Evan Jones Thorne

Articles • March 10, 2017 • Evan Jones Thorne

Hybrid machine tools for moldmakers

The advantages of combining additive manufacturing with finish-machining processes in a single setup are plentiful, from shorter cycle times to the ability to create complex, unlikely geometries. Because of the specific needs of their industry, moldmakers might feel left out. However, a few machine builders are filling this niche-within-a-niche.

News • February 21, 2017 • Evan Jones Thorne

Pratt & Whitney to bring over 500 jobs to Georgia

Georgia will see an influx of more than 500 new aerospace manufacturing jobs at Columbus-based Pratt & Whitney, which reportedly will invest $386 million into expansion.

News • February 21, 2017 • Evan Jones Thorne

ScULPT laser seeks tenfold increase in throughput

A joint research project known as "Scaling Ultrafast Laser Productive Precision Processing Technology", or ScULPT, was conceived to develop an efficient, powerful, ultra-short pulsed laser system with a tenfold increase in throughput on the machining of different types of glass and metals.

News • February 10, 2017 • Evan Jones Thorne

Fight Like A Girl(s’ Robotics Team)

Two high school students — senior Margaret Schiffer and sophomore Rosie Sirk — traveled to Los Angeles to represent the National Robotics League on behalf of Beaumont School at the SolidWorks World Conference.

Articles • February 9, 2017 • Evan Jones Thorne

The age of aqueous cleaning

U.S. manufacturing industry is transitioning from solvent-based cleaning to water-based cleaning products.

News • February 2, 2017 • Evan Jones Thorne

PMI shows continued economic growth

The January 2017 Manufacturing ISM Report On Business, a national report that reflects the state of manufacturing throughout the United States, showed increased economic activity in manufacturing in the month of January, with overall economic growth for the 92nd consecutive month.

News • January 23, 2017 • Evan Jones Thorne

Mfg. & design tech courses now available online

Chicago-based Digital Manufacturing and Design Institute has opened enrollment for the first three of a planned 10 online "101"-style courses on manufacturing and design technology. Developed in partnership with the University at Buffalo and coordinated by The Center for Industrial Effectiveness for the Coursera online learning platform, Digital Manufacturing and Design Technology launches on Jan. 30.

Articles • January 17, 2017 • Evan Jones Thorne

HUNCH launches student manufacturing—literally

High school manufacturing programs teach students to create production parts, preparing them for careers in industry. Those parts are primarily for terrestrial applications. However, unique and exciting opportunities to produce parts for use above the earth are available to partner-schools in a 14-year-old government program called HUNCH (High schools United with NASA to Create Hardware).

News • January 3, 2017 • Evan Jones Thorne

Problem: too many jobs that can’t find workers

While rumblings of a jobless economy may be increasing, the biggest problem facing the U.S. jobs market is a lack of applicants—skilled or otherwise, according to a Bloomberg Businessweek report.

News • January 3, 2017 • Evan Jones Thorne

Majority of U.S. mfg. jobs lost to productivity gains, study finds

While U.S. workers are still losing jobs to outsourcing, a report by Ball State University finds that 87 percent of American manufacturing job losses over the last 16 years are due to productivity gains, including better supply chains, more capital investment and advancing technology.

Articles • December 30, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

Enduring attachments

Tapping attachments date back to the early 20th century—and they've endured for good reason.n

News • December 7, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

A one-stop robot shop

As useful and commonplace as robots are in manufacturing, buying one is rarely a one-stop shopping experience. However, robot manufacturer Universal Robots A/S has launched a new service, UR+, which may change the way robots are bought and sold.