Articles

Where Micro-Laser Machining Is the Focus

A company that was once a consulting firm has become a successful micro-laser machine shop producing complex parts and features that most traditional CNC shops cannot machine.

Using Digital Tap Testing to Measure Machining Dynamics

Tool-toolholder-spindle-machine combinations each have a unique vibration response. We can measure the response by tap testing, but we can also model it.

6 Variations That Kill Productivity

The act of qualifying CNC programs is largely related to eliminating variations, which can be a daunting task when you consider how many things can change from one time a job is run to the next.

More Surface Finish Parameters at Hand

Measuring surface finish at the point of manufacture is often done by the same machinist who is manufacturing the part. They need tools that meet test requirements and are easy to use.

Five-Axis Turnkey Machine Halves Medical Shop’s Cycle Times

Horizontal five-axis machines cut cycle times in half at ARCH Medical Solutions – Newtown. But its leadership gives equal credit to a surprising factor: the OEM’s service department.

How to Choose the Right Automation Solution for Your Shop

Consider what types of implementation your shop prefers when deciding between workpiece-handling and pallet-handling automation solutions.

Large-Format Machining With Small Cutting Tools and Dynamic Motion

Napoleon Machine, a defense contractor that provides parts for the M1 Abrams tank, recently took advantage of a CAM feature that allowed the company to streamline its cutting strategies and program offline. Here’s how the shop cut cycle times nearly in half with its large-format five-axis machining operations.

Designing a 3D Printed Part with Machining in Mind

Designing extra stock and mounting features into a 3D printed part can aid in machining processes downstream. 

How I Made It: Nick Pinkston, Founder/CEO, Volition

Nick Pinkston is a serial entrepreneur in the manufacturing technology space whose startups include CloudFab, Plethora and Volition, an online marketplace that’s designed to make finding and buying off-the-shelf components easier. 

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Top Shops 2024 Is Now Live

The Top Shops 2024 survey for the metalworking market is now live, alongside a new homepage collecting the stories of past Honorees.

Metalworking Activity Starts Year With Slowing Contraction

The GBI: Metalworking welcomed the new year with slowed contraction of components for the second month in a row.