Greg Bartlett

News • August 22, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

Lean into it

As discussed in a recent issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine in the feature article "Lean into it," a little lean manufacturing goes a long way. One factor that tends to trip up people and companies on their way to establishing lean cultures is sustainment. Phillip Canipe, vice president of sales and business development for the Southwest region at Stellar Industrial Supply Inc. in Tacoma, Washington, said 90 percent of companies are reluctant to re-examine processes that already have been inspected and improved.

Articles • July 31, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

A little lean manufacturing goes a long way

The "continuous" in continuous improvement means just that: It never ends. So unattainable perfection is not the goal, ongoing progress is

News • June 20, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

Yearly competition helps students, industry

The 54th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference scheduled for June 25-29 in Louisville, Kentucky, is expected to draw more than 6,000 students, with a fraction of them competing to be named the best CNC milling specialist, CNC technician and CNC turning specialist in the nation. "This is a great opportunity for students to see where their skill levels are compared with their peers," said Steve Arteman, technical support engineer at CGTech Inc., Irvine, California, the developer of Vericut CNC simulation and verification software.

Articles • June 7, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

Technological advances make laser machining more practical

Over the past 30 years, laser machining has evolved into a formidable industrial practice. Gone are the large, expensive, finicky machines. Now fiber lasers, with their compact size, high reliability and affordable cost, have taken hold.

News • May 29, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

Machinists Inc. Balances Job Shop Work with Public Art Projects

Some people say there is an art to machining. In some cases, there is actual artwork. Machinists Inc. in Seattle, the largest precision machining shop in the Northwest, has made big sculptures since the early 1990s. The first piece was a 17'×13'×3' steel sculpture that hangs in Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, and many more have followed. However, art accounts for only about 1 percent of the manufacturer's work, said Weld Engineer Steve Pollard, who has been with the company for 30 years.

News • May 21, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

A tipping point for tapping

As discussed in the current issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine in the feature article "Specialization on tap," material-specific taps continue to evolve. Sources anticipate increasing specialization of the materials used for taps across industries.

News • April 30, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

Improving shop websites for hiring—a reader responds

My Jan. 29 blog post, "Simple steps improve shop websites for hiring," received an insightful reply from Gerry Anger, president of Granger Sales Inc.

News • March 14, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

5 questions with Afzaal Mir

I recently spoke with Afzaal Mir, founder and owner of toolmaker FSC Cutting Tools Technology LLC, Greenville, S.C., about his business and life.

News • February 12, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

Time to sell or buy a used CNC?

Some tool builders in the expanding economy are having a hard time obtaining machine components, which is delaying production, said Logan McGhan, technical salesman at KD Capital Equipment LLC, Scottsdale, Ariz., a machinery dealer specializing in used CNC machinery, plastic molding machinery and sheet metal fabrication. He said U.S. manufacturers must meet delivery deadlines in a demanding market. "You could potentially lose a customer," McGhan said, adding he is hearing about wait times of 6 months to a year for certain machinery. This environment may make it a good time for some companies to buy or sell used CNC equipment, even if doing so is new for them.

News • January 29, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

Simple steps improve shop websites for hiring

Although millions of manufacturing jobs may need to be filled in the years to come as baby boomers continue to retire, many manufacturers already struggle with unfilled positions. One efficient way to combat the problem is by improving company websites, said Claudia Pennington, co-founder and CEO of DIY Marketing, Marietta, Pa.

Articles • January 22, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

Starting mass finishing

There is much to consider when choosing a mass-finishing system, what with operational variables from machine size and design to cutting media, compound abrasives, water volume, cycle time and more.

News • January 5, 2018 • Greg Bartlett

Choosing cutting media for mass finishing

When mass finishing—finishing many parts simultaneously—in a vibratory finishing system, the tendency is to use ceramic or plastic preformed cutting media, said Steven Schneider, technical sales manager at surface finishing company Kramer Industries Inc., Piscataway, N.J. Ceramic tumbling media are made with abrasive filler, much like a grinding wheel. For plastic tumbling media, plastic is mixed with abrasive filler and cast to shape. Ceramic media use aluminum oxide as filler, and plastic media use quartz or silica for cleaner results.