Fiona Lawler

Writer, editor and digital storyteller

MoldMaking Technology •

Automated Grinding Machines Yield Tighter Tolerances and Save Resources

Located in East Dundee, Illinois, National Tool & Manufacturing Co. (National) is a family-owned business deeply rooted in the steel and moldmaking industries. The company supplies mold and die customers with both raw and highly processed holder plates and also functions as a one-stop-shop source for mold base steel needs.

On the mold base side, National services customers within industries such as medical, consumer goods, automotive, packaging and pharmaceuticals. In particular, the packaging...
MoldMaking Technology •

Front-End Mold Simulation Software Simplifies and Streamlines Design

On Demand

Discover how CAD/CAM functionality tailored for the mold industry can significantly enhance the mold design process. In part three of the webinar series, Cimatron will focus on designing waterlines and cooling components. It will demonstrate how CAD/CAM tools can verify drill line depths for water lines and baffles, ensure that minimum steel requirements are met while placing water lines, and provide a complete list of all baffle cutoff lengths. Additionally, it will explore how to co...
MoldMaking Technology •

LSR Moldmaker Innovates In Medical Market

On Demand

Discover how CAD/CAM functionality tailored for the mold industry can significantly enhance the mold design process. In part three of the webinar series, Cimatron will focus on designing waterlines and cooling components. It will demonstrate how CAD/CAM tools can verify drill line depths for water lines and baffles, ensure that minimum steel requirements are met while placing water lines, and provide a complete list of all baffle cutoff lengths. Additionally, it will explore how to co...
MoldMaking Technology •

Software Update Enables Print Speed Improvement for Automated Toolmaking System

On Demand

Discover how CAD/CAM functionality tailored for the mold industry can significantly enhance the mold design process. In part three of the webinar series, Cimatron will focus on designing waterlines and cooling components. It will demonstrate how CAD/CAM tools can verify drill line depths for water lines and baffles, ensure that minimum steel requirements are met while placing water lines, and provide a complete list of all baffle cutoff lengths. Additionally, it will explore how to co...
MoldMaking Technology •

PTXPO 2025: Innovations, Impressions and Inspirations

As I reflect on my first-ever PTXPO experience with MoldMaking Technology (MMT) in Rosemont, Illinois, I still find myself inspired by the connections and community found throughout the moldmaking industry. While at the show, I was a witness to the passion and fire within this community as industry professionals from all walks of life networked, learned and shared their valuable knowledge during the three-day event. 

Conversations were strong across the board, whether it was deep dives regardin...
MoldMaking Technology •

Innovative Technologies to Level Up Your Mold Shop

MoldMaking Technology continues to curate a list of relevant technologies in the form of roundups to highlight what’s new and what’s improved. These technology roundups provide a simple way to stay informed on what’s just hitting the market, what has been recently updated or to discover the next equipment investment to level up your mold shop’s capabilities.

Upgrading to the latest technology and services ensures efficiency, accuracy and innovation are at the forefront for your mold shop. To le...
MoldMaking Technology •

Integrated Temperature System Provides Automated Hot Runner Solution

On Demand

Discover how CAD/CAM functionality tailored for the mold industry can significantly enhance the mold design process. In part three of the webinar series, Cimatron will focus on designing waterlines and cooling components. It will demonstrate how CAD/CAM tools can verify drill line depths for water lines and baffles, ensure that minimum steel requirements are met while placing water lines, and provide a complete list of all baffle cutoff lengths. Additionally, it will explore how to co...
MoldMaking Technology •

3D Printing Accelerates R&D Process For Prototyping Molds

LSI Solutions, a medical equipment manufacturer based in upstate New York, utilized Axtra3D Inc.’s additive manufacturing (AM) technology to create molds for medical device prototyping and production. The collaboration between LSI Solutions and Axtra3D came about when LSI Solutions began searching for an avenue to accelerate its R&D cycle. A typical prototype mold takes three to seven days for the company to machine out of steel. If it’s a more time-consuming prototype mold, it could take as lon...
MoldMaking Technology •

