At the seminar, representatives from multiple companies discussed strategies for making orthopedic devices accurately and efficiently.
Practical work has served Bridgerland Technical College both in preparing its current students for manufacturing jobs and in appealing to new generations of potential machinists. Welded Tube Mill
With many machine shops anticipating long-term growth in demand from the semiconductor industry, it is worth the time to heed the advice of manufacturers who have already been servicing this end-market for years.
Decade-long, multiphase automation investments lower operating costs and maintain technology lead in an increasingly competitive global market.
Cumberland Additive’s CNC programmer in Pennsylvania spends most of his time writing programs for machine tools in Texas.
Pairing a shoulder mill with a five-axis machine has cut costs and cycle times for one of TTI Machine’s parts, enabling it to support a niche racing community.
At the seminar, representatives from multiple companies discussed strategies for making orthopedic devices accurately and efficiently.
With many machine shops anticipating long-term growth in demand from the semiconductor industry, it is worth the time to heed the advice of manufacturers who have already been servicing this end-market for years.
Decade-long, multiphase automation investments lower operating costs and maintain technology lead in an increasingly competitive global market.
Alpha Precision Group (APG) has developed an innovative workholding design for faster spindle speeds through sinter-based additive manufacturing.
Pairing a shoulder mill with a five-axis machine has cut costs and cycle times for one of TTI Machine’s parts, enabling it to support a niche racing community.
A study in repeatable and flexible workholding by one OEM for another.
At the seminar, representatives from multiple companies discussed strategies for making orthopedic devices accurately and efficiently.
EPTAM Precision Plastics has achieved multiple years of 15% YoY growth by effectively applying Datanomix’s benchmarking and machine monitoring features.
Practical work has served Bridgerland Technical College both in preparing its current students for manufacturing jobs and in appealing to new generations of potential machinists.
Shops need to look at their people, processes and technology to get the most of out their automation systems.
Controlling variability in a closed-loop manufacturing process requires inspection data collected before, during and immediately after machining — and a means to act on that data in real time. Here’s one system that accomplishes this.
Wolfram Manufacturing showcased its new facility, which houses its machine shop along with space for its work as a provider of its own machine monitoring software and as an integrator for Caron Engineering.
Structured light scanning is used to create a digital twin of a manufactured part, but we must understand the measurement reproducibility to best use the data.
At the seminar, representatives from multiple companies discussed strategies for making orthopedic devices accurately and efficiently.
Verisurf will offer complete metrology solutions that combine its model-based inspection and measurement software, training and live technical support with Hexagon CMMs.
Understanding the differences between measurement methods means their discrepancies can be explained and used as an advantage to produce better correlation.
Zeiss Quality Innovation Days brings together quality and metrology experts from all over the world to take part in industry-specific sessions.
Understanding all the things that contribute to a machine’s full potential accuracy will inform what to prioritize when fine-tuning the machine.
DMG MORI’s Chicago Innovation Days event featured technologies designed to address the difficulties manufacturers face today.
With the help of a 3D vision system and robotic arms from FANUC, MetalQuest was able to automate a physically challenging bin-picking task.
Christopher Clark will provide sales, service and support for the full range of Stäubli customers in North America.
Decade-long, multiphase automation investments lower operating costs and maintain technology lead in an increasingly competitive global market.
Robotic applications are expanding thanks to rubber and silicone-based systems that can handle fragile materials or parts in varying sizes and shapes.
Shops need to look at their people, processes and technology to get the most of out their automation systems.
Across a range of technical presentations aimed at small and mid-sized job shops, the first-ever Automated Shop Conference (TASC) offered insights into several automated technologies, implementation strategies, shopfloor training tips, and even the untapped power of automated coolant delivery.
Automation is no longer a luxury in manufacturing today – it’s a necessity. The Automated Shop Conference (TASC) will connect job shops with experts who offer advice and considerations for this process.
The Automated Shop Conference (TASC) will give shops of all sizes and production volumes key insights and practical guidance on how to implement automation.
