What Does CNC Mean? An Engineer’s Guide to Machining
Hello, I’m Clive Chen, an engineer at Rapmaf. In our world of manufacturing, you’ll see the acronym “CNC” everywhere. It’s on machines, in job descriptions, and on technical drawings. While some people might wonder if it’s a medical term or just industry jargon, for engineers, designers, and machinists, CNC represents one of the most transformative […]
Metal Plating: The 7 Steps of the Industrial Process
Hello, I’m Clive Chen, an engineer at Rapmaf. It’s interesting how a single word can have completely different meanings depending on your profession. If you type “What are the steps in plating?” into a search engine, you’ll be flooded with articles about culinary arts—the “classic,” “asymmetrical,” and “minimalist” techniques for arranging food on a plate. […]
What Is PVC Used For? a Master Polymer
Hello, I’m Clive Chen, an engineer at Rapmaf. In the world of polymers, few materials are as versatile—or as misunderstood—as Polyvinyl Chloride, better known as PVC. If you ask a random person what PVC is, they will almost certainly say “pipes.” And they’re not wrong; the construction industry is the single largest consumer of PVC […]
How Plastic Is Made: From Crude Oil to Polymer
Hello, I’m Clive Chen, an engineer with Rapmaf. Every day in our facility, we handle thousands of pounds of plastic materials. They arrive as small, uniform pellets, each grade precisely formulated for a specific application—some are crystal clear and destined for medical devices, others are jet black and reinforced with glass fibers for automotive components. […]
Riveted Steel: What It Is & Why It’s Still Critical
Hello, I’m Clive Chen, an engineer at Rapmaf. In our world of high-precision CNC machining and advanced polymer molding, it’s easy to think of engineering as a purely modern discipline. But the principles we rely on today were forged—often quite literally—by the engineers who built the industrial world. And nothing embodies that legacy of raw, […]
An Engineer’s Guide to Plastic Manufacturing Processes
Hello, I’m Clive Chen, an engineer here at Rapmaf. My team and I spend our days working with clients from the US, Europe, and all over the world, helping turn their designs into real, functional parts. A huge part of that work involves plastics. I often find that while a designer or procurement manager knows […]
Transparent vs Translucent: A Material Selection
Hello, I’m Clive Chen, an engineer with Rapmaf. One of the most common—and most critical—notes I see on engineering drawings is a simple one: “Material: Clear Plastic.” While I understand the intent, in the world of manufacturing, “clear” is a dangerously ambiguous term that can lead to costly mistakes, project delays, and parts that simply […]
Reaming in Machining: Process, Tools, Tolerances & Tips
In metalworking, reaming is a finishing operation used to bring an existing hole to a more accurate diameter and better surface finish. You drill (or bore) first, then ream. The reamer removes a thin ring of material from the inside of the hole, producing a more controlled size and a smoother, rounder hole than drilling […]
What’s the Best Way to Weld Plastic? Methods, Tools, Tips
“Plastic weld” can mean a few different things. Sometimes people mean a real thermoplastic weld (plastic fused into one piece). Other times they mean glue, solvent cement, or even “that two-part epoxy that says plastic on the label.” If you want the joint to be permanent, strong, and repeatable, the best approach depends on: what […]
How Much Does an Aluminum Sheet Cost? 4×8 Price Guide
If you’re buying aluminum sheet for fabrication or CNC machined parts, you’ve probably asked some version of this: “How much does a 4×8 sheet cost?” “Why did the price jump since last quarter?” “Is 6061 more expensive than 5052?” “Why does the same thickness cost more from one supplier?” Here’s the honest answer: there isn’t […]
