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SME Media Manufacturing Engineering & Technology Magazine April 2021

Manufacturing Engineering: April 2021

The April 2021 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
View Digital Magazine
Production-volume metal AM parts being produced for the Rolls-Royce Ghost. It is one of the applications discussed in Wohlers Report 2021.

Growing AM Industry Shows its True Mettle in COVID-19 Pandemic

April 1, 2021
Over the past decade, additive manufacturing (AM), also known as 3D printing, has continued to grow and solidify its place within private industry, academia, and government.
By Noah Mostow Wohlers Associates, powered by ASTM International
Terry Wohlers
By Terry Wohlers Head of Advisory Services and Market Intelligence, Wohlers Associates
Boeing and Thermwood employed AM technology to produce a large, single-piece tool for the 777X program. Thermwood used a Large Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM) machine and Vertical Layer Print (VLP) 3D printing technology to fabricate the tool as a one-piece print, eliminating the additional cost and schedule required for assembly of multiple 3D printed tooling components.

Where is Aerospace AM Flying to Next?

March 16, 2021
If you’re following the additive manufacturing of aerospace components, you’re probably tired of hearing about printing fuel nozzles for GE’s LEAP engine, or sensor tubes for the GE 9X—two key metal applications.
Ed Sinkora
By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media
The MR-J5 main lineup from Mitsubishi Electric offers performance, predictive maintenance capabilities, functional safety, and CC-Link IE TSN connectivity.

The Electrical Heart of Manufacturing

March 18, 2021
The machines that make our world continue to advance. Six-axis CNC milling machines, seven-axis robots, collaborative robots, and smart presses are more powerful than ever, with micron- level accuracy.
Bruce Morey
By Bruce Morey Senior Technical Editor, SME Media
Routinely checking turret and spindle alignment is an important part of any machine tool maintenance routine.

If it Ain’t Broke, It May Need Fixing!

March 22, 2021
Some shops think routine machine tool maintenance is overrated. Bad idea. The big order’s running late. The lead programmer called in sick.
Kip Hanson
By Kip Hanson Contributing Editor, SME Media
Daniel Anderson operating PPR’s Electromechanical Assembly Press (EMAP) from Promess. The EMAP uses a servo-driven precision ballscrew ram and has force and position sensors to provide feedback to the controller.

Intelligent Assembly Helps Auto Part Remanufacturer Compete

March 24, 2021
When an automotive starter needs to be replaced, it’s very likely that the most expensive components—the armature, commutator or gears—are still functional, or can be restored economically.
By Joseph Neubauer Application Engineer, Promess Inc.

Shop Solutions

  • Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026
    PRESS RELEASES

    Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026

    PRESS RELEASE: Mazak Corp. May 11, 2026
    Mazak will showcase advanced machine tool, automation and digital solutions designed to help manufacturers increase throughput and do more with fewer resources at IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, in booth #338300.
  • Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal
    GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal

    Michael McConnell May 11, 2026
    The global tariffs the Trump administration enacted when the Supreme Court tossed its previous import taxes are unconstitutional, a three-judge panel ruled Thursday.
  • Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming
    PRESS RELEASES

    Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming

    PRESS RELEASE: Hypertherm Associates May 6, 2026
    Hypertherm Associates, a U.S.-based leading manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, has announced a new software release for Robotmaster, its offline programming (OLP) for robotic plasma cutting, welding, and contouring.

Up Front

  • Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026
    PRESS RELEASES

    Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026

    PRESS RELEASE: Mazak Corp. May 11, 2026
    Mazak will showcase advanced machine tool, automation and digital solutions designed to help manufacturers increase throughput and do more with fewer resources at IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, in booth #338300.
  • Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal
    GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal

    Michael McConnell May 11, 2026
    The global tariffs the Trump administration enacted when the Supreme Court tossed its previous import taxes are unconstitutional, a three-judge panel ruled Thursday.
  • Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming
    PRESS RELEASES

    Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming

    PRESS RELEASE: Hypertherm Associates May 6, 2026
    Hypertherm Associates, a U.S.-based leading manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, has announced a new software release for Robotmaster, its offline programming (OLP) for robotic plasma cutting, welding, and contouring.

SME Speaks

  • Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026
    PRESS RELEASES

    Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026

    PRESS RELEASE: Mazak Corp. May 11, 2026
    Mazak will showcase advanced machine tool, automation and digital solutions designed to help manufacturers increase throughput and do more with fewer resources at IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, in booth #338300.
  • Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal
    GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal

    Michael McConnell May 11, 2026
    The global tariffs the Trump administration enacted when the Supreme Court tossed its previous import taxes are unconstitutional, a three-judge panel ruled Thursday.
  • Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming
    PRESS RELEASES

    Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming

    PRESS RELEASE: Hypertherm Associates May 6, 2026
    Hypertherm Associates, a U.S.-based leading manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, has announced a new software release for Robotmaster, its offline programming (OLP) for robotic plasma cutting, welding, and contouring.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026
    PRESS RELEASES

    Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026

    PRESS RELEASE: Mazak Corp. May 11, 2026
    Mazak will showcase advanced machine tool, automation and digital solutions designed to help manufacturers increase throughput and do more with fewer resources at IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, in booth #338300.
  • Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal
    GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal

    Michael McConnell May 11, 2026
    The global tariffs the Trump administration enacted when the Supreme Court tossed its previous import taxes are unconstitutional, a three-judge panel ruled Thursday.
  • Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming
    PRESS RELEASES

    Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming

    PRESS RELEASE: Hypertherm Associates May 6, 2026
    Hypertherm Associates, a U.S.-based leading manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, has announced a new software release for Robotmaster, its offline programming (OLP) for robotic plasma cutting, welding, and contouring.

Software Update

  • Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026
    PRESS RELEASES

    Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026

    PRESS RELEASE: Mazak Corp. May 11, 2026
    Mazak will showcase advanced machine tool, automation and digital solutions designed to help manufacturers increase throughput and do more with fewer resources at IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, in booth #338300.
  • Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal
    GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal

    Michael McConnell May 11, 2026
    The global tariffs the Trump administration enacted when the Supreme Court tossed its previous import taxes are unconstitutional, a three-judge panel ruled Thursday.
  • Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming
    PRESS RELEASES

    Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming

    PRESS RELEASE: Hypertherm Associates May 6, 2026
    Hypertherm Associates, a U.S.-based leading manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, has announced a new software release for Robotmaster, its offline programming (OLP) for robotic plasma cutting, welding, and contouring.

Viewpoints

  • Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026
    PRESS RELEASES

    Mazak to Show Advanced Technology at IMTS 2026

    PRESS RELEASE: Mazak Corp. May 11, 2026
    Mazak will showcase advanced machine tool, automation and digital solutions designed to help manufacturers increase throughput and do more with fewer resources at IMTS 2026, Sept. 14-19 at McCormick Place, Chicago, Illinois, in booth #338300.
  • Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal
    GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    Trade Court Judges Rule New Tariffs Illegal

    Michael McConnell May 11, 2026
    The global tariffs the Trump administration enacted when the Supreme Court tossed its previous import taxes are unconstitutional, a three-judge panel ruled Thursday.
  • Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming
    PRESS RELEASES

    Hypertherm's Robotmaster Software Update Speeds Up Programming

    PRESS RELEASE: Hypertherm Associates May 6, 2026
    Hypertherm Associates, a U.S.-based leading manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software, has announced a new software release for Robotmaster, its offline programming (OLP) for robotic plasma cutting, welding, and contouring.