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Machine Tools See All

8 Jun 2026
Fanning’s Automated Five-Axis Formula for Success
This shop owner realizes that the investment doesn’t stop at the machine when developing an efficient five-axis process.

29 May 2026
Performing Complex Processes in Fewer Touches
High-end, complex parts and staffing the machines that make them are perennial bugbears for job shops. In this recap of DN Solutions’ 2026 Manufacturing Without Limits event, see the technology and software the OEM showcased to meet both these needs.

29 May 2026
How Might You Use a Desktop CNC Swiss-Type?
This compact machine could be valuable for education and training purposes as well as low-volume production work that shops might not want to run on their traditional Swiss-types.

4 May 2026
Three Ways to Succeed in a New Market
Making parts for a new industry can be profitable but requires a clear plan to smooth the process. Learn from three shops that have thrived since choosing to target additional markets.

1 May 2026
Methods’ CoE Builds Hands-On Foundation for Customer Success
Machine repair threatens to become a lost art. Methods Machine Tools is fighting this entropy with its new Center of Excellence, which is set to provide training on both top-of-the-line and legacy machine tools.

18 Mar 2026
Five Strategies for Building Your Job Shop's Niche
Staking out a niche can help your job shop win repeat business and steady revenue. Discover how several successful job shops have claimed theirs.
Tooling See All

2 Jun 2026
Lang Technik USA Scales Up (And Down) In New Facility
Lang’s new Wisconsin facility, which will become the first U.S. manufacturing site for the company, showcases larger modular workholding products and more compact automation.

22 May 2026
A Framework for Limiting Tool Wear in Machining
Because tool costs can be significant, selecting a process plan that limits tool wear to an acceptable, predictable level is important for machining. Consider these metalcutting wear mechanisms to get the most out of your tooling.

8 Apr 2026
Extend Tool Life with Tooling, Toolpath and CAM Developments
Advanced tooling and tool path strategies can do just as much as a new machine tool to cut cycle times and improve tool life. Learn from tooling specialists about recent optimizations, as well as the tool paths and advanced CAM features they see improving job shops’ productivity.

3 Apr 2026
Cut Cycle Times Through an HPC and HSM Ecosystem
High-performance tooling can make deep cuts in your cycle times, but requires the right preparations to make full use of it. Sandvik’s Chris Monroe walks us through some of the considerations for making the best use of today’s advanced tooling.

30 Mar 2026
When Machinists Own the Tools: How to Standardize Setups Without a Toolroom
How one shop standardized repeatable setups without a toolroom by using operation-level tool lists, location discipline and a pragmatic ERP workflow.

16 Mar 2026
Methods for Threading Blind Holes in Thin Materials
Struggling with blind holes in thin materials? Use these drill point strategies, tap selections and clearance tips to maximize usable thread depth and meet pull-out specs without redesigning the part.
Software See All

5 Jun 2026
Why Slow Quoting Is Costing U.S. Machine Shops Work
A shop can have the right machines, people and capacity — and still lose the job. The reason may be quoting speed. This AI tool is built to close that gap.

29 May 2026
Performing Complex Processes in Fewer Touches
High-end, complex parts and staffing the machines that make them are perennial bugbears for job shops. In this recap of DN Solutions’ 2026 Manufacturing Without Limits event, see the technology and software the OEM showcased to meet both these needs.

28 May 2026
Zoller Smart Manufacturing Summit Highlights TMS Capabilities
At the 2026 Zoller Technology Days and Smart Manufacturing Summit, the company highlighted its Smart Manufacturing solutions, including tool management and data handling systems.

27 May 2026
Advanced CAM Features Cut Programming and Cycle Times
Feature-based programming automation, advanced tool support and high-precision tool paths all share one goal: Improve the programmer’s ability to get things done. Learn more about the cutting edge of programming your cutting edge.

1 May 2026
Methods’ CoE Builds Hands-On Foundation for Customer Success
Machine repair threatens to become a lost art. Methods Machine Tools is fighting this entropy with its new Center of Excellence, which is set to provide training on both top-of-the-line and legacy machine tools.

24 Apr 2026
Machine Monitoring Boosts Five-Axis Utilization by 46%
Coastal Machine and Supply has made great strides into defense and space work, but needed machine monitoring to keep its momentum. It may be in the early days of implementation, but utilization has already soared.
Measurement See All

15 May 2026
When Size Dimensions Aren't Enough
A lot of what makes modern machining difficult isn’t whether a dimension falls within tolerance; it’s whether the shape actually works once the part is in service. That’s where contour measuring instruments comes into play.

