Editorial, News, and Products
Video Tech Brief: CNC Screw Machines a Solution for Overcoming Labor Shortages
CNC screw machines can exceed job shop productivity and enable manufacturers to overcome perpetual employment gaps.
'It’s a Wonderful Life' Working with Precision Turned Parts
Upon his retirement, Greg Knight reflects on his cherished relationships as well as the challenges he has faced during his career in manufacturing.
Quicktech T8 Hybrid Mill-Turn Center for Complex Milling
It is said the power, precision and versatility of the mill-turn center enables it to totally machine an extensive range of complex part sizes, contours and configurations.
When a CNC Turn-Mill Doesn’t Turn
A shop in Big Sky Country uses a B-axis multitasking machine to produce complex, prismatic medical parts that require no turning complete from barstock.
Swiss-Type Turning Point
This northern Ohio shop recently added its first Swiss-type lathe to gain long stretches of unattended machining largely because its continuous efforts to find new operators for its more conventional equipment had proven to be unfruitful.
Absolute Machine Tools’ OB7 Cobots Features Easy-To-Use Design
IMTS 2022: The company says these smart, true independent 7-axis collaborative robots use a “no programming” simple teaching platform.
Flint Machine Tools Distributing Nexturn Swiss Lathes
The Nexturn Swiss line includes basic guide bushing-equipped centers, removable guide bushing centers, nonguide bushing centers and turret-style, nonguide bushing sliding headstock centers.
Kurt, Absolute Machine Tools Develop Automation Package
Automation package designed to simplify integrating automation into a shop’s production processes includes a Mitsubishi LoadMate Plus, Kurt 3600A pneumatic vise and Kurt RV36 robotic gripper working in tandem with a Tongtai VP-10 mass-production, high-speed vertical machining center.
Manufacturing Automation Beyond Robots at PMTS
A variety of automated machining and manufacturing processes — including, but not limited to, robotics — that can enable shops to become more efficient were on display at the recent Precision Machining Technology Show.
PMTS 2021 Product Preview: Multipurpose Machining Centers
Learn about some of the new multipurpose machining centers that will be on display at PMTS 2021.
Production Turning to CNC
The precision production turning industry is trending away from cam-actuated automatics. While limited legacy machine capability and skilled labor resources are two large factors, economics is the primary driver.
PMTS 2021 Product Preview: Automation and Measurement
Learn about some of the new automation and measurement solutions for precision machining that will be on display at PMTS 2021.
Precision Machining Technology Review June 2021: Machining Centers
Production Machining’s machining centers showcase includes Absolute Machine Tools, Porta Solutions, Expand Machinery, Romi Machine Tools and more.
Gun Barrel Processing Cell Incorporates Drilling, Reaming and Rifling
The machines can be combined into processing cells that enable efficient drilling, reaming and rifling as many as 20,000 small-caliber firearm barrels a month.
Mitsubishi LoadMate Robotic Cell Streamlines Parts Loading, Unloading
Machine Tending Robotic Cell features portability, easy setup and programming, high performance and safety layout for both job shops and larger scale production environments.
Readers Choose November 2020 as Last Year's Favorite Cover
Learn a bit about how this winning cover came together. Turns out, it was a nice mix of creativity and collaboration.
The Story Behind Production Machining's November Cover Image
Obtaining a good cover photo for each print issue of Production Machining isn’t easy, especially recently as we haven’t been able to visit shops to take shots ourselves.
Quicktech Turn-Mills Feature Integrated 6-Axis Robot
The machines are designed to perform complex milling with standard live tools, and an optional 360˚ B-axis extends milling capabilities
Absolute Drilling/Tapping Centers for High-Precision, High-Volumes
Tongtai VTX drill/tapping centers from Absolute Machine Tools are engineered for high-precision, high-volume applications.
e-Spindle Monitors Cutting Processes in Real Time
The e-Sprindle is an electro-spindle that integrates sensors and actuators to monitor cutting processes and adjust parameters to optimize tool life and workpiece quality.
VIDEOS: PMTS 2019 In-Booth Demos, in Case You Missed Them
Find videos from in-booth demonstrations from Absolute Machine Tools, Edge Technologies, Gosiger, Hardinge, Index Corp., Marubeni Citizen, Tsugami, and ZPS.
Absolute Machine Tools Partners With Sussex Tool and Supply
With the partnership, Absolute is relocating its Elgin, Illinois, operation to Rockford to better serve customers in both states.
Absolute Machine Tools Booth Addresses Any Turning Need
Absolute Machine Tools’ booth at PMTS 2019 will feature Swiss machining, single- or multi-spindle screw machining, CNC lathe turning or milling solutions for any precision turning application.
