Production Machining’s Top Stories of 2020

Many of us may not look back fondly at 2020, but the precision machining industry made huge strides during challenging times. Each year, the Production Machining team reviews our online statistics to compile a list of the top online articles for the year to determine which articles received the most attention. It’s an opportunity for us to learn more about the topics that best serve our readers. It also allows us to share the information with our readers so you’ll have a chance to revisit the hottest precision machining topics of the year. Maybe you missed something that could have a significant impact on your business. Check it out!

Here are the Top 10 articles from 2020:

• CNC Machine Shop Responds to Demand for Ventilator Valves
  In light of needs to combat the coronavirus pandemic, Smith and Richardson has boosted production of six components used in ventilator valves. Here’s a bit about how the shop is managing this.
   
• Turning to an Adhesive for Lathe Workholding
  Adhesive cured by ultraviolet light is an option for securing parts for machining that could otherwise distort when traditional, mechanical clamping techniques are used.
   
• Faster Centerline Setups for Anti-Vibration Boring Bars
  A serrated, magnetic device has been developed to speed centerline adjustment for Iscar’s Whisperline vibration-damping boring bars.
   
• Meet Production Machining’s 2020 Emerging Leaders
  The 2020 10 Emerging Leaders have many character traits in common that shine well beyond the buildings in which they are employed.
   
• Sanitize Machine Controllers Regularly During Coronavirus Outbreak
  Keeping your workers safe from the coronavirus makes it extremely important to institute a sanitizing procedure on all touch surfaces of the controller, screen and operating panel. I did some research and here’s what I found.
   
• Deburring Difficult-to-Machine Materials
  A wheel brush with nylon filaments that will not break off or deform can remove burrs from hard materials, such as 4140 steel.
   
• How Do We Fix American Manufacturing?
  In America, many have lost sight of the fact that the object of the act of manufacturing is not merely the generation of maximum profit, but instead the creation of value.
   
• Organized, Driven Leader Transforms Her Organization
  “In her short amount of time with the company, she has made the largest positive impact that I have seen in 12 years here.” Read about how Morgan Miller, a 2020 Production Machining Emerging Leader, has influenced C&A Tool.
   
• Interview with Cate Smith About PMPA’s Annual Meeting 2020
  PMPA’s executive director, Cate Smith, shares her first experience at PMPA’s Annual Meeting which took place in person on October 22-25 at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgeville, Missouri.
   
• Adopting Continuous Improvement as Company Culture
  Continuous improvement is an ongoing investment into identifying opportunities for boosting efficiency and reducing waste. This article shares advice from machine shop managers to other machine shop managers about continuous improvement plans that have worked for their companies and the benefits they are enjoying as the fruits of their labor.
   

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Are there other topics you’d like us to cover that you haven’t seen recently? If so, please email us your suggestions at Production Machining.

Thank you for being a part of the Production Machining community and for your constant support as we cover the ins and outs of precision machining.