At a recent open house, WFL Millturn Technologies highlighted new forms of automation, tooling and process control for its sizeable turn-mill equipment.
Jeff Lewis has spent his entire life on 380 acres in Cox's Creek, Kentucky — farming it, raising a family on it, and building a precision CNC shop that now machines die inserts for major automotive OEMs. This is how all three things ended up in the same place.
Linear motion components provide the foundation for smooth axis movement on a machine tool. Here are factors to consider when choosing machines with linear motion components that are durable and effective for different machining applications.
Large-format multiprocess lathes require careful manufacturing and machine design to successfully tackle complex production challenges. A recent visit to one Basque OEM showed how it prepares swappable accessory and machine head versions of its machines for large-format turning, milling, grinding and more.
This shop owner realizes that the investment doesn’t stop at the machine when developing an efficient five-axis process.
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.
Jaw lift is a natural force that pushes parts ever so slightly out of the vise. Uncontrolled, it can throw ultra-precision parts out of tolerance. Careful planning can counter its worst effects.
The value of zero-point workholding systems is that your machine stops being tied to your setups. Once you see it that way, the day-to-day uses are easy to find.
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.
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.
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.
How can shops cut programming times for more profitable jobs today? Feature-based programming, canned cycles, associative CAD/CAM and simulation are all active innovations that improve programming efficiency while cutting cycle times.
Fully integrated CAD/CAM and revision control have enabled Willis Custom Yachts to confidently perform lights-out work for a fivefold productivity gain.
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.
At the 2026 Zoller Technology Days and Smart Manufacturing Summit, the company highlighted its Smart Manufacturing solutions, including tool management and data handling systems.
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.
Choosing between inline, near-line and offline metrology requires a process-first approach. Ask whether the measurement is controlling the process or simply evaluating its outcome.
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.
Use tap testing to generate stability maps and maximize productivity with chatter-free machining parameters.
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.
Breaking down white-light interferometry, an extreme-precision, noncontact method for measuring the most demanding surface profiles.
Acutec Precision Aerospace paired a shopfloor CMM with a robotic mill-turn cell to unlock unattended throughput without compromising a micron of quality.
As automation reshapes shopfloor roles, IMTS 2026 is doubling as a recruiting, training and retention event, matching new machines with the people who’ll run them.
TMTS 2026 showed how Taiwan’s machine tool industry is accelerating its shift toward more integrated, automated and application-focused manufacturing models. Artificial intelligence, digital monitoring, multitasking platforms and solutions for sectors such as aerospace and semiconductors defined an edition focused on increasing the technological value of Taiwanese manufacturing amid growing global competitive pressure.
The “Made in China 2025” plan transformed China into a global automation supplier. What will the U.S. do to compete?
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.
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.
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.
TASC 2025 takes place in Indianapolis this August. Attendees will be able to learn automation strategies from their peers: All information—no bluster.
New U.S.-based event announced in 2021 finally debuts next year: focuses on complete additive manufacturing value chain. More at formnextchicago.com.
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.
Half of the 16 machines in the company’s booth are world or North American debuts.
Learn more about the variety of technology and machinery Hwacheon Machinery America, Inc. is featuring at its IMTS 2024 booth.
FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.
AI has the potential to reshape manufacturing software — but first, it will require data.
Manufacturing Connected promised to close the information gap. Now that it’s live, here’s what will determine whether it delivers on that promise.
Shop owners and GMs do not need more information. They need earlier signals, clearer context and a better way to connect market movement to decisions about quoting, material, capacity and capital spending.
Better software, robots and AI raise the payoff for machine shops that have stable processes. But do they raise the cost for everyone else?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Selected from participants in MMS’ annual Top Shops Benchmarking Survey, this year’s honorees exemplify innovation, leadership and operational excellence in the machining industry.
The annual data-driven benchmarking and business improvement event now includes CNC machining and industrial finishing.
Modern Machine Shop is proud to announce the 2026 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey, opening February 1 through April 10, 2026.
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.
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.
Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.
