November 2023 Issue
![November](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/issues/2023/1123-MMS-AA-Cover.png;maxWidth=250;quality=70)
November 2023
Digital Edition![Q&A: How a Self-Taught Machinist Started His Own Business](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/MMS/2023-MMS/mms-1123-article-bricktacticalqa2.jpg;maxWidth=600;quality=70)
Features
Featured articles from the November 2023 issue of Modern Machine Shop
![Making the Most of Mixed Toolholder Assemblies](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/mms/2023-mms/1123-mms-column-millersedge.jpeg;maxWidth=400;quality=70)
Making the Most of Mixed Toolholder Assemblies
While nearly all ER systems will have cross compatibility, they’ll have small differences across manufacturers that make their implementation at the shop level not as standard.
Read More![Good Advice? Ask 5 Questions](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/PM/2023-PM/1123-pm-column-business-gettyimages.jpg;maxWidth=400;quality=70)
Good Advice? Ask 5 Questions
As business people, when we are asked for opinions or advice, we are usually quick to give it up. This is rarely the best response.
Read More![4 Ways to Stop a Cycle to Allow Operator Intervention](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/mms/2023-mms/1123-mms-columns-cnctechtalk-gettyimages.jpg;maxWidth=400;quality=70)
4 Ways to Stop a Cycle to Allow Operator Intervention
Completely automatic operation should always be the goal, but there are situations that require operator intervention during the CNC cycle.
Read More![Which Approach to Automation Fits Your CNC Machine Tool?](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/mms/2023-mms/0723-mms-feature-hickey-robotarm.jpg;maxWidth=400;quality=70)
Which Approach to Automation Fits Your CNC Machine Tool?
Choosing the right automation to pair with a CNC machine tool cell means weighing various factors, as this fabrication business has learned well.
Read More![Using Jaws as Grippers Enables Flexible, Low-Cost Automation](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/mms/2023-mms/1123-mms-article-versabuiltinnovativefabrication-1.jpg;maxWidth=400;quality=70)
Using Jaws as Grippers Enables Flexible, Low-Cost Automation
VersaBuilt’s automation systems significantly boosted Innovative Fabrication’s revenue. In return, the shop has helped VersaBuilt optimize its products.
Read More![How to Evaluate Measurement Uncertainty](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/mms/2023-mms/1123-mms-column-cuttingedge-1.jpg;maxWidth=400;quality=70)
How to Evaluate Measurement Uncertainty
Manufacturing and measurement are closely coupled. An important consideration for the use of measurement results is the associated measurement uncertainty. This article describes common metrology terms and provides an example uncertainty analysis.
Read More![Tips for Anticipating Hole Conditions](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/mms/2023-mms/1123-mms-column-gaging-1.jpg;maxWidth=400;quality=70)
Tips for Anticipating Hole Conditions
When measuring an ID with an indicating plug gage, it is OK to slow down to learn more about the hole being measured and explore for extraneous conditions.
Read More![Causes Are Complex: The Case for Choosing the Right Failures to Analyze](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/mms/2023-mms/mms-1123-zaxis-thumb.jpg;maxWidth=400;quality=70)
Causes Are Complex: The Case for Choosing the Right Failures to Analyze
The nuance and complexity of failure in bearings is enough to illustrate the difficulty of failure analysis in general, and how much consideration this analysis deserves.
Read More![Metalworking Activity is Nearing a Full Year of Contraction](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/MMS/2023-MMS/2023-09--mms---web-total1.png;maxWidth=400;quality=70)
Metalworking Activity is Nearing a Full Year of Contraction
Metalworking activity has contracted since October of 2022.
Read More![The Resurgence of 'Shop Class' in American High Schools](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/MMS/2023-MMS/1123-mms-column-setup-2.jpg;maxWidth=400;quality=70)
The Resurgence of 'Shop Class' in American High Schools
From the 1990s through the 2010s, most traditional “shop classes” disappeared from middle schools and high schools across the U.S. — one of the many issues that helped create today’s skilled labor shortage in metalworking and CNC machine shops. Here’s one solution that deserves more attention.
Read More![3 Lessons Job Shops Can Learn From Laser Cutters](https://d2n4wb9orp1vta.cloudfront.net/cms/brand/mms/2023-mms/1123-mms-feature-cvc-laser.jpg;maxWidth=400;quality=70)
3 Lessons Job Shops Can Learn From Laser Cutters
This laser-cutting “job shop” designs its processes to make high-mix, low volume work profitable.
Read More