Absolute Screw Machine Supports Backworking Tools
PMTS 2019: Absolute Machine Tools’ LNT-42S-S4 11-axis multi-slide CNC screw machine is capable of form tool use with each slide including a full two-axis servo-controlled travel.
Absolute Sells Company to Employee Stock Ownership Plan
In the transaction, Absolute Machine Tools owners Steve and Courtney Ortner sold 100 percent of their ownership interest to a newly created ESOP, allowing current and future employees to gain a beneficial ownership interest in the company without any personal monetary investment.
Integration Leads to Automation Success
Choosing the right components is only the first step in setting up an automated cell—they must also be integrated properly.
Meteor HMC Produces Aluminum Automotive Components
Absolute Machine Tools offers a series of single- and twin-spindle, four- or five-axis Meteor horizontal machining centers designed to produce a range of aluminum automobile components.
Absolute Machine Tools Wins PMPA Award
This award recognizes suppliers who share their expertise and latest developments at national technical conferences, exhibit at the association’s Precision Machining Technology Show, speak at chapter and national meetings and serve as PMPA leaders.
Shop Evolves with CNC Turning
Debbie Sommers answered a newspaper ad for a receptionist job at a South Elgin, Illinois, screw machine shop in 1980. Today, she owns the shop, an 18,000-square-foot facility with 20 employees and sales growth of 25 percent in 2017.
PMPA Technical Member Absolute Machine Tools Finds Success in its Flexible and Innovative Product Line
In 1988, best friends Steve Ortner and Hayden Wellman founded Absolute Machine Tools.
Emerging Leader Phillip Judt Enjoys Training Customers to Problem Solve
“I am energized by problem solving and the implementation of new and innovative ideas to solve old issues, as well as training others to do the same,” says Phillip, applications engineer at Absolute Machine Tools Inc.
Tongtai Horizontal Machining Center for Mass Production Lines
The compact SH-4000P horizontal machining center from Tongtai was developed for mass production lines and enables more space on the shopfloor.
Lico Twin Spindle Mill/Turn Center Performs On-Center Work
Absolute Machine Tools, Inc.’s Lico’s LND-65D-S3 is an 11-axis mill/turn center that has up to five tools in the cut simultaneously.
Production Machining 2018 Emerging Leaders
Young professionals are a vital asset to the precision machined parts industry, and it is important to acknowledge those who are making strides toward shaping the industry’s future. Production Machining is recognizing our industry’s young talent who were nominated by their peers through our new Emerging Leaders program.
Turning 30 Offers Perspective
The founder of Absolute Machine Tools reflects in his 30 years at the helm of his company.
Absolute Machine Tools Celebrates 30th Year
Absolute Machine Tools Inc., known for selling and supporting a selection of machine tools, is marking its 30th year as a machine tool importer and distributor in North America.
PMTS 2017 Slideshow
The ninth Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS) opened yesterday to record crowds and the largest exhibit hall in show history. Here are some photos from the first day and a half. There's still time to attend the precision machining industry's signature event. Register Today at PMTS.com.
Shopfloor Demo Feaures New Line of Production Turning Machines
Industry veteran, Greg Knight, will present a shopfloor demonstration on the “Power of Parallel,” highlighting the Lico turn-mill center.
Moving Automation In
This traditional Ohio-based screw machine shop worked with a system integrator and used its in-house expertise to create a sophisticated production cell to go along with its other automation forays.
Consolidating Operations with Swiss-Type Machines
This Ohio shop is learning about Swiss-type machines and finding how to blend the production advantages they bring into a smooth workflow. Machining parts complete in a single handling is one big advantage and a throughput goal for this shop.
Micro-Drilling Demo and More at IMTS Booth S-8536
The company offers a demo of deep-hole drilling on AR/15 gun barrels using its line of Precihole machines, which are designed for micro-drilling and hole finishing for various industries.
Technology Advances Automation Trends
Shops of all sizes looking for better efficiency are realizing the benefits of a deeper investment into automation.
Beer, Brats and Machine Tools
Being of German heritage, I never met an Oktoberfest I didn’t like. This fall has been rife with opportunities to attend various translations of this German tradition.
Nexturn Has a New Home
Absolute Machine Tools has been appointed the exclusive importer for CNC Swiss-type turning machines manufactured by Nexturn Co. Ltd.
Taking Production and Instruction to the 4th Axis
Rotary tables deliver capabilities needed for this shop to meet customer demands while providing an important training tool as well.
Vertical Turning Proves Profitable
A precision machined parts manufacturer augments its production turning operations by expanding its CNC equipment and infrastructure to include vertical turning of large parts. The result has been a lucrative—and growing—additional revenue stream.