Industry News

John Dauber and Kevin Tucker of Camfil APC, Jonesboro, Ark., have written a white paper about airborne mists emitted during machining processes, which pose numerous risks to human health and safety. It is important to understand the regulations that limit these emissions, as well as the various technologies available to achieve compliance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other regulatory agencies. This paper discusses what you can do about mist collection issues in your facility, how to evaluate which type of collection system is most suitable for your application and how to establish an overall safety program that will best protect employees and equipment.

When is the best time to sell your CNC machine? How should you prepare it to sell? How can you optimize your profit? Chicago-based Machinery Marketing International addresses these questions in the e-book "Selling CNC Machines." The guide covers considerations for selling old CNC machines.

Dormer Pramet is launching a webinar series to occur the fourth Friday of every month. The first three sessions are open for enrollment. These 30-minute sessions, which will be led by round tool and indexable product experts, are free and designed to expand participants' knowledge of cutting tools. The webinars are geared toward professionals in the fields of sales, technical support and customer service.

I'm one of those annoying people who stays current on technology. I store my stuff in the cloud, patch my software religiously and have my fifth smartphone in as many years. Despite my geeky tendencies, however, I'm apprehensive about the effect that Industry 4.0 and the industrial internet of things will have on … well, the industry. Call it smart manufacturing if you like, but many shop owners and managers—especially those who grew up with black-and-white TVs and rotary phones—might secretly call it scary manufacturing instead.

A smart floor eliminates missing information, reinforces standards and keeps people safe. A smart floor answers questions. Marking floors is one of the fastest, easiest ways to direct behavior and create visual communication in a work environment. Floor markings not only communicate what is supposed to happen but reinforce existing standards in the workplace. Floor marking products, such as floor decals, A-frame signs, floor marking tape and floor symbols, promote safety and improve efficiency, saving time and money and reducing injuries. By utilizing these types of products, a facility can become a safer, more productive workplace.

Hands-on learning is quickly becoming the best-known way for students to fully grasp concepts and curriculum, especially in the world of technical education. To this end, classrooms have started to change in accommodation for this type of hands-on teaching. This early exposure to machine tools preps kids for the work they'll see throughout their careers.

Whether an interviewer or interviewee, it is important to be prepared when discussing a job opening. An e-book provides 110 typical questions and answers for production interviews, as well as tips for how to prepare.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December, and the overall economy grew for the 103rd consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The December Purchasing Managers' Index registered 59.7 percent, an increase of 1.5 percentage points from the November reading of 58.2 percent. This indicates growth in manufacturing for the 16th consecutive month, led by strong expansion in new orders and production, with hiring growing at a slower rate and supplier deliveries continuing to struggle.

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.

For our February issue's Industry Briefs department, I'm writing an article about the Deburring Application Laboratory at Matrix Design LLC. The company designs, builds and installs robotic automation systems for deburring parts, as well as machine tending and material handling.

While manufacturing jobs dominated in the 20th century, many believe that coding will have a similar impact during the 21st century. "I think we've lost the ability to make things," said Adam Enbar, co-founder of Flatiron School, on Fox Business' "Wall Street Week." "Americans love to build and create and make things. This is that new wave. The new form of manufacturing is making software." Flatiron School, which is located in New York City, is a coding boot camp that trains people of all skill levels on how to code.

In connection with the article I'm writing about metalworking fluid filtration equipment for our March issue, I spoke with Irvin Kaage, president of Transor Filter USA, Elk Grove Village, Ill. The company provides the One Micron Filtration system, which removes particles larger than 1µm from oil, primarily for grinding.