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A League of Our Own

Our industry is relatively small in scale but getting larger in scope. Increasingly, shops that manufacture precision machined parts are venturing out of their traditional comfort zone into new areas of production techniques and technologies. Ultimately, learning new operational skills will enable growth and longer term viability for the businesses.

However, as such transitions move forward it begs the question; “Who ya gonna call?” to help learn new skills. I submit it never hurts to talk with others who are in your boat. Trade associations are a great means of doing that.

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Think “PMTS” Now

Advanced registration for PMTS 2009 is now open. This is a good time to get the ball rolling in preparation to take advantage of North America’s only show focused on the production machining market. Presented by the Precision Machined Products Association and co-presented by Production Machining and Modern Machine Shop magazines, this biennial show is an international gathering of manufacturers, suppliers and end users of products and services dedicated entirely to the production of precision machined products and turned parts.

The PMTS show floor will allow you to discover READ MORE

PMTS 2009: Register for Free Today!

Bushless Swiss-Type Machines

Can Swiss-type turning centers operate as accurately and efficiently without a guide bushing? Can they still be considered Swiss-type machines? In recent years, bushless Swiss-types have been available on the market, and as it “turns” out, there are many advantages to these machines, including the fact that they can often operate even more accurately than the Swiss-type machines with guide bushings.

First, be aware that there are not only Swiss-types without guide bushings, but also machines with interchangeable housings that allow operation with or without the guide bushing. The third option is a machine with a programmable guide bushing, which offers the ability to program the CNC to provide a series of guide bushing pressures on the bar based on dynamic conditions.

No matter the bushless option you choose, the advantages are universal READ MORE