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

New CAD/CAM Options Refine Metalcutting Ops
October 19, 2020
With CAD/CAM software, machine operators and manufacturing engineers are always looking for the latest twists along the route to optimizing their metalcutting performance.

Gaining Control with MES
October 20, 2020
ERP software developers, resellers, and even consultants might not like to hear this, but no matter how powerful the system, it can still leave a few questions unanswered regarding the shop floor.

Rising to Toolholding Challenges
October 21, 2020
Difficult materials and high-speed machining don’t just present problems for cutting tools. They can also push toolholders to their limits—and beyond. So manufacturers offer a variety of products designed to get the toolholding job done under extreme machining conditions.

Thread Mills Take on Tough Materials
October 23, 2020
When it’s time to put threads in parts, particularly those made of difficult-to-machine materials, thread mills are often the right choice. Thread mills cut threads with a cutting head typically smaller than the hole, unlike taps that are sized to match the hole diameter.

The Connected Machine Shop
October 30, 2020
In this final installment of the Connected Machine Shop series, we’ll tackle the more technical and implementation-oriented aspects of an Industry 4.0 transformation.
Shop Solutions
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Software
Meeting the Need for Speed with CAM Software
October 26, 2020Auto racing is a global business and Quick Drive LLC is a key part of the supply chain. The Parker, Colo.-based company manufactures a proprietary line of high-performance drivetrain components for auto racing. Its parts are designed, engineered, prototyped, and manufactured in-house. -
Automation
Fabricator Uses Cobots to Beef Up Welding Operations
October 27, 2020Processed Metal Innovators LLC (PMI), Bloomer, Wis., is a metal fabricator that produces hundreds of different stamped and welded metal parts for heavy equipment, automobiles, appliances, and more.
Up Front
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Expert Opinion
Making Sustainability Part of Manufacturing
October 19, 2020While coping with the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed other manufacturing issues to the side, in the long-term those issues remain.
SME Speaks
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SME Speaks
The Role of Computer Games in the Future of Manufacturing Education and Training
October 21, 2020The manufacturing industry is arguably the backbone of any nation’s economy. Manufacturing represents about 11 percent of U.S. GDP and more than 8 percent of U.S. employment. As a result of Industry 4.0, the U.S. manufacturing industry is going through a paradigm shift, both in terms of technological developments and the skill sets required.
Advanced Manufacturing Now
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Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing
More to Choose From in 3D Printing
October 20, 2020From Copper to Filaments, engineers are developing new materials for 3D printing, advancing its practical use. In February, Markforged, Watertown, Mass., commercialized a pure copper filament for its printers so they can use this hard-to-machine metal.
Software Update
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Software
New Tech Helps Transform ERP Software for IIoT Era
October 22, 2020What are some new technical trends in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software?
Viewpoints
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Expert Opinion
Get Ready or Get Run Over in the Manufacturing Boom
October 29, 2020There is a perfect storm brewing in the U.S. manufacturing sector. Pent-up demand and the imperative to re-shore production are converging with an unprecedented stream of government stimulus money to create an explosive mixture.
Medical Special Section
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Tooling & Workholding
Innovations in Medical Manufacturing
October 28, 2020Medical manufacturing, like other industries, faces intensive demands for improved productivity. As a result, many manufacturers are focused on achieving greater efficiencies and precision in making small parts.