IMTS 2026: The MX-226C ZNC sinker EDM features a programmable Z-axis that automatically controls depth and generator settings from roughing through finishing cycles, as well as conversational G- and M-code programming that simplifies programming and reduces operator learning time.
IMTS 2026: Weldon Solutions introduces the Midas Series CNC cylindrical grinding platform, designed for high-production between-centers and chucking applications with automation-ready capabilities.
IMTS 2026: Hainbuch's Centrotex system enables complete clamping device changeovers in under a minute, with repeatability of 0.003 mm or less between the machine adapter and clamping device.
IMTS 2026: Okamoto's ACC-818SA-iQ automatic surface grinder combines a heavy-duty Meehanite cast-iron base with the SA-iQ conversational control for multiposition grinding and integrated wheel profiling in a compact footprint.
IMTS 2026: Tungaloy-NTK America's DoFeedTri features double-sided inserts with six cutting edges and is designed to improve stability and productivity in complex moldmaking operations.
IMTS 2026: Blum-Novotest highlights the LC54-Digilog laser measuring system, designed for tool measurement and monitoring in micromachining applications.
Zero-point clamping can significantly reduce setup times and improve repeatability across a family of machines — but knowing where to start is often the biggest hurdle. This webinar walks through the key implementation options available to shops considering a zero-point system and the questions worth asking before one is introduced to your workflow. Whether you're new to zero-point workholding or looking to expand its use across more machines, you'll leave with a practical framework for evaluating your options and setting up for success on the shop floor.
Across every industry, manufacturers face the same challenge: robust, mechanically solid machines powered by outdated technology. While the structure remains strong, aging controls, limited flexibility and increasing maintenance risks progressively reduce performance and productivity. Instead of discarding valuable assets, we revitalize them — preserving what still delivers structural strength and reliability while upgrading the components that limit performance. Two main integration levels of machine optimization will be discussed, along with several case studies. Agenda Ingersoll - Who we are today Technology and shared product lines to react quickly to demands Integration Levels Case Studies At a Glance
Manufacturers face relentless pressure to increase throughput, shorten lead times and improve quality, often with fewer resources. Disconnected systems, manual inspection workflows and siloed data remain among the most common barriers to growth. In this webinar, Bill Berrien, CEO of Pindel Global Precision, shares how his team built a connected digital thread across engineering, inspection, production, compliance and customer delivery. Drawing on firsthand experience navigating digital transformation and quality process modernization, Berrien will walk through the operational changes, technology decisions and organizational lessons that helped Pindel reduce costs, accelerate delivery and scale more reliably. Attendees will leave with practical frameworks applicable to their own operations — whether they're early in their digital transformation or looking to close gaps in an existing quality system. Agenda Identifying and eliminating critical operational bottlenecks Strategies for reducing costs while improving delivery performance Connecting quality data across departments and systems Modernizing inspection, compliance and reporting processes Building a scalable, digital-first quality infrastructure for long-term growth
Palletized machines are among your highest-output assets and your hardest to track. An operator names a few jobs at the start of a shift, the cell cycles through them automatically and by day's end your ERP has no real record of what ran or for how long. RCO Engineering knows the problem. With roughly 600 employees across multiple campuses and a mixed environment spanning welding, stamping, tooling, mold, EDM and CNC machining for aerospace and contract work, the team's palletized cells were the hardest to track. Run times went uncaptured and keeping inventory accurate took hours of manual correction at the end of every shift. Join this session to hear from Eric Doyle, Operations Manager at RCO Engineering, for a candid look at why standard MES fell short on their most demanding machines and what changed when they augmented Epicor with MES built for palletized machining from MachineMetrics. They will share what wasn't working on the floor, how purpose-built inventory tracking brought their material data back under control and gave those manual hours back and how easier tools in operators' hands, including Max AI to answer floor-level questions on the spot, changed who actually uses the system and what the data makes possible. We will close with a look at where shop floor execution is headed next, including a preview of what MachineMetrics is bringing to IMTS 2026. Agenda Why traditional MES breaks on palletized machines. When a cell cycles through jobs and part numbers automatically, manual entry can't capture true run times or material use and that's where the data falls apart. MES that augments your ERP, not replaces it. How RCO layered MachineMetrics onto Epicor and built custom inventory tracking around their workflow, rather than forcing a one-size-fits-all template. How visibility turns into decisions. Moving from lagging counts and manual fixes to data leaders can act on, from reclaiming labor hours to justifying a new palletized cell to quoting with confidence. What's Next. A first look at how the line between ERP planning and shop floor execution is changing, ahead of IMTS 2026.
