Peter Zelinski Editor-in-Chief

7 Nov 2012

Shop Owner’s Tattoo Honors the Machinist Who Taught Him

Brent Beistel says he loves machining and can make a living at it largely because of one person—his dad. A tattoo he just completed honors his father and the work that both men do.

29 Oct 2012

The Recession in a Photo

Closing the doors on one facility sometimes enables another to grow. In this case, a manufacturing company used a former facility’s service desk as a tool crib.

Toolholders 19 Oct 2012

The Humble Pull Stud

I’ve said that the toolholder is the least appreciated element in many milling processes, but the pull stud (or retention knob) is perhaps the least appreciated component of the toolholder.

Horizontal Machining Centers 17 Oct 2012

More Demanding Than Production

The challenges of prototyping have dramatically increased. This company reinvented itself to specialize in the tight-leadtime process development that prototyping now entails.

Workforce Development 16 Oct 2012

Device for Manufacturing Students Made by Manufacturing Students

An online, game-like welding simulator helps students get a hands-on look at a career in welding. The interesting thing about this simulator is that student manufacturers helped make the device.

11 Oct 2012

Manufacturing Employers Through a Recruiter’s Eyes

Bill Wright, the founder of CAD/CAM Recruiters in Charlotte, North Carolina, says manufacturing employers are frequently more logical about specifying equipment than they are about hiring employees.

9 Oct 2012

Wisconsin Shop KLH Industries Celebrates 25 Years

Precision machine shop KLH Industries will celebrate 25 years in manufacturing by hosting a live radio broadcast. During the show, the company will hold a job fair.

Workforce Development 7 Oct 2012

Control Maker Certifies Education Institutions

FANUC FA America is now offering a Certified Education CNC Training Program.

Workforce Development 3 Oct 2012

The Cost of Doing Business

Developing skilled employees internally is expensive, but not doing so might be more expensive still.

Workholding 3 Oct 2012

Consistency Is Key to Titanium

An important part of this shop’s successful approach to titanium machining is a toolpath strategy that keeps the load on the cutter constant. Another important element is the way this shop captures and reapplies what it learns about how effective it can be in this metal.