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Manufacturing Engineering: February 2022

The February 2022 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
America Makes supports the MEP National Network, which supplies small to medium-sized manufacturing businesses across the country with workforce development, training, and consulting services.

Developing Your Workforce in an Age of Worker Shortages

February 1, 2022
The Skills Gap was already a big challenge before the pandemic. It’s even bigger now.
Kip Hanson
By Kip Hanson Contributing Editor, SME Media
Librestream provides an augmented reality remote solution platform. The company’s Onsight platform tracks how many inspections customers perform every week. That figure has reached 7,000 to 8,000 inspections.

You Can Take it With You: Hybrid Work Methods Shift Some Tasks Anywhere

February 7, 2022
The pandemic has accelerated the visibility and viability of hybrid workforce solutions—but experts say proceed carefully
Geoff Giordano
By Geoff Giordano Contributing Editor, SME Media
Illustrating the importance of preventive maintenance, a Methods support technician performs a diagnostic test on a KIWA KH-4500kai.

MRO for HRCs: When to Maintain, Rebuild or Replace Horizontal Machining Centers

February 9, 2022
There comes a time in every machine tool’s life when something needs to be done to improve its operating ability.
Ed Sinkora
By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media
XSYTIN-360 solid-ceramic end mills use Greenleaf’s tough XSYTIN-1 substrate, which allows the application of chip loads similar to solid-carbide end mills with the higher machining speeds common to ceramic machining.

Cutting Tools For All Occasions

February 14, 2022
Here’s how leading cutting tool manufacturers describe the pros and cons of standard vs. custom cutting tools.
Jim Lorincz
By Jim Lorincz Contributing Editor, SME Media
Data from Capture 3D’s full-field ATOS 3D scanning technology can feed into digital assembly analysis with GOM software, enabling an automotive OEM to receive hang-on parts’ metrology data from its plants, vendors, and tier suppliers—no matter where they are—and collaboratively determine in a digital process if the components will fit the assembly.

Metrology Software Plugs Into Smart Manufacturing

February 4, 2022
Measurement data is an important element of the emerging smart factory. How software provides that data is the key.
Ilene Wolff
By Ilene Wolff Contributing Editor, SME Media

Shop Solutions

  • SMART SHOP ESSENTIALS

    The One Thing

    Will Healy, Universal Robots November 15, 2025
    Will Healy, global industry leader for welding at Universal Robots USA, offers some sound advice: You’re not alone.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Workers OK 5-Year Contract

    Staff Writer November 14, 2025
    Unionized Boeing Co. machinists voted to end their 100-day walkout Thursday, approving a five-year contract that will see workers receive 24% pay increases and a $6,000 signing bonus.
  • ARTICLES

    How Midaco Pallet Changers Boost CNC Productivity and OEE

    Kip Hanson November 14, 2025
    Several decades ago, I purchased an SMW pallet changer for one of our shop’s Mori Seiki MV Junior Vertical Machining Centers. This glorious day for overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) occurred many years before SMW’s various acquisitions and its board decided to depart the pallet changer business entirely, seemingly leaving just one provider: Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based Midaco. We had an opportunity to ask the company’s Vice President of Sales Mike Munao a few questions, starting with one we were unsure he would answer.

Up Front

  • SMART SHOP ESSENTIALS

    The One Thing

    Will Healy, Universal Robots November 15, 2025
    Will Healy, global industry leader for welding at Universal Robots USA, offers some sound advice: You’re not alone.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Workers OK 5-Year Contract

    Staff Writer November 14, 2025
    Unionized Boeing Co. machinists voted to end their 100-day walkout Thursday, approving a five-year contract that will see workers receive 24% pay increases and a $6,000 signing bonus.
  • ARTICLES

    How Midaco Pallet Changers Boost CNC Productivity and OEE

    Kip Hanson November 14, 2025
    Several decades ago, I purchased an SMW pallet changer for one of our shop’s Mori Seiki MV Junior Vertical Machining Centers. This glorious day for overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) occurred many years before SMW’s various acquisitions and its board decided to depart the pallet changer business entirely, seemingly leaving just one provider: Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based Midaco. We had an opportunity to ask the company’s Vice President of Sales Mike Munao a few questions, starting with one we were unsure he would answer.

