Computerized, point-of-use storage and dispensing systems help this shop target waste that is difficult to measure and often labor-intensive to eliminate.
When part volumes are high, and success is measured in pennies and seconds, moving away from horizontal machines requires creative thinking about robotics, cutting tools, workholding and more.
Here are few of the most common terms used in discussions and articles about developments that promise seismic shifts in virtually every sector of manufacturing.
That’s the promise of a new electrospindle design that replaces traditional tool-changing mechanisms with an integrated, eight-station tool carrier to shave seconds from any specialty application.
For this shop, moving into micron-tolerance work required not just a new machining center, but also a willingness to understand technical features and techniques that never come into play for many programmers and operators.
Based on the most frequently asked questions directed at Dorner Mfg. Corp., the company made an infographic that details various configurations and options to consider.
This recent event was hosted by a network of suppliers in a single location touting a single message: Automation isn’t necessarily time-consuming and expensive, even for smaller shops.
In addition to offering all the advantages manufacturers have come to expect from an electrospindle, this design incorporates a multistation carrier to reduce tool-change time on custom machinery and robots.