PM Blog

It is mandatory for precision machining shops to ensure reliable processes across its entire range of applications and materials. This can only be achieved by using reliable tool systems, having a team that’s experienced in custom developments and having a well-conceived ERP system that ensures rapid and smooth workflows. Zahn GmbH (Aglasterhausen, Germany) found the perfect partner to ensure all these needs in Arno-Werkzeuge.

Over the years, Zahn GmbH has gradually specialized in the production of complex, high precision turned and milled parts for major customers in the automotive and aerospace industries. Whether it is a prototype or a series production part, the company constantly works to tight tolerances of 4 microns as well as short-term delivery dates. “We are well positioned to cover a range of materials and applications, and we can react flexibly to customer requirements,” explains Managing Director Lars Pramme.

In today’s economy, businesses have two main audiences their leadership teams need to connect with—internal customers (employees) and external customers (the people who buy their goods and services).

Often times, companies use facts and figures to connect with these audiences. These pieces of communication only appeal to the logical brain. Rather, businesses need to start telling better stories—heartfelt and inspiring stories that connect with people, because storytelling is the new business currency.

We’ve heard lots of excuses for not cleaning: There is no money for capital equipment. The workers are too busy fabricating parts. It costs too much to get permits. It costs too much to haul away the process baths. Management doesn’t care about cleaning. Let the customer clean the product; it’s their job. The excuse list goes on and on.

However, experienced manufacturers know that strategic, critical cleaning avoids lost product, saves money and improves reputation. Sure, but is cleaning really necessary? Don’t clean if you don’t have to, but consider the costs of not cleaning. Too often, failures are attributable to inadequately removed contamination. A part that does not meet specifications must be reworked or scrapped.

Industry 4.0 will once again be one of the dominating themes at EMO 2019, and new concepts are emerging in all areas—for machines, components, controls, measuring systems and material flows. "We are convinced that EMO Hannover 2019 will be a hotspot for new offerings and solutions for the smart factory," Dr. Wilfried Schäfer from organizer VDW said.

A new exhibition area dedicated to “IoT in Production” in Hall 9 will highlight all facets of Industry 4.0:

Steels are iron-based metals to which other chemical elements have been added. The addition of these elements can create new constituents in the metal, affecting its mechanical properties (hardness, tensile and yield strength, ductility) and machinability. Steels are considered to be carbon steel when no minimum content is specified for chemical elements including aluminum, chromium, cobalt, columbium, molybdenum, nickel, titanium, tungsten or vanadium for alloying effect; when the specified minimum for copper is 0.40 or less; and when the limits for the following elements are not exceeded: manganese—1.65 percent; silicon—0.60 percent; and copper—0.60 percent.

If the grade designation of a steel begins with a “1,” chances are that it is a carbon steel. The 10XX series steels (where the XX or last two digits represent the average or mean carbon content of the grade) are plain carbon grades. The 11XX steels are resulfurized grades and are free machining steels. The 12XX steels, resulfurized and rephosphorized, are the “best” machining grades. The 15XX series steels contain high manganese of more than 1.00 percent; the 13XX series have even higher manganese content and are the only exception to the “1 as a first digit means carbon steel” rule. The 13XX steels (manganese more than 1.60 percent) are considered alloys.