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Brent Donaldson Editor-in-Chief
Brent Donaldson is Editor-in-Chief for Modern Machine Shop, where he is oversees the brand’s writing staff as well as day-to-day management of editorial operations. Brent also serves as a columnist and feature writer and reports regularly about his travels to machine shops, trade shows and conferences around the country and internationally. Brent is also co-host, producer and editor of Modern Machine Shop’s documentary-style podcast, “Made in the USA.”
Before joining Gardner, Brent was editor-in-chief of Northern Kentucky University Magazine — the same university from which he received his journalism degree in 2005. Brent previously served as associate editor for Cincinnati Magazine, and is the recipient of two Ohio Excellence in Journalism awards for feature news writing, Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists awards, and more than 40 individual awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education for writing and editorial.
Fun fact: Brent was the last journalist ever to interview Evel Knievel.
5 Stages of a Closed-Loop CNC Machining Cell
Controlling variability in a closed-loop manufacturing process requires inspection data collected before, during and immediately after machining — and a means to act on that data in real time. Here’s one system that accomplishes this.
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Leveraging Data to Drive Manufacturing Innovation
Global manufacturer Fictiv is rapidly expanding its use of data and artificial intelligence to help manufacturers wade through process variables and production strategies. With the release of a new AI platform for material selection, Fictive CEO Dave Evans talks about how the company is leveraging data to unlock creative problem solving for manufacturers.
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The Intersection of Work, Play, Technology and Independence
The February issue dives into digital technologies that not only streamline production, but make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
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Machining Vektek Hydraulic Swing Clamp Bodies Using Royal Products Collet Fixtures
A study in repeatable and flexible workholding by one OEM for another.
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How I Made It: Doug Schulte, Select Machining Technologies
Doug Schulte was introduced to machining as a young child, often visiting his father at the LeBlond Machine Tool company where he worked in Cincinnati. Here, Schulte — who ended up dedicating his entire career to the industry — shares some of the key insights he’s discovered along the way.
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Artificial Intelligence, Origin Stories, Machining Strategies, and the Wild Ride Ahead in 2024
The January 2024 issue of Modern Machine Shop contains several firsts. From new features to new topics and presentation styles, the debut issue of the year reflects not only a changing landscape of machining strategies, but also the stories behind the people who innovate them.
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An Open Letter to Kids About Machines and the World of Making Things
This is an open letter to middle- and high-school students about choices they’ll soon face. It is also an introduction to Career and Technical Education (CTE), the world of CNC machining, and a reminder that there are options outside of the traditional four-year college path.
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Controlling Extreme Cutting Conditions in Large-Part Machining
Newly patented technologies for controlling chatter and vibration during milling, turning and boring operations promise to drastically reduce production time and increase machining performance.
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The Resurgence of 'Shop Class' in American High Schools
From the 1990s through the 2010s, most traditional “shop classes” disappeared from middle schools and high schools across the U.S. — one of the many issues that helped create today’s skilled labor shortage in metalworking and CNC machine shops. Here’s one solution that deserves more attention.
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Increasing OEM Visibility to Shopfloor Operations for the Win
A former employee of General Motors and Tesla talks about the issues that led to shutdowns on factory lines, and what small- to medium-sized manufacturers can do today to win business from large OEMs.
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Behind Schedule Preparing for CMMC? You Are Not Alone.
The Department of Defense appears to be on track to begin a phased rollout of its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification assessment program by early 2025. What does that mean for defense contract manufacturers and suppliers?
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Process Control — Leveraging Machine Shop Connectivity in Real Time
Renishaw Central, the company’s new end-to-end process control software, offers a new methodology for producing families of parts through actionable data.
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