Derek Korn Editor-in-Chief

21 Jan 2011

Beyond Chip-Making: Opportunities and Realities

Integrating alternate manufacturing processes can enable a shop to distinguish itself from competing companies and branch out into new areas. Of course, there are important questions to ask and factors to consider when you pull the trigger on a new technology.

EDM 21 Jan 2011

Job Shop Uses 3D Wire Bending and CNC Machining To Find Its Niche

Marshall Manufacturing melds CNC machining and 3D bending to create intricate medical components from small-diameter barstock and tubing. Customer needs spurred the shop to carve out what has become a successful medical-manufacturing niche.

19 Jan 2011

Something Not Seen on Swiss-Types

Probing on Marubeni Citizen-Cincom Swiss-types like this enables Renishaw to better align manufacturing with true production requirements.

Automation 13 Jan 2011

Four Elements of Lights-Out Turning

A lot of planning has to happen before you pull the trigger on lights-out machining.

10 Jan 2011

Because the Definition of “Production” is Changing

Phoenix Proto Technologies creates aluminum molds for both prototyping (like the left one with hand loads) and production (like the right one with mechanical actions). When we launched our Prototyping & Rapid Manufacturing Zone, we wanted rapid mold making to be a part of it.

3 Jan 2011

What is Rotary Disc Erosion?

Here, a copper-tungsten rotary electrode shapes a diamond tool.

28 Dec 2010

An ESOP Shop

Managers and operators alike constantly look for ways to increase shopfloor productivity and efficiency at Rable Machine. The former owner of Rable Machine, a shop located in Mansfield, Ohio, was looking to exit his healthy business.

22 Dec 2010

Introducing StarragHeckert’s Biggest Machine

Learn more about the largest machine tool StarragHeckert has produced.

21 Dec 2010

Is an ESOP Your Answer?

For the growing number of shop owners mulling exit strategies, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) can benefit all involved parties.

Vertical Machining Centers 21 Dec 2010

Standard Software Addresses Common Machining Challenges

These low-cost VMCs come standard with a number of software features that enable them to compensate for machining’s inherent physical and thermal challenges.

Measurement 21 Dec 2010

The Employee-Owned Advantage

This Ohio shop is 100-percent employee-owned. Thus, both management and shopfloor employees recognize the importance of optimizing efficiency wherever possible. Thanks to a strong willingness to invest in and embrace new technologies, sales-per-employee has increased by more than 50 percent in the last five years.

9 Dec 2010

Machining’s Role in Making Custom Guitars

A healthy amount of machining goes into creating custom guitars like this beauty.