September 2009 ISSUE

COVER STORY

The Ins and Outs of Inserts

Understanding how inserts are made provides valuable insight into how their performance can be optimized.

FEATURES

A Letter from the PMPA President, PMPA 76th Annual Meeting

Dear Industry Colleague:We’ve seen unprecedented spending by the federal government in recent months under the new administration. That includes plans to implement a public option for healthcare coverage.

Al Horner to Discuss Business Strategy and Profitability at PMPA Annual Meeting

"Improving profits" will be the focus of Al Horner’s presentation at the PMPA Annual Meeting in Savannah, Ga. Mr. Horner will share his knowledge of the subject at the meeting’s Sunday morning business session on October 25.

Be a Product Inventor

If you manufacture things, be sure that it is a product that is "meaningfully unique" and differentiates/distances you from your competition.

Machines

Czech Out This New CNC Multi-Spindle

A new CNC multi-spindle is available in the U.S. for the first time. Manufactured in the Czech Republic, it has a long pedigree in Europe, but has been reletively unknown here--until now.

CAD/CAM

Don't Chase Variability with CAM

A recent study showed that mechanical SuperTuning of a moderately priced CNC machine could dramatically improve volumetric positioning accuracy.

Of Golf and Manufacturing

Golf shots, like the workpieces found in metalworking shops, can be accomplished in a variety of ways.

Turning Machines

One-Part Solution With Huge Payoff

Machine shops prioritize different challenges daily, but some challenges are more critical than others. Precise Products Corporation (Minneapolis) was faced with a challenge when one of its original customers asked the company to reduce the cost of a family of parts or risk losing the job.