 |
Derek Korn,
Senior Editor
e-mail
|
Tell Us About Your Investments In Machining Technologies
The current economic situation is unlike anything we’ve seen before. So, what does it really mean for metalworking businesses?
We’d like you to share your views about how the downturn is affecting investment plans for your shop. We’d like your input! Please click on the link below and take our brief survey. We’ll report the results in next month’s MMS Extra newsletter, so you’ll be among the first to know. You may even win a $100 Visa gift card.
Thank you very much for your time and your insights.
 Click here to complete the survey and be entered to win $100.
Industry Info
Tax Breaks Extended
Last week, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Opinions vary as to how quickly this initiative will jump-start our economy. That said, the law does contain tax incentives that will decrease your overall cost for new equipment purchased this year.
Plante & Moran, one of the country’s largest CPA and business advisory firms, notes that the law provides businesses with more than $75 billion in tax benefits for 2009 and 2010. It does so by extending bonus depreciation, increasing Code Section 179 expensing, allowing a 5-year carryback of net operating losses to small businesses and providing other business-related incentives.
This InMotion presentation runs through the depreciation rules for capital equipment and details three components of the tax savings that a shop or manufacturer might realize on new equipment.
Inbox Insights
Photo Studio For Your Machined Parts
Mark Two Engineering, the medical shop profiled in this January story, uses the inexpensive “photo studio” shown here to capture images of the small, intricate parts it produces. The shop uses those photos for its Web site and other promotional materials to demonstrate its complex machining capabilities.
The studio consists of a collapsible soft-lighting diffusion box, a camera stand, lights and backgrounds. You can get really good results if you have just a halfway decent camera. If you think having your own photo studio would be an asset to your company or shop, I suggest Googling “photo studio in a box” to find the cheapest price. Most are less than $150.
RE: Your Thoughts
The First Mill Is The Hardest
In the previous edition off MMS Extra, we posed this question we received from a reader:
“Can someone make money with one Bridgeport mill? I’m thinking about starting small with one mill in my home shop. Is it worth it? Will I be able to grow and buy more machines?”
We received a number of great responses. Read them here.
Be There
PMTS & MoldMaking Expo 
This year PMTS, the Precision Machining Technology Show, returns to the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. The fifth edition of the show runs April 28-30. Presented by the Precision Machined Products Association and co-presented by our magazine and Production Machining, the biennial PMTS showcases products and services dedicated to the production of precision machined parts.
Registration is also open for MoldMaking Expo, a show we cosponsor with MoldMaking Technology that is devoted to technologies and strategies used in moldmaking and rapid manufacturing. The show runs from June 22-26 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. It is co-located with the National Plastics Exposition (NPE) and the inaugural Time Compression Conference & Expo (TC Expo).
If you plan to attend, don’t forget to sign up for the technical conferences offered at both PMTS and MoldMaking Expo.
 Our Next Issue
Machining For Aerospace
Modern Machine Shop’s March issue includes special coverage of machining technologies for aerospace applications. This thorough coverage addresses machining strategies for the three primary airframe materials—aluminum, titanium and composites. These articles push to bonus content found in our recently expanded Aerospace Machining Zone. The March issue will also highlight products to be displayed at the WESTEC show, which will take place in Los Angeles, California March 30-April 2.
Subscribe now or renew your subscription.
Newly Posted Products
From The Product Repository Of MMS Online
|
