Columns

Basics 20 Aug 2019

What to Include When Developing Your Company Playbook

Like a sports team, your company can also benefit from a written plan.

Data-Driven Manufacturing 17 Aug 2019

3 Principles for Growing with Machine Monitoring Data

Following a few basic principles can help shops get a return on their machine monitoring systems without losing faith first.

Additive Manufacturing 16 Aug 2019

Additive Manufacturing Via Material Extrusion

Material extrusion was the second additive manufacturing process to be successfully commercialized. After three decades of material advancements and a diverse array of start-ups and applications, the use cases for this technology are still going strong.

Automation 3 Aug 2019

10 Takeaways on How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Influence CNC Machining

The Consortium for Self-Aware Machining and Metrology held a promising first meeting at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. Here are my impressions.

Basics 29 Jul 2019

Additive Manufacturing — More Than Metal: How Vat Photopolymerization Started It All

Vat photopolymerization was the first additive manufacturing process to be successfully commercialized. Three decades later, this technology has shown how AM is capable of scaling to volume production and making custom products on demand.

Basics 25 Jul 2019

Closing the Loop for Better Gaging

Gages and measuring instruments come in different shapes and sizes. Whether it be a snap gage, a bench stand, a surface-finish gage or even a form system, keeping the “measuring loop” as small or as short as possible is important for better gage performance.

Data-Driven Manufacturing 13 Jul 2019

Breaking SPC Limitations Without Breaking Rules

Machine learning helps prove the merit of statistical analysis techniques that do not require plotting CNC machining quality data on a bell curve.

CNC & Machine Controls 12 Nov 2022

7 CNC Parameters You Should Know

Parameters tell the CNC every little detail about the specific machine tool being used, and how all CNC features and functions are to be utilized.

Basics 1 Jul 2019

The Versatility of Snap Gages

The many design modifications available in snap gages enables them to measure some of the most difficult dimensions, right at the point of manufacture.

Data-Driven Manufacturing 15 Jun 2019

ERP Helps Forward-Thinking Manufacturers Look Back

Enterprise-wide performance data and an understanding of which metrics matter form a foundation for the predictive analytics that characterize “smart” CNC machine shops.