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Articles January 1, 2014
Stereotyping the stereotypes
Any conversation about training and skills development in the metalworking industry tends to stir up emotions. Pretty soon, people are complaining about the same three things over and over: "Our manufacturing plants are stereotyped as dark, dirty and greasy;" "We can't get people to consider manufacturing jobs because we're negatively stereotyped by parents and high-school guidance counselors;" and "There aren't enough available workers with the right skills."
Articles January 1, 2014 Dr. Scott Smith
Counteracting gravity
The vertical linear axes on machine tools are fundamentally different than those that operate parallel to the ground. This is because the actuators on the vertical axes have to overcome the effects of gravity.
Articles January 1, 2014 Michael Deren
Wonderful world of manufacturing
Having been in manufacturing as long as I have, writes Machinist's Corner Columnist Michael Deren, "you might think I've grown tired of the daily grind. On the contrary, I usually can't wait to get to work each day."
Articles January 1, 2014 Keith Jennings
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Manager's Desk Columnist Keith Jennings reflects on the ups and downs of the previous 12 months, with a nod to the "classroom of reality," which he says continues to educate him and his team. As a result, his shop created a list of goals for 2014.
Articles January 1, 2014 Tom Lipton
Programming a CNC lathe
A typical CNC lathe program is quite short compared to some of the mammoth CAM-generated programs for milling machines. Here are some tips and tricks to programming a CNC lathe.
Articles January 1, 2014 Christopher Tate
The basics of good tool management
Anyone who works in or around a machine shop knows that high-performance cutting tools are expensive. If the process of acquiring and using these tools is not managed properly, tool expenses can quickly and negatively impact the bottom line, whether you are operating a mom-and-pop shop or a major OEM.
Articles December 1, 2013 Jeffrey A. Badger, Ph.D.
Cooling gizmo has issues
At a trade show, a company displayed a grinding wheel with slots, where coolant is poured into the center of the wheel and then ejected into the grinding zone. What's your take on this design?