Looking to automate your shop floor? The Automated Shop Conference (TASC) will connect shops with experts who can advise them through this transition.
Attend TASC, The Automated Shop Conference, in Novi, Mich on Oct. 11, 2023 for a comprehensive look into how to use automation to transform your machine shop.
Staying adaptable and leading through change for 95 years and counting, Modern Machine Shop celebrates its 95th Anniversary since its first publication in 1928.
The advance toward increasingly automated machining can be seen in the ways tooling, workholding, gaging and integration all support unattended production. This is the area of innovation I found most compelling at the recent International Manufacturing Technology Show.
The renewal of collaborations, partnerships and networking opportunities created a new level of excitement at IMTS 2022 for 86,307 registrants.
Manufacturing has a multi-talented bunch of people, but who knew so many were adept in the facial hair industry? Check out the best of the beards at IMTS!
This year’s show celebrates 10 years of co-location between IMTS and Hannover Messe.
Brent Donaldson of Modern Machine Shop sits down with Supertec's Don Staggenborg to discuss what the IMTS veterans brought to this year's show.
Meet NASA mission system engineer Mike Menzel and learn more about the James Webb Space Telescope at Mitsui Seiki USA’s booth (338700) in the South Hall from 11:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, September 15.
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.
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.
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.
These oddities in the way a CNC naturally behaves can help explain some rather unusual situations that may occur during machining.
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.
The choice between buying a new machine or refurbishing the current one will become clear after a thorough assessment of the machine.
In the latest episode of our View From My Shop series, MMS Editor-in-Chief Brent Donaldson visited the JN Shapiro Watches headquarters and production facility where Founder Joshua Shapiro—a history teacher turned watchmaker—realized his dream of "making a watch from scratch and everything in it."
Legacy Precision Molds takes us on a tour of their moldbuilding facility. They've recently implemented two automated 5-axis cells for metal and graphite machining that run lights out during nights and weekends.
Take a look inside James Engineering, a high-end CNC Deburring OEM that became a job shop when they decided to produce their own parts in-house.
Tool-holder-spindle-machine combinations each have a unique dynamic response in the same way that each person has a unique fingerprint, which can be revealed using modal testing.
Explore Tech-Max, a CNC machine shop that specializes in precision machining large and complex parts ranging from 10 in. to over 10 ft.
Jrlon, Inc. is recognized as a dependable source and leading supplier of plastic and specialty metal products. They are one of the premier PTFE processors in the United States. Jrlon's expertise also covers a wide range of other performance plastic materials and alloy steels for custom molding, machining, gear manufacturing, technical industrial coatings, welding, and sheet metal fabrication. Driven by innovative designers and engineers, Jrlon manufactures unique products vital to a wide variety of industries.
In this episode of Made in the USA, several executives and senior staff at Hardinge give their first-person account of how they formulated the plan to shift the manufacturing of its milling and turning product lines from its Taiwan plant to its plant in Elmira, New York, the major challenges they encountered and the rewards that made it worth the effort.
The L.S. Starrett Co. has been manufacturing precision measurement tools in Athol, Massachusetts, since 1880. Attention to U.S. manufacturing often focuses on reshoring manufacturing from other countries, but Starrett never left. The facility in Athol employs hundreds and produces thousands of tools that remain vital for measurement in machining and other fields.
The latest episode “Made in the USA” podcast explores a company that uses collaborative robots, one of the key tools helping US machine shops and other manufacturers compete with lower cost countries by automating production.
When Puneet and Neelam Neotia moved from India to the United States several years ago, they brought with them a family background in manufacturing and CNC machining. Now the couple is working to get their startup machine shop off the ground, sourcing new customers and getting the word out about their shop in Clarksville, Indiana. The couple — proud to publicize their "Made in the USA" parts — is leveraging family connections and manufacturing capabilities back in India, but not in the way that some people assume.
Entrepreneur Scott Colosimo found early success in China producing parts for his Cleveland-based motorcycle company in the mid-2000s. This is the story of how IP theft issues overwhelmed the business, prompting Colosimo and his team to start over from scratch — and move production back to the United States.
