PM Blog

Automation 28 Dec 2007

Handling Parts In A Robotic Cell

Here’s a review of the workholding and workhandling challenges a shop faces as it moves a part through a robotic cell, from serving up the blanks to the transfer of the final workpiece to post processing and gaging. Productivity, Inc. takes the reader through a few of their cells that they've installed using Fanuc robots and a variety of other machine tool equipment.

12 Dec 2007

Reading The Pulse Of The Precision Machined Products Industry

From a "robust pace" in the early months of 2000, to mid-year "softening," to a forecast of "plateauing" in the final quarter: This is the overall picture of the precision machined products industry after experiencing many unexpected "ups and downs" during the year.

10 Dec 2007

PMPA Management Update ’08

The Precision Machined Products Association invites you to participate in this year’s Management Update Conference, to be held Thursday, February 28, to Saturday, March 1, 2008, at the Astor Crowne Plaza in New Orleans, Louisiana. Originally planned for 2007, the conference was rescheduled for February 2008 to give the hotel and city time to recover from Hurricane Katrina. PMPA’s Management Update Committee chair, Katherine Coffman, president of Champion Screw Machine Engineering, Inc.

Automation 10 Dec 2007

Recent PMPA Listserve Topics

PMPA members use e-mail Listserves to share ideas, solve problems, sell excess material and equipment and learn about new business opportunities. Here is a list of topics that were recently discussed: Have a customer who needs quote for large quantity pin Delinquent customer account Bill pay and transfer controls Looking for help with AGT grinder control Radios on the shop floor Pre-employment tests Workers’ comp Work visa Speeds and feed on CDA 792 leaded nickel silver Product segregation Looking for material source Cutoff application in ETD150 in a 5/8 Acme Iemca CNC Boss 542 Ultem 100 machinability Oil containment systems Metric material Metric 304 tubing Source for 8622 barstock Looking for SS316 tubing source Extruded aluminum Davenport index stopping Used Fanuc robots VDI 30 tooling Tornos shave cam Cold-headed part Live Z unit BND34s, two wanted ISO 9001 design and development Remember that you must be a PMPA member to subscribe to the PMPA Listserves and to receive the benefits. .

10 Dec 2007

Critical Spares

Planning for necessary raw materials and tooling is critical for meeting production schedules in our shops. Just as important is planning to have the critical maintenance spares needed to keep our production assets up and running.

10 Dec 2007

Meet The New PMPA President: Jim Hemingway

The PMPA installed its new president October 2007 at the PMPA annual meeting held in Tucson, Arizona. Jim Hemingway of Alger Manufacturing moved up from his role as first vice president to fill the position held by outgoing president Richard C. Gorton.

10 Dec 2007

Trends In Markets For Precision Machined Parts

What markets for precision machined parts are likely to grow? Which are stagnant? Are North American producers always more expensive than foreign sources? Which customer trends are likely to influence your machining business in the years ahead? These questions, and many others, are answered in PMPA’s newest “Business Intelligence Report: Trends in Markets for Precision Machined Products. ” The PMPA Marketing Committee commissioned market research firm Kleinhenz & Associates to work with members of PMPA’s staff to explore the trends that would affect the industry in the near future. There were two primary objectives.