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Manufacturing Engineering: February 2021

The February 2021 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
Always productive, HMCs—such as this DMG Mori NHX 4000 with a speedMASTER spindle—are now also extremely versatile.

Making HMCs Nimble Enough for Small Jobs

January 14, 2021
Horizontal machine tools (HMCs) have typically been used for longer run production jobs. But as lot sizes decrease, machine builders and their partners have introduced new technologies that speed setups and generally make HMCs nimbler. So much so that one should probably rethink the role HMCs serve.
Ed Sinkora
By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media
Five-axis machining centers, such as this Okuma MU-5000V-L five-axis VMC, allow shops to machine highly complex workpieces in a single operation, reducing work-in-process while increasing part quality and profitability.

VMCs: How Many Axes Do You Really Need?

January 18, 2021
The three-axis vertical machining center (VMC) has long been the go-to machine tool for many small to medium-sized shops. Their use is well-understood. Compared to more complex machinery, it’s easier to find operators for three-axis machines.
Kip Hanson
By Kip Hanson Contributing Editor, SME Media
The iSpeed5 system from NSK is a fully tool-changeable electric spindle that can transform CNC machines into high-speed machining centers.

Fast Times for Machine Spindles

January 20, 2021
Driven spindles are the technical core of a machine tool, supplying the power to turn the cutting tools that shape our products and our world. Attaching one to a five-axis movement creates an advanced CNC machine.
Bruce Morey
By Bruce Morey Senior Technical Editor, SME Media
Manufacturing managers collaborate on the shop floor using tablet-based PTC Windchill PLM visualizations. PLM has become the foundation for digital transformation and digital thread initiatives at companies of all sizes.

Transforming Manufacturing with PLM Tools

January 22, 2021
With product lifecycle management (PLM) software, manufacturers wield powerful tools to manage the massive transformations buffeting their industries.
Pat Waurzyniak
By Patrick Waurzyniak Contributing Editor, SME Media
Unequal flute spacing in OSG’s variable geometry end mill line is designed to reduce vibration during machining by altering the timing of each flute engaging in the workpiece.

Multi-Flute End Mills Produce Thoroughly Modern Milling

January 26, 2021
End mills, traditionally made with two to four flutes, are used in one of the oldest mechanized machining processes—milling.
Ilene Wolff
By Ilene Wolff Contributing Editor, SME Media

Shop Solutions

  • NEWS DESK

    AM Technical Community Advisers Tackles Workforce Development, Advocacy, Adoption Challenges

    Staff Writer November 10, 2025
    Additive manufacturing has many great stories to tell. It’s a rewarding, attractive and in-demand career. So how does the industry get the word out about it all?
  • NEWS DESK

    Make Way for the World’s Largest Heat Pump

    Cary Gitter November 10, 2025
    Boston-based Vicinity Energy, which is said to be the largest district energy provider in the United States, has begun construction for a 35-megawatt river-based industrial heat pump, the company announced. Located at its Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, Mass., the pump will enable “carbon-free steam generation for more than 70 million sq ft (6.5 million sq m) of building space,” according to Vicinity.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Reaches Plea Deal For 737 Max Crashes

    Rachael Thomas November 7, 2025
    The Boeing Co. will avoid prosecution following a federal judge’s ruling to dismiss a criminal conspiracy charge regarding two 737 Max jet crashes that killed 346 people.

Up Front

  • NEWS DESK

    AM Technical Community Advisers Tackles Workforce Development, Advocacy, Adoption Challenges

    Staff Writer November 10, 2025
    Additive manufacturing has many great stories to tell. It’s a rewarding, attractive and in-demand career. So how does the industry get the word out about it all?
  • NEWS DESK

    Make Way for the World’s Largest Heat Pump

    Cary Gitter November 10, 2025
    Boston-based Vicinity Energy, which is said to be the largest district energy provider in the United States, has begun construction for a 35-megawatt river-based industrial heat pump, the company announced. Located at its Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, Mass., the pump will enable “carbon-free steam generation for more than 70 million sq ft (6.5 million sq m) of building space,” according to Vicinity.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Reaches Plea Deal For 737 Max Crashes

    Rachael Thomas November 7, 2025
    The Boeing Co. will avoid prosecution following a federal judge’s ruling to dismiss a criminal conspiracy charge regarding two 737 Max jet crashes that killed 346 people.

