#BASICS

Parts Cleaning

Alconox Updates Aqueous Cleaning Handbook.

The Aqueous Cleaning Handbook is a critical cleaning resource which distills and presents practical information covering the history of aqueous detergents — what they are, how they work and how to make best use of them.

Emerging Leaders

Applying a Healthy Approach to Employee Investment

Service Center Metals’ on-site health center offers its employees and their families free same-day health care and, in return, the employer is gaining many benefits including a healthier workforce and attracting potential employees.

Why Are We Writing About a Shop Making Custom Baseball Bats?

I recently learned about a 153-year-old manufacturer that has produced billions upon billions of precision, metal pins which started another business making one-off wooden baseball bats. (Like I asked it to do for me and you’ll see at this year’s Precision Machining Technology Show). Here I explain why it’s worth the time to read that article.

Get to Know the PMPA at PMTS 2023

The Precision Machining Technology Show provides the chance to see what membership in the Precision Machined Products Association offers at the association’s co-located National Technical Conference.

Automation & Robots

Tips for Troubleshooting and Repairing Chip Conveyors

A nonfunctioning chip conveyor can cause a high-production machine to be down for an extended period of time. Here is some troubleshooting advice if you’re having issues with your chip conveyors.

Cutting Tools

CNC Turning Tips for HRSA Materials

Rough-turning, heat-resistant superalloys can be challenging. However, new carbide insert technology provides the capability to perform high-speed, high-feed roughing in a single pass.

Parts Cleaning

Corrosion Prevention: How to Avoid the Enemy of Metal Parts

This chemical reaction that is a constant, indiscriminate and costly enemy of metal parts is preventable, but intentional measures must be taken and become an essential process within a company’s walls.

5 Ideas for Continuous Improvement

These suggestions for manufacturing process improvements are based on Kaizen ideas that call for never-ending improvement from the entire organization.

Parts Cleaning

Tips for Cleaning Oily Parts

Degreasers are the best option for cleaning parts machined with oil. Vacuum degreasers are recommended for cleaning complex parts.

Reducing Variation: The Only Way to Reduce Production Cost

Hidden variation in production is what increases costs in manufacturing. Here are four tips for reducing variability.

7 Causes of Quench Cracking in Steel

Failures of steel parts in service or production occur infrequently. However, when steel parts fail, the consequences are dire. Here are seven ways that steel can fail as a result of quench cracking from heat treatment.

Emerging Leaders

4 Tips for Building an Effective Machining Apprenticeship Program

Developing the right apprenticeship program can be one of the best things a machine shop can do for itself and for the future of manufacturing. Here are key “do’s” and “don’ts” to follow.

Automation & Robots

Robot Readiness: Taking Initial Steps Toward Integration

Not confident enough about automating a process yet in your machine shop? These considerations will help you better understand the path to robot adoption.  

Measurement

The Difference Between Ra and Rz

While it is best to measure using the parameter specified in the print, there are rules of thumb available that can help clear up the confusion and convert Ra to Rz or Rz to Ra.

Grinding

5 Grinding Considerations for Improving Surface Finish

Improving surface finish can be done by making adjustments to one or more of these points: operational parameters, wheel dressing, grit size, coolant delivery and machine condition.

13 Tips for the Perfect Trade Show Booth

Here are some tips to step up your game at your next trade show.

Medical

Vision Metrology for Medical

Understanding best practices and the options available with vision measurement systems is particularly important when inspecting complex medical components having stringent traceability requirements.

Parts Cleaning

How to Choose and Set Up a Manufacturing Cleaning Process

Choosing the right cleaning process for an application takes thought and understanding. Knowing the basics of cleaning, the costs associated with it, as well as how to test, validate and inspect parts that are cleaned is critical. Teamwork and communication are also important in getting the job done efficiently.

5 Lessons Learned from the Supply Chain Crisis

With so much upheaval impacting manufacturers in every sector, industry leaders are learning how to find a solution to avoid supply chain problems in the future.

Turn-Mills

When a CNC Turn-Mill Doesn’t Turn

A shop in Big Sky Country uses a B-axis multitasking machine to produce complex, prismatic medical parts that require no turning complete from barstock.

Parts Cleaning

4 Considerations for Aerospace Component Cleaning

These pointers for aerospace cleaning can help companies understand best practices, safety and determining part cleanliness.

When a Magazine Editor Visits Your Shop

Here’s a brief overview of what to expect and how to prepare for a visit to your machine shop from a member of the media such as myself.

Understanding CMMC Compliance

The U.S. Department of Defense will soon make the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification a requirement for any defense contractor that currently is or hopes to work with the DOD.

6 Considerations for Metalworking Fluid Selection and Maintenance

Understanding how to select and maintain metalworking fluids is critical to a machine shop’s efficiency.