General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

Although automation is occurring in manufacturing, as it is in other sectors of the economy, the evidence does not support the idea that automation was the main cause of the sudden decline in manufacturing employment after 2000. It's difficult to precisely pin down what was to blame, but a large body of research suggests that economists and pundits are wrong to so quickly dismiss trade and to blame machines.

A full line of highly spherical sapphire and ruby balls with precise surface finishes for applications requiring superior hardness and chemical resistance are available from Meller Optics Inc.

Verisurf Software Inc. announced the release of Verisurf 2018 Update 1, the latest update of its popular measurement software for automated quality inspection and reporting, scanning and reverse engineering, tool building and assembly guidance. Advanced new features in this update are based on customer feedback, and deliver increased efficiency and improved quality functions.

Sandvik Coromant is releasing three new grades for its popular CoroDrill 870 exchangeable-tip drill. GC4344, GC3334 and GC2334 have been developed to offer significant tool life improvements and more predictable wear patterns, all while maintaining the high penetration rates and productivity for which the concept is renowned.

EXAIR's new Gen4 Ionizing Bar eliminates static electricity 25 percent better than previous models by eliminating larger static charges, faster. It has improved range and is effective when mounted up to 4 inches from a charged surface. Production speeds, product quality and surface cleanliness can improve dramatically.

Lucifer Furnaces supplied a forced-air recirculating oven to a manufacturer of medical and aerospace parts. Model 42-M36 will be used to heat treat 17-4 stainless steel.

JVL Industri Elektronik A/S introduces a new compact and slim stepper motor. The new ServoStep integrated stepper motor series MIS171 to MIS176 have a NEMA 17 42x42 mm flange and include controller with six different industrial Ethernet protocols, absolute multiturn encoder, closed loop and M12 connectors. This new motor family is based on the latest microprocessor and cooling technology and an advancement compared to previous designs.

Texas could be in line to land thousands of additional aerospace-related manufacturing and engineering jobs if companies in the fast-growing sector heed a new ranking of the most competitive places for them to operate. The report by PricewaterhouseCoopers lists Texas behind only Washington state as the top location in the United States for "aerospace manufacturing attractiveness."

In preparation for this year's celebration of Manufacturing Day on Oct. 5, I read the book "Finding America's Greatest Champion: Building Prosperity Through Manufacturing, Mentoring and the Awesome Responsibility of Parenting" by Terry M. Iverson, president of machine tool distributor and rebuilder Iverson & Co., Des Plaines, Illinois. The word "champion" in the title connects with the organization Iverson started called CHAMPION Now! CHAMPION is an acronym for Change How American (or Advanced) Manufacturing's Perceived In Our Nation.

When grinding tools, ultrafine coolant filtration is clearly a worthwhile proposition for the tool manufacturer or regrinder: The cleaner the grinding oil is and the less often it has to be replaced, the more it will save on coolant costs, minimize waste, and reduce tool costs and machine downtimes. Filter technology, which not only cleans the grinding oils and coolants economically, but also keeps them temperature-stabilized state in the system for an extended time period, achieves measurable gains.

The metal fabrication and manufacturing industry has adjusted in recent years to meet the demands of an evolving global economy, impacted by social, political, economic and technological advancements that effect all aspects of the industry. In changing times and in a historically male-dominated industry, manufacturing has seen a steady rise in women playing key roles in the industry, shaping the next generation of manufacturing to be more gender diverse, innovative, and rewarding for those who pursue a career path in this compelling field.

Robots and the programming they rely on have certainly made huge leaps in recent years. But manufacturers have little use for jumping or cuddling machines. They need performers that can do specific production jobs. Do robots fit the bill? Will they replace all our manufacturing employees?