So far, Made in the USA has looked into system-wide effects of broken supply chains, automation, skilled workforce issues and our perception of manufacturing jobs — examining each topic through a prism of individual experiences. For this final episode for Season 1, let’s look at one more system-wide question and bring it back to personal perspectives: Is there today a new dawn, a new moment for American manufacturing?
The Top Shops 2024 survey for the metalworking market is now live, alongside a new homepage collecting the stories of past Honorees.
To combat the skilled labor shortage, this Top Shops honoree turned to partnerships and unique benefits to attract talented workers.
Doubling sales requires more than just robots. Pro Products’ staff works in tandem with robots, performing inspection and other value-added activities.
From cobots to machine monitoring, this Top Shop honoree shows that machining technology is about more than the machine tool.
Deciding to narrow down its jobs and customers was a turning point for 2023 Top Shops Business Strategies honoree Manda Machine that has led to improvements in the front office and on the shop floor.
Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.
In the latest episode of our View From My Shop series, MMS Editor-in-Chief Brent Donaldson visited the JN Shapiro Watches headquarters and production facility where Founder Joshua Shapiro—a history teacher turned watchmaker—realized his dream of "making a watch from scratch and everything in it."
Legacy Precision Molds takes us on a tour of their moldbuilding facility. They've recently implemented two automated 5-axis cells for metal and graphite machining that run lights out during nights and weekends.
Take a look inside James Engineering, a high-end CNC Deburring OEM that became a job shop when they decided to produce their own parts in-house.
Tool-holder-spindle-machine combinations each have a unique dynamic response in the same way that each person has a unique fingerprint, which can be revealed using modal testing.
Explore Tech-Max, a CNC machine shop that specializes in precision machining large and complex parts ranging from 10 in. to over 10 ft.
Jrlon, Inc. is recognized as a dependable source and leading supplier of plastic and specialty metal products. They are one of the premier PTFE processors in the United States. Jrlon's expertise also covers a wide range of other performance plastic materials and alloy steels for custom molding, machining, gear manufacturing, technical industrial coatings, welding, and sheet metal fabrication. Driven by innovative designers and engineers, Jrlon manufactures unique products vital to a wide variety of industries.
Ryan Delahanty, Don Hammer, Brian Starnes and Steve Schermann join the company’s leadership team to drive growth and innovation.
IMTS 2024: ANCA celebrates 50 years through the introduction of the MicroX Ultra grinding machine and AIMS Connect software, with live demonstrations.
Kaiser’s ThinBit offerings include over 100,000 precision cutting tools.
IMTS 2024: Mitutoyo America Corp. announces an addition to its linear height gage product line, providing simpler, more repeatable accuracy in measurement.
Hexagon delivers the SmartScan VR800 structured light scanner, providing the flexibility for 3D part inspection via a software-adjustable variable resolution functionality.
Sunnen Products Company receives the President’s “E Star” Award for the furthering of U.S. exports.