17 Apr 2026
How to Stabilize Machining With Tap Testing
Use tap testing to generate stability maps and maximize productivity with chatter-free machining parameters.

15 Apr 2026
How I Made It: George Schuetz, Director of Precision Gages, Mahr Inc.
George Schuetz has written the Quality Gaging Tips column since 1993. As he hands it off to the next generation, hear his thoughts on the column and what it has brought to his role at Mahr.

27 Mar 2026
How White-Light Interferometry Enables Nanometer Surface Height Measurement of Critical Components
Breaking down white-light interferometry, an extreme-precision, noncontact method for measuring the most demanding surface profiles.

25 Mar 2026
Integrated Metrology Solution Powers Lights-Out Aerospace Production
Acutec Precision Aerospace paired a shopfloor CMM with a robotic mill-turn cell to unlock unattended throughput without compromising a micron of quality.

9 Mar 2026
Achieving More Versatility from Three-Point Gaging
Advancements in digital three-point micrometers enable more precise bore measurements with a self-aligning design, interchangeable heads and wireless data collection.
Automation See All

8 Jun 2026
Fanning’s Automated Five-Axis Formula for Success
This shop owner realizes that the investment doesn’t stop at the machine when developing an efficient five-axis process.

5 Jun 2026
Why Slow Quoting Is Costing U.S. Machine Shops Work
A shop can have the right machines, people and capacity — and still lose the job. The reason may be quoting speed. This AI tool is built to close that gap.

2 Jun 2026
Lang Technik USA Scales Up (And Down) In New Facility
Lang’s new Wisconsin facility, which will become the first U.S. manufacturing site for the company, showcases larger modular workholding products and more compact automation.

1 Jun 2026
Before You Automate, Learn to Stop
Better software, robots and AI raise the payoff for machine shops that have stable processes. But do they raise the cost for everyone else?

29 May 2026
Performing Complex Processes in Fewer Touches
High-end, complex parts and staffing the machines that make them are perennial bugbears for job shops. In this recap of DN Solutions’ 2026 Manufacturing Without Limits event, see the technology and software the OEM showcased to meet both these needs.

28 May 2026
Zoller Smart Manufacturing Summit Highlights TMS Capabilities
At the 2026 Zoller Technology Days and Smart Manufacturing Summit, the company highlighted its Smart Manufacturing solutions, including tool management and data handling systems.
TASC See All

27 Oct 2025 Automation
The Strategy Gap: Why U.S. Job Shops Must Close It From the Ground Up
The “Made in China 2025” plan transformed China into a global automation supplier. What will the U.S. do to compete?

13 Aug 2025 Automation
What CNC Taught Us About Adopting AI in Manufacturing
Modern Machine Shop was early to cover CNC when others weren’t. Now, as AI pushes into programming, optimization and robotics, we need to separate production-ready tools from overpromised tech.

2 Jul 2025 Automation
Last Chance for the TASC Early-Bird Discount!
TASC is a one-of-a-kind, two-day automation conference designed to drive efficiency, quality and scalability at U.S. job shops. Register now through July 11 to receive early-bird pricing and discover practical automation solutions tailored for small-and mid-sized shops.

18 Jun 2025 Automation
Lessons That Matter for the Future of Automated Job Shops
The Automated Shop Conference (TASC, August 12–13) is designed for job shop leaders looking to implement automation in practical, high-impact ways — from lights-out machining to AI-driven programming and front-office integration. Here are 10 standout sessions led by shop owners, engineers and innovators who are pushing automation forward without massive budgets or unrealistic expectations.

10 Jun 2025
Register for TASC: The Automated Shop Conference

4 Feb 2025
Why Add TASC to Your List?
TASC 2025 takes place in Indianapolis this August. Attendees will be able to learn automation strategies from their peers: All information—no bluster.
IMTS See All

13 Sep 2024
Coming to McCormick Place in April: Additive FOR Manufacturing at Formnext Chicago
New U.S.-based event announced in 2021 finally debuts next year: focuses on complete additive manufacturing value chain. More at formnextchicago.com.

12 Sep 2024
Chiron Group Unveils Virtual Showroom & Live Demos at IMTS 2024
Chiron Group combines the best of both worlds at IMTS 2024, featuring live demonstrations of their Micro5 and Mill 2000 machines, alongside a cutting-edge virtual showroom. This innovative approach allows visitors to explore Chiron’s full product lineup without the logistical challenges of transporting large equipment.

