Manufacturing Engineering: July 2020
The July 2020 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.

Maximizing MRR with Tools for High-Speed Milling
June 17, 2020
Advanced cutting tools can maximize metal removal rates (MRR) when machining even the most difficult-to-machine materials. Powered by the latest CAM programs, these machining strategies are known variously as high-speed, high-efficiency, optimized roughing and also by proprietary brand names like Mastercam’s Dynamic Milling.

Safety Best Practices for the Age of Automation
June 18, 2020
Automation has been an understandable focus in manufacturing for years now. And despite the recent wave of layoffs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the push will probably continue.

The Connected Machine Shop
June 22, 2020
Change is hard. Whether it’s learning a new software package or setting up a new model of machine tool, many of us wonder at some point, “Is all this hassle worthwhile?” Change can also be risky, raising the specter of lost time, revenue, and reputation.

Leak-Tight Data Systems
June 19, 2020
Manufacturing operations face a multitude of cyber threats. The latest dangers from hackers include not only the theft of intellectual property but also malicious attacks that can cripple critical infrastructure, such as energy plants, utilities, and large-scale factories.

Friendlier, Faster Information Collection
June 25, 2020
Manufacturers are featuring some of the latest equipment and software for metrology, quality assurance, and collecting information for process control.

Laser, Fabrication and Automation Power Ahead
June 26, 2020
Laser 3D printing and marking systems are among the heavy-duty cutting and welding systems that had been scheduled for the IMTS Fabricating and Laser Pavilion—testament to the growing impact of what once might have been viewed as ancillary processes.

Machine Components Help Improve Process Efficiency, Productivity
June 30, 2020
There’s more to machining than machine tools and cutters. Shops also need an assortment of machine components to keep their CNC lathes and machining centers humming.

Parts Cleaning Technology Keeps Up
July 1, 2020
The advance of the novel coronavirus has had the entire world struggling with how to stay aware of and eliminate possible contamination—while still getting work done as efficiently as possible.

Recycle, Reclaim, and Take a Deep Breath
July 2, 2020
Suppliers of cleaning, safety, and environmental equipment are promoting a common message—good housekeeping is not only good for your workforce, it’s also good for the shop’s balance sheet.
Shop Solutions
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Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing
On-Machine Metrology Drives Efficiencies In Large-Scale AM
June 23, 2020In the cornfields of southern Indiana, Thermwood Corp. is making unique large-scale additive manufacturing (LSAM) equipment. LSAM machines produce large- to very-large-sized components from reinforced thermoplastic composite materials, creating industrial tooling, masters, patterns, molds and production fixtures used in the aerospace, automotive, foundry, and marine industries. -
Machining & Metal Cutting
CAD/CAM Software For Fast, Efficient Prototyping
June 24, 2020Innovative products call for creative developers equipped with prototyping technology that implements their ideas efficiently. That is true for Kärcher, a global manufacturer of cleaning equipment. Located near Stuttgart, Germany, Kärcher, is part of Alfred Kärcher SE & Co. KG Group, which has more than 13,000 employees in over 127 companies across 72 countries.
Up Front
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Expert Opinion
When ‘Tried and True’ Won’t Do
June 17, 2020During times like these, editors turn to “tried and true” sayings to frame their opinion columns. One of these sayings is, “May you live in interesting times,” supposedly a translation of a traditional Chinese curse. The saying is used ironically, in that “interesting times” are times of trouble and difficulty.
SME Speaks
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SME Speaks
Learning the True Value of Adaptability
June 18, 2020I stepped onto campus last August as a freshman engineering student at the University of Louisville, Louisville, Ky. As eager and worried as I was, the next chapter in my education and young adult life was beginning to unfold.
Advanced Manufacturing Now
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Workforce Development
Top Professors Offer Career Advice Gold
June 19, 2020If manufacturing is your passion but a lecture hall is more your style than a shop floor, SME Media’s “20 Most Influential Professors” (see June issue of Smart Manufacturing) want to talk. -
Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing
Practices and Pitfalls of 3D Printing for COVID-19
June 22, 2020By now, most of us in the manufacturing world are familiar with the steady stream of news describing organizations, large and small, providing medical equipment using 3D printers.
Software Update
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Software
Connected, Integrated ERP Software Streamlines Ops
June 23, 2020To be more efficient and to have single sources of the truth in their data, customers are seeking to leverage modern, standard application programmer interfaces (APIs) to integrate into their software.
Workforce Pipeline
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Expert Opinion
Change The Culture, Fill The Skills Gap
June 24, 2020Colleges and universities are playing a crucial role helping North Carolina address a statewide skilled labor shortage.
Laser Special Section
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Lasers
Double-Duty Lasers
June 29, 2020As laser manufacturing systems for sheet and tube grow more sophisticated—powerful, automated and scalable—navigating the wealth of choices might feel daunting. -
Lasers
High-Power Fiber Laser Welding With Filler Material
June 26, 2020Fiber laser welding continues to grow as it improves in weld quality, reliability and performance. Many fiber laser welding applications are autogenous, where the weld is formed entirely by melting parts of the base metal and no additional filler wire or powder is used -
Lasers
Laser-Equipped Swiss CNCs Grow in Capability, Ease of Use
June 25, 2020Beginning around six years ago, one machine tool builder after another added laser cutting and even welding to their products’ already impressive repertoires. -
Lasers
The Ins and Outs of Laser Marking
June 26, 2020Part identification is a necessary step in any manufacturing operation. This might be as simple as a label on the shipping box, but more often shops are required to mark each component, especially those used in automotive, aerospace, or medical applications.