PM Blog
Member Profile: Automatic Products Corporation
Automatic Products Corporation (APC) is a leading provider of precision-machined parts produced on automatic screw machines and CNC equipment. The company was founded in 1957 by Charles E. Tedford, who started out with two Brown&Sharpe machines, a small grinder and a milling machine.
Read MoreCould You Repeat That?
The extremely small, complex devices used in procedures to restore hearing loss require high-precision, tight-tolerance production. This company has found the right combination of machine tool technology and quality assurance to make it work.
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Basic Aqueous Cleaning Processes And Selection Criteria
Parts cleaning, like most