Global supply chains are under pressure. Lead times have stretched, supply is constrained by ongoing disruptions, and the traditional model of centralized production is showing its limits. Distributed manufacturing — building closer to where parts are needed — is emerging as a practical alternative. This webinar examines the microfactory model: a compact, integrated production system that combines robotic large-format additive manufacturing, multi-axis CNC milling, and AI-driven process intelligence to manufacture large industrial components at or near point of use. Nils Niemeyer, chief growth officer at Caracol, and Leslie Bush, senior customer success engineer, will walk through how the model works, what enabling technologies make it viable today, and what real deployments look like across construction, composites, and industrial manufacturing. If you are evaluating strategies to bring more production in-house, reduce supply chain exposure, or scale manufacturing capacity without a greenfield facility investment, this session is for you. Agenda The manufacturing moment: why traditional centralized production is under pressure and what the shift toward distributed manufacturing means for industrial producers The microfactory model: how the convergence of robotics, software and AI makes compact, integrated production systems viable today Technology in practice: a look at robotic large-format additive manufacturing, multi-axis CNC milling and AI-driven process intelligence working as an integrated system Real-world deployments: customer case studies across construction, composites and industrial manufacturing Getting started: what manufacturers need to evaluate before pursuing a microfactory or distributed production model
Ceramic cutting tools can significantly improve machining productivity, reduce cycle times, and increase throughput in the right applications. However, determining when to switch from carbide tooling to ceramic tooling requires an understanding of material requirements, machining conditions, and production goals. In this webinar, machining experts will explain the key differences between carbide and ceramic cutting tools and discuss the applications where ceramic tooling delivers the greatest performance advantages. Attendees will learn how ceramic tools can improve machining efficiency, support high-speed machining strategies, and help reduce overall manufacturing costs. The presentation will also cover recommended ceramic grades for common machining operations, material considerations, and practical guidance for selecting the right tooling solution for specific production environments. Join us to learn when ceramic tooling makes sense, how to maximize its performance, and where it can create measurable gains in productivity and profitability. Agenda Introductions Understanding the Differences Between Carbide and Ceramic Cutting Tools How Ceramic Tooling Improves Machining Productivity and Reduces Cycle Times Applications Where Ceramic Tooling Outperforms Carbide Selecting the Right Ceramic Grade for Specific Materials and Operations Best Practices for Implementing Ceramic Tooling in Production Environments Audience Q&A
NTMA hosts Industry 4.0 Forum & ERP Shootout on Aug. 5-6, 2026 in Troy, MI.
AWS hosts Welding Summit 2026: Improving Welding Competency on Aug. 5-7, 2026 in The Woodlands, TX.
The NTMA Southern California chapter hosts Member Tour: Moseys Production Machinists on Aug. 6, 2026 in Anaheim, CA.
The PMPA Illinois chapter hosts Chapter Social: Rockin' in the Park on Aug. 6, 2026 in Rosemont, IL.
The PMA Tennessee chapter hosts Nissan Smyrna Plant Tour 2026 on Aug. 6, 2026 in Smyrna, TN.
The AWS Nebraska chapter hosts 32nd Annual Golf Outing on Aug. 7, 2026 in Papillion, NE.
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.
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.
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.
Follow these guidelines to get the most out of aggressive roughing while improving cycle times and keeping quality intact.
Most troubleshooting fails for a simple reason: rather than conducting true root cause analysis, people start assigning causes before they properly classify behavior.
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