December 2023 Issue

December 2023

Digital Edition

Large Plants Plan High Rates of Capital Spending in 2024

Gardner Business Media’s Capital Spending survey projects a modest decline of 7.4% in machine tool spending next year. While job shops are taking a wait-and-see posture, large plants plan robust spending with machining centers leading the way.

Features

Featured articles from the December 2023 issue of Production Machining

Transfer Machines 22 Dec 2023

CNC Rotary Transfer Machine Features Ballscrew Electromechanical Tooling Units

A CNC rotary transfer machine, a newly developed machine platform, is said to offer high rigidity, flexibility and accuracy for a range of high-volume, precision-machining applications.

13 Nov 2023

Gardner Business Index: Precision Machining October 2023

Precision Machining activity was spared another month of accelerated contraction and held into October the same index reported in September.

PMPA 14 Dec 2023

Roles of Women in Manufacturing: What I Learned

Over 20 women were featured in the Roles of Women in Manufacturing series, which started in January 2023.

CAD/CAM 7 Dec 2023

How to Start a Swiss Machining Department From Scratch

When Shamrock Precision needed to cut production time of its bread-and-butter parts in half, it turned to a new type of machine tool and a new CAD/CAM system. Here’s how the company succeeded despite the newness of it all.

Metalworking Fluids 5 Dec 2023

The Case for Higher-Performing Metalworking Fluids

Machine shops have the opportunity to enhance their profitability by choosing the proper metalworking fluids for each machining application.

Cutting Tools 21 Dec 2023

Reaming as an Alternative to Single-Point Boring

Using slip yokes as an example, reaming through holes can be more efficient and effective than single-point boring operations.

Measurement 28 Dec 2023

Addressing Machining’s Necessary Evil

Many view quality control as such, but integrating new measurement technologies and approaches can ultimately minimize QC’s impact on throughput and a company’s bottom line.

Automation 29 Nov 2022

Swiss-Type Add-On System Enables In-Line Inspection

When small part inspection and/or segregation is critical, this flexible, automated unloading and palletizing system for Swiss-type lathes can be the answer.

Automation 4 Dec 2023

An Automation Comeback Story

Alexandria Industries struggled with its first robotic machining cell. However, the aluminum extrusion components manufacturer — now with more than 20 robots — discovered that by simplifying and standardizing its automation strategy, it could reap the benefits of unattended machining even for relatively low batch sizes.