Industry News

Although picks, or plectra, for playing musical instruments are commonly plastic injection molded or stamped, some are machined.

Precision Drive Systems LLC, Bessemer City, N.C., a global provider of high-speed precision spindle motors, support and repair, named Bob Barone vice president.

Cutting Tool Engineering (CTE) is seeking machine shop candidates to be featured in an episode of our new Shop Ingenuity video series, which debuted earlier this year. The series is open to any shop that would like to share its story of shop innovation.

Coldwater Machine Co., Coldwater, Ohio, an engineered solutions and precision machining company that manufactures and integrates assembly automation and special machines, announced a 27,500-sq.-ft. expansion to its manufacturing space, enlarging the facility to 132,500 sq. ft.

Fairmont Supply, Washington, Pa., which distributes industrial maintenance, repair and operation supplies in the United States, appointed Paul Fichiera CEO.

Top jaws should be designed to hold the workpiece as close to the chuck face as possible. Excessive jaw height reduces the effective gripping force available and is detrimental to accuracy.

GF Machining Solutions LLC, Lincolnshire, Ill., named Ellison Technologies Inc., Los Angeles, as its distributor to serve customers in Indiana.

Engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, tested NASA's first 3-D printed rocket engine prototype part made of two different metal alloys through an innovative advanced manufacturing process. NASA has been making and evaluating durable 3-D printed rocket parts made of one metal, but the technique of 3-D printing with more than one metal is more difficult.

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.

For many machinists, the conversation begins, “If I could have this size tool with this attachment on it, we'd be able to …” With the variety of machine taper types, sizes, differences in the flanges, draw-in thread sizes, and pull studs, finding the ideal toolholder for the job can be a difficult task.

If you are in charge of production on a manufacturing shop floor, there is no doubt that you have likely come across productivity issues. Nothing is perfect, and this includes your employees and your equipment.

Vero Software Ltd., Cheltenham, England, hired Regional Account Manager Heidi Hays to represent the Edgecam and Surfcam brands in the Rocky Mountain region.

From the founding almost 20 years ago of Mikron Tool SA, Agno, Switzerland, with a six-page brochure, the company has grown to today's 600-page catalog. In this time, Mikron Tool has morphed from a supplier of special cutting tools for transfer machines to a globally present tool manufacturer. The company's range of standardized tools includes more than 2,600 items, which now are included in a "tool book" for end users.

FANUC America has selected HEIDENHAIN’s tocuh probes for use and training on its popular ROBODRILLs in its recently expanded CNC machining laboratory in Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch joined Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Ray Allen, German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest (GACC Midwest) officials and other partners on Sept. 6 to recognize Hermle Machine Co. for being the first employer in the state to introduce a new apprenticeship collaboration that follows the structure of internationally renowned German apprenticeship system.

A new program at Focus: Hope is designed to get Detroit-area women into fields that have historically been dominated by men. The 13-week training class was made possible by a $370,000 donation by General Motors. The training program enables women to earn four certificates required in IT and manufacturing.

Machine tool manufacturer and Industry 4.0 pioneer TRUMPF has opened a new technology center in Chicago that showcases the interaction between people, machines, storage technology, automation, software and Industry 4.0 solutions. The company calls it "the first smart factory for Industry 4.0 solutions that was designed for digitally connected production processes throughout."

Gallup found in its 2017 "State of the American Workplace" report that 25% of manufacturing workers are engaged at work—eight percentage points lower than the national average of 33% employee engagement, the lowest in this metric. Why, and what can be done about it? Gallup consultants offer five suggestions.

Pratt & Whitney’s new 93,000 square-foot facility adds to an already existing GTF fan blade production line in Lansing. The company's AutoAir facility has had a tenfold ramp-up in the past 20 months, and has increased its workforce from just over 200 to almost 700.

July U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $170.95 million according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report (CTMR) collaboration, was down 8.4% from June’s $186.57 million and up 16.0% when compared with the total of $147.43 million reported for July 2016. With a year-to-date total of $1.266 billion, 2017 is up 7.1% when compared with 2016.