12 Sep 2024
JTEKT Debuts Eight Machines at IMTS
Half of the 16 machines in the company’s booth are world or North American debuts.

12 Sep 2024
Go Big or Go Home: Hwacheon Displays a Wide Variety of Machinery at IMTS 2024
Learn more about the variety of technology and machinery Hwacheon Machinery America, Inc. is featuring at its IMTS 2024 booth.

12 Sep 2024
FANUC Details Robotic Vision, ROBODRILLS and More at IMTS 2024
FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.

11 Sep 2024
AI, Data and the Digital Manufacturing Future
AI has the potential to reshape manufacturing software — but first, it will require data.
Columns See All

1 Jun 2026
Before You Automate, Learn to Stop
Better software, robots and AI raise the payoff for machine shops that have stable processes. But do they raise the cost for everyone else?

15 May 2026
When Size Dimensions Aren't Enough
A lot of what makes modern machining difficult isn’t whether a dimension falls within tolerance; it’s whether the shape actually works once the part is in service. That’s where contour measuring instruments comes into play.

13 May 2026
3 Principles to Achieve Test Cuts Worth Trusting
A test cut — justified by specific risk, designed on a clean canvas and used to confirm rather than analyze — can expose if uncommon machining traits fit your needs.

29 Apr 2026
When Buffers Do the Work and When Your Process Should
From inventory and cycle-time margins to inspection and data flow, how improved process control is changing what buffers have to carry and what happens when they’re removed too soon.

10 Apr 2026
How to Scale Production With the Right Adjustments at the Right Times
Volume machining teaches you on a delay. Some lessons are available on part one, some take a shift and some won’t show up for weeks. The timeline matters. Here’s how to read it from the first part to the last.

27 Mar 2026
How White-Light Interferometry Enables Nanometer Surface Height Measurement of Critical Components
Breaking down white-light interferometry, an extreme-precision, noncontact method for measuring the most demanding surface profiles.
View From My Shop See All

1 Apr 2026
Inside a Next-Gen Aerospace Machine Shop Running 24/7 Lights-Out | Shop Tour
Lights-out manufacturing boosts throughput while ensuring machinists take on only the tasks that matter. Acutec Precision Aerospace knows this—and uses it as the foundation for an innovative, successful shop.

13 Jan 2026
Shop Tour Video: How to Integrate Additive and Subtractive Machining
Addman Advanced Metals has scaled from a single 3D printer to 25 while also building out a robust array of subtractive machines. In this video, find out how the shop manages its additive and subtractive workflows — and how it combines the two into a profitable niche.

22 Oct 2025
Setting the Stage for Swiss Machining Success: Shop Tour Video
Nine machines, two machinists. What technologies have enabled Midway Swiss Turn to operate at this level of lean staffing? Find out in this shop tour.

22 Jul 2025
Video Interview: Programming Faster and Winning Jobs with AI CAM Software
Part programming can become a bottleneck, one that only gets longer as part complexity increases. MSP has cut down this bottleneck through AI-powered CAM software. Get the details inside.

26 Jun 2025
OEM Tour Video: Lean Manufacturing for Measurement and Metrology
How can a facility that requires manual work for some long-standing parts be made more efficient? Join us as we look inside The L. S. Starrett Company’s headquarters in Athol, Massachusetts, and see how this long-established OEM is updating its processes.

6 May 2025
Shop Tour Video: Inside an Aviation & Defense Machine Shop
Grants. Software. Process consolidation. These three pillars can bring new life to a shop, enabling it to take on more complex jobs with faster turnarounds. In this shop tour, find out how MSP Manufacturing has used each pillar to solidify itself as a reliable partner for defense and aerospace companies.
Made in the USA Podcast See All

11 Apr 2023
Made in the USA - Season 2 Episode 6: Why, and How, Hardinge is Reshoring Machine Tool Production
In this episode of Made in the USA, several executives and senior staff at Hardinge give their first-person account of how they formulated the plan to shift the manufacturing of its milling and turning product lines from its Taiwan plant to its plant in Elmira, New York, the major challenges they encountered and the rewards that made it worth the effort.

