IMTS, Workplace Safety, & More: Production Machining's Most-Viewed August Articles

Source: (top left) Julia Hider, MMS, (top right) Toros, (bottom left) PMPA, (bottom right) PM

IMTS has been top of mind for us this month, and it seems our readers are just as focused! In August, two of our most-viewed articles offered insights on navigating this expansive trade show. But that's not all—we also have valuable tips for addressing workplace toxicity, a historical look at Swiss-style machining, and much more.

10. Toxic Workplaces — Pizza May Not Cut It

Source: PMPA

You’ve noticed a change in behavior among your top employees. They used to be lively and engaging, but now they seem subdued. This isn’t just happening with one employee, but several, especially those who have been with the company for a long time. In this article—PMPA Events Coordinator, Veronica Durden—gives some strategies to help employee morale.

9. Automate 2024 Recap: Software Accelerates Robotics

Source: Julia Hider, MMS

Julia Hider, Senior Editor for our sister brand Modern Machine Shop, attended the Automate Show held from May 6-9 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. While she anticipated a display of robots—ranging from robotic arms and dogs to humanoids and AGVs—performing intricate tasks, the show this year spotlighted the software driving these automated systems.

8. Craftsman Cribsheet No. 130: Which Fire Extinguisher Should You Use?

Source: PMPA

In the heat of the moment, it is hard to know which extinguisher to grab. Preparation is key to making the right move to save yourself and others.
Knowing the proper extinguisher to use before an emergency happens allows for quick and accurate decision making when seconds count. Take a look at these charts from the PMPA to decipher which type to use for each situation.

7. Jim’s a Hardware Man

Source: Getty Images

Troubleshooting is a learned skill and manufacturing is losing its troubleshooters. Our talent is aging out. In many plants, the 25-year maintenance veteran, the ace production scheduler or the brilliant transportation lead all have their fair share of gray hairs. Try as we might to hang on to them, those people won’t be with us forever. In this article, we look at the the importance of recruiting, training and educating manufacturing’s next generation of problem-solvers and troubleshooters.

6. What’s My IMTS Experience Like?

For attendees and exhibitors alike, there’s a lot more to planning for the IMTS in Chicago besides deciding where to stay, how best to get to the show, which restaurant to hit after each long day of walking, etc. In this article, our Editor-in-Chief, Derek Korn details how he tackles the show.

5. Approach IMTS With a ‘Process’ Mindset

IMTS at Chicago’s McCormick Place is undeniably a major event. With over 1.2 million square feet of exhibit space, IMTS draws attendees from more than 110 countries. The 2022 show saw 86,307 registrants and 1,816 exhibiting companies. The 2024 edition, scheduled for September 9-14, is expected to match those impressive numbers. We understand how overwhelming this type of show can be, here are some tips on how to approach the show.

4. A History of Precision: The Invention and Evolution of Swiss-Style Machining

In the late 1800s, Swiss-type machines were developed to support Switzerland’s burgeoning watchmaking industry. Today, these machines are indispensable, renowned for their ability to produce intricate, small parts with unmatched efficiency and precision.
Barry Rogers, president of Alpha Strategies and a longtime contributor to Modern Machine Shop, passed away on May 18, 2024. In 2023, he visited the Tornos headquarters in Moutier, Switzerland, as a senior adviser, where he gathered insights for this article. As a tribute to our esteemed colleague and mentor, we published his final piece.

3. Why (and How) You Should Reboot Your Shop’s Safety Program Today

Source: PMPA

Now may be the perfect time for a safety reboot before complacency sets in. Take a look at some ways you can reboot your shop's safety program and why in this helpful guide from the PMPA.

2. Craftsman Cribsheet No. 127: How to Part Off Without a Sub-Spindle

Source: PMPA

When parting off on a machine that has no pickoff attachment, it is important to understand how tooling affects a part. How do I get this off without a hanging burr? Is it possible to part off with no burr without a pickoff? Can we eliminate secondary operations? In this Craftsman Cribsheet, we examine how to part off without a spindle.

1. Do You Have a Quoting Process?

Source: PMPA

Having a process is especially important when quoting precision-machined parts; a flow or sequence of events that take place to ensure that production goes smoothly. What are the pitfalls that can get a shop into to trouble? Here are 5 key areas to consider.