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Encountering Surface Finishes in the Everyday World
Surface measurement is becoming increasingly important to ensure proper performance of a manufactured product. Advanced surface measurement tools are not only beneficial in the manufacturing industry but also have unconventional applications.
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How One Machine Shop Adopted (and Defined) a Four-Day Work Week
In an industry facing perennial shortages of skilled labor, shop owners must leverage every competitive advantage at their disposal in their efforts to attract talent. One small shop in Bridgewater, Massachusetts is experimenting with a new staff schedule that the owners say is already reaping major benefits: a four-day work week.
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3 Considerations for Revising Design for Manufacturing Efforts
When revising part designs, investigate the 3D CAD, the 2D drawing and the part’s functional requirements to determine which details should be tightened up.
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Community, Machines and the Open Road: A Tribute to Barry Rogers
Machine tool industry stalwart and friend Barry Rogers will be remembered for his passion, kindness and community spirit. A reflection on Barry’s remarkable career and the impact he had on countless individuals.
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A Height Gage in a CMM’s Skin
Modern electronic height gages are computer-based, touchscreen-operated systems that enable automated measuring routines, error correction and multiple probe offsets, much like a CMM.
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Strange But True: Odd Things That Happen With CNCs
These oddities in the way a CNC naturally behaves can help explain some rather unusual situations that may occur during machining.
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U.S. Navy Invests Heavily in Shoring Up Manufacturing Base
As part of its commitment to replace its aging submarine fleet, the U.S. Navy is investing heavily in building America’s manufacturing base, including free education and assisting suppliers in modernizing their facilities.
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When to Refurbish and When to Buy New
The choice between buying a new machine or refurbishing the current one will become clear after a thorough assessment of the machine.
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Obscure CNC Features That Can Help (or Hurt) You
You cannot begin to take advantage of an available feature if you do not know it exists. Conversely, you will not know how to avoid CNC features that may be detrimental to your process.
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Correlation Between Contact and Non-Contact Surface Analysis Equipment Is Critical — Until It Isn’t
Understanding the differences between measurement methods means their discrepancies can be explained and used as an advantage to produce better correlation.
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The Intersection of CMMC and Small- to Mid-Sized CNC Job Shops
The decision to gain or retain status as a defense supplier by pursuing CMMC compliance is especially difficult for small- to mid-sized machine shops, and the complexities and misperceptions tied to the program certainly aren’t helping. To break down those complexities, here are five key issues that small- and mid-sized job shops need to know about CMMC.
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4 Ways to Establish Machine Accuracy
Understanding all the things that contribute to a machine’s full potential accuracy will inform what to prioritize when fine-tuning the machine.
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