Industry News

If debris or contaminants are not removed from parts, then measured values and physical dimensions can be affected, causing parts to behave unreliably and unpredictably, according to Cincinnati-based Cleaning Technologies Group LLC. "A new generation of industrial manufacturing is characterized by highly accurate machining and finishing processes, as well as precision manufacturing methods," the company writes in a new e-book available online. "Manufacturing tolerances and acceptable limits in part variation are tighter than ever."

Sept. 25 marked 39 years to the day since I first stood in front of a Hardinge hand screw, scratching my head over the knobs and handles and wondering what I'd gotten myself into. To say that machine tools have improved since then is like saying this year's computers are only slightly more powerful than those of a decade ago or that salted caramel ice cream is marginally more flavorful than vanilla. Today's machine tools rock.

A close look at the performance of America's top manufacturing companies reveals a surprising story of industrial growth. It also suggests an alarming future.

Sascha Fischer, machine tool business manager at Siemens Industry Inc., discusses how CNC technology can take motion control and production data to the cloud to drive digital factory capabilities. Connecting production equipment to data networks promises increased uptime, process optimization and predictive maintenance. Most shops already have the key building block to start: the CNC that manages machine tools.

A waterjet cutting system utilizes a mixture of water and abrasive (or in some cases, water only) to cut through workpieces by rapidly eroding the material. Because water plays such a significant role in the operation of these machines, it is important that the condition of the water is optimized to maximize both the efficiency of the waterjet and the longevity of its components.

WICHITA, Kan. -- Superior Tool Service (STS) is No. 4787 on the 37th annual Inc. 5000, a ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies.

CONTOUR360 has been announced as the first ever ANCA Tool of the Year award winner at IMTS with the company's creative and eye-catching tool.

Despite my sore feet and the cold, overpriced sandwiches, I love the International Manufacturing Technology Show. The whine of the spindles, the smell of the coolant, the machine gun sound of the chips hitting the glass—these might not be the memories the exhibitors want me to carry home, but they stick with me the longest.

While looking through back issues of Carbide Engineering from the late 1950s, I came across an article about HSS cutting tools that reminded me of an article we published in this year's August issue of Cutting Tool Engineering. (Editor's note: Carbide Engineering combined with Cutting Tool Engineering starting with the January 1961 issue and dropped Carbide Engineering starting in April of that year. The publication began in 1948 as a small pamphlet called Carbide Tips, but I'm not aware of any existing copies of any issues.)

Whether you know it as Industry 4.0, the fourth Industrial Revolution or smart industry, manufacturing is going through a deep transformation with changes centered around digitalization. While most industries are already on this digitalization path, the disruption is more visible and pronounced in manufacturing because it is expanding virtual data and processes into environments that have been fundamentally about physical products. An up-and-coming technology is beginning to make waves: blockchain. This white paper explores how blockchain is being applied in manufacturing.

The Jacksonville Jaguars introduced FANUC America as a partner of the team and welcomed five new robots to TIAA Bank Field and the Jaguars family of game day staff this past Sunday during the team's victory over the New England Patriots.

The introduction of our Borazon CBN grinding wheel was still in full swing when I received information from General Electric in 1972 that a new cutting material would be coming soon. What could it be? Naturally all of us were curious!