Making Tribological Improvements to Bore Surfaces
By: Derek Korn
A new “mechano-chemical” process that impregnates tungsten into the surface of honed bores at a nano level improves wear resistance while reducing friction between mating components.
PM’s Top 10 Online Articles of 2021
By: Derek Korn
Last year, our magazine introduced readers to a range of technology and practices that precision CNC machine shops are applying or should consider applying. Here are the ones that got the most online eyeballs.
#pmts
Choose Your Favorite PM Cover Shot: Win Some PM Swag
By: Derek Korn
Production Machining magazine had some interesting — possibly atypical — cover imagery last year. Chime in to let us know which one was your favorite for a chance to win some free PM gear.
What Would You Notice in Someone Else’s Shop?
By: Derek Korn
If you’re an owner or manager of a CNC machine shop, do you get to visit other shops often? And, if so, what do you keep an eye out for?
Filling the Tall Order of Inventory Management
By: Derek Korn
Rable Machine continues to refine the inventory management services the shop offers its top customers. It has found that providing these services — something other shops can’t or won’t do — makes it more of a partner with those customers, rather just a vendor.
Video Tech Brief: Dual Thread Whirling on a Swiss-Type CNC Lathe
By: Derek Korn
The dual thread whirling units on Tsugami Swiss-type lathes can produce medical bone screws with two different thread leads in one setup, eliminating the need for single-point threading.
Is 3D Printing in Your Shop or on Your Radar?
By: Derek Korn
Recent shop visits reveal that some machining businesses have added/are considering adding 3D printing equipment, while others are content sending that work — for items such as polymer fixtures and jigs — to outside vendors.
#additive
Video Tech Brief: 3D Optical Part Measurement Explained
By: Derek Korn
Oasis Inspection Systems added a rotary stage to its optical measuring units enabling them to perform automated 3D measurement of machined part features.
Does A Turn-Mill Have to Turn?
Edited by Derek Korn
Here’s an example of a shop applying innovative probing, tooling and workholding strategies to enable its turn-mill to machine castings complete.
Video Tech Brief: Vacuum-Assist Collection of Small, Machined Parts
By: Derek Korn
Marubeni Citizen-Cincom offers an optional vacuum collection system for very small parts machined on its Swiss-type CNC lathes to avoid losing or damaging parts. Main system components are 3D-printed made at its U.S. headquarters.
#additive
Vertical Integration Enables Rapid Manufacturing Response
By: Derek Korn
For this contract manufacturer, having myriad machining and manufacturing capabilities in-house enables it to deliver assemblies to customers faster and with higher quality.
New Line of Swiss-Types for Job Shops Eyeing High-Production Work
By: Derek Korn
Mazak now offers the Syncrex line of Swiss-type CNC lathes — its first — targeting machine shops getting into higher volume production of complex parts.
#workforcedevelopment