7 Mar 2023
Made in the USA - Season 2 Episode 4: A Measured Approach
The L.S. Starrett Co. has been manufacturing precision measurement tools in Athol, Massachusetts, since 1880. Attention to U.S. manufacturing often focuses on reshoring manufacturing from other countries, but Starrett never left. The facility in Athol employs hundreds and produces thousands of tools that remain vital for measurement in machining and other fields.

21 Feb 2023
Made in the USA - Season 2 Episode 3: The Robots Come Home
The latest episode “Made in the USA” podcast explores a company that uses collaborative robots, one of the key tools helping US machine shops and other manufacturers compete with lower cost countries by automating production.

7 Feb 2023
Made in the USA - Season 2 Episode 2: Man, No Smoke!
When Puneet and Neelam Neotia moved from India to the United States several years ago, they brought with them a family background in manufacturing and CNC machining. Now the couple is working to get their startup machine shop off the ground, sourcing new customers and getting the word out about their shop in Clarksville, Indiana. The couple — proud to publicize their "Made in the USA" parts — is leveraging family connections and manufacturing capabilities back in India, but not in the way that some people assume.

24 Jan 2023
Made in the USA - Season 2 Episode 1: A Return From China
Entrepreneur Scott Colosimo found early success in China producing parts for his Cleveland-based motorcycle company in the mid-2000s. This is the story of how IP theft issues overwhelmed the business, prompting Colosimo and his team to start over from scratch — and move production back to the United States.

12 Jan 2023
Made in the USA – Season 1 Episode 6: The Way Forward
So far, Made in the USA has looked into system-wide effects of broken supply chains, automation, skilled workforce issues and our perception of manufacturing jobs — examining each topic through a prism of individual experiences. For this final episode for Season 1, let’s look at one more system-wide question and bring it back to personal perspectives: Is there today a new dawn, a new moment for American manufacturing?
Top Shops Benchmarking See All

20 Apr 2026 Top Shops
Top Shops Conference Expands, Adds Products Finishing
The annual data-driven benchmarking and business improvement event now includes CNC machining and industrial finishing.

1 Apr 2026 Top Shops
Modern Machine Shop’s 2026 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey Goes Live Feb. 1
Modern Machine Shop is proud to announce the 2026 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey, opening February 1 through April 10, 2026.

15 Dec 2025 Top Shops
Proactivity Generates Success: Takeaways from Top Shops 2025
What sets a Top Shop apart from other shops? Industry leaders explored this question at the 2025 Top Shops Conference and found a common answer: proactive, intentional purchases and systems planning.

12 Nov 2025 Aerospace
Machining with a Mission
Learn how veteran-owned shop Win-Tech not only excels in aerospace and defense manufacturing with CMMC level two compliance, but also transforms lives by hiring veterans and encouraging students to explore manufacturing.

27 Oct 2025 Automation
The Strategy Gap: Why U.S. Job Shops Must Close It From the Ground Up
The “Made in China 2025” plan transformed China into a global automation supplier. What will the U.S. do to compete?

1 Oct 2025 Top Shops
Inside the Top Shops Program: How Benchmarking Identifies Industry Leaders
Discrete parts manufacturing is defined by complexity and tight margins. The 2025 Top Shops honorees show how leading shops turn those pressures into strengths, using technology, culture and strategy to compete. Join them in Charlotte, North Carolina, this November to see what the top 20% are doing differently.
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Videos See All

1 Apr 2026 Aerospace
Inside a Next-Gen Aerospace Machine Shop Running 24/7 Lights-Out | Shop Tour
Lights-out manufacturing boosts throughput while ensuring machinists take on only the tasks that matter. Acutec Precision Aerospace knows this—and uses it as the foundation for an innovative, successful shop.

13 Jan 2026 Basics
Shop Tour Video: How to Integrate Additive and Subtractive Machining
Addman Advanced Metals has scaled from a single 3D printer to 25 while also building out a robust array of subtractive machines. In this video, find out how the shop manages its additive and subtractive workflows — and how it combines the two into a profitable niche.

22 Oct 2025 Five-Axis
Setting the Stage for Swiss Machining Success: Shop Tour Video
Nine machines, two machinists. What technologies have enabled Midway Swiss Turn to operate at this level of lean staffing? Find out in this shop tour.

22 Jul 2025 CAD/CAM
Video Interview: Programming Faster and Winning Jobs with AI CAM Software
Part programming can become a bottleneck, one that only gets longer as part complexity increases. MSP has cut down this bottleneck through AI-powered CAM software. Get the details inside.

