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Manufacturing Engineering: April 2018

The April 2018 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
AM Continues Rapid Ascent, Targets New Markets

AM Continues Rapid Ascent, Targets New Markets

March 30, 2018
Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, is a vibrant and dynamic field. Each year, developments in AM allow organizations to create products that were previously unthinkable.
Ray Huff Associate Engineer, Wohlers Associates Inc.
By Ray Huff Associate Engineer, Wohlers Associates, Inc.
Terry Wohlers
By Terry Wohlers Head of Advisory Services and Market Intelligence, Wohlers Associates
Vision and Robotics: Happy Together

Vision and Robotics: Happy Together

March 30, 2018
The next “dynamic duo” may not involve humans at all. “Machine vision and robots make for a perfect marriage,” stated Klas Bengtsson, global product manager, vision systems for ABB Robotics (Auburn Hills, MI). This is not new. Vision and robotics have gone hand in hand for years.
Bruce Morey
By Bruce Morey Senior Technical Editor, SME Media
Sensor-Based Control of Cutting Tools, Machine Tools Moves From Drawing Board to Mainstream

Sensor-Based Control of Cutting Tools, Machine Tools Moves From Drawing Board to Mainstream

March 30, 2018
A key success factor for Industry 4.0 and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) initiatives is the emergence of more and better sensors in machining centers, and even in the cutting tools themselves. These sensors provide the data and connectivity that are the foundation for the “factory of the future.”
Robert Puhr
By Robert Puhr Contributing Editor, SME Media
AR and VR

PLM’s Promise for a Connected Manufacturing Industry

April 2, 2018
Complexity is pervasive in today’s component design and manufacturing processes. In the latest product lifecycle management (PLM) software, manufacturers get more choices, with new functionality being added to help visualize manufacturing processes with technologies that include augmented reality (VR) and virtual reality (VR).
Pat Waurzyniak
By Patrick Waurzyniak Contributing Editor, SME Media
DMG Mori’s Lasertec 3D hybrid

Hybrid Machines Make Parts Using Brand New and Tried and True Technologies

April 2, 2018
There will be a lot of success stories coming out soon featuring hybrid additive/subtractive machine technology. Still in its early development stages, hybrid machine technology is carving out—after carefully building up layer by layer—examples of complex parts, large repaired workpieces, and molds with process-enhancing conformal cooling channels designed in.
Jim Lorincz
By Jim Lorincz Contributing Editor, SME Media

Shop Solutions

  • NEWS DESK

    Zoox to Bring Its Robotaxis to Phoenix and Dallas

    Rachael Thomas March 11, 2026
    Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is expanding its robotaxi services to Arizona and Texas.
  • ADDITIVE

    Thinking Small

    Kip Hanson March 11, 2026
    The electronic connectors inside a smartphone. An optical housing perched on the tip of a surgical endoscope. Microfluidic channels etched into a lab-on-a-chip for biomedical research. All these applications require part features measured not in millimeters, but in microns.
  • ADDITIVE

    Coloring Outside the Cortex: 3D Printing Anatomic Models for Complex Brain Tumor Surgery

    Maggie Lashutka, Biomedical Engineer, Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC March 11, 2026
    When you’re a neurosurgeon faced with a complex tumor resection case, the more tools you have at your disposal for pre-surgical planning, the better. Attending neurosurgeon Dr. Marcus Ware, neurosurgery resident Dr. Michelle Miller, Tulane University medical student Smruti Mahapatra and other medical staff at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans faced a particularly complex brain tumor case that called for thorough planning. Due to the tumor’s left-sided and deep intraventricular location within the brain, multiple attending neurosurgeons with extensive experience in tumor resection looked at the patient’s imaging and suggested different approaches for the case.

Up Front

  • NEWS DESK

    Zoox to Bring Its Robotaxis to Phoenix and Dallas

    Rachael Thomas March 11, 2026
    Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is expanding its robotaxi services to Arizona and Texas.
  • ADDITIVE

    Thinking Small

    Kip Hanson March 11, 2026
    The electronic connectors inside a smartphone. An optical housing perched on the tip of a surgical endoscope. Microfluidic channels etched into a lab-on-a-chip for biomedical research. All these applications require part features measured not in millimeters, but in microns.
  • ADDITIVE

    Coloring Outside the Cortex: 3D Printing Anatomic Models for Complex Brain Tumor Surgery

    Maggie Lashutka, Biomedical Engineer, Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC March 11, 2026
    When you’re a neurosurgeon faced with a complex tumor resection case, the more tools you have at your disposal for pre-surgical planning, the better. Attending neurosurgeon Dr. Marcus Ware, neurosurgery resident Dr. Michelle Miller, Tulane University medical student Smruti Mahapatra and other medical staff at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans faced a particularly complex brain tumor case that called for thorough planning. Due to the tumor’s left-sided and deep intraventricular location within the brain, multiple attending neurosurgeons with extensive experience in tumor resection looked at the patient’s imaging and suggested different approaches for the case.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • NEWS DESK

    Zoox to Bring Its Robotaxis to Phoenix and Dallas

    Rachael Thomas March 11, 2026
    Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is expanding its robotaxi services to Arizona and Texas.
  • ADDITIVE