SME Speaks

  • NEWS DESK

    AM Technical Community Advisers Tackles Workforce Development, Advocacy, Adoption Challenges

    Staff Writer November 10, 2025
    Additive manufacturing has many great stories to tell. It’s a rewarding, attractive and in-demand career. So how does the industry get the word out about it all?
  • NEWS DESK

    Make Way for the World’s Largest Heat Pump

    Cary Gitter November 10, 2025
    Boston-based Vicinity Energy, which is said to be the largest district energy provider in the United States, has begun construction for a 35-megawatt river-based industrial heat pump, the company announced. Located at its Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, Mass., the pump will enable “carbon-free steam generation for more than 70 million sq ft (6.5 million sq m) of building space,” according to Vicinity.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Reaches Plea Deal For 737 Max Crashes

    Rachael Thomas November 7, 2025
    The Boeing Co. will avoid prosecution following a federal judge’s ruling to dismiss a criminal conspiracy charge regarding two 737 Max jet crashes that killed 346 people.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • NEWS DESK

    AM Technical Community Advisers Tackles Workforce Development, Advocacy, Adoption Challenges

    Staff Writer November 10, 2025
    Additive manufacturing has many great stories to tell. It’s a rewarding, attractive and in-demand career. So how does the industry get the word out about it all?
  • NEWS DESK

    Make Way for the World’s Largest Heat Pump

    Cary Gitter November 10, 2025
    Boston-based Vicinity Energy, which is said to be the largest district energy provider in the United States, has begun construction for a 35-megawatt river-based industrial heat pump, the company announced. Located at its Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, Mass., the pump will enable “carbon-free steam generation for more than 70 million sq ft (6.5 million sq m) of building space,” according to Vicinity.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Reaches Plea Deal For 737 Max Crashes

    Rachael Thomas November 7, 2025
    The Boeing Co. will avoid prosecution following a federal judge’s ruling to dismiss a criminal conspiracy charge regarding two 737 Max jet crashes that killed 346 people.

Software Update

  • NEWS DESK

    AM Technical Community Advisers Tackles Workforce Development, Advocacy, Adoption Challenges

    Staff Writer November 10, 2025
    Additive manufacturing has many great stories to tell. It’s a rewarding, attractive and in-demand career. So how does the industry get the word out about it all?
  • NEWS DESK

    Make Way for the World’s Largest Heat Pump

    Cary Gitter November 10, 2025
    Boston-based Vicinity Energy, which is said to be the largest district energy provider in the United States, has begun construction for a 35-megawatt river-based industrial heat pump, the company announced. Located at its Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, Mass., the pump will enable “carbon-free steam generation for more than 70 million sq ft (6.5 million sq m) of building space,” according to Vicinity.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Reaches Plea Deal For 737 Max Crashes

    Rachael Thomas November 7, 2025
    The Boeing Co. will avoid prosecution following a federal judge’s ruling to dismiss a criminal conspiracy charge regarding two 737 Max jet crashes that killed 346 people.

Workforce Pipeline

  • NEWS DESK

    AM Technical Community Advisers Tackles Workforce Development, Advocacy, Adoption Challenges

    Staff Writer November 10, 2025
    Additive manufacturing has many great stories to tell. It’s a rewarding, attractive and in-demand career. So how does the industry get the word out about it all?
  • NEWS DESK

    Make Way for the World’s Largest Heat Pump

    Cary Gitter November 10, 2025
    Boston-based Vicinity Energy, which is said to be the largest district energy provider in the United States, has begun construction for a 35-megawatt river-based industrial heat pump, the company announced. Located at its Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, Mass., the pump will enable “carbon-free steam generation for more than 70 million sq ft (6.5 million sq m) of building space,” according to Vicinity.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Reaches Plea Deal For 737 Max Crashes

    Rachael Thomas November 7, 2025
    The Boeing Co. will avoid prosecution following a federal judge’s ruling to dismiss a criminal conspiracy charge regarding two 737 Max jet crashes that killed 346 people.

Viewpoints

  • NEWS DESK

    AM Technical Community Advisers Tackles Workforce Development, Advocacy, Adoption Challenges

    Staff Writer November 10, 2025
    Additive manufacturing has many great stories to tell. It’s a rewarding, attractive and in-demand career. So how does the industry get the word out about it all?
  • NEWS DESK

    Make Way for the World’s Largest Heat Pump

    Cary Gitter November 10, 2025
    Boston-based Vicinity Energy, which is said to be the largest district energy provider in the United States, has begun construction for a 35-megawatt river-based industrial heat pump, the company announced. Located at its Kendall Square facility in Cambridge, Mass., the pump will enable “carbon-free steam generation for more than 70 million sq ft (6.5 million sq m) of building space,” according to Vicinity.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Reaches Plea Deal For 737 Max Crashes

    Rachael Thomas November 7, 2025
    The Boeing Co. will avoid prosecution following a federal judge’s ruling to dismiss a criminal conspiracy charge regarding two 737 Max jet crashes that killed 346 people.