26 Jun 2025 View From My Shop
OEM Tour Video: Lean Manufacturing for Measurement and Metrology
How can a facility that requires manual work for some long-standing parts be made more efficient? Join us as we look inside The L. S. Starrett Company’s headquarters in Athol, Massachusetts, and see how this long-established OEM is updating its processes.

6 May 2025 View From My Shop
Shop Tour Video: Inside an Aviation & Defense Machine Shop
Grants. Software. Process consolidation. These three pillars can bring new life to a shop, enabling it to take on more complex jobs with faster turnarounds. In this shop tour, find out how MSP Manufacturing has used each pillar to solidify itself as a reliable partner for defense and aerospace companies.
News & Products See All

8 Jun 2026 Measurement
Nikon Laser Radar Provides High-Speed, Precision Measurement in Compact Design
Nikon Corp.’s APDIS MV5X Laser Radar provides up to six times faster scanning than previous models and a lightweight form for enhanced manufacturing quality control.

8 Jun 2026 Additive Manufacturing
Mastrex Metal 3D Printer Supports Industrial AM Accessibility
Mastrex’s MX300 laser powder bed fusion metal 3D printer is compatible with titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, cobalt-chrome, Inconel and more, designed for aerospace, defense and medical applications.

5 Jun 2026 Laser & Waterjet
Trumpf Laser Cutting Machine Provides Flexible Tube Processing
Trumpf's TruLaser Tube 7000 delivers 9 kW of laser power, expanded tube size capacity and intelligent quality features to boost throughput and cut costs per part.

3 Jun 2026 Workholding
Wilton Vises Provide Durable Performance for Range of Workpieces
Wilton expands its Apprentice vise line to include six models suitable for small shop owners, automotive mechanics and MRO technicians.

1 Jun 2026 Machining Centers
Fryer Toolroom Bed Mill Features Conversational Control
Fryer’s MB-R mill is designed for ease of use through its conversational control, fast setup keys and simple menu programming, which enables both single- and multipart operations to be done quickly and efficiently.

29 May 2026
CONTRAX Austin Expands Program and Industry Partnerships
The inaugural contract manufacturing event hosted by Gardner Business Media takes place June 24-25, 2026 in Austin, Texas. Don’t miss it: Registration is open and free for qualified attendees.
Webinars See All

23 Jun 2026
Grooving That Pays: How Job Shops Cut Cost per Part Through Process Optimization
In the 2026 job shop, the traditional metric of tool life is no longer sufficient to maintain a competitive advantage. As material costs rise and skilled labor remains at a premium, profitability increasingly depends on a holistic approach to grooving operations.This technical webinar examines how forward-thinking job shops are reducing costs per part by shifting focus from insert longevity to total process optimization. The first half addresses the foundational pillars of productivity. While many shops concentrate on insert savings, enhancing process stability and aggressive parameter management yields greater returns on the bottom line. Attendees will explore how increasing cutting speeds and feed rates — supported by next-generation chip control and high-pressure coolant delivery — reduces the impact of machinery, labor and overhead costs. By shortening cycle times and ensuring first-part-correct stability, shops can reclaim machine capacity and lower the total cost burden per component.The second half focuses on the unique challenges of the job shop environment. Unlike high-volume production settings, job shops must efficiently handle small batch sizes and frequent changeovers. The webinar will address strategic solutions for the limited-station dilemma, including how modular tooling and multi-functional grooving geometries can reduce the number of tools required in the turret. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for cutting cycle time, simplifying operations and improving profitability.AgendaReduced setup times: Utilizing quick-change systems that ensure center-height accuracy without trial cutsOperational consistency: Implementing predictable wear patterns that allow for repeatable, unattended machining, even on uncommon parts or difficult alloysInventory lean-out: Consolidating tool libraries to reduce the administrative and financial burden of excess stock

9 Jul 2026
What's New in Mastercam 2027: Workflow Improvements Across Multiaxis, Pocketing, MillTurn and More
As CAM complexity grows, small workflow inefficiencies add up across the shop. This webinar walks through the key updates in Mastercam 2027, covering practical changes to Deburr toolpath automation, Multiaxis gouge avoidance, Unified toolpath behavior, Pocketing entry strategies and MillTurn synchronization—along with expanded global language support.AgendaOverview of key workflow improvements in Mastercam 2027 Deep dive into Multiaxis and MillTurn updates for complex part setups Review of new Pocketing and Unified strategies and their impact on cycle time