3D Printing Accelerates R&D Process For Prototyping Molds

LSI Solutions, a medical equipment manufacturer based in upstate New York, utilized Axtra3D Inc.’s additive manufacturing (AM) technology to create molds for medical device prototyping and production. The collaboration between LSI Solutions and Axtra3D came about when LSI Solutions began searching for an avenue to accelerate its R&D cycle. A typical prototype mold takes three to seven days for the company to machine out of steel. If it’s a more time-consuming prototype mold, it could take as lon...
MoldMaking Technology •

MMT's Most Popular Maintenance Reads of 2024

On Demand

Discover how CAD/CAM functionality tailored for the mold industry can significantly enhance the mold design process. In part three of the webinar series, Cimatron will focus on designing waterlines and cooling components. It will demonstrate how CAD/CAM tools can verify drill line depths for water lines and baffles, ensure that minimum steel requirements are met while placing water lines, and provide a complete list of all baffle cutoff lengths. Additionally, it will explore how to co...
MoldMaking Technology •

Dive Into the Year's Top Moldmaking Profiles

On Demand

Discover how CAD/CAM functionality tailored for the mold industry can significantly enhance the mold design process. In part three of the webinar series, Cimatron will focus on designing waterlines and cooling components. It will demonstrate how CAD/CAM tools can verify drill line depths for water lines and baffles, ensure that minimum steel requirements are met while placing water lines, and provide a complete list of all baffle cutoff lengths. Additionally, it will explore how to co...
MoldMaking Technology •

2024 Most-Viewed Products

Witosa in Germany offers selective laser melting (SLM) metal 3D printing combined with artificial intelligence (AI) to produce Monolith hot runner nozzles, tailored precisely to part and process specifications. DMS says the innovation lies in the 3D printed air spaces that provide insulation to the nozzles from the mold, ensuring a consistent temperature profile.

Trumpf Inc. highlights the TruPrint 2000, which now features a larger, square build plate and is designed for more productive, reliab...
MoldMaking Technology •

Expanded End-to-End Injection Molding Capabilities to Benefit Moldmakers

On Demand

Discover how CAD/CAM functionality tailored for the mold industry can significantly enhance the mold design process. In part three of the webinar series, Cimatron will focus on designing waterlines and cooling components. It will demonstrate how CAD/CAM tools can verify drill line depths for water lines and baffles, ensure that minimum steel requirements are met while placing water lines, and provide a complete list of all baffle cutoff lengths. Additionally, it will explore how to co...
MoldMaking Technology •

MMT's Most-Viewed Case Studies in 2024

On Demand

Discover how CAD/CAM functionality tailored for the mold industry can significantly enhance the mold design process. In part three of the webinar series, Cimatron will focus on designing waterlines and cooling components. It will demonstrate how CAD/CAM tools can verify drill line depths for water lines and baffles, ensure that minimum steel requirements are met while placing water lines, and provide a complete list of all baffle cutoff lengths. Additionally, it will explore how to co...
MoldMaking Technology •

Top 10 Engineering Content From 2024

On Demand

Discover how CAD/CAM functionality tailored for the mold industry can significantly enhance the mold design process. In part three of the webinar series, Cimatron will focus on designing waterlines and cooling components. It will demonstrate how CAD/CAM tools can verify drill line depths for water lines and baffles, ensure that minimum steel requirements are met while placing water lines, and provide a complete list of all baffle cutoff lengths. Additionally, it will explore how to co...
MoldMaking Technology •

Building Molds: Most Popular Reads of 2024

On Demand

Discover how CAD/CAM functionality tailored for the mold industry can significantly enhance the mold design process. In part three of the webinar series, Cimatron will focus on designing waterlines and cooling components. It will demonstrate how CAD/CAM tools can verify drill line depths for water lines and baffles, ensure that minimum steel requirements are met while placing water lines, and provide a complete list of all baffle cutoff lengths. Additionally, it will explore how to co...
MoldMaking Technology •

