Many of the strongest shops are challenging the convention that manufacturing is a conservative sector when it comes to new technology.
For most of its history in manufacturing, metrology’s competitive arena was at the point of measurement.
When a legacy automotive or aircraft part breaks and needs a replacement, manufacturers currently have no good options.
Some of the biggest technology trends are in smart manufacturing and Industry 4.0 initiatives.
American manufacturers are starting to talk more like Europeans, where fuel is costly, and words like “sustainability” pepper conversations.
Toolpath simulation software gives manufacturers assurance that their machine tools will cut parts quickly and accurately, which is particularly useful when machining expensive materials like titanium or Inconel.
Those who manufacture precision workholding systems have the same goals and challenges as the machinists who use them. Both groups strive to reduce setup times and optimize cutting cycles. Secure, consistent, and accurate gripping is paramount.
A few years ago, two companies joined forces to greatly enhance productivity in heavy milling and crankshaft machining. Their combined efforts resulted in solutions to improve throughput and reduce costs by a factor of four in some cases.
The word “reconditioned” can ignite visions of worn, overworked products inferior to new ones. The reality is as long as you purchase from a reputable supplier, reconditioned cutting tools will deliver the same consistent results as they did upon initial purchase.
Mark 2020 as the year the U.S. government chose to stand up a Manufacturing Innovation Institute focused solely on cybersecurity.