Strength: Why They Are Not the Same Thing

Stiffness vs Strength: Why They Are Not the Same Thing

Mixing these up leads engineers to fix the wrong problem. Learn how stiffness and strength differ, where each comes from, and which one your part really needs.

FixtureLabs Inc.6 min read
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FEA for Beginners: What Finite Element Analysis Really Does
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FEA for Beginners: What Finite Element Analysis Really Does

FEA is a powerful tool and an easy one to trust too much. Learn what it actually does, how to read results, and the traps that fool beginners.

FixtureLabs Inc.6 min read
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Fatigue Failure 101: Why Parts Break Below Yield Strength
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Fatigue Failure 101: Why Parts Break Below Yield Strength

Parts fail under loads far below their strength when those loads repeat. Learn how fatigue works, why it is so dangerous, and how to design against it.

FixtureLabs Inc.6 min read
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Beam Deflection Formulas: Which One to Use and When
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Beam Deflection Formulas: Which One to Use and When

Every support and load has its own deflection formula. Learn which one fits your case and how to use it to keep a beam from bending too far.

FixtureLabs Inc.6 min read
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Free Body Diagrams: The One Skill That Unlocks Statics

Free Body Diagrams: The One Skill That Unlocks Statics

Get the diagram right and every statics problem becomes solvable. Learn to isolate a body, add its forces, and replace supports with the right reactions.

FixtureLabs Inc.5 min read
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From Sketch to Manufacturable Part: CAD for Real Parts

From Sketch to Manufacturable Part: CAD for Real Parts

A model that looks perfect can still be impossible to make. Learn how to turn a CAD model into a part a shop can actually produce, at a sensible cost and tolerance.

FixtureLabs Inc.6 min read
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Mohr's Circle Without the Confusion
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Mohr's Circle Without the Confusion

Mohr's circle is simpler than it looks. Learn what it shows, how to build it, and how to read principal stresses off it without getting lost.

FixtureLabs Inc.5 min read
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Bolted Joint Design: Preload, Torque, and Why Bolts Come Loose

Bolted Joint Design: Preload, Torque, and Why Bolts Come Loose

Bolts hold the world together, yet are rarely taught well. Learn preload, torque, and why bolts loosen, so your joints stay tight.

FixtureLabs Inc.6 min read
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How to Draw Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams, Step by Step

How to Draw Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams, Step by Step

These two diagrams show exactly where a beam works hardest. Learn to draw them step by step and find the spot where a beam is most likely to fail.

FixtureLabs Inc.6 min read
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Material Selection 101: How to Choose the Right Metal or Plastic

Material Selection 101: How to Choose the Right Metal or Plastic

Strength, stiffness, weight, and cost all pull in different directions. Learn how to choose the material that fits your part instead of the one you always reach for.

FixtureLabs Inc.7 min read
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