• A Brief Introduction to 3D Printing

    3D printing, or additive manufacturing, has come a long way, evolving from a method only useful for creating functional and aesthetic prototypes to something that is being used more and more for industrial production. It has advantages over more traditional methods of construction in that complex shapes and geometries such as hollow parts or parts…

  • Legacy Post: Prime Room Ribbon Cutting (Oct 2017)

    Hill Engineering’s new facility in Rancho Cordova, CA features a combination of laboratory, research and development, and office space. We have proudly named the primary conference room in our new facility the Prime Room, a fitting tribute to a special Hill Engineering collaborator, the inventor of the contour method, and inspirational figure, Mike Prime. We…

  • Team Member Highlight: Celebrating 10 Years with Camille

    The end of 2025 marked a special milestone for me – it was my tenth year of working at Hill Engineering! A lot has happened since then, so I’d like to share a little bit with you about how I got here. My story begins in 2014 while pursuing a double major in Aerospace Science…

  • Legacy Post: Residual Stress in Additive Manufacturing (Feb 2018)

    In previous blog posts we have discussed various issues related to residual stress in welding. Here, we’ll follow up with a more detailed look at residual stress in additive manufactured parts, which is a form of welding. Additive manufacturing processes, including powder and wire-fed E-beam and laser, produce residual stress as an undesired consequence. Residual…

  • Milestone 10th Anniversary at Gold Canal Facility

    Last week, we highlighted a legacy post celebrating our first anniversary at (what was our) new location in Rancho Cordova. Today, we’re updating that post for the milestone Tenth Anniversary on Gold Canal Drive! Originally, we moved into our current location due to an increased demand for office, laboratory, and storage space. For years, our…

  • Legacy Post: Celebrating One Year At Our New Facility (June 2017)

    On May 31, 2017, Hill Engineering celebrated our 1 year anniversary in our new facility in Rancho Cordova, CA. The new expanded facility has enabled us to work more effectively and efficiently while at the same time adding more capacity for our growing services in residual stress measurement, fatigue analysis and design, and residual stress…

  • Legacy Post: Compressive Residual Stress (Nov 2017

    We recently answered the question: What is residual stress? As a follow-up for all of our interested readers, today we are addressing the topic of compressive residual stress. Once you understand the concept of residual stress, which is stress that is locked in a material during manufacturing, it is important to distinguish between compressive residual…

  • Hill Engineering Hosts Family-Friendly Board and Video Game Party Night

    Hill Engineering recently traded residual stress measurements for friendly competition, hosting a lively board and video game night for team members and their families. The event brought colleagues together outside work hours (though still in the office), creating a relaxed atmosphere filled with camaraderie and a little bit of rivalry. Guests enjoyed plenty of pizza…

  • Legacy Post: USAF Damage Tolerance Design Philosophy

    In the early days of aviation, the concept of fatigue life was not a prime consideration in design. Aircraft did not typically have a long service life and were designed based on ultimate strength. Early aircraft failures occurred due to component/system failures, combat damage, and pilot error. Aircraft did not typically last long enough for…

  • Hill Engineering Looks Ahead to Residual Stress Technology Conference 2026 in Quebec City

    Hill Engineering is looking forward to the Residual Stress Technology Conference 2026, taking place September 28 through October 1 in Quebec City, Canada. This dynamic event brings together engineers, researchers, and industry leaders to explore the latest advances in residual stress science and their impact on material performance. RSTC 2026 marks an important evolution in…