One of the hardest steps for most shops moving toward a zero-point system is: where do I begin? I have my machine and I have my application, but how can I effectively add a zero-point system to my machine and speed up my setups? In this webinar, Lang Technovation will discuss how to best approach adding a zero-point system and will share some ideas on how to plan for your best investment. Agenda: What is a zero-point system? Key questions to ask when evaluating best applications How to implement once you have made the decision
Join Hexagon to learn how you can transcend traditional CAM systems to revolutionize your discrete part programming. Hexagon's comprehensive approach integrates design, manufacturing and inspection processes to streamline production workflows and achieve operational excellence. Discover how its advanced suite of CAD/CAM, process optimization and automation technologies empowers manufacturers — from medical to aerospace — to seamlessly transition from prototyping to full-scale production. This session is designed for professionals seeking to enhance precision, efficiency and quality in CNC machining operations, providing valuable insights into the latest advancements in manufacturing technology. Agenda: Optimizing part preparation for error-free manufacturing Simplifying complex part machining through advanced CNC programming Enhancing safety and efficiency with collision avoidance and process verification Leveraging shop-floor production intelligence with automated machine monitoring Driving manufacturing success through effective automation and collaboration
First article inspection (FAI) creation is an essential element of quality control programs but can consume a significant amount of time. In this webinar, Rebecca Keller will discuss a tool that consolidates all requirements into an accountability checklist, keeping drawing and inspection sheets in sync. Automatically capture sheet and zone and identify bill of materials (BOM) and specifications for a complete and accurate report. This software exports a professional ballooned print as a PDF and can output to your customized Excel spreadsheet. In this session, Discus Software will go over how to reduce quality escapes that occur from overlooking requirements. Failing results are flagged in real time and any missing FAIR AS9102 data is also flagged for compliance to the standard. Easily renumber balloon sequencing and change between imperial and metric unites as required by your customers. Learn how to seamlessly import your coordinate-measuring machine (CMM) data to validate each result and easily flag non-conformances. Use any CMM in your shop to create result data and automatically populate the designed tooling. The tool to discuss will assist you in keeping up with the growing prevalence of 3D modeling in manufacturing. Using the product manufacturing information (PMI) of the model, this software extracts the geometry and notes from the model to create views with ballooned data and exports to the inspection sheet. Agenda: Error-proof each FAI for accuracy and customer approval Eliminate the need for manual data entry Use your CMM output to populate FAI actuals Address your customer's requirement for model-based definition (MBD)
In a rapidly-evolving manufacturing landscape, the integration of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies into CNC machining operations is not just an innovation but a necessity for staying competitive. Phillips Corporation invites you to this insightful webinar that sheds light on the transformative impact of 3D printing in CNC shops. Join the presenters as they delve into real-world applications, financial insights and the future of manufacturing. Join Phillips for this engaging webinar on how 3D printing can revolutionize your CNC operations from enhancing design flexibility and operational efficiency to securing significant financial advantages. Whether you’re just starting to explore the potential of additive manufacturing or looking to optimize its integration, this session will provide valuable insights and practical advice for leveraging AM technology to its fullest potential. Agenda: Learn how AM streamlines production processes. drastically reducing lead times and the need for extensive inventory while optimizing labor costs Explore the design flexibility that AM offers, allowing for complex geometries and customization options not feasible with traditional CNC machining Review the compelling financial rationale for integrating AM now, detailing cost savings, efficiency improvements and the competitive edge it provides
See how combining metrology and microscopy technologies can increase efficiency and reduce costs. The growing demand for miniaturization and high-density interconnects make it increasingly difficult to identify defects, meaning a need for inspection technology that can do traditional metrology applications and optical inspection tasks in microscopy. Printed circuit boards (PCB) and printed circuit assemblies (PCA) need advanced metrology and inspection systems to build high reliability devices that are important for new energy vehicles (NEV), aerospace, spacecraft and medical device creation. Both metrology and microscopy technologies combine to fulfill high-end geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) tasks along with image analysis techniques required for new product development and failure analysis inspection. This trend helps manufacturers increase efficiency while saving on service costs and space. Agenda: Understand how trends in electronics and medical manufacturing affect quality assurance Learn how microscopy inspection and metrology work together to support electronics manufacturing Application experts offer inspection tips and example workflows Understand savings made on service costs and space
Learn about the benefits of using fully integrated CAD and CAM software and the automation tools available. Agenda: Learn how to start using the CAM software included with SolidWorks See how a fully integrated CAD/CAM system saves significant amounts of programming time Watch presentations of the automation tools available Gather information on the levels of fully integrated CAD/CAM to fit your machining needs Gain an understanding of how other machine shops have benefitted by using a fully integrated system
RAPID + TCT is returning to the west coast after a decade away! For more than 30 years, RAPID + TCT has defined the crucial role of additive manufacturing and empowered the establishment of an industry that continues to conceive, test, improve and manufacture new products at a faster, more cost-efficient pace. SME and Rapid News Publications have teamed up to produce the annual RAPID + TCT event, which takes place June 25-27 in Los Angeles, California. The event is for those who provide technology and for those who need to understand, explore and adopt 3D printing, additive manufacturing, 3D scanning, CAD/CAE, metrology and inspection technologies.
