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Manufacturing Engineering: April 2020

The April 2020 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
Manufacturing Management Software (MMS) from Fastems allows full visibility into manufacturing operations by providing a detailed overview of the entire production process.

The Promise of Next-Level Automation

March 24, 2020
Edge. Cloud. Digital twin. AI. AR. VR. Cobots. Once they were buzzwords. Now, they are becoming technical realities in mid- to large-scale manufacturing plants in North America.
By Bob Puhr Contributing Writer
FastARC welding cells from Acieta are a good option for anyone new to robotics, according to the company.

Hey, Job Shops: Time to Automate!

March 25, 2020
Robots and job shops have not typically been talked about together. After all, everyone knows that automation is only suitable for high-volume production, and the typical mom-and-pop operation is anything but—its schedule filled with orders for high-mix, low-volume, and often highly complex work.
Large touch screens are the CNC interface of choice for new-generation machinists, like this example from Heidenhain.

Tips for Choosing a CNC

March 26, 2020
Like most of the digital architecture of manufacturing, computer numerical controllers (CNCs) have advanced rapidly in recent years, producing far more processing speed and implementing advanced algorithms, while at the same time offering simpler, more intuitive user interfaces.
Ed Sinkora
By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media
Twin-spindle, four- or five-axis TS900V Meteor HMCs can machine a variety of large aluminum and cast iron automotive components for both internal combustion and electrified vehicles.

HMCs Offer Perfect Platform for Flexibility, Performance

March 27, 2020
Horizontal machining center technology—a long-time mainstay of OEMs and Tier One contract manufacturers—has morphed into space efficient, versatile machining platforms that any high-mix job shop can benefit from.
Jim Lorincz
By Jim Lorincz Contributing Editor, SME Media
Blockchain, the distributed ledger science behind Bitcoin, is demonstrating great promise for being a breakthrough of historic proportions for the manufacturing supply chain.

Trust and Truth: How Blockchain is Forming the Foundation of the Next Manufacturing Renaissance

February 6, 2020
Amid predictions of global economic slowdowns and several recent PMI readings indicating manufacturing contraction, it becomes easy to see how slow production performance and data inefficiencies throughout the manufacturing supply chain contribute to economic uncertainty and concerns for future business.
James Allen Regenor, Colonel, U.S. Air Force (Retired)
By James Allen Regenor Colonel, U.S. Air Force (Retired)

Shop Solutions

  • ADDITIVE

    Adaptive, Measurement‑Driven Machining for AM Parts

    Dan Skulan, Head of Metrology Solutions, Renishaw Inc. March 12, 2026
    Additively manufactured (AM) components frequently leave the build process extremely close to final geometry—often within just a few thousandths of an inch of net shape. That near‑net reality is a major productivity advantage, but it also eliminates the material buffer that conventional machining relies on. With minimal remaining stock, the finishing process must assume nothing and validate everything.
  • ADDITIVE

    Democratizing Design Through the Power of Agentic AI

    Steve Laine, Director of Solution Engineering, SimScale March 12, 2026
    The pressure on businesses today, regardless of industry, is clear: Move faster, operate more efficiently and continue innovating despite tighter financial constraints.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Control Station Names Chris Christie Director of Services

    PRESS RELEASE: Control Station Inc. March 12, 2026
    Control Station, a leading provider of process optimization and control performance monitoring solutions, has announced that Chris Christie, PhD, has joined the company as director of services.

Up Front

  • ADDITIVE

    Adaptive, Measurement‑Driven Machining for AM Parts

    Dan Skulan, Head of Metrology Solutions, Renishaw Inc. March 12, 2026
    Additively manufactured (AM) components frequently leave the build process extremely close to final geometry—often within just a few thousandths of an inch of net shape. That near‑net reality is a major productivity advantage, but it also eliminates the material buffer that conventional machining relies on. With minimal remaining stock, the finishing process must assume nothing and validate everything.
  • ADDITIVE

    Democratizing Design Through the Power of Agentic AI

    Steve Laine, Director of Solution Engineering, SimScale March 12, 2026
    The pressure on businesses today, regardless of industry, is clear: Move faster, operate more efficiently and continue innovating despite tighter financial constraints.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Control Station Names Chris Christie Director of Services

    PRESS RELEASE: Control Station Inc. March 12, 2026
    Control Station, a leading provider of process optimization and control performance monitoring solutions, has announced that Chris Christie, PhD, has joined the company as director of services.

