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Apr 4, 2024 | 
sme.org | Ed Sinkora
It’s natural to have some healthy skepticism before implementing a new product or process. But it’s hard to argue against real-world results. Tom Bassett II, the founder and owner of 25-person job shop Pro-Cam Services LLC in Zeeland, Mich., recently discovered this regarding presetting. He initially didn’t think the technology was a good fit for his business.
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Jan 25, 2024 | 
sme.org | Ed Sinkora
Necessity and opportunity—including unforeseen ones—can be the mother of invention and innovation. Several creative cutting tool manufacturers, for example, used the recent industry slowdown during the COVID-19 pandemic to develop and test a host of new solutions. Others have turned seemingly geographic disadvantages into strategic benefits. Take today’s advanced high-strength materials, which have long bedeviled manufacturing— especially in aerospace applications.
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Dec 27, 2023 | 
sme.org | Ed Sinkora
It’s no surprise that in late 2023, the experts involved in making parts for energy production wanted to talk about wind turbines and batteries. But good old oil and gas shouldn’t be disregarded yet, and chasing tight tolerances is always an exciting endeavor. Windmills are becoming an increasingly attractive method of generating electricity, as it’s becoming necessary to build them in the United States.
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Nov 29, 2023 | 
sme.org | Ed Sinkora
Water has a remarkable ability to remove heat without transitioning to its gaseous state. It’s also cheap. These characteristics make it a fantastic candidate for a cutting fluid. Of course, water is also considered the “universal solvent,” making it an equally excellent candidate for promoting rust.
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Sep 5, 2023 | 
sme.org | Ed Sinkora
With computers beating both chess grand masters and world-class Go players, plus ChatGPT writing everything from college term papers to love poems, artificial intelligence (AI) is arguably the hottest topic in tech today. But what about in manufacturing? Theoretically, with enough data and the right algorithm, AI and machine learning could assess machine condition, adjust programs to improve throughput or quality, and perhaps more. So, what’s the reality? Let’s start with generative design.
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Aug 14, 2023 | 
sme.org | Ed Sinkora
When it comes to improving productivity, built-in workholding should be at the top of a company’s to-do list, according to Colin Frost, president of St. Louis-based Carr Lane Manufacturing Co. Moreover, he asserts, such solutions are needed from setup through running time. Modular fixturing is always a series of compromises.” It’s hard to argue against “ideal,” except to say that creating a custom fixture for each workpiece takes time and money, and many short run jobs wouldn’t justify either.
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Jul 7, 2023 | 
sme.org | Ed Sinkora
Advanced software tools and data analytics help streamline grinding processesEñaut Arrizabalaga, senior commissioning engineer at Danobat Group, probably speaks for all top machine builders when he says the company’s human machine interface (HMI) is designed to free the operator from needing any specialized CNC programming knowledge. Advanced software also eases, and sometimes entirely automates, other grinding challenges.
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Apr 24, 2023 | 
sme.org | Ed Sinkora
Development of breakthrough carbide-grade opportunities in machining is practically tapped out, according to Bernie McConnell, executive vice president, commercial, of Greenleaf Corp., Saegertown, Pa.“Outside of doing different things with coatings, geometry, and edge preps, there are only so many ways you can mix and blend the carbide materials,” he said. “Most of the exciting technology development is coming on the ceramic side of the business.” That’s for both cutting tools and parts.
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Mar 24, 2023 | 
sme.org | Ed Sinkora
Our last feature on workforce development was less than two years ago, (“Building the Next-Gen Manufacturing Workforce,” July 2021), and human nature is fairly immutable. So, why cover it again now? For one thing, according to Jeannine Kunz, SME’s chief workforce development officer, COVID-19 has changed virtually everyone’s attitude about work.
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Feb 27, 2023 | 
sme.org | Ed Sinkora
I bet you balance your tires. And most of your friends probably do so as well. So why do so many shops launch production without balancing their cutting tools and grinding wheels? The reasoning shouldn’t be because they are running at low speeds. After all, when cruising down the highway, the tires on your car are only spinning at 700-900 rpm. More likely, it seems, is because too many manufacturing professionals underestimate the potential benefits from balancing their tools.
