An Automation Comeback Story
By: Derek Korn
Alexandria Industries struggled with its first robotic machining cell. However, the aluminum extrusion components manufacturer — now with more than 20 robots — discovered that by simplifying and standardizing its automation strategy, it could reap the benefits of unattended machining even for relatively low batch sizes.
A German Machine Tool Builder’s “Second Push” Into the U.S. Market
By: Derek Korn
Spinner recently has taken strides to boost its presence, service and support in the United States as well as Canada and Mexico for its multifunction CNC lathes and milling machines.
#columns
New Cutting Tool Technology Discovered at Paul Horn Open House
By: Derek Korn
During a tour of the company’s campus in Tubingen, Germany, I and more than 3,000+ others were introduced to a number of new advances the company has made in cutting tool technology particularly as it relates to the medical industry.
CNC Machine Shop Employment Positions to Consider Beyond Machine Operators
By: Derek Korn
Many machine shops have open machine operator positions to fill. But does it make sense for shops to also seek automation engineers, IT managers and assembly personnel?
#columns #workforcedevelopment
Streamlining Part Measurement, Data Collection Processes
Edited by Derek Korn
When collecting measurement data automatically with a wireless data collection system, manual errors can be eliminated ensuring data accuracy and traceability.
#techbrief
EMO 2023 Press Conference Takeaways
By: Derek Korn
Writing for the EMO Daily publication at the recent show in Hannover, Germany, led me to learn about aspects of our industry I might not have otherwise heard about.
Machine-Tending Cobot Fills Night Shift
Edited by Derek Korn
A collaborative robot helped this shop run a machine tool 24/7 when hiring someone for a third shift didn’t seem to be an option.
High-Volume Machine Shop Automates Secondary Ops
By: Derek Korn
An Ohio contract shop added a compact, self-loading CNC lathe to perform unattended secondary ops on a part for a key customer rather than running it on a manually loaded chucker.
#horizontal-and-vertical-lathes
The Advantages of Automated Shopfloor Gaging
Edited by Derek Korn
This “parallel kinematic” gage offers the opportunity to automate and improve machining process control for shops endeavoring to move from sample inspection to 100% inspection.
#techbrief
This Shop is Taking an Automated Aerospace Approach
By: Derek Korn
A flexible manufacturing system helps an Indiana job shop run a mix of aerospace work for long stretches of time and function more like a contract shop.
Video Tech Brief: Live-Tool, Y-Axis CNC Lathe with a Compact Footprint
By: Derek Korn
This small footprint, big-bore lathe offers a generous work envelope. The addition of Y-axis and live tooling enables milling, drilling and tapping for increased machine capabilities.
Automated Inspection Transforms Medical Manufacturer’s Quality Control
Edited by Derek Korn
Manual steps for part inspection have been eliminated with a new CMM process using more advanced software and strategies such as using a combined scanning/touch-trigger probe.
