FEATURES

Digital Dumpster

One of the best pieces of advice I was ever given came from an attorney coaching me on how to respond to government questions regarding an anti-trust case. She told me, "Don’t draw lines that divide." This advice has proven invaluable to me through the years, as I tried to draw a circle that included all parties rather than define a line between parties that divides.

 

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Workholding

Direct Drive Rotary System Reduces Cycle Time

In the early 1990s, Mr. Langlois decided to set up a shop specializing in close-tolerance aerospace parts. A friend of his recommended that he consider a colleted-spindle turning machine and suggested that he look into Hardinge lathes. Mr. Langlois purchased a used Hardinge HNC lathe and began making aircraft landing gear bushings.

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Machines

Investing For Success In Demanding Markets

This company constantly strives to uphold a quality reputation, stay lean and continue to expand its business. It attributes its most recent success to the addition of three Variaxis machining centers.

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Material Analysis At The Source

Growing material costs and quality control concerns have increased demand for accurate and fast methods of analyzing alloy composition. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) handheld analyzers allow in-line testing of a variety of materials.

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Plymouth Steel Corporation

Plymouth Steel Corporation is a processor of carbon and alloy cold-drawn steel bars. The company was founded in 1941 in Plymouth, Michigan by Walter J. Bothwell. Currently, his grandson John Quay serves as chairman of the family-owned business.

 

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PMPA Retains The Franklin Partnership For Government Advocacy, Lobbying

PMPA has a new partner in its efforts to represent the precision machining industry in Washington, D.C. The association has retained The Franklin Partnership to provide advocacy, lobbying and information services.

 

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CAD/CAM

Programming Lathes: Eliminate Cutting Air On The Second Pass

Cutting air benefits no one. Eliminate it in the programming department.

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Medical

Software Bridges Gap For Dental Implant Manufacturer

This dental implant manufacturer has found the right combination of technology and personnel to help implement its changing philosophy rooted in the control of its manufacturing processes.

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The Only Way We Can Outperform

While at IMTS in September, I overheard a couple of comments about manufacturing competitiveness that made me scratch my head. The first went something like this: "The only way you can outperform other shops—those that typically have the same machines and cut the same materials you do—is to put better tools in your machines."

 

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Machines

Turning Toward The Future

This new machine tool represents the lastest in a new generation of CNC multi-spindle automatics. Its development was a clean sheet approach and the results are impressive.

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