Articles
Questioning Capacity
This chart from Sober Look compares the maximum U.S. manufacturing capacity utilization in the wake of the major recessions of the last 50 years. The chart’s downward trend is striking. After each recession, we peak at less and less capacity use before starting down again.
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Lasers Offer Viable, Noncontact Alternative to Touch Probes
Specialized optics and automatic, real-time calibration make Nextec’s laser systems a viable alternative to mechanical touch probes for high-volume inspection applications involving complex geometry and tight tolerances.
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Exchangeable-Tip Drills Explained
These tools occupy a middle ground between the precision of solid carbide and the flexibility of indexable inserts.
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A Visit to Hyundai Wia in South Korea
Both this machine tool builder and this country are on the move, as I learned on a recent visit.
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Consider the Material
Starting with thick-walled, seamless tubes instead of solid barstock makes better sense for certain stainless cylindrical parts.
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Event Highlights Growing, Diverse Tool Supplier
Horn’s biennial “Technology Days” proved aptly named, as attendees were treated to a wealth of technical information. That included a tour of a new carbide plant where “green” inserts are shaped via extrusion and injection molding.
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How One Job Shop Tackled Tungsten
When this aerospace job shop settled on machining tungsten alloys and other heavy metals as its specialty, it had to have a machine tool, cutting tools, workholding and process know-how to succeed.
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Using Supermarkets to Manage Your Inventory
This technique can help you “right-size” all your supplies.
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3D Printing and Custom Machining Fit Together
This video created by Jesel Inc. shows the operations this company employs to create custom valvetrain components that are tailored to the particular demands of individual auto racing teams.
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The Family Matters
What does it take to effectively run a family-owned business? A third-generation tooling manufacturer offers advice.
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CNC Art II
Those who work with CNC every day (or those like me who write about it) can forget just how powerful this technology is and continues to be. Here is a reminder of what precise and programmable motion control is able to do.
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A Job Shop’s Brighter Outlook
Something felt unusual about Baklund R&D compared to other CNC machining job shops. I couldn’t put my finger on the difference until I took this photo of shop owner Jon Baklund and his son Justin.
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