Derek Korn Editor-in-Chief

Derek Korn was named Production Machining’s Editor-in-Chief in 2020. Prior to that, he spent 16 years writing for Modern Machine Shop magazine and seven years with an industrial public relations company. He says visiting CNC machine shops to write about how they leverage new technology and processes to their advantage is the most enjoyable part of his job. In this role, he gets to help guide the brand as it focuses on helping niche machining businesses — many of which perform high-precision, high-volume CNC turning work — become more efficient operations. His mechanical engineering technology degree from the University of Cincinnati provides a firm foundation for understanding manufacturing technology so that he can explain its benefits to owners and managers of precision machining operations. PRESS KIT

 

Automotive

Automated High-Production Welding of EV Rotor Shafts

Edited by Derek Korn

This cell is able to perform joining, preheating and welding operations for rotor shafts used in electric vehicles.
#techbrief

CNC & Machine Controls

Standard Control Functions with Swiss-Types in Mind

Edited by Derek Korn

Features in this line of machine-specific CNCs assist setups, offer synchronized movement commands and provide other standard, not optional, capabilities to streamline Swiss-type programming.
#techbrief

Workholding

When to Use a Diaphragm Chuck

By: Derek Korn

The accuracy and repeatability of these chucks make them well suited for a number of workholding applications, including turning and grinding.
#techbrief

Tooling

Piezoelectric Sensor Technology: Moving Toward more Efficient Machine Monitoring

Edited by Derek Korn

A new system that uses simple and compact force or strain sensors, which can be integrated inside toolholders or mounted on surfaces such as spindle housings, can facilitate CNC machine monitoring.  
#Industry40

Registration for PMPA’s National Technical Conference is Open

By: Derek Korn

The Precision Machined Products Association’s NTC will be held in Cincinnati, Ohio, April 28-30. Learn more about how you can benefit from “collaborating for a better future.”

Is a ‘Side Hustle’ on Your Horizon?

By: Derek Korn

I’ve written about machine shops that have created a separate business for fun, as a complement to their existing operation or as a means to leverage their manufacturing prowess. Here’s a bit about a few of them.
#columns

Measurement

The Value of CMM Controller Retrofits

Edited by Derek Korn

In this case, new controllers for two coordinate measuring machines — one 26 years old — with new programming software offers the possibility to enable multisensor inspection of critical, turned aerospace components.
#techbrief

Tooling

Job Shop Discovers and Fills a Fishing Need

Edited by Derek Korn

The promise of a product line for improved mounting of electronic fish finders led this Missouri job shop to an automated turning process.

Cutting Tools

Broaching Tool Technology For Lathes Used to Slot Inconel Parts

Edited by Derek Korn

This shop finds value in using an indexable-insert-style broaching tool to create blind-hole slots in heat-treated Inconel aerospace parts on a CNC lathe.

Measurement

How Well do You Know Granite Surface Plates?

Edited by Derek Korn

Here are some tips for choosing, maintaining and customizing a granite solution that will best meet your shop’s particular inspection needs.

Automation

A Tale About an Automation Solution Discovered in Production Machining

By: Derek Korn

A CNC Swiss production supervisor took to LinkedIn to describe how he discovered a rotary parts collector in the pages of our publication and has since purchased and benefited from it.
#columns

Consider This Another CMMC Reminder

By: Derek Korn

Machine shops serving the military/defense industry that currently aren’t working toward achieving Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification could be caught flat-footed once it’s required.