Custom Precision-Ground Pins and Punches Benefit Moldmakers

On Demand

Discover how CAD/CAM functionality tailored for the mold industry can significantly enhance the mold design process. In part three of the webinar series, Cimatron will focus on designing waterlines and cooling components. It will demonstrate how CAD/CAM tools can verify drill line depths for water lines and baffles, ensure that minimum steel requirements are met while placing water lines, and provide a complete list of all baffle cutoff lengths. Additionally, it will explore how to co...
MoldMaking Technology •

Recent Innovations in Mold Components and Hot Runners

Are you looking for your next product or technology to level up your mold shop? MoldMaking Technology simplifies the steps to finding your shop’s next innovation with a curated product roundup and robust supplier list. 

Peruse our most recent technology roundup highlighting hot runners and mold components to find the right supplier and equipment tailored to your moldmaking needs. Upgrading to the latest technology and services on the market ensures efficiency, accuracy and innovation are at the...
MoldMaking Technology •

Dive Into 3 Different Mold Shops With Me

When it comes to mold shops, I’ve learned first-hand that size, spanning from shop-to-shop, is variable. Over the past few months with MMT, I’ve had the opportunity to visit three very different mold shops. My biggest takeaway? Size doesn’t matter. In fact, there are more similarities between shops of all different sizes than I could’ve ever imagined.

The MMT team and I had the chance to visit Model Die & Mold Inc. and Paragon D&E, both in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as Matrix Plastic Produ...
MoldMaking Technology •

Tried-and-True Plus New Technology to Level Up Your Mold Shop

Are you searching for the next technology, software, material or service to take your mold shop to the next level? MoldMaking Technology makes it easy for you to find your shop’s next innovation with a curated product roundup. 

One way to accomplish this is to find the right supplier and equipment for your moldmaking business. Upgrading to the latest technology and services on the market ensures efficiency, accuracy and innovation are forefront for your mold shops. 





Edro intr...
MoldMaking Technology •

First-Time IMTS Experience: Uncovering Innovations for Moldmakers

Earlier this month, I attended IMTS 2024 in Chicago for the first time and I was excited to do so as part of the MMT team. 

This massive manufacturing event highlighted a variety of industries found within metalworking. However, I attended the show to learn more about the new and proven innovations specific to the moldmaking community.





After experiencing IMTS, I can confidently say the moldmaking industry has a lot to look forward to in the near future in terms of smart and e...
Additive Manufacturing •

Additive Enhances Lost Foam Casting Process for Metal Manufacturing

I had the chance to visit Skuld LLC in Springfield, Ohio, to learn about the startup company’s patent-pending 3D printing-enabled process known as Additive Manufacturing Evaporative Casting (AMEC). This process provides a new approach to lost foam casting (LFC), a type of investment casting, and additionally it extends the application range of this metal part making process. 

I met with Skuld LLC’s CEO, Sarah Jordan, and Chief Technical Officer, Mark DeBruin, to tour their facility and learn ho...
Additive Manufacturing •

3D Printed Tennis Racket Serves a Collaborative Win

In a collaboration between the industrial design and branding studio All Design Lab and contract manufacturer Protolabs, direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) was utilized to 3D print the complex geometry behind the frame for the tennis racket named Hìtëkw. 

Through equal parts communication from customer and manufacturer, Hìtëkw was designed and brought to life to challenge conventional design methods and utilize additive to achieve a functional and aesthetic end product.





I sp...
Additive Manufacturing •

In Hybrid FIM Process, 3D Printing Complements Injection Molding

In a recent case study, Alpine Advanced Materials (Alpine), a custom-engineering and part manufacturer in industries like aerospace and defense, space and emerging transportation leveraged a new prototyping process utilizing a dissolvable mold for high-performance injection molded composites. 

Using Nexa3D’s additive technology, Alpine was able to bridge the gap between testing and production by producing 3D printed tooling faster and more cost effectively than conventional metal mold tooling....
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