Mark Albert Editor Emeritus

Basics 21 Jun 2018

MMS Looks Back: 1980s - CAD/CAM Comes on Strong

As CNC machine tools displaced conventional, manually operated machines, computerized systems were taking over other manufacturing functions. This story is part of our 90th anniversary series.

16 Jun 2018

Characterizing the Future of Manufacturing over the Next Nine Years

The hopes and dreams we have today provide a good clue for what tomorrow might be like.

6 Jun 2018

MMS Looks Back: 1930s - Machine Shops Take a Belting in the Depression

Even when harsh economic conditions have business at a creep, manufacturing methods and shopfloor practices must move forward. The means of powering machine tools is a case in point. This article is part of our 90th anniversary series.

30 May 2018

Using Data to Do Better in Manufacturing

Although the Smart Manufacturing Experience 2018 event in Boston may not have provided a simple, clear definition of “smart manufacturing,” it did provide a broad experience of what smart manufacturing can be like.

Data-Driven Manufacturing 28 May 2018

Autodesk Introduces PowerMill 2019 and Fusion Production at Its Smart Manufacturing Celebration Event

Autodesk’s Smart Manufacturing Celebration showcased enhancements to PowerMIll 2019, the latest release of its flagship CAM programming systems, and demonstrated the integration of production scheduling, job tracking and machine monitoring.

28 Apr 2018

A Characterization of Blockchain Technology

If you are not an information technology person or an accountant, you may be struggling to figure out what blockchain technology is all about. Here’s a simple way to understand it.

Measurement 24 Apr 2018

Enhancing Volumetric Accuracy of Large Machine Tools

Using a laser to track and record axis movement and tool-tip position enables this system to create an error map that can be used to compensate for inaccuracies inherent in the machine’s structure.

Workholding 16 Apr 2018

Cable-Free Tombstones Bring New Life to HMC Operations

Programmable rotary units built into a double-sided tombstone extend unattended operation and add flexibility to palletized machining cells.

5 Apr 2018

Data Collection Is about More Than Just Numbers

Data-driven manufacturing is at its best when it reinforces people-driven manufacturing.

Data-Driven Manufacturing 3 Apr 2018

Machine Monitoring Enhances Human Resource Functions

Decisions about manufacturing processes are not the only business factors that can be improved by the insights derived from data collected by a machine-monitoring system. For this shop, using this information to strengthen and fine-tune its employee incentive program is a significant benefit, among many others.

22 Mar 2018

Thinking about Current Manufacturing Trends

The recent MFG Meeting covered topics that capture the “ponderables” for forward-thinking manufacturing companies.

Shop Management Software 7 Mar 2018

Web-Based Quoting System Leverages the Cloud to Integrate the Process

Applying “intelligent algorithms” to part geometry and linking to appropriate sources of other required information can make the job-quoting process faster, more accurate and more likely to be competitive.