Basics
How to Mitigate Risk in Your Manufacturing Process or Design
Use a Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) form as a proactive way to evaluate a manufacturing process or design.
Read MoreHow to Determine the Currently Active Work Offset Number
Determining the currently active work offset number is practical when the program zero point is changing between workpieces in a production run.
Read More2 Secondary Coordinate Systems You Should Know
Coordinate systems tell a CNC machine where to position the cutting tool during the program’s execution for any purpose that requires the cutting tool to move.
Read MoreHow to Meet Aerospace’s Material Challenges and More at IMTS
Succeeding in aerospace manufacturing requires high-performing processes paired with high-performance machine tools. IMTS can help you find both.
Read More10 Tips to Make the Most of IMTS
IMTS only happens every two years. Here’s how to make the most of your time at the 2024 show.
Read MoreTips for Monitoring Spindle Loads and Cutting Stability
When it comes to utilizing the spindle’s power, there is a lot of headroom at the upper limits, provided it’s in short bursts. Be mindful of your time at these loads so you don’t stall out.
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4 Commonly Misapplied CNC Features
Misapplication of these important CNC features will result in wasted time, wasted or duplicated effort and/or wasted material.
Read MoreHave you Shown Your Value to Customers?
Showing your shop’s value is about more than simply offering the best price.
Read More3D Printing for Job Shops: Part of Elevate Job Shops Series at IMTS
A half-day workshop at the International Manufacturing Technology Show helps job shops explore the many potential ways 3D printing technologies support and enhance machining.
Read More4 Rules for Running a Successful Machine Shop
Take time to optimize your shop’s structure to effectively meet demand while causing the least amount of stress in the shop.
Read More3 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.
Read MoreObscure 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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4 Tips for Staying Profitable in the Face of Change
After more than 40 years in business, this shop has learned how to adapt to stay profitable.
Read More6 Variations That Kill Productivity
The act of qualifying CNC programs is largely related to eliminating variations, which can be a daunting task when you consider how many things can change from one time a job is run to the next.
Read MoreHow to Evaluate Measurement Uncertainty
Manufacturing and measurement are closely coupled. An important consideration for the use of measurement results is the associated measurement uncertainty. This article describes common metrology terms and provides an example uncertainty analysis.
Read More6 Machine Shop Essentials to Stay Competitive
If you want to streamline production and be competitive in the industry, you will need far more than a standard three-axis CNC mill or two-axis CNC lathe and a few measuring tools.
Read MoreHow to Choose the Correct Fixed-Body Plug Gaging Solution
The two types of fixed-body plug gages are both accurate, fast and easy to use. Consider these factors when selecting one for your gaging application.
Read MoreTips for Designing CNC Programs That Help Operators
The way a G-code program is formatted directly affects the productivity of the CNC people who use them. Design CNC programs that make CNC setup people and operators’ jobs easier.
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Rethink Quality Control to Increase Productivity, Decrease Scrap
Verifying parts is essential to documenting quality, and there are a few best practices that can make the quality control process more efficient.
Read MoreCustom Workholding Principles to Live By
Workholding solutions can take on infinite forms and all would be correct to some degree. Follow these tips to help optimize custom workholding solutions.
Read MoreTips for Investing Intelligently When Upgrading a Shop on a Budget
Working on a tight budget is not easy, but these tips can help you make the most of your free capital.
Read MoreHow to Calibrate Gages and Certify Calibration Programs
Tips for establishing and maintaining a regular gage calibration program.
Read MoreSelecting a Thread Mill That Matches Your Needs
Threading tools with the flexibility to thread a broad variety of holes provide the agility many shops need to stay competitive. They may be the only solution for many difficult materials.
Read More4 Steps to a Cobot Culture: How Thyssenkrupp Bilstein Has Answered Staffing Shortages With Economical Automation
Safe, economical automation using collaborative robots can transform a manufacturing facility and overcome staffing shortfalls, but it takes additional investment and a systemized approach to automation in order to realize this change.
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