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Manufacturing Engineering: June 2018

The June 2018 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
Advanced Technologies Drive New Cylindrical Grinding Capabilities

Advanced Technologies Drive New Cylindrical Grinding Capabilities

May 29, 2018
While cylindrical grinding has been used for some time, its capabilities may not be fully appreciated. New grinding wheel technology, controls, materials and dressing processes, coolant and pump options—as well as smarter software—make today’s machines worth getting acquainted with.
Geoff Giordano
By Geoff Giordano Contributing Editor, SME Media
A FANUC robot services three vertical machines in this cell from Methods Machine Tools.

Automating Verticals: The Time is Right for Every Type of Shop

May 29, 2018
Whether we’re talking about linear pallet systems, simple pallet changers, or robots, it’s clear there is a huge opportunity to automate US machining operations. While horizontal machines are automated more often than verticals, vertical machining centers are more prevalent than horizontals so the greatest untapped potential is in automating verticals.
Ed Sinkora
By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media
Cube-R

Optical Metrology in Three Dimensions

May 29, 2018
Basic trends in modern manufacturing are driving growth in 3D optical metrology. “One is the highly complex and high-tech material that manufacturers are using today. For example, in the aerospace turbine blade market, they simply cannot touch the part like they used to—the surface finish of the material is too readily affected by any kind of contact metrology."
Bruce Morey
By Bruce Morey Senior Technical Editor, SME Media
Model-based validation and verification of an autonomous vehicle

Simulation Software Spreads its Wings

May 30, 2018
When wrestling with vexing issues such as product complexity, lightweighting, advanced materials and new manufacturing methods, today’s manufacturing engineers increasingly use high-fidelity simulations to visualize solutions to these challenges.
Pat Waurzyniak
By Patrick Waurzyniak Contributing Editor, SME Media
Hangsterfer’s Laboratories Advanced Cutting Fluid 5080

More Shops Take the ‘Through-Way’ for Coolant Applications

May 30, 2018
If John Winter of toolmaker Sandvik Coromant (Fair Lawn, NJ) were to start his own machine shop, all of his machines would be equipped for through-spindle coolant (TSC).
Ilene Wolff
By Ilene Wolff Contributing Editor, SME Media
5ME Cryogenic System

Liquid Nitrogen an Alternative to Traditional Coolants

May 30, 2018
Cryogenics offer an alternative to traditional liquid coolants when conventional cooling methods can’t or don’t do the job well enough.
Ed Sinkora
By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media
Ilene Wolff
By Ilene Wolff Contributing Editor, SME Media

Shop Solutions

  • TECHNOLOGIES

    AI Readiness in Manufacturing: Unleashing Hidden Value for C–Suite Innovators

    CADDi January 22, 2026
    For leaders in high–mix, low–volume manufacturing—whether in engineering, procurement, IT or the C–suite—AI is no longer a futuristic concept: It’s a strategic imperative. These businesses must successfully operationalize the use of AI if they want to remain competitive. The linchpin of AI transformation? Unlocking the massive troves of unstructured data buried in legacy systems—handwritten notes, scanned drawings, supplier emails, PDFs and tribal knowledge—that conventional data strategies leave hidden.
  • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

    Small Manufacturers Can’t Ignore Attrition Risks

    Curtis Forbes, Founder and CEO, MustardHub January 22, 2026
    Ask any small manufacturer what happens if they lose their best machinist. Production stops, customer orders sit waiting and finding someone with the skills to replace them takes weeks—maybe months.
  • NEWS DESK

    Report: Skilled-Labor Shortage Remains Top Challenge for Manufacturers

    Cary Gitter January 22, 2026
    Seventy-nine percent of manufacturing executives say the skilled-labor shortage continues to be their biggest challenge, according to new research from AI data company CADDi.

Up Front

  • TECHNOLOGIES

    AI Readiness in Manufacturing: Unleashing Hidden Value for C–Suite Innovators

    CADDi January 22, 2026
    For leaders in high–mix, low–volume manufacturing—whether in engineering, procurement, IT or the C–suite—AI is no longer a futuristic concept: It’s a strategic imperative. These businesses must successfully operationalize the use of AI if they want to remain competitive. The linchpin of AI transformation? Unlocking the massive troves of unstructured data buried in legacy systems—handwritten notes, scanned drawings, supplier emails, PDFs and tribal knowledge—that conventional data strategies leave hidden.
  • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

    Small Manufacturers Can’t Ignore Attrition Risks

    Curtis Forbes, Founder and CEO, MustardHub January 22, 2026
    Ask any small manufacturer what happens if they lose their best machinist. Production stops, customer orders sit waiting and finding someone with the skills to replace them takes weeks—maybe months.
  • NEWS DESK

    Report: Skilled-Labor Shortage Remains Top Challenge for Manufacturers

    Cary Gitter January 22, 2026
    Seventy-nine percent of manufacturing executives say the skilled-labor shortage continues to be their biggest challenge, according to new research from AI data company CADDi.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • TECHNOLOGIES

