A Diverse Start to 2023

My column last month described how we endeavor to cover a range of topics relative to the precision turned parts market. You might recall that I asked readers to answer at least one of a few questions asking about the importance of some topics Production Machining plans to write about this year. (Read at gbm.media/input-123.)

This month’s issue is a good example of how we present various ideas and solutions for shop managers and owners to consider as they continue to search for ways to become more efficient and profitable machining businesses.

For example, the cover story about Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is particularly timely. Shops doing work for the government that involves controlled unclassified information (CUI) will soon need to achieve CMMC, and they will be audited by a third part relative to it. This can be daunting and expensive, especially for small shops, and there’s still a lot of murkiness about the entire process. Jayme Rahz, CEO of Midway Swiss Turn, says the Wooster, Ohio, shop is midway through its certification. In the article, she describes lessons learned for other shops that might also be considering whether it’s worth achieving CMMC or not. Spoiler alert: Rahz provides a number of CMMC implementation tips, the first being to start right now if you’re currently doing DOD work or hoping to. 

The second feature covers the application of a niche technology, but one that might be attractive to shops looking for an alternate micromachining method. Sunlight-Tech Inc. in Mokena, Illinois, performs micromachining using a 5-axis, femto-second laser to create features that often cannot be created on a traditional CNC machine or wire EDM machine.

Plus, this month we present three Tech Briefs. The first highlights a twin-spindle automatic lathe with six cross-slide mounted turrets designed for medium-sized production runs that might not be suitable for conventional multi-spindles. In fact, it aims to bridge the gap between traditional single- and multi-spindles.

The second describes new carbide insert technology which provides the capability to perform high-speed, high-feed rough turning of heat-resistant superalloys in a single pass. Shops serving the aerospace industry, in particular, are tasked with finding ways to machine these challenging materials more effectively.

The third answers the question “What is peel grinding?” It turns out it’s a lot like single-point turning in which a cylindrical grinder uses a very thin wheel driven down the Z axis spinning along with the workpiece. This makes it possible to grind contours, diameters and other features at very high speeds to achieve high material removal rates on a variety of materials.

This issue also includes our quarterly Parts Cleaning section. One article offers packaging, handling and shipping advice to minimize or hopefully eliminate the chance parts will corrode before delivery to the customer. The other presents ideas for cleaning oily parts using equipment that supports oil-based solvents, suggesting that vacuum parts washing is appropriate for parts with complex geometries.

Finally, the Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA) touches on the need for and advantages of providing training for shopfloor employees. It also launches its “Roles of Women in Manufacturing Series,” which will run in the PMPA section each month in 2023. The first installment describes the journeys of the president of operations and the administrative coordinator for Technical Employment Training (TET) in San Bernardino, California, as well as how these women are helping prepare the next generation of talent to excel in our precision machining industry.

We hope to continue to be a means for discovery of new technology, processes and ideas during the rest of 2023 and beyond. And, don’t forget that the Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS) happening April 18-20 this year in Cleveland is another helpful source providing new manufacturing solutions to consider. Register and learn more at pmts.com.