    Thinking Small

    Kip Hanson March 11, 2026
    The electronic connectors inside a smartphone. An optical housing perched on the tip of a surgical endoscope. Microfluidic channels etched into a lab-on-a-chip for biomedical research. All these applications require part features measured not in millimeters, but in microns.
  • ADDITIVE

    Coloring Outside the Cortex: 3D Printing Anatomic Models for Complex Brain Tumor Surgery

    Maggie Lashutka, Biomedical Engineer, Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC March 11, 2026
    When you’re a neurosurgeon faced with a complex tumor resection case, the more tools you have at your disposal for pre-surgical planning, the better. Attending neurosurgeon Dr. Marcus Ware, neurosurgery resident Dr. Michelle Miller, Tulane University medical student Smruti Mahapatra and other medical staff at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans faced a particularly complex brain tumor case that called for thorough planning. Due to the tumor’s left-sided and deep intraventricular location within the brain, multiple attending neurosurgeons with extensive experience in tumor resection looked at the patient’s imaging and suggested different approaches for the case.

SME Speaks

  • NEWS DESK

    Zoox to Bring Its Robotaxis to Phoenix and Dallas

    Rachael Thomas March 11, 2026
    Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is expanding its robotaxi services to Arizona and Texas.
  • ADDITIVE

    Thinking Small

    Kip Hanson March 11, 2026
    The electronic connectors inside a smartphone. An optical housing perched on the tip of a surgical endoscope. Microfluidic channels etched into a lab-on-a-chip for biomedical research. All these applications require part features measured not in millimeters, but in microns.
  • ADDITIVE

    Coloring Outside the Cortex: 3D Printing Anatomic Models for Complex Brain Tumor Surgery

    Maggie Lashutka, Biomedical Engineer, Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC March 11, 2026
    When you’re a neurosurgeon faced with a complex tumor resection case, the more tools you have at your disposal for pre-surgical planning, the better. Attending neurosurgeon Dr. Marcus Ware, neurosurgery resident Dr. Michelle Miller, Tulane University medical student Smruti Mahapatra and other medical staff at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans faced a particularly complex brain tumor case that called for thorough planning. Due to the tumor’s left-sided and deep intraventricular location within the brain, multiple attending neurosurgeons with extensive experience in tumor resection looked at the patient’s imaging and suggested different approaches for the case.

Tech Front

  • NEWS DESK

    Zoox to Bring Its Robotaxis to Phoenix and Dallas

    Rachael Thomas March 11, 2026
    Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is expanding its robotaxi services to Arizona and Texas.
  • ADDITIVE

    Thinking Small

    Kip Hanson March 11, 2026
    The electronic connectors inside a smartphone. An optical housing perched on the tip of a surgical endoscope. Microfluidic channels etched into a lab-on-a-chip for biomedical research. All these applications require part features measured not in millimeters, but in microns.
  • ADDITIVE

    Coloring Outside the Cortex: 3D Printing Anatomic Models for Complex Brain Tumor Surgery

    Maggie Lashutka, Biomedical Engineer, Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC March 11, 2026
    When you’re a neurosurgeon faced with a complex tumor resection case, the more tools you have at your disposal for pre-surgical planning, the better. Attending neurosurgeon Dr. Marcus Ware, neurosurgery resident Dr. Michelle Miller, Tulane University medical student Smruti Mahapatra and other medical staff at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans faced a particularly complex brain tumor case that called for thorough planning. Due to the tumor’s left-sided and deep intraventricular location within the brain, multiple attending neurosurgeons with extensive experience in tumor resection looked at the patient’s imaging and suggested different approaches for the case.

Software Update

  • NEWS DESK

    Zoox to Bring Its Robotaxis to Phoenix and Dallas

    Rachael Thomas March 11, 2026
    Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is expanding its robotaxi services to Arizona and Texas.
  • ADDITIVE

    Thinking Small

    Kip Hanson March 11, 2026
    The electronic connectors inside a smartphone. An optical housing perched on the tip of a surgical endoscope. Microfluidic channels etched into a lab-on-a-chip for biomedical research. All these applications require part features measured not in millimeters, but in microns.
  • ADDITIVE

    Coloring Outside the Cortex: 3D Printing Anatomic Models for Complex Brain Tumor Surgery

    Maggie Lashutka, Biomedical Engineer, Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC March 11, 2026
    When you’re a neurosurgeon faced with a complex tumor resection case, the more tools you have at your disposal for pre-surgical planning, the better. Attending neurosurgeon Dr. Marcus Ware, neurosurgery resident Dr. Michelle Miller, Tulane University medical student Smruti Mahapatra and other medical staff at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans faced a particularly complex brain tumor case that called for thorough planning. Due to the tumor’s left-sided and deep intraventricular location within the brain, multiple attending neurosurgeons with extensive experience in tumor resection looked at the patient’s imaging and suggested different approaches for the case.