    AI Readiness in Manufacturing: Unleashing Hidden Value for C–Suite Innovators

    CADDi January 22, 2026
    For leaders in high–mix, low–volume manufacturing—whether in engineering, procurement, IT or the C–suite—AI is no longer a futuristic concept: It’s a strategic imperative. These businesses must successfully operationalize the use of AI if they want to remain competitive. The linchpin of AI transformation? Unlocking the massive troves of unstructured data buried in legacy systems—handwritten notes, scanned drawings, supplier emails, PDFs and tribal knowledge—that conventional data strategies leave hidden.
  • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

    Small Manufacturers Can’t Ignore Attrition Risks

    Curtis Forbes, Founder and CEO, MustardHub January 22, 2026
    Ask any small manufacturer what happens if they lose their best machinist. Production stops, customer orders sit waiting and finding someone with the skills to replace them takes weeks—maybe months.
  • NEWS DESK

    Report: Skilled-Labor Shortage Remains Top Challenge for Manufacturers

    Cary Gitter January 22, 2026
    Seventy-nine percent of manufacturing executives say the skilled-labor shortage continues to be their biggest challenge, according to new research from AI data company CADDi.

SME Speaks

  • TECHNOLOGIES

    AI Readiness in Manufacturing: Unleashing Hidden Value for C–Suite Innovators

    CADDi January 22, 2026
    For leaders in high–mix, low–volume manufacturing—whether in engineering, procurement, IT or the C–suite—AI is no longer a futuristic concept: It’s a strategic imperative. These businesses must successfully operationalize the use of AI if they want to remain competitive. The linchpin of AI transformation? Unlocking the massive troves of unstructured data buried in legacy systems—handwritten notes, scanned drawings, supplier emails, PDFs and tribal knowledge—that conventional data strategies leave hidden.
  • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

    Small Manufacturers Can’t Ignore Attrition Risks

    Curtis Forbes, Founder and CEO, MustardHub January 22, 2026
    Ask any small manufacturer what happens if they lose their best machinist. Production stops, customer orders sit waiting and finding someone with the skills to replace them takes weeks—maybe months.
  • NEWS DESK

    Report: Skilled-Labor Shortage Remains Top Challenge for Manufacturers

    Cary Gitter January 22, 2026
    Seventy-nine percent of manufacturing executives say the skilled-labor shortage continues to be their biggest challenge, according to new research from AI data company CADDi.

Workforce Pipeline

  • TECHNOLOGIES

    AI Readiness in Manufacturing: Unleashing Hidden Value for C–Suite Innovators

    CADDi January 22, 2026
    For leaders in high–mix, low–volume manufacturing—whether in engineering, procurement, IT or the C–suite—AI is no longer a futuristic concept: It’s a strategic imperative. These businesses must successfully operationalize the use of AI if they want to remain competitive. The linchpin of AI transformation? Unlocking the massive troves of unstructured data buried in legacy systems—handwritten notes, scanned drawings, supplier emails, PDFs and tribal knowledge—that conventional data strategies leave hidden.
  • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

    Small Manufacturers Can’t Ignore Attrition Risks

    Curtis Forbes, Founder and CEO, MustardHub January 22, 2026
    Ask any small manufacturer what happens if they lose their best machinist. Production stops, customer orders sit waiting and finding someone with the skills to replace them takes weeks—maybe months.
  • NEWS DESK

    Report: Skilled-Labor Shortage Remains Top Challenge for Manufacturers

    Cary Gitter January 22, 2026
    Seventy-nine percent of manufacturing executives say the skilled-labor shortage continues to be their biggest challenge, according to new research from AI data company CADDi.

Software Update

  • TECHNOLOGIES

    AI Readiness in Manufacturing: Unleashing Hidden Value for C–Suite Innovators

    CADDi January 22, 2026
    For leaders in high–mix, low–volume manufacturing—whether in engineering, procurement, IT or the C–suite—AI is no longer a futuristic concept: It’s a strategic imperative. These businesses must successfully operationalize the use of AI if they want to remain competitive. The linchpin of AI transformation? Unlocking the massive troves of unstructured data buried in legacy systems—handwritten notes, scanned drawings, supplier emails, PDFs and tribal knowledge—that conventional data strategies leave hidden.
  • WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

    Small Manufacturers Can’t Ignore Attrition Risks

    Curtis Forbes, Founder and CEO, MustardHub January 22, 2026
    Ask any small manufacturer what happens if they lose their best machinist. Production stops, customer orders sit waiting and finding someone with the skills to replace them takes weeks—maybe months.
  • NEWS DESK

    Report: Skilled-Labor Shortage Remains Top Challenge for Manufacturers

    Cary Gitter January 22, 2026
    Seventy-nine percent of manufacturing executives say the skilled-labor shortage continues to be their biggest challenge, according to new research from AI data company CADDi.

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