General Shop Equipment & Supplies

NCG CAM Solutions Ltd. UK officially released NCG CAM v16.0. This major release includes a number of new features including Selected Surface Machining for Waterline Passes, Combined Passes for Waterline & Constant Stepover, Tangential Extension for Raster Passes, 5-Axis Flank Machining, as well as many new user interface features and enhancements.

For the 86th episode in the Grinding Doc video series from Cutting Tool Engineering, Dr. Jeffrey Badger encourages shops to true a taper in the wheel when they perform cup wheel grinding.

Mazak's versatile VARIAXIS i-300 simultaneous 5-axis vertical machining center is now even more flexible and efficient with the addition of a high-capacity auto work changer (AWC). Designed for automated small- to medium-size part-processing operations, the new VARIAXIS i-300 AWC is suitable for machining aluminum and other nonferrous metals for a variety of industries, including aerospace, medical and automotive.

MAPAL offers its tool management services based on the c-Com platform, a product of c-Com GmbH. Tool Management 4.0 guarantees maximum overview of all data and inventory movement, as well as costs, according to the company.

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.

Sandvik Coromant has extended the functionality of its InvoMilling software. The latest version of this user-friendly CAD/CAM solution for fast and simple NC programming offers even more possibilities when manufacturing gears on universal 5-axis machining centers.

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.

The maintenance spare parts business is in turmoil. There have been fundamental changes in the sale, distribution and storage of spare parts needed to maintain machinery and other physical assets. The key to uptime in manufacturing is managing risk, and "Surviving the Spare Parts Crisis: Maintenance Storeroom and Inventory Control" by Joel Levitt describes how to evaluate risk in the inventory.

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.