Aerospace Industry Increasingly Turns to PVD Coatings to Replace Hard Chrome February 22, 2019 The search for a suitable replacement to hard chrome on aerospace components has been a key supply chain priority for aircraft manufacturers. This is because of the documented health risks to workers and the impact on the environment from exposure to hexavalent chromium, a carcinogen that occurs during the chrome plating process and the most toxic form of chromium.
DoD Set to Award $10 Million to DMDII February 21, 2019 The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is set to award $10 million in funding this year to the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) here, UI Labs CEO Caralynn Nowinski Collens, said this morning. UI Labs is DMDII’s parent organization.
Education and Workforce Alignment, the Utah Way February 8, 2019 In 2015, Utah announced a program that would have a lasting impact on the state by bringing industry and education together in a new way.
Auto Sales Forecast to Slow, Trade May Cast Shadow Over 2019 January 13, 2019 U.S. sales of cars and light trucks are forecast to slow this year. At the same time, potential trade fights may cast a shadow over the industry, an economist said Sunday ahead of the North American International Auto Show.
A Mixed Picture, For Now, About Manufacturing’s Strength January 7, 2019 On Jan. 3, the Institute for Supply Management released its monthly manufacturing index. It had a noticeable drop, to 54.1% in December from 59.3% the month before. That meant manufacturing was still expanding, but at a slower rate.
The Pressing Need to Simplify Work January 11, 2019 Organizational complexity is strangling innovation, productivity, and engagement. As companies grow, they typically add more structures, reporting relationships, communication channels, processes, and rules.
Swiss Machining Made Simpler January 30, 2019 Swiss-style machine tools can be a good choice for making complex parts. On the downside, however, Swiss machining itself has a reputation of being complex—and, therefore, more difficult to master than standard machining.
Lasercraft: Enclosure Cooling Beats Production-Robbing Heat Wave January 2, 2019 When the heat is on production equipment, threatening to shut production down, enclosure cooling systems can get parts out the door, eliminating loss of future production and downtime. That’s exactly what happened to Lasercraft Inc. (Fairfield, OH), a manufacturer of precision laser-cut metal parts.
Large-Part Machining Tests Horizontal Machine Tool Capabilities January 29, 2019 Horizontal machining centers (HMCs) are versatile four-axis and, increasingly, five-axis machine platforms that maximize processing of multi-sided large parts by minimizing part handling.
Detroit Tigers: Reverse-Engineered World Series Trophy Honors ’68 Tigers January 2, 2019 Technology came to the aid of Detroit Tigers management when they hoped to recapture some of the magic of the 1968 Detroit Tigers’ World Series-winning season. The 50-year anniversary celebration, held September 7-9, 2018, included on-field festivities in which the 16 surviving members of the 1968 team were presented with replicas of the World Series’ trophy.