On Demand
AI-Powered CAM: Lightning Fast, Fully Secure, No Cloud Required
Discover how AI-powered CAM is transforming manufacturing with unmatched speed, automation and security — without the need for the cloud. See how HCL CAMWorks delivers faster programming, smarter toolpaths and complete control of your data in a fully on-premise environment.Join us to see how AI-powered CAM is redefining performance, security and flexibility in modern manufacturing, enabling your shop to stay competitive, reduce errors and bring high-precision parts to market faster than ever before. AgendaAccelerate programming with AI-powered automationAchieve lightning-fast toolpath generation and reduced cycle timesCapture your best practices to automate the programming processMaintain full data security with no cloud dependencyDrive faster ROI with more efficient workflowsProgram a wide range of machines with confidence, including complex mill-turn and Swiss turn environments

On Demand
From Machine Data to Guided Action: How Modern Shops Are Closing the Execution Gap
Your shop floor generates data every second. For most manufacturers, that data never becomes a decision.Tool changes get missed. Schedules drift. Supervisors spend the first hour of every shift reconstructing the last one. The gap between what your machines know and what your team can act on is the execution gap, and it is costing shops in downtime, missed deliveries and the hours their best people spend chasing information instead of running production.MachineMetrics is an AI-powered manufacturing operations platform built for discrete manufacturers. By connecting directly to machines and integrating with an ERP, MachineMetrics gives every role across an operation a live picture of production reality, so teams can stop reacting and start executing.In this session, MachineMetrics Product Manager Josh Fish is joined by Thomas Deslongchamps, director of training and continuous improvement at Pindel Global Precision, for a candid look at what closing the execution gap actually looks like inside a precision machining shop. Deslongchamps will share how Pindel is using automated workflows, Max AI and real-time OEE metrics to build a shop floor that runs on data instead of instinct.

On Demand
Next-Gen CAM: Navigating the Future of Intelligent Programming
Get an exclusive early look at what’s coming in Mastercam 2027. In this preview webinar, we’ll highlight upcoming innovations designed to make CNC programming faster, smarter and more connected across your manufacturing workflows. Join our product expert to see how Mastercam continues to evolve to meet the real-world needs of modern shops and programmers. Discover what’s next and how it can help you stay competitive.

On Demand
Scaling Robot Integration Through AI-Native Frameworks
Traditional robotic deployment methods are hitting a ceiling as manufacturing shifts toward high-mix production. For system integrators, scaling these systems often requires exhaustive custom coding and rigid environments that struggle with variability. This session presented by Trener examines the transition to AI-native application platforms and how a hardware-agnostic approach can bridge the gap between complex artificial intelligence and industrial reliability. Participants will explore how a standardized integration suite allows for the deployment of adaptive applications, such as machine tending, across mixed fleets including Fanuc, ABB, and Universal Robots. By moving away from vendor-specific silos, integrators can shorten commissioning timelines and reduce the risk of custom code debt. Agenda Analyzing why static programming fails in high-variability environments. Maintaining a single logic layer across mixed fleets to simplify staff training. A technical look at using pretrained AI for tasks like machine tending. Leveraging simulation and real-time monitoring to de-risk deployments. Methods for reducing engineering hours per cell and improving resilience. Transitioning from a labor-intensive model to a scalable automation business. A deep-dive video demonstration of the software in a live robot cell, featuring a side-by-side "before vs. after" performance analysis, technical specifications, and a first-hand testimonial from the system integrator on overcoming deployment hurdles.

16 Jun 2026 New & Upcoming
Overcoming Automation Barriers in Metalworking: A Practical Guide for Machine Shops Register Now
Events See All

22 Jun 2026
Automate 2026
As the largest robotics and automation event in the Americas, this is the place for anyone working with or curious about automation. Join us in discovering what’s next – for you and the world.

24 Jun 2026
CONTRAX Austin 2026
CONTRAX events connect buyers and suppliers of American contract manufacturing services. From concept to contract, CONTRAX showcases North America’s premier industrial parts producers and service providers – leaders in design engineering, 3D printing and prototyping, CNC machining, casting, metal forming and fabricating, injection molding, surface treatment, parts finishing and systems integration. CONTRAX mission is to grow North American manufacturing by showcasing suppliers equipped to support the growing demand for advanced manufacturing production and services. Businesses looking to expand their supply base, take product to market or address production, services, reshoring, onshoring or nearshoring needs can turn to CONTRAX to find the companies, content and insights for solving and staying ahead of supply chain challenges.

