PM’s Top 10 Online Articles of 2021

To me, Production Machining magazine is a well-balanced Gardner Business Media brand. It offers insight into the machining processes and practices being applied in successful, precision machine shops. It serves as a means of discovery, presenting helpful new technology and ideas that shop principals perhaps didn’t know were available. It describes business and human resource strategies that can lead shops to become more profitable businesses. And, since day one, it has provided insight on a wide variety of topics from those at the Precision Machined Products Association (PMPA) that is of interest to association members and non-members alike.

The top 10 online articles of 2021 contain a mix of all of those and more. By that I mean (spoiler alert) the number one article and the fifth relate to trade shows. More specifically, in-person trade shows in the form of the Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS) and Eastec. The former was the first our industry was able to experience in person for nearly two years as a result of COVID-19. The latter soon followed. I was lucky enough to attend both.

In addition, some articles include video. These are generally short, showing the technology described in the article in action. They tend to do very well on our social media channels, so that could have contributed in some way to their high ranking.

But, enough of my rambling. Here are Production Machining’s top 10 online articles of 2021 (in reverse order a la David Letterman):

10) Low-Frequency Vibration Increases Job Shop’s Productivity

An Ohio shop is reaping the benefits of low-frequency vibration on its Swiss-type lathes. The technology purposely oscillates the cutter in the Z-axis in time to the rotation of the barstock resulting in very short chips. (Includes animation demonstrating the process.)

9) Recovery, Recrystallization and Grain Growth — Three Phases of Annealing

This “evergreen” piece from the PMPA describes some of the common terms and effects with regard to annealing steel.

8) Custom Tooling, Workholding Help Whip Rotors Into Shape

Whipple Superchargers uses unique form tools and dead-length-collet workholding for its B-axis turn-mill enabling it to create more accurate rotors for its brand of engine power-adders.

7) Laser Technology "Turns" into a Turning Tool

This new technology uses a laser to act as a cutting tool to "turn" parts from solid barstock. It’s especially useful for micromachining, enabling high accuracy for small, complex parts that are often delicate and difficult to conventionally machine.

6) A CNC Means to Burnish Large, Flat Surfaces

Rather than tasking shopfloor employees to polish expansive, flat metal surfaces, consider using a machine tool with a diamond burnishing face mill instead.

5) Precision Machining Eastec Technology Preview

If you weren’t able to attend last October’s Eastec show, here is some of the machining, metrology and tooling equipment that was on display.

4) New Line of Swiss-Types for Job Shops Eyeing High-Production Work

A machine tool builder known for its multitasking, turn-mill equipment has introduced its first Swiss-type lathe model. (Includes video of tool touch-offs in the machine via a spindle-mounted touch probe.)

3) Context — The Missing Key to Workforce Development

Upskilling your current workforce is as important as finding new talent. To expose them to experiences that encourage them to become problem-solvers is imperative as this PMPA article explains.

2) Advancements in Thread Whirling Tooling Technology

Many understand the advantages of thread whirling on a CNC Swiss-type. However, new tooling technology for this thread-machining process can further improve cycle times and reduce cost per part.

1) Precision Machining Technology Show (PMTS) 2021 Registration Now Open

It doesn’t make sense to link to the actual story since the show has come and gone. But, you might be interested in reading some of my thoughts and impressions about it and learn about examples of automation beyond robotics that were on display there. (Hope to see you at PMTS 2023, BTW.)

This is just a small sample of the many articles, columns, videos and blog posts we present in a given year. And we’ve already gotten a good start production-wise on 2022. But, let me know if those above are the types of topics you like seeing Production Machining cover or if there are other types of articles you’d like us to pursue and present.