PM Blog

U.S. machine shops are potentially underutilizing the machinability of brass by as much as 85 percent in their part processing operations, reports a recent study from the Copper Development Association Inc. The research shows that machine shops can and should be machining the material at significantly faster feeds and speeds—often five to twenty times faster—than they currently do to increase productivity and profitability.

The Gardner Business Index data for June 2018 is now available. Watch Michael Guckes, chief economist, Gardner Intelligence, give his summary of the information he’s learned. He says, “While the data suggests that growth in the manufacturing industry is slowing, it is still growing at a higher rate than at the peaks of past business cycles.”

Watch the video here.

For Andres, manufacturing has influenced his life in a very positive way. Andres began working at Micron Manufacturing Co. in 2007 to first overcome many challenges he faced and to be a good role model for his brother. What started out as a job, where he spun chips and swept floors, would eventually become a career for him.

Only a couple months after he started at the company, Andres was approached by the company’s Acme lead man to load bars into a machine and check the parts coming out.

Among the many variables that must be calculated when attempting to manufacture precision workpieces is workholding. It is the foundation for any metalcutting operation.

Secure, rigid confinement of a workpiece blank is evolving in sophistication as the need for higher cutting speeds, better surface finishes and increased cutting forces become apparent. In turning operations, the forces on the workholder are increased by its rotation. Additionally, in many turning applications, partially machined parts are handed off to a subspindle for completion. This hand off is often in process, requiring synchronization of the main and subspindle, opening and closing at the correct time.

At IMTS 2018, one of the largest industrial trade shows in the world, Production Machining’s sister publication, Additive Manufacturing, will be connecting industry professionals at its Additive Manufacturing Conference. Held September 11-12 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois, the conference is for those who are serious about expanding production by integrating additive technology.