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Manufacturing Engineering: March 2021

The March 2021 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
Collaborative robots are easier to implement in part because they can be trained by manually dragging the robot head where you want it to go.

Automation in the Age of COVID-19

February 16, 2021
The longstanding trend toward manufacturing automation has understandably been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ed Sinkora
By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media
An OB7 cobot loads a raw blank into the main spindle of a nine-axis Quicktech S-32 ATM mill/turn center.

Automation for Everyone

February 18, 2021
Automating job shops is accelerating, driven by the combined influence of Industry 4.0, the continued shortage of skilled manufacturing labor and the COVID pandemic.
Geoff Giordano
By Geoff Giordano Contributing Editor, SME Media
FANUC offers two data analytics programs, MT-LINKi and FASData (shown here), both able to capture vast amounts of machine tool data.

The Connected Control

February 22, 2021
Ethernet ports first started appearing on CNC lathes and machining centers more than 20 years ago.
Kip Hanson
By Kip Hanson Contributing Editor, SME Media
Horn’s 960 system mounted to a standard BMT connection, with opposite hand replacement cassette shown.

Parting and Grooving for the Long Haul

February 24, 2021
Some trends in machining remain constant. Machine speeds continue to increase. Difficult-to-cut materials are used more frequently.
Bill Koenig
By Bill Koenig Senior Editor, SME Media
Manufacturers rely on digital twin toolpath simulation to reduce the machine setup time by an average of 65 percent, giving them the confidence to run the program and reduce the number of iterations during the test run.

Simulation Software Meets the Need for Speed

February 26, 2021
Toolpath simulation software gives manufacturers assurance that their machine tools will cut parts quickly and accurately, which is particularly useful when machining expensive materials like titanium or Inconel.
Pat Waurzyniak
By Patrick Waurzyniak Contributing Editor, SME Media

Shop Solutions

  • CNC MACHINING

    7 Cool Tips for Coolants

    Staff Writer March 11, 2026
    Regardless of which fluid or delivery method you choose, maintenance determines whether your investment pays off or becomes a pain in the neck. “By following sound maintenance practices, you can expect to get at least two years out of a high-quality cutting fluid,” maintains Master Fluid Solutions’ John Treese.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    AIM MRO Acquires Advanced Air West Palm Beach

    PRESS RELEASE: AIM MRO March 11, 2026
    AIM MRO Holdings, LLC (“AIM MRO” or the “Company”), a leading provider of highly engineered consumable repair products and materials used primarily in the aerospace aftermarket, today announced that it has acquired Advanced Air West Palm Beach, Inc. (“AA Bushings”), a provider of replacement bushings, sleeves and fasteners for landing gear applications in the aerospace and defense aftermarket.
  • GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    States Sue for Tariff Refunds

    Michael McConnell March 11, 2026
    Attorneys general in 24 states have filed a lawsuit asking the government to reimburse businesses for the money they’ve already paid in import taxes as well as blocking new levies from going into effect.

Up Front

  • CNC MACHINING

    7 Cool Tips for Coolants

    Staff Writer March 11, 2026
    Regardless of which fluid or delivery method you choose, maintenance determines whether your investment pays off or becomes a pain in the neck. “By following sound maintenance practices, you can expect to get at least two years out of a high-quality cutting fluid,” maintains Master Fluid Solutions’ John Treese.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    AIM MRO Acquires Advanced Air West Palm Beach

    PRESS RELEASE: AIM MRO March 11, 2026
    AIM MRO Holdings, LLC (“AIM MRO” or the “Company”), a leading provider of highly engineered consumable repair products and materials used primarily in the aerospace aftermarket, today announced that it has acquired Advanced Air West Palm Beach, Inc. (“AA Bushings”), a provider of replacement bushings, sleeves and fasteners for landing gear applications in the aerospace and defense aftermarket.
  • GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    States Sue for Tariff Refunds

    Michael McConnell March 11, 2026
    Attorneys general in 24 states have filed a lawsuit asking the government to reimburse businesses for the money they’ve already paid in import taxes as well as blocking new levies from going into effect.

SME Speaks

  • CNC MACHINING

    7 Cool Tips for Coolants

    Staff Writer March 11, 2026
    Regardless of which fluid or delivery method you choose, maintenance determines whether your investment pays off or becomes a pain in the neck. “By following sound maintenance practices, you can expect to get at least two years out of a high-quality cutting fluid,” maintains Master Fluid Solutions’ John Treese.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    AIM MRO Acquires Advanced Air West Palm Beach

    PRESS RELEASE: AIM MRO March 11, 2026
    AIM MRO Holdings, LLC (“AIM MRO” or the “Company”), a leading provider of highly engineered consumable repair products and materials used primarily in the aerospace aftermarket, today announced that it has acquired Advanced Air West Palm Beach, Inc. (“AA Bushings”), a provider of replacement bushings, sleeves and fasteners for landing gear applications in the aerospace and defense aftermarket.
  • GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    States Sue for Tariff Refunds

