PM Blog
Share Your Photos; Tell Us Your Story
What is your shop all about? Production Machining wants to know. We are looking for machines, parts, personnel—anything that is a good visual representation of your shop. If we publish your photo, you’ll receive one free book from the metalworking section of the Hanser Gardner Bookstore . Also, please send us some
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The Evolution Of Your Trade Association:
This year, the Precision Machined Products Association is celebrating its 75th anniversary. From its humble beginnings in 1933, to becoming the industry leader in technical support and management information, the association has always focused on serving the needs of its members while supporting the broader interests of the precision machined products industry.
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Simple, Effective Parts Cleaning
After trying an array of parts cleaning methods over the years, this shop has implemented an environmentally friendly, relatively simple system to clean every part it produces.
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Broken Tool Detection In Machining And Turning Centers
Renishaw's TRS2 broken tool detection system uses a "one-box," single-head design to recognize tool reflections, bringing precise, in-cycle laser monitoring to machining centers and other machine tools.
Read MoreShop Races Ahead Using CAM Software
In 1998, race car driver Robby Gordon wanted to make his own racing components, so with partners Larry Novak and Larry Kaford, he opened SR Machining in Anaheim, California. CNC Programmer Warren Myers arrived the first day, an hour before the shop’s first machine, a two-axis lathe. Because race car parts were insufficient to keep the lathe running at full capacity, the shop split its time evenly between racing components and parts for customers.
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Workmanship
Workmanship is an important term that’s often relied upon as the final arbiter in acceptance of our products. ASTM and other agency standards sometimes have workmanship clauses. One example is ASTM A 108, the standard specification for steel bar, carbon and alloy, cold finished. In ASTM A 108, Section 9 is titled, “Workmanship, Finish and Product Presentation.” So what is this thing that we call workmanship, and how will we know it when we see it?
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Father's Day--Revisited
I can remember the first manufacturing job I had after graduating high school. I was a stockhouse and trestle laborer at a blast furnace in Warren, Ohio. My father thought it would be a good experience and maybe give me an incentive to work a little harder in college. Good thinking, Dad.
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Keeping Jobs In North America
Whenever I’ve been asked to go to a trade show or conference, I have always kept one thought in mind: “What will I learn that will help keep manufacturing jobs thriving here in North America?” My attendance at the PMPA’s National Technical Conference helped me understand that despite the many challenges our industry faces, we have a lot to be optimistic about in the precision machining industry.
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The Big Meeting On The Big Island
The “Big Meeting” is the PMPA’s annual meeting, celebrating the association’s 75th anniversary. The event will be held October 17 to 21, 2008, at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Waikoloa “The Big Island,” Hawaii. Of course, there will be special recognition of this tremendous accomplishment for the association and its membership. But this year’s annual meeting is not just another anniversary.
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Material Impacts On The Precision Machining Industry - June 2008
As of June 2008, steel is up 109%, coke is up 105%, aluminum, copper, brass and oil are at record highs. Nickel and stainless show some softening of price. Five of the seven items we track are up over the same month last year. Lead times are extending as inventories are lean and who wants to build inventory in a volatile market? So focusing on understanding what your suppliers can do for you may be the key to your improved performance in the months ahead.
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How Online Communities Can Help Businesses, Part 3
The cultural impact of online communities on manufacturing's future can’t be overemphasized.
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Universal Lathe Improves Turning Capability
Peter Brotherhood (Peterborough, United Kingdom), a steam turbine manufacturer, recently discovered a bottleneck when turning a range of power-generation components. When the company implemented a Gildemeister CTX 620 V4 linear universal turn-mill center by DMG, however, the problem fixed itself.
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