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Hand finishing
Manual fettling, sanding, scraping or polishing performed to improve a part after manufacture.
Rapid Prototyping Glossary
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Definitions for commercial rapid prototyping, production, machining, casting, moulding, finishing and inspection terms.
Hand-loaded insert
An insert, such as a metal bush or threaded component, placed into the mould manually before each cycle so it becomes encapsulated during moulding. It is common in prototype and lower-volume insert moulding.
Hard tool
A durable production-intent mould, usually steel, designed for higher life and tighter process control.
Hatch spacing
The distance between adjacent scan lines in powder-bed or vat-photopolymer processes.
Heat deflection temperature
HDT; the temperature at which a polymer deforms under a specified load.
Heat staking
A process that deforms a thermoplastic post with heat to retain another component.
Heat treatment
Any controlled heating and cooling cycle used to alter material structure or properties.
Heat-affected zone
HAZ; the region adjacent to a weld or laser cut where properties have changed because of heat exposure.
Heat-set insert
A metal insert installed into plastic by heat, allowing a durable threaded feature.
Heli-Coil insert
A wire thread insert used to create or restore durable internal threads.
High-mix low-volume
A manufacturing environment with many different part numbers produced in relatively small quantities.
High-pressure die casting
A die-casting method that forces molten metal into a die at high speed and pressure for fast-cycle production of detailed metal parts.
High-speed machining
CNC machining using high spindle speeds, optimised toolpaths and controlled chip loads for efficiency and finish.
HIP
Hot isostatic pressing; a high-pressure heat process used to close internal porosity in metal parts.
HIPS
High-impact polystyrene; a low-cost plastic often used for thermoforming, housings and support material.
HMC
Horizontal machining centre; a machining centre with a horizontally oriented spindle, often favoured for efficient chip evacuation and multi-face machining.
Hold pressure
The pressure maintained after initial mould fill to pack material and compensate for shrinkage.
Honing
A precision abrasive finishing process used to improve geometry and surface finish inside bores.
Horizontal machining centre
HMC; a CNC machining centre whose spindle is horizontal to the floor, commonly used with tombstones and pallet systems.
Hot isostatic pressing
The full term for HIP.
Hot runner
A heated runner system that keeps mould feed channels molten, reducing waste and improving cycle efficiency.
Hot runner system
A heated manifold-and-nozzle system that keeps polymer molten between the machine nozzle and the cavity gate. It reduces runner waste and can improve cycle efficiency compared with cold-runner tooling.
Hot-chamber die casting
A die-casting method in which the injection mechanism is immersed in molten metal, suiting lower-melting non-ferrous alloys.
Housing
A casing or enclosure that protects internal components, commonly prototyped by CNC machining, moulding or additive manufacture.
HP Multi Jet Fusion
The branded HP implementation of the Multi Jet Fusion powder-bed polymer process.
HSM
High-speed machining; a machining strategy using high spindle speeds, feed rates and optimised toolpaths to improve productivity and finish, especially on aluminium and complex parts.
Hybrid manufacturing
A broad term for combining additive, subtractive and sometimes formative processes in one workflow.
Hygroscopicity
A material's tendency to absorb moisture from the air, important for nylons, TPU and other polymers that require drying.