Laser powder bed fusion is the most widely used additive manufacturing method for metal part production, and electron beam melting is a closely related technology. For metalworking facilities contemplating a move into metal AM using technologies such as these, here is a road map for success. Speakers will cover materials, safety, part design, production workflow and differences between laser and electron beam metal powder bed fusion systems.
FABTECH 2024 will be held October 15-17, 2024, in Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center. FABTECH provides a convenient ‘one-stop shop’ venue where you can meet with world-class suppliers, discover innovative solutions, and find the tools to improve productivity and increase profits. There is no better opportunity to network, share knowledge and explore the latest technology, all here in one place. Future U.S. Show Dates and Locations 2025 – September 8-11 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL 2026 – October 21-23 at Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV 2027 – September 13-16 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL
Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).
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.
The choice between buying a new machine or refurbishing the current one will become clear after a thorough assessment of the machine.
Understanding all the things that contribute to a machine’s full potential accuracy will inform what to prioritize when fine-tuning the machine.
While there are many changes to adopt when moving to five-axis, they all compliment the overall goal of better parts through less operations.
Consider what types of implementation your shop prefers when deciding between workpiece-handling and pallet-handling automation solutions.
When getting a grip on stainless steel, make sure you are very specific in how you talk about it and understand the pertinent information you need.
Downtime is the enemy of efficient manufacturing — a problem FIBA Technologies has addressed through purchasing a Soraluce FLP 14000.
FIBA Technologies produces seamless tubes. Doing so requires heating the metal of the tubes and using a CNC-controlled wheel that Sbrogna describes as being like a “pottery wheel.” The wheel gradually shapes the domes for the tube without leaving a weld mark. Photos courtesy of The Robert E. Morris Company.
When part lengths can extend out to 42-feet-long and full production has 19 steps other than machining, ensuring a CNC machine’s ease-of-use is worth a pretty penny. FIBA Technologies, a third-generation, family-owned company that produces custom tubes for gas containment and transportation applications, discovered this when updating its machining capabilities.
For decades, the shop relied on two CNC machines from the 1970s to produce the necks and threads for its tubes, but the machines relied on manual programming for each part, a time-consuming process that required a wealth of experience for smooth operation. Part loading and flipping also proved difficult for these machines due to tube lengths anywhere from seven to 42 feet, with both operations requiring the use of a large crane. These difficulties — the ever-shallower talent pool for people skilled in operating its aging machines and the lengthy machine downtime spurred by waiting for the crane — became bottlenecks for FIBA’s productivity. Amid increasing demand from companies in the space exploration, alternative fuels and electronics industries, the shop decided to invest in an additional machine that could bypass some of these issues. It found a suitable solution in the Soraluce FLP 14000.
In contrast to the old machines’ controls, which required sophisticated knowledge of G code, the Soraluce machine uses a Heidenhain control. Matt Sbrogna, director of operations at FIBA Technologies, says this type of control is much easier for a new hire to learn. Changing between part programs, he says, is as simple as selecting a pre-written program in the control and pressing start.
Operating the Soraluce machine requires only a few button presses, rather than fully reprogramming the machine for each new custom tube. The machine can also handle three tubes in one setup, as opposed to the older machines’ two.
Programming itself is also much simpler for the shop, as FIBA’s Soraluce distributor, The Robert E. Morris Company, coded programs for all of FIBA’s tubes during the installation of the machine. Sbrogna says FIBA can now hire a new operator and have them run parts within two to three weeks — a stark contrast from struggling to find people with the necessary experience for the older machines.
This simplicity is reflected in how FIBA can now produce some of the features on its tubes, most notably drain holes. These holes are set at a 45-degree angle drilled directly into the dome of the tubes. Drilling these holes was impossible on the older, three-axis CNC machines, instead requiring manual operations using Bridgeport machines.
“We took guys right off the floor and trained them how to use this without any experience,” Sbrogna says.
