PM Blog
Baldrige...And The Sharing Of Best Practices
Many of today’s quality or business standards provide a framework that allows you the flexibility to define what is most effective for your organization. The ISO-based standards provide core system requirements that are now considered fundamental to having the ability to capture new business. The Malcolm Baldrige Quality Program is based on criteria (the standard) that focus on a much broader series of requirements not mandated by other standards and guidelines.
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Labor Day Or Talent Day?
One thing about holidays is that once they become official, they hang around. Who has not enjoyed many a picnic—fried chicken, barbeque and potato salad—on the summer holidays of Memorial Day, July Fourth and Labor Day? These are great American traditions. However, I would like to see one particular American holiday go away or at least get a name change. That holiday is Labor Day.
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Software And CNC Package Improves Production By 15 Percent
With a unique part program software suite onboard a powerful CNC, one shop has found it’s producing more and better parts much faster on a recently acquired turning center.
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Specialty Company Knows Its Collets
For almost 3 years Mr. Bouchard struggled with a machine application designed to produce life-critical airbag parts for Arrow Machine’s primary client in the automotive industry. With the help of RH Collets, a manufacturer of specialty workholding and related components for Hydromats and other machinery, Mr. Bouchard is solving the problem—not with one new part but with a series of solutions.
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Endworking Enhances Shaft Manufacturing Process
Because endworking is often considered only as a preliminary step for shaft work typical of the automotive industry, potential productivity gains are being passed by. Newer technology has enabled these machines to handle far more applications.
Read MoreMedical Edge: Thread Whirling
When my father slipped and fell on an icy parking lot 5 years ago and broke his hip, I would have never thought that someday I would be writing about how the screws surgically implanted in his hip bone were created on a metalworking machine. During the healing process, Dad had some irritation problems with the scre
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Dry Ice Blast Cleaning-It’s A Portable And Safe Alternative
With the economy slowing, manufacturers are looking to get the most out of everything in their plants, from current staff levels to production equipment. They are evaluating all people and processes in an effort to incorporate lean manufacturing principles, which focus on eliminating waste, streamlining production,
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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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