Solid Construction and Fourth Axis Are Highlights of Shop’s Newest VMC
A vertical machining center with a fourth axis from Kent USA enables Mega Industries LLC to serve national laboratories quickly and accurately.
Centralized Filtration Key to Company Growth
By investing in a Transor Filter System, Advanced Tooling Inc. was able to immediately improve cycle times and gain a consistent cutting environment.
Integrated CAM Software Automates Data Transition From Engineering to Production
By switching to CAMWorks software, Decimal Engineering was able to boost its throughput and quality while saving time and money.
Automated Part Setup Maximizes Machine Utilization for Additive Manufacturing
MSP recently worked with Renishaw PLC to automate part setup and improve productivity for 3T Additive Manufacturing Ltd., helping cut part setup time from 5 hours to 10 minutes.
The Case for Abrasive Finishing Tools in CNC Applications
According to Brush Research Manufacturing, abrasive finishing tools do not release large amounts of grit into a machine’s coolant. Hear from three shops using these tools.
Portal Milling Machine Provides Years of Smooth Operation
Neuman & Esser uses their eight-year-old Droop+Rein from Starrag as a “workhorse” for complete machining.
Standardizing on the Mazak Brand Eases Shop’s Training Process
Choosing a single brand of machine tools enables Ketchie Inc.’s operators to be self-sufficient. They can quickly learn to set up and program virtually any machine in the shop.
Large Equipment Offerings Buoyed by New CNC
To complement the strengths of many of its larger machine tools, Tarus has added a Heidenhain CNC to benefit those manufacturers seeking high-quality contour surface milling capabilities.
High-Torque Retention Knobs Solve Aerospace Milling Production Challenge
L.H. Thomson exclusively uses high-torque retention knobs from JM Performance Products on every tool on its machines to improve heavy milling on titanium and stainless steel parts.
Air Casters Keep Shop Floors Damage-Free
Using air casters from AeroGo helps machine tool manufacturer AgieCharmilles, a division of GF Machining Solutions, move equipment around its showroom without denting or scratching its new epoxy floor.
Quality Control Process Improved with Real-Time Data Collection, Analysis
Pinnacle Machine Works uses Mitutoyo’s MeasurLink data collection and SPC software to make the QC process more efficient and accurate.
Synthetic Cutting Fluid Keeps Shop Cleaner without Sacrificing Performance
Sometimes synthetic metalworking fluids end up negatively impacting tool life when used with tough materials. Wells Manufacturing overcame that issue when it converted to a new product from Blaser Swisslube.
ERP Makes Documentation Fast, Paperless
Touchscreen interfaces and digitized part and job data are the latest examples of an aerospace manufacturer taking advantage of its shop management software.
CAD/CAM Software Helps Shops Shift to Coronavirus Work
A sampling of CNC machine shops serving a variety of industries have this in common: They are using Mastercam CAD/CAM software to shift their focus and quickly produce medical supplies necessary to aid in responding to the coronavirus.
New Business Plan Enables Shop to Increase Ventilator Part Production
KrisDee and Associates was able to increase production of a ventilator manifold from 90 parts per week to 780 parts per week thanks to changes the company started making months earlier.
How One CNC Machine Shop Embraced Through-Tool High-Pressure Coolant
Instead of flooding the cutting zone with coolant, Burr Oak Tool uses LNS ChipBlaster systems to better control coolant flow and pressure, improving tool life and productivity.
Ease of Use Is Key for Shopfloor CMM Inspection
This San Diego manufacturing company simplifies its inspection processes with equipment from Keyence.
New CMMs Gather More Data, Faster, for Automotive QC Department
Continental’s single-touch-probe CMM was bogging down quality control and limiting the information the company could glean for safety inspections. Two Altera CMMs from LK Metrology cut cycle times and increased insight.
Small Shop Achieves Logistical Autonomy with MES
A small laser shop depended on its parent company for invoicing while the shop manager had to juggle both orders and manufacturing. Workplan helped the shop become autonomous.
Swiss-Type Lathe Helps Medical Shop Achieve Higher Precision
After a new Swiss-type lathe exceeded company management’s expectations in terms of both performance and efficiency, the lathe is now included in plans for future applications.
Shop Reins in Lead Times with Compact HMCs
Alicat Science experienced a surge in business that drove lead times to 28 days. KMH300A horizontal machining centers reduced lead times to five days and gave the shop the capacity for subsequent business growth.
Multitasking Forms Hub of Shop’s Propeller Production Efficiency
Outsourcing machining for complex hub assemblies resulted in months-long lead times and lack of control. A Mazak multitasking machine allowed Whirlwind Propellers to bring production in house.
Communication Clears Machine Monitoring's Morale Hurdles
When pen-and-paper methods of tracking job efficiency left AccuRounds’ engineers and managers in the dark, the shop switched to MachineMetrics. But machine monitoring brought morale challenges along with it.
Shop Hands Over Gear Deburring to a Robot
Manual deburring of gears was an odious task for many of Katsa’s machinists, which in turn created a bottleneck that caused delays. The solution: a custom robotic deburring cell from Flexmill relying on Renishaw’s RMP60 probe.
