Hybrid Additive/Subtractive Tech Changing the Face of Design and Manufacturing September 10, 2019 Some of the key trends in manufacturing are brought about by convergence of the design and manufacturing industries. With manufacturers under more pressure than ever to deliver better products faster and at lower cost, the need to connect and automate design and manufacturing processes to reduce iterations, errors, and delivery times is becoming critical.
Search for Skilled Labor Knows No Borders September 7, 2019 We in the U.S. manufacturing industry continually struggle with the skills gap, lack of available workers, image problems, or whatever else you want to call it. We do great work in battling this problem, as documented in the pages of Manufacturing Engineering and other publications, but it’s hard to make progress in this fight.
Continuous Insulation Resistance Testing Boosts Motor Productivity September 11, 2019 For decades, plant personnel have performed insulation resistance tests with handheld megohmmeters to prevent motor failures that lead to costly unplanned shutdowns, failure-to-produce penalties and rewinding repairs. However, these tests only provide a “snapshot” of motor health. In a matter of days, motor windings and cables exposed to moisture, chemicals, contaminants or vibration can be compromised and fail at startup.
Revving Up Tooling and Machining Strategies for Auto Parts September 4, 2019 Perhaps the most common challenge in automotive machining these days is aluminum. “Even chassis components are transitioning to aluminum due to the higher strength properties achieved by forging aluminum,” explained Jeff Gimino, PCD and CBN product specialist for Walter USA, Waukesha, Wis.
Finding the Right Fit for Custom Products August 7, 2019 There is an ever-increasing demand for the individualization of products from today’s consumer. When consumers are able to get exactly what they want (shape, size, color) they are more satisfied and more likely to do repeat business. But how do you scale custom part production?
PRN-RIA Partnership: There’s Problem Solving in Numbers August 6, 2019 The Pittsburgh region is a hotbed of activity in robotics and AI. This activity includes research and technology companies that commercialize academic research and solve real world problems.
Bringing Intelligent Automation Tech to the Broad Engineering Market August 1, 2019 Amid vigorous growth in their industry, product lifecycle management (PLM) software developers are exploiting the cloud and machine learning to manage data and enhance the users’ experience.
Confidence in Manufacturing Equals Expansion August 13, 2019 One of the measures of business confidence is the willingness to invest in new facilities based on anticipated future growth. By that measure, the manufacturing industry is confident.
UAW to Begin Labor Talks Amid Slowing Industry, Internal Issues July 5, 2019 The United Auto Workers union this month commences labor negotiations with General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The timing isn’t the best.
Van Dam Custom Boats: CAD/CAM Programs Metal Parts for Custom Wooden Boats June 28, 2019 In the heart of the Great Lakes region, the Van Dam family business is carrying on the timeless tradition of wooden boatbuilding, incorporating the latest techniques for manufacturing attractive and functional metal fixtures and components.