PM Blog
One of the most valuable assets to a machine shop is time. “That’s where your profits are, that’s where your customer satisfaction numbers come from, that’s where everything comes from,” says Carl Pasciuto, president and sales team leader for Custom Machine, (Woburn, Massachusetts). But time’s value comes from the fact that it’s limited. “You can’t really buy time,” Mr. Pasciuto notes. “You have to create it.”
Read MoreBy: Julia Hider 11/5/2019
Customizing Collaborative Robots with 3D Printing
Many shops are opting to automate manufacturing operations with collaborative robots. These systems are flexible, safe and relatively easy to implement. However, collaborative robot arms often require custom parts, like end effectors that enable them perform tasks like CNC machine tending, automated part sanding and brake press machine tending. CNC machining is not always a good option for producing these parts because of its long lead times and high costs, so companies are looking for alternative methods of part production.
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By: Chris Felix 11/4/2019
EMO 2019 Observations from the Barber’s Chair
EMO 2019 provided a week packed with great information, technological advances and new connections.
It starts with a haircut, like almost all of my trips. My stylist, Lauren, acts interested as she listens to my travel stories.
Many of the press conferences took place in the Press Center near the center of the fairgrounds.
The German Machine Tool Builders’ Association (VDW) presented the show’s opening press conference on Monday morning.
DMG MORI’s 10,000-square-meter booth occupied the entire Hall 2 and included 45 machines and 29 automation solutions.
The Japanese Machine Tool Builders Association provided a report of the recent economy and machine tool trends in Japan and then kicked off the excitement for JIMTOF 2020.
Sandvik Coromant’s press conference and booth featured the company’s 3D-printed unbreakable guitar in action.
The press conference for China Machine Tool & Tool Builders' Association covered steady growth in the country’s manufacturing industry.
The Mylas booth featured the company’s new My-Turn DY60 multitasking turning center with dual spindle, dual Y axis and up to 38 tools.
By: Daniel Carranco 11/1/2019
Outflanking the Competition in Defense Manufacturing
Defense contractors need to adhere to strict compliance regulations. Beyond the tight tolerances, they must also be able to organize and track compliance documentation, comply with specific costing rules and maintain strict data security measures.
Military and defense manufacturers face unique challenges. Like most manufacturers, they must make a quality part and deliver it on time, every time. But the difference is they must do it while contending with strict compliance regulations, political and economic upheavals and specific costing requirements while maintaining a reliable supply chain.
To meet these challenges, defense industry manufacturers need the ability to simplify the compliance process, track costs with precision, handle customer changes to jobs in progress, and solve production problems in real time. To acquire these capabilities, they are increasingly turning to enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.
Read MoreBy: Julia Hider 10/31/2019
Emerging Leader Graham Immerman Leads with Passion
As part of the team that has delivered Industrial Internet of Things product to hundreds of shop floors and thousands of machines, Graham’s leadership stretches from PMPA technical member MachineMetrics’ internal team to executives of manufacturing plants and operators on shop floors across the world.
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