SME Speaks

  • ADDITIVE

    Adaptive, Measurement‑Driven Machining for AM Parts

    Dan Skulan, Head of Metrology Solutions, Renishaw Inc. March 12, 2026
    Additively manufactured (AM) components frequently leave the build process extremely close to final geometry—often within just a few thousandths of an inch of net shape. That near‑net reality is a major productivity advantage, but it also eliminates the material buffer that conventional machining relies on. With minimal remaining stock, the finishing process must assume nothing and validate everything.
  • ADDITIVE

    Democratizing Design Through the Power of Agentic AI

    Steve Laine, Director of Solution Engineering, SimScale March 12, 2026
    The pressure on businesses today, regardless of industry, is clear: Move faster, operate more efficiently and continue innovating despite tighter financial constraints.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Control Station Names Chris Christie Director of Services

    PRESS RELEASE: Control Station Inc. March 12, 2026
    Control Station, a leading provider of process optimization and control performance monitoring solutions, has announced that Chris Christie, PhD, has joined the company as director of services.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • ADDITIVE

    Adaptive, Measurement‑Driven Machining for AM Parts

    Dan Skulan, Head of Metrology Solutions, Renishaw Inc. March 12, 2026
    Additively manufactured (AM) components frequently leave the build process extremely close to final geometry—often within just a few thousandths of an inch of net shape. That near‑net reality is a major productivity advantage, but it also eliminates the material buffer that conventional machining relies on. With minimal remaining stock, the finishing process must assume nothing and validate everything.
  • ADDITIVE

    Democratizing Design Through the Power of Agentic AI

    Steve Laine, Director of Solution Engineering, SimScale March 12, 2026
    The pressure on businesses today, regardless of industry, is clear: Move faster, operate more efficiently and continue innovating despite tighter financial constraints.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Control Station Names Chris Christie Director of Services

    PRESS RELEASE: Control Station Inc. March 12, 2026
    Control Station, a leading provider of process optimization and control performance monitoring solutions, has announced that Chris Christie, PhD, has joined the company as director of services.

Research Focus

  • ADDITIVE

    Adaptive, Measurement‑Driven Machining for AM Parts

    Dan Skulan, Head of Metrology Solutions, Renishaw Inc. March 12, 2026
    Additively manufactured (AM) components frequently leave the build process extremely close to final geometry—often within just a few thousandths of an inch of net shape. That near‑net reality is a major productivity advantage, but it also eliminates the material buffer that conventional machining relies on. With minimal remaining stock, the finishing process must assume nothing and validate everything.
  • ADDITIVE

    Democratizing Design Through the Power of Agentic AI

    Steve Laine, Director of Solution Engineering, SimScale March 12, 2026
    The pressure on businesses today, regardless of industry, is clear: Move faster, operate more efficiently and continue innovating despite tighter financial constraints.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Control Station Names Chris Christie Director of Services

    PRESS RELEASE: Control Station Inc. March 12, 2026
    Control Station, a leading provider of process optimization and control performance monitoring solutions, has announced that Chris Christie, PhD, has joined the company as director of services.

Workforce Pipeline

  • ADDITIVE

    Adaptive, Measurement‑Driven Machining for AM Parts

    Dan Skulan, Head of Metrology Solutions, Renishaw Inc. March 12, 2026
    Additively manufactured (AM) components frequently leave the build process extremely close to final geometry—often within just a few thousandths of an inch of net shape. That near‑net reality is a major productivity advantage, but it also eliminates the material buffer that conventional machining relies on. With minimal remaining stock, the finishing process must assume nothing and validate everything.
  • ADDITIVE

    Democratizing Design Through the Power of Agentic AI

    Steve Laine, Director of Solution Engineering, SimScale March 12, 2026
    The pressure on businesses today, regardless of industry, is clear: Move faster, operate more efficiently and continue innovating despite tighter financial constraints.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Control Station Names Chris Christie Director of Services

    PRESS RELEASE: Control Station Inc. March 12, 2026
    Control Station, a leading provider of process optimization and control performance monitoring solutions, has announced that Chris Christie, PhD, has joined the company as director of services.

Viewpoints

  • ADDITIVE

    Adaptive, Measurement‑Driven Machining for AM Parts

    Dan Skulan, Head of Metrology Solutions, Renishaw Inc. March 12, 2026
    Additively manufactured (AM) components frequently leave the build process extremely close to final geometry—often within just a few thousandths of an inch of net shape. That near‑net reality is a major productivity advantage, but it also eliminates the material buffer that conventional machining relies on. With minimal remaining stock, the finishing process must assume nothing and validate everything.
  • ADDITIVE

    Democratizing Design Through the Power of Agentic AI

    Steve Laine, Director of Solution Engineering, SimScale March 12, 2026
    The pressure on businesses today, regardless of industry, is clear: Move faster, operate more efficiently and continue innovating despite tighter financial constraints.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Control Station Names Chris Christie Director of Services

    PRESS RELEASE: Control Station Inc. March 12, 2026
    Control Station, a leading provider of process optimization and control performance monitoring solutions, has announced that Chris Christie, PhD, has joined the company as director of services.