Automotive

Manufacturing was a star in 2011 and looks to shine brightly in 2012.

CTE Editorial Director Alan Rooks laments the long and winding road to economic recovery in this Lead Angle editorial in the September 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

'Lightweighting' vehicles through the use of magnesium parts can improve vehicle mileage and impact resistance, among other benefits.

Video submitted by Fraunhofer Institute shows a testing geometry, or tank, being formed using a tool with different radii at die and punch for researching critical dimensions.

FANUC FA America's Paul Webster provides a tour of the company's Fast Atom plant floor management/connectivity system. In addition, Webster explains how the company is extending its assistance to help keep legacy equipment connected.

With a substantial portion of the U.S. manufacturing base in earthquake-prone California, we would be wise to study how Japan orchestrates this recovery, suggests CTE Editorial Director Alan Rooks in his April 2011 Lead Angle editorial.

Machining P/M steels for powertrain parts is tough, but answers abound.

Productives Times: Proactive progress. End user: Ford Motor Co., Lima Engine Plant. Challenge: Improve productivity and maximize quality when machining aluminum heads. Solution: Replaceable-head reamers with PCD cutting edges. Solution provider: Mapal Inc.

Machining large compacted graphite iron castings for diesel engine components is challenging, but applying the proper tools and techniques can help.

April 2009 Part Time column

Cutting Tool Engineering Contributing Editor Bill Kennedy offers a video supplement to the October cover story, which looked at how small shops are taking advantage of big opportunities by making military parts.

Auto manufacturers are 'lightweighting' vehicles by incorporating more aluminum and microalloy steel components.