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Manufacturing Engineering: December 2021

The December 2021 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.

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Due to their ability to turn extremely large and heavy workpieces, vertical turret lathes like this one from Absolute Machine Tools are highly capable of machining supersized parts.

A New World for Energy Parts Manufacturing

November 30, 2021

Solar, wind and hydro are striving for dominance in the energy sector while oil and gas continues to hang on tight. What does it mean for suppliers?

By Kip Hanson Contributing Editor, SME Media

Ingersoll’s CERASFEED indexable ceramic high-feed end mill in action at the company’s Rockford, Illinois, technical center.

Toolmakers Target Tough Alloys

December 2, 2021

Heat-resistant superalloys resist heat—and easy cutting. Industry experts offer solutions.

By Michael C. Anderson Contributing Lead Editor

A 0.015" (0.381 mm) three-flute end mill with variable helix and variable index.

The Challenge and Promise of Micro Tools

December 6, 2021

Cutting small holes or features sometimes only visible through a microscope requires special expertise from those supplying the cutting tools.

By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media

Overall view of a finishing system for the new Norton Abrasive Process Solutions (APS) robot lab, which is currently under construction in Northborough, Mass. The lab is expected to be open in January. Shown are the system’s stacked grinding head, side-by-side finishing head, pivot table and tool rack. The heads can be run dry or wet at variable speeds.

Demystifying Deburring

December 8, 2021

Automation, a new applications lab and new vistas for centrifugal barrel units take part finishing to the next level.

By Geoff Giordano Contributing Editor, SME Media

NEWS DESK
Zeiss Opens New Quality Excellence Center in North Carolina

PRESS RELEASE: Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions April 10, 2026

Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions will celebrate the grand opening of its new Quality Excellence Center in Huntersville, N.C., with a special one-day event dedicated to bringing together manufacturers across the southeastern United States to learn, connect, and experience a facility built to power manufacturing growth.
GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS
Budget Slashes NIST, Ends Manufacturing Partnership Program

Michael McConnell April 10, 2026

The 2027 White House budget proposal calls for eliminating funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a 38-year-old program that supports small and midsize businesses.
ENERGY
AI, Crypto to Drive Record Energy Use

Michael McConnell April 9, 2026

After marking all-time highs in 2024 and 2025, U.S. energy demand is expected to hit records for the next two years.

NEWS DESK
Zeiss Opens New Quality Excellence Center in North Carolina

PRESS RELEASE: Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions April 10, 2026

Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions will celebrate the grand opening of its new Quality Excellence Center in Huntersville, N.C., with a special one-day event dedicated to bringing together manufacturers across the southeastern United States to learn, connect, and experience a facility built to power manufacturing growth.
GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS
Budget Slashes NIST, Ends Manufacturing Partnership Program

Michael McConnell April 10, 2026

The 2027 White House budget proposal calls for eliminating funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a 38-year-old program that supports small and midsize businesses.
ENERGY
AI, Crypto to Drive Record Energy Use

Michael McConnell April 9, 2026

After marking all-time highs in 2024 and 2025, U.S. energy demand is expected to hit records for the next two years.

NEWS DESK
Zeiss Opens New Quality Excellence Center in North Carolina

PRESS RELEASE: Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions April 10, 2026

Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions will celebrate the grand opening of its new Quality Excellence Center in Huntersville, N.C., with a special one-day event dedicated to bringing together manufacturers across the southeastern United States to learn, connect, and experience a facility built to power manufacturing growth.
GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS
Budget Slashes NIST, Ends Manufacturing Partnership Program

Michael McConnell April 10, 2026

The 2027 White House budget proposal calls for eliminating funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a 38-year-old program that supports small and midsize businesses.
ENERGY
AI, Crypto to Drive Record Energy Use

Michael McConnell April 9, 2026

After marking all-time highs in 2024 and 2025, U.S. energy demand is expected to hit records for the next two years.

NEWS DESK
Zeiss Opens New Quality Excellence Center in North Carolina

PRESS RELEASE: Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions April 10, 2026

Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions will celebrate the grand opening of its new Quality Excellence Center in Huntersville, N.C., with a special one-day event dedicated to bringing together manufacturers across the southeastern United States to learn, connect, and experience a facility built to power manufacturing growth.
GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS
Budget Slashes NIST, Ends Manufacturing Partnership Program

Michael McConnell April 10, 2026

The 2027 White House budget proposal calls for eliminating funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a 38-year-old program that supports small and midsize businesses.
ENERGY
AI, Crypto to Drive Record Energy Use

Michael McConnell April 9, 2026

After marking all-time highs in 2024 and 2025, U.S. energy demand is expected to hit records for the next two years.

NEWS DESK
Zeiss Opens New Quality Excellence Center in North Carolina

PRESS RELEASE: Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions April 10, 2026

Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions will celebrate the grand opening of its new Quality Excellence Center in Huntersville, N.C., with a special one-day event dedicated to bringing together manufacturers across the southeastern United States to learn, connect, and experience a facility built to power manufacturing growth.
GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS
Budget Slashes NIST, Ends Manufacturing Partnership Program

Michael McConnell April 10, 2026

The 2027 White House budget proposal calls for eliminating funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a 38-year-old program that supports small and midsize businesses.
ENERGY
AI, Crypto to Drive Record Energy Use

Michael McConnell April 9, 2026

After marking all-time highs in 2024 and 2025, U.S. energy demand is expected to hit records for the next two years.

NEWS DESK
Zeiss Opens New Quality Excellence Center in North Carolina

PRESS RELEASE: Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions April 10, 2026

Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions will celebrate the grand opening of its new Quality Excellence Center in Huntersville, N.C., with a special one-day event dedicated to bringing together manufacturers across the southeastern United States to learn, connect, and experience a facility built to power manufacturing growth.
GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS
Budget Slashes NIST, Ends Manufacturing Partnership Program

Michael McConnell April 10, 2026

The 2027 White House budget proposal calls for eliminating funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a 38-year-old program that supports small and midsize businesses.
ENERGY
AI, Crypto to Drive Record Energy Use

Michael McConnell April 9, 2026

After marking all-time highs in 2024 and 2025, U.S. energy demand is expected to hit records for the next two years.

NEWS DESK
Zeiss Opens New Quality Excellence Center in North Carolina

PRESS RELEASE: Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions April 10, 2026

Zeiss Industrial Quality Solutions will celebrate the grand opening of its new Quality Excellence Center in Huntersville, N.C., with a special one-day event dedicated to bringing together manufacturers across the southeastern United States to learn, connect, and experience a facility built to power manufacturing growth.
GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS
Budget Slashes NIST, Ends Manufacturing Partnership Program

Michael McConnell April 10, 2026

The 2027 White House budget proposal calls for eliminating funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a 38-year-old program that supports small and midsize businesses.
ENERGY
AI, Crypto to Drive Record Energy Use

Michael McConnell April 9, 2026

After marking all-time highs in 2024 and 2025, U.S. energy demand is expected to hit records for the next two years.