7 Jul 2026
Parts Cleaning Conference
The Parts Cleaning Conference (PCC) is a three-day event for learning, innovation, regulation and networking in industrial parts cleaning. At the Parts Cleaning Conference, you’ll gain actionable insights with practical solutions for today's toughest cleaning challenges, learn from top minds in manufacturing and cleaning technology, explore new tools, equipment and sustainable approaches and gain valuable connections.

24 Aug 2026
National Composites Week 2026
Celebrate National Composites Week 2026! The goal of National Composites Week is to celebrate and bring attention to the myriad ways that composite materials and composites manufacturing contribute to the products and structures that shape the American manufacturing landscape today. Learn how you can participate in this year's National Composites Week on NationalCompositesWeek.com.

14 Sep 2026
IMTS 2026
IMTS 2026 will be held September 14-19, 2026 at McCormick Place, Chicago.Manufacturers achieve the impossible at IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show by pushing the boundaries of innovation, forming lasting connections and discovering advancements redefining manufacturing.As the largest trade show in the Western Hemisphere, IMTS draws the innovators, sellers and drivers of manufacturing technology together to connect, be inspired and find new solutions.

15 Sep 2026
AM+ Workshop: Aerospace & Defense
Presented by Additive Manufacturing Media, Modern Machine Shop & Manufacturing Connected. Additive manufacturing is transforming defense and aerospace manufacturing by enabling flexible and responsive manufacturing of critical parts. AM makes it possible to rapidly ramp up or scale production of drones, hypersonic engines, spare parts and more without the challenges of hard tooling. This half-day workshop will highlight how military contractors, aerospace OEMs and others are applying additive manufacturing to achieve significant lead time reductions, cost savings and accelerated innovation. The program is designed for current and future additive manufacturers serving the defense and aerospace markets with end-use parts.

9 Jun 2026 New & Upcoming
Gear Up For Precision 2026 Register Now
Ask the Expert See All

13 May 2026 Basics
3 Principles to Achieve Test Cuts Worth Trusting
A test cut — justified by specific risk, designed on a clean canvas and used to confirm rather than analyze — can expose if uncommon machining traits fit your needs.

10 Apr 2026 Basics
How to Scale Production With the Right Adjustments at the Right Times
Volume machining teaches you on a delay. Some lessons are available on part one, some take a shift and some won’t show up for weeks. The timeline matters. Here’s how to read it from the first part to the last.

16 Mar 2026 Holemaking
Methods for Threading Blind Holes in Thin Materials
Struggling with blind holes in thin materials? Use these drill point strategies, tap selections and clearance tips to maximize usable thread depth and meet pull-out specs without redesigning the part.

13 Feb 2026 Basics
7 Steps to Optimize Aggressive Roughing Operations
Follow these guidelines to get the most out of aggressive roughing while improving cycle times and keeping quality intact.

21 Jan 2026
Troubleshooting Processes Experiencing Drift or Shift
Most troubleshooting fails for a simple reason: rather than conducting true root cause analysis, people start assigning causes before they properly classify behavior.

17 Dec 2025
What Makes High-Volume Machining Different?
The same principles that make a good low-volume process also make a good high-volume process. The difference is that production requires you to be intentional everywhere you used to rely on instinct.
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Five-Axis 8 Jun 2026

Fanning’s Automated Five-Axis Formula for Success
Shop Management Software 5 Jun 2026

Why Slow Quoting Is Costing U.S. Machine Shops Work
How I Made It 3 Jun 2026

How I Made It: Amanda Florenca
Workforce Development 6 Jul 2026

How I Made It: Melissa Ramos, Owner, M95 Machining
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Published 03/27/2008

Lubricant For Tube-Bending Applications

Metalworking Fluids

Edited by: MMS Editorial Team

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Metal Mates JL-12 is an opaque gel formulated specifically for tube-bending applications. It can be pumped or hand-applied directly to the tube or bending mandrels, leaving a clean coating that will not build up over time.

ITW Rocol says it designed the gel to stay where it is applied, eliminating the mess of conventional lubricants. Virtually no cleaning is required before welding, and it is easily cleaned before paint or plating. According to the company, the gel enables cost savings by reducing consumption and improving housekeeping as well as tool or mandrel life.

The gel is supplied ready to use and is available in 5- and 55-gallon containers.