Machines/Accessories/Controls

In digital manufacturing, the supplier's real product is intellectual property

In the digitized manufacturing world being born, the product that a job-shop produces is less a piece of engineered metal and more a piece of intellectual property. So said Tom Kelly, the executive director and CEO of Detroit’s Automation Alley. That difference brings risks but also unprecedented opportunities for those who are ready.

FMSes uncork bottlenecks

01/23/2018

Author:

Kip Hanson

Top managers at three manufacturers weigh in on the merits of flexible manufacturing systems.

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Large vertical lathes available at reasonable prices

11/21/2017

Author:

William Leventon

Look in a couple of nooks in the machine tool market and you’ll find what appear to be bargains for those buying big.

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Modular toolholding helps Premier Industries finds its groove

Premier Industries’ pressure regulators are subjected to tough duty in the oil & gas, aerospace and welding industries, but their precision performance is also critical, as regulator outlet pressure determines downstream pressure. A HORN modular toolholding system allow the company to reduce cycle times by 65 percent and cost per part by 79 percent—with better finish, flatness and tool life.

Alternatives to steep tapers

09/12/2017

Author:

Kip Hanson

Today’s machine tool users have more spindle choices than just the steep-taper designs developed 40 years ago.

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As the car evolves, so must machine-tool builders

Heller Group COO Manfred Maier and Heller Machine Tool president Keith Vandenkieboom describe and demonstrate ways a machine tool builder prepares for the future of mobility—whatever it turns out to be.

Capgemini report: Smart Factory investments, expectations are booming

Capgemini’s Digital Transformation Institute reports that manufacturers expect investments in smart factories will drive a 27 percent increase in their operation efficiency over the next five years. This would add $500 billion in annual added value to the global economy. Fifty-six percent of surveyed manufacturing executives said their companies have invested $100 million or more in smart factory initiatives over the past five years, while 20 percent claim to have invested $500 million or more.

GROB, Open Mind to host seminar on 5-axis machining strategies

The GROB Group and Open Mind are joining forces to offer a complimentary two-day technology seminar on August 1-2, 2017. Grob, a manufacturer of universal machining centers is partnering with Open Mind, a developer of CAM/CAD systems, to present innovative production solutions for aerospace and other industries at GROB’s U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility in Bluffton, Ohio.

ABB and IBM partner to bring AI to the factory floor

ABB and IBM have announced a strategic collaboration that brings together ABB’s industry-leading digital offering, ABB Ability, with IBM Watson Internet of Things cognitive capabilities to unlock new value for customers in industry, utilities and transport & infrastructure.

TriMet Consulting Launched to Serve Manufacturers' CNC, CMM Programming Needs

TriMet Consulting, Wichita, Kan., has announced the launch of its consultancy to serve the growing number of manufacturers who want on-demand, expert-level CNC programming, CMM programming and other 3D data-driven services for industrial design-to-inspection applications. The company says it has assembled an “A-team” of industry advisors with market knowledge and hands-on expertise in manufacturing and metrology applications. TriMet Consulting has industry connections with top tier OEMs, a mastery of industry best practices, and an experienced team to deliver superior programming results for CNC milling applications and CMM inspection routines.