Mark Albert Editor Emeritus

1 Dec 2002

Lasting Legacy

This month marks the approach of the holiday gift-giving season. Most of the gifts received this time of year are not long-lived.

Basics 15 Nov 2002

Getting To Know Knowledge-Based Machining

The term refers to different levels of automation that CAM software developers are building into their NC programming software.

1 Nov 2002

Eyes On Italy

BI-MU is Italy's biennial machine tool show, held in October in Milan. In recent years, its size and importance have grown significantly.

Grinding 15 Oct 2002

Getting In Gear With An Automated Cell

This production cell embodies several unusual but very effective concepts for keeping process variables under control with little operator intervention.

1 Oct 2002

Don't Unplug The Profit Motive

The shocking greed of a few corporate officials has recently rocked the faith in our economic system. Some investors are even questioning their own personal motives for where they put their money.

1 Sep 2002

What makes us a nation, a people? Being American is not in the tongue, in the blood, or in the skin. It has to do with something we hold in common—our commitment to democracy, our belief in human freedom and our regard for both civil rights and civil responsibilities.

1 Aug 2002

IMTS 2002 Will Be Different

This year's version of the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) will be unlike previous editions. Although the show will run its usual 8 days (September 4-11) at its usual spot (Chicago's McCormick Place), it will be more focused, more concentrated, more intense.

CAD/CAM 15 Jul 2002

Plugging Into STEP NC

CAM software companies are offering software programs that allow their users to read STEP-NC files into their existing CAM software to generate the tool path and output for specific CNC machines. These "plug-ins" make many of the benefits of STEP-NC available to the average machine shop today.

1 Jul 2002

In Shops From Another Galaxy

Did you catch those scenes of the clone factory and of the battle-droid plant in Star Wars Episode 2, Attack Of The Clones? I thought they were some of the more interesting parts of the movie (not that the rest of the film was dull, however). It's just that any depictions of manufacturing in popular culture are revealing.

CNC & Machine Controls 15 Jun 2002

On The Way To Wireless DNC

Any shop with CNC machine tools has probably wondered how a DNC system could be configured to operate with wireless network connections. Wireless systems are being installed in offices, and even in homes, so that laptops, desktop PCs, and handheld devices can communicate via e-mail, share access to the Web, and exchange data.

19 May 2002

A Timely Treatment

By now you should be aware of the economic stimulus package recently enacted by Congress and signed by President Bush. This law, the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, contains two provisions of special interest to equipment buyers and shop managers.

CAD/CAM 15 Apr 2002

The Right Start For A Fine Finish

Developers of CAM software have introduced many programming features for the initial removal of excess stock prior to finishing operations. By preparing the workpiece surface for more effective finishing, these roughing routines often determine how efficiently a CNC machining center can perform.