Eli Plaskett Senior Associate Editor

Automation 3 Nov 2023

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.

Automation 25 Oct 2023

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.

Top Shops 29 Sep 2023

CNC Machine Shop Honored for Automation, Machine Monitoring

From cobots to machine monitoring, this Top Shop honoree shows that machining technology is about more than the machine tool.

Five-Axis 28 Sep 2023

Open House Showcases Five-Axis Capabilities, Digital Tools

Five-axis machining technology was the highlight of the Hwacheon open house in Lincolnshire, Illinois this August.

Grinding 16 Aug 2023

Joint Ribbon Cutting at Fagor, Danobat Showrooms

Danobat and Fagor co-hosted an inaugural event for their co-located facilities in the Chicago area.

Turn/Mill 19 Jun 2023

5 Tips for Running a Profitable Aerospace Shop

Aerospace machining is a demanding and competitive sector of manufacturing, but this shop demonstrates five ways to find aerospace success.

Data-Driven Manufacturing 17 May 2023

Digital Solutions Dominate TIMTOS

At TIMTOS, many OEMs highlighted solutions designed to overcome challenges that may sound familiar to U.S. manufacturers.

Horizontal Machining Centers 10 Apr 2023

Shop Replaces Two Verticals With One Horizontal

By trading two VMCs in to help finance the purchase of a new HMC, this shop was able to significantly increase production and move to lights-out machining.

EDM 23 Jan 2023

Dielectric Oil Dramatically Reduces EDM Maintenance

Plagued by repeated small fires that interrupted its wire EDM throughput, this cutting tool manufacturer changed its dielectric oil and both eliminated fires and reduced its oil consumption.

Data-Driven Manufacturing 3 Jan 2023

Shop Moves to Aerospace Machining With Help From ERP

Coastal Machine is an oil and gas shop that pivoted to aerospace manufacturing with the help of an ERP system that made the certification process simple.