Mfg Intel

  • NEWS DESK

    Zoox to Bring Its Robotaxis to Phoenix and Dallas

    Rachael Thomas March 11, 2026
    Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is expanding its robotaxi services to Arizona and Texas.
  • ADDITIVE

    Thinking Small

    Kip Hanson March 11, 2026
    The electronic connectors inside a smartphone. An optical housing perched on the tip of a surgical endoscope. Microfluidic channels etched into a lab-on-a-chip for biomedical research. All these applications require part features measured not in millimeters, but in microns.
  • ADDITIVE

    Coloring Outside the Cortex: 3D Printing Anatomic Models for Complex Brain Tumor Surgery

    Maggie Lashutka, Biomedical Engineer, Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC March 11, 2026
    When you’re a neurosurgeon faced with a complex tumor resection case, the more tools you have at your disposal for pre-surgical planning, the better. Attending neurosurgeon Dr. Marcus Ware, neurosurgery resident Dr. Michelle Miller, Tulane University medical student Smruti Mahapatra and other medical staff at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans faced a particularly complex brain tumor case that called for thorough planning. Due to the tumor’s left-sided and deep intraventricular location within the brain, multiple attending neurosurgeons with extensive experience in tumor resection looked at the patient’s imaging and suggested different approaches for the case.

Workforce Pipeline

  • NEWS DESK

    Zoox to Bring Its Robotaxis to Phoenix and Dallas

    Rachael Thomas March 11, 2026
    Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is expanding its robotaxi services to Arizona and Texas.
  • ADDITIVE

    Thinking Small

    Kip Hanson March 11, 2026
    The electronic connectors inside a smartphone. An optical housing perched on the tip of a surgical endoscope. Microfluidic channels etched into a lab-on-a-chip for biomedical research. All these applications require part features measured not in millimeters, but in microns.
  • ADDITIVE

    Coloring Outside the Cortex: 3D Printing Anatomic Models for Complex Brain Tumor Surgery

    Maggie Lashutka, Biomedical Engineer, Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC March 11, 2026
    When you’re a neurosurgeon faced with a complex tumor resection case, the more tools you have at your disposal for pre-surgical planning, the better. Attending neurosurgeon Dr. Marcus Ware, neurosurgery resident Dr. Michelle Miller, Tulane University medical student Smruti Mahapatra and other medical staff at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans faced a particularly complex brain tumor case that called for thorough planning. Due to the tumor’s left-sided and deep intraventricular location within the brain, multiple attending neurosurgeons with extensive experience in tumor resection looked at the patient’s imaging and suggested different approaches for the case.

Viewpoints

  • NEWS DESK

    Zoox to Bring Its Robotaxis to Phoenix and Dallas

    Rachael Thomas March 11, 2026
    Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is expanding its robotaxi services to Arizona and Texas.
  • ADDITIVE

    Thinking Small

    Kip Hanson March 11, 2026
    The electronic connectors inside a smartphone. An optical housing perched on the tip of a surgical endoscope. Microfluidic channels etched into a lab-on-a-chip for biomedical research. All these applications require part features measured not in millimeters, but in microns.
  • ADDITIVE

    Coloring Outside the Cortex: 3D Printing Anatomic Models for Complex Brain Tumor Surgery

    Maggie Lashutka, Biomedical Engineer, Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC March 11, 2026
    When you’re a neurosurgeon faced with a complex tumor resection case, the more tools you have at your disposal for pre-surgical planning, the better. Attending neurosurgeon Dr. Marcus Ware, neurosurgery resident Dr. Michelle Miller, Tulane University medical student Smruti Mahapatra and other medical staff at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans faced a particularly complex brain tumor case that called for thorough planning. Due to the tumor’s left-sided and deep intraventricular location within the brain, multiple attending neurosurgeons with extensive experience in tumor resection looked at the patient’s imaging and suggested different approaches for the case.

Laser Special Section

  • NEWS DESK

    Zoox to Bring Its Robotaxis to Phoenix and Dallas

    Rachael Thomas March 11, 2026
    Zoox, Amazon’s autonomous vehicle (AV) company, is expanding its robotaxi services to Arizona and Texas.
  • ADDITIVE

    Thinking Small

    Kip Hanson March 11, 2026
    The electronic connectors inside a smartphone. An optical housing perched on the tip of a surgical endoscope. Microfluidic channels etched into a lab-on-a-chip for biomedical research. All these applications require part features measured not in millimeters, but in microns.
  • ADDITIVE

    Coloring Outside the Cortex: 3D Printing Anatomic Models for Complex Brain Tumor Surgery

    Maggie Lashutka, Biomedical Engineer, Ricoh 3D for Healthcare LLC March 11, 2026
    When you’re a neurosurgeon faced with a complex tumor resection case, the more tools you have at your disposal for pre-surgical planning, the better. Attending neurosurgeon Dr. Marcus Ware, neurosurgery resident Dr. Michelle Miller, Tulane University medical student Smruti Mahapatra and other medical staff at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans faced a particularly complex brain tumor case that called for thorough planning. Due to the tumor’s left-sided and deep intraventricular location within the brain, multiple attending neurosurgeons with extensive experience in tumor resection looked at the patient’s imaging and suggested different approaches for the case.

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