People-First Mindsets Improve Machine Shop Acquisitions
Focusing on the human side of the business — employee health, safety, success and growth — is the only way to satisfy both the buyer and seller.
Christina M. Fuges
Editorial Director, MoldMaking Technology
Job Shop Automates Using Cobot Arm
Loading and unloading a repetitive job was straining employees at B.I.C. Precision Machine, so the shop integrated a cobot arm from Absolute Machine Tools into its production process.
New Control Adds Accuracy, Flexibility to Old Machine Tool
A legacy boring-mill machine retrofitted with a new FANUC control can hold tighter tolerances and accommodate rapid travel rates for faster machining.
Esprit Software Keeps Wet Design Agile
The Esprit CAM system has enabled artistic fountain creator Wet Design to increase efficiency and spend its time creating instead of troubleshooting code.
HyperMill Five-Axis Modules Simplify Complex Part Machining
Open Mind’s HyperMill CAM software includes powerful five-axis milling modules that decrease machining times for complex parts, as happened at NDK Paragon.
Horizontal Machining Plus Automation Prove to Be a Rewarding Investment
After watching a machinist take four hours to set up a part on a VMC, Dan Olsen of Mach Machine knew he had a problem. The solution seemed clear: horizontal machining. The automation system wasn’t expected; but the novelty was well worth it before long.
Sandvik CoroMill 390 LW Enhances Aerospace Machining Capacity
Sandvik Coromant’s 3D-printed CoroMill 390 cutter helped Flying S Inc. achieve six-times the productivity on MAX5 cast aluminum alloy than with previous tools.
Holding Submicron Part Tolerances
Sunlight-Tech Inc. has used GF Machining Solutions’ Microlution laser micromachining and micro-milling centers to produce parts with tolerances tighter than 1 micron.
Evan Doran
Assistant Editor
Greenleaf Boosts OCCO's Cutter and Insert Productivity
Greenleaf Corp.’s proprietary insert, cutter and machine adjustments helped OCCO reduce crankshaft machining costs to, in some cases, a quarter of the original cost.
Brass Machining Optimizations Save Job Shop Time and Money
With the help of TechSolve Inc., Nolte Precise Manufacturing Inc. optimized a brass part and saved $22,000 while opening up significant extra production time.
CGTech's OptiPath and Force Modules Prove Complementary
The OptiPath and Force modules of CGTech’s Vericut software have improved programming and cycle times at Ultra Machining Company.
Datanomix Fusion Maximizes J&W Swiss Machine's Efficiency
Datanomix’s Fusion software led J&W Swiss Machine to a 13% increase in cycle-time conformance and a 1.5 day improvement on its on-time delivery.
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.
Onsrud's Hybrid Mills Streamline Large Metal Manufacturing
C.R. Onsrud’s five-axis Hybrid Mill machining centers helped Aerospace Fabrications streamline its products’ machine times by as much as 40%.
TPEI Takes on Larger Parts, Increases Efficiency with Romi Lathes
After adopting the Romi C 830 and C 510, TPEI can turn larger workpieces and take larger depths of cut compared to its previous lathes.
Evan Doran
Assistant Editor
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.
Global Shop Solutions' ERP System Streamlines Production and Sales
Selecting an ERP software can be difficult. Finding a system that was flexible and worked with both sides of its business was important for Brunswick Steel as it switched to ERP from Global Shop Solutions.
ProShop DME Streamlines Job Shop Operations
Illinois-based job shop 3D Industries had difficulty managing its communication and data, a trouble that disappeared after the company began using Adion Systems’ ProShop DME.
Cutting Data, Indexable Inserts Optimize Fine Boring
By using digital technology and optimized indexable inserts from Big Kaiser, Schmauser Müller Metalltechnik has increased its process reliability and efficiency in fine boring applications as well as improved tool life.
CNC Machining and Manufacturing Students Find CAM Software Intuitive
A Lincoln College of Technology machining instructor details the most useful features of Mastercam — his school’s software of choice.
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.
Mitee-Bite Fixtures Facilitate Large-Part Vertical Machining
Mitee-Bite Products’ fixtures demonstrated their powerful clamping support in a project with Akron Gear & Engineering to vertically hold a 1-ton ring during machining.
Evan Doran
Assistant Editor
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.