SME Speaks

  • SMART SHOP ESSENTIALS

    The One Thing

    Will Healy, Universal Robots November 15, 2025
    Will Healy, global industry leader for welding at Universal Robots USA, offers some sound advice: You’re not alone.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Workers OK 5-Year Contract

    Staff Writer November 14, 2025
    Unionized Boeing Co. machinists voted to end their 100-day walkout Thursday, approving a five-year contract that will see workers receive 24% pay increases and a $6,000 signing bonus.
  • ARTICLES

    How Midaco Pallet Changers Boost CNC Productivity and OEE

    Kip Hanson November 14, 2025
    Several decades ago, I purchased an SMW pallet changer for one of our shop’s Mori Seiki MV Junior Vertical Machining Centers. This glorious day for overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) occurred many years before SMW’s various acquisitions and its board decided to depart the pallet changer business entirely, seemingly leaving just one provider: Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based Midaco. We had an opportunity to ask the company’s Vice President of Sales Mike Munao a few questions, starting with one we were unsure he would answer.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • SMART SHOP ESSENTIALS

    The One Thing

    Will Healy, Universal Robots November 15, 2025
    Will Healy, global industry leader for welding at Universal Robots USA, offers some sound advice: You’re not alone.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Workers OK 5-Year Contract

    Staff Writer November 14, 2025
    Unionized Boeing Co. machinists voted to end their 100-day walkout Thursday, approving a five-year contract that will see workers receive 24% pay increases and a $6,000 signing bonus.
  • ARTICLES

    How Midaco Pallet Changers Boost CNC Productivity and OEE

    Kip Hanson November 14, 2025
    Several decades ago, I purchased an SMW pallet changer for one of our shop’s Mori Seiki MV Junior Vertical Machining Centers. This glorious day for overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) occurred many years before SMW’s various acquisitions and its board decided to depart the pallet changer business entirely, seemingly leaving just one provider: Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based Midaco. We had an opportunity to ask the company’s Vice President of Sales Mike Munao a few questions, starting with one we were unsure he would answer.

Software Update

  • SMART SHOP ESSENTIALS

    The One Thing

    Will Healy, Universal Robots November 15, 2025
    Will Healy, global industry leader for welding at Universal Robots USA, offers some sound advice: You’re not alone.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Workers OK 5-Year Contract

    Staff Writer November 14, 2025
    Unionized Boeing Co. machinists voted to end their 100-day walkout Thursday, approving a five-year contract that will see workers receive 24% pay increases and a $6,000 signing bonus.
  • ARTICLES

    How Midaco Pallet Changers Boost CNC Productivity and OEE

    Kip Hanson November 14, 2025
    Several decades ago, I purchased an SMW pallet changer for one of our shop’s Mori Seiki MV Junior Vertical Machining Centers. This glorious day for overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) occurred many years before SMW’s various acquisitions and its board decided to depart the pallet changer business entirely, seemingly leaving just one provider: Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based Midaco. We had an opportunity to ask the company’s Vice President of Sales Mike Munao a few questions, starting with one we were unsure he would answer.

Viewpoints

  • SMART SHOP ESSENTIALS

    The One Thing

    Will Healy, Universal Robots November 15, 2025
    Will Healy, global industry leader for welding at Universal Robots USA, offers some sound advice: You’re not alone.
  • NEWS DESK

    Boeing Workers OK 5-Year Contract

    Staff Writer November 14, 2025
    Unionized Boeing Co. machinists voted to end their 100-day walkout Thursday, approving a five-year contract that will see workers receive 24% pay increases and a $6,000 signing bonus.
  • ARTICLES

    How Midaco Pallet Changers Boost CNC Productivity and OEE

    Kip Hanson November 14, 2025
    Several decades ago, I purchased an SMW pallet changer for one of our shop’s Mori Seiki MV Junior Vertical Machining Centers. This glorious day for overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) occurred many years before SMW’s various acquisitions and its board decided to depart the pallet changer business entirely, seemingly leaving just one provider: Elk Grove Village, Ill.-based Midaco. We had an opportunity to ask the company’s Vice President of Sales Mike Munao a few questions, starting with one we were unsure he would answer.