    Michael McConnell March 11, 2026
    Attorneys general in 24 states have filed a lawsuit asking the government to reimburse businesses for the money they’ve already paid in import taxes as well as blocking new levies from going into effect.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • CNC MACHINING

    7 Cool Tips for Coolants

    Staff Writer March 11, 2026
    Regardless of which fluid or delivery method you choose, maintenance determines whether your investment pays off or becomes a pain in the neck. “By following sound maintenance practices, you can expect to get at least two years out of a high-quality cutting fluid,” maintains Master Fluid Solutions’ John Treese.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    AIM MRO Acquires Advanced Air West Palm Beach

    PRESS RELEASE: AIM MRO March 11, 2026
    AIM MRO Holdings, LLC (“AIM MRO” or the “Company”), a leading provider of highly engineered consumable repair products and materials used primarily in the aerospace aftermarket, today announced that it has acquired Advanced Air West Palm Beach, Inc. (“AA Bushings”), a provider of replacement bushings, sleeves and fasteners for landing gear applications in the aerospace and defense aftermarket.
  • GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    States Sue for Tariff Refunds

    Michael McConnell March 11, 2026
    Attorneys general in 24 states have filed a lawsuit asking the government to reimburse businesses for the money they’ve already paid in import taxes as well as blocking new levies from going into effect.

Additive Manufacturing Update

  • CNC MACHINING

    7 Cool Tips for Coolants

    Staff Writer March 11, 2026
    Regardless of which fluid or delivery method you choose, maintenance determines whether your investment pays off or becomes a pain in the neck. “By following sound maintenance practices, you can expect to get at least two years out of a high-quality cutting fluid,” maintains Master Fluid Solutions’ John Treese.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    AIM MRO Acquires Advanced Air West Palm Beach

    PRESS RELEASE: AIM MRO March 11, 2026
    AIM MRO Holdings, LLC (“AIM MRO” or the “Company”), a leading provider of highly engineered consumable repair products and materials used primarily in the aerospace aftermarket, today announced that it has acquired Advanced Air West Palm Beach, Inc. (“AA Bushings”), a provider of replacement bushings, sleeves and fasteners for landing gear applications in the aerospace and defense aftermarket.
  • GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    States Sue for Tariff Refunds

    Michael McConnell March 11, 2026
    Attorneys general in 24 states have filed a lawsuit asking the government to reimburse businesses for the money they’ve already paid in import taxes as well as blocking new levies from going into effect.

CEO Roundtable

  • CNC MACHINING

    7 Cool Tips for Coolants

    Staff Writer March 11, 2026
    Regardless of which fluid or delivery method you choose, maintenance determines whether your investment pays off or becomes a pain in the neck. “By following sound maintenance practices, you can expect to get at least two years out of a high-quality cutting fluid,” maintains Master Fluid Solutions’ John Treese.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    AIM MRO Acquires Advanced Air West Palm Beach

    PRESS RELEASE: AIM MRO March 11, 2026
    AIM MRO Holdings, LLC (“AIM MRO” or the “Company”), a leading provider of highly engineered consumable repair products and materials used primarily in the aerospace aftermarket, today announced that it has acquired Advanced Air West Palm Beach, Inc. (“AA Bushings”), a provider of replacement bushings, sleeves and fasteners for landing gear applications in the aerospace and defense aftermarket.
  • GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    States Sue for Tariff Refunds

    Michael McConnell March 11, 2026
    Attorneys general in 24 states have filed a lawsuit asking the government to reimburse businesses for the money they’ve already paid in import taxes as well as blocking new levies from going into effect.

Viewpoints

  • CNC MACHINING

    7 Cool Tips for Coolants

    Staff Writer March 11, 2026
    Regardless of which fluid or delivery method you choose, maintenance determines whether your investment pays off or becomes a pain in the neck. “By following sound maintenance practices, you can expect to get at least two years out of a high-quality cutting fluid,” maintains Master Fluid Solutions’ John Treese.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    AIM MRO Acquires Advanced Air West Palm Beach

    PRESS RELEASE: AIM MRO March 11, 2026
    AIM MRO Holdings, LLC (“AIM MRO” or the “Company”), a leading provider of highly engineered consumable repair products and materials used primarily in the aerospace aftermarket, today announced that it has acquired Advanced Air West Palm Beach, Inc. (“AA Bushings”), a provider of replacement bushings, sleeves and fasteners for landing gear applications in the aerospace and defense aftermarket.
  • GOVERNMENT AND ECONOMICS

    States Sue for Tariff Refunds

    Michael McConnell March 11, 2026
    Attorneys general in 24 states have filed a lawsuit asking the government to reimburse businesses for the money they’ve already paid in import taxes as well as blocking new levies from going into effect.