While the FLP 14000 is also a three-axis machine, FIBA has equipped it with a Soraluce H205 automatic indexing universal head. This head can index on vertical and diagonal axes in 2.5-degree increments to reach the proper angles to produce the drain holes. Unfortunately, it has limitations — FIBA loads three tubes onto the FLP 14000 at once, and while the machine can perform the rest of its machining operations on all three, the machine’s ram would collide with the parts if the shop tried to drill holes into tubes in two of the three positions. As such, tubes in these positions still require the Bridgeport machines for drain holes. Sbrogna says FIBA is still looking to optimize this process, and hopes to use the universal head to perform drilling operations on all three tubes in each cycle in the near future.
Loading or flipping the tubes requires the use of an overhead crane — but because this crane is so vital in moving tubes around the shop floor, the shop has a backlog on operations requiring it. This contributes to lengthy downtime on FIBA’s older machines. Cutting a crane operation drastically bolsters the Soraluce machines’ productivity.
The FLP 14000 already outperforms the older machines on its travels, however. The Soraluce machine uses a mobile “machine pendant” consisting of the operator station, Y-axis ram, Z-axis column, tool changer and spindle head. This pendant can travel 14,000 mm on the X-axis, while the ram can move 2,200 mm on the Y-axis and the column 1,500 mm on the Z-axis. This is enough to move from one end of a 42-foot tube to the other, cutting out the need for the crane to flip the tubes. As already mentioned, the table is also large enough to fit three tubes simultaneously, whereas the older machines only fit two tubes per cycle.
While the actual cycle times for completing machining operations on the dome are similar between the Soraluce and the older machines, the time savings from eliminating the extra operation are significant. These are further compounded by automatic probing on the Soraluce, which simplifies in-process measurement and ensures the machine pendant and the tube are in the right place when the pendant moves to machine the opposite side of the tubes. Soraluce’s Dynamic Active Stabilizer Plus feature further ensures that performance holds up across this wide range of travels by reducing chatter.
FIBA Technologies uses a Soraluce universal head to perform about 12 different machining operations for every tube, give or take a few based on specific requirements. This includes a saw cut to cut off the tube’s neck, roughing both the OD and ID of the neck, ID threading (sometimes OD threading as well) and occasionally chamfering.
Machining is only one production step of 20 for FIBA’s tubes, a fact which prevents easy comparison of productivity or profitability — especially when the volume and type of tubes on order changes from month to month. But Sbrogna was able to say that the Soraluce machine is more productive than the older machines, and that running them in tandem has enabled the company to meet its goals of 250 tubes produced each month. Repair parts are much easier to come by for this new machine, and hiring manufacturing talent who can work on the new machine is much simpler than hiring for the older machines.
“We took guys right off the floor and trained them how to use this without any experience,” Sbrogna says. “[That’s] probably the biggest benefit of the machine.”
Princeton Tool wanted to expand its portfolio, increase its West Coast presence, and become a stronger overall supplier. To accomplish all three goals at once, acquiring another machine shop became its best option.
The 11" bench engine lathe and gear head mill is able to handle a wide range of turning, milling and drilling operations typically found on much larger machinery.
When Shamrock Precision needed to cut production time of its bread-and-butter parts in half, it turned to a new type of machine tool and a new CAM system. Here’s how the company succeeded, despite the newness of it all.
Modern Machine Shop took an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of an Amish-owned machine shop, where advanced machining technologies work alongside old-world traditions.
The machine tool builder launched new innovations at an event hosted at its Limburg, Germany, Center of Excellence earlier this month.
Morris Group Inc. has signed an agreement with Soraluce for exclusive rights to distribute the company’s product line throughout the United States.
The company continues to refine its large-format machine tools with its dynamic workpiece stabilization capabilities and connected software infrastructure.
Automatic Tube Mill Modern Machine Shop is the leading publication and media brand in North America devoted to CNC machining. MMS combines unprecedented editorial access to manufacturing facilities with decades of experience to provide long-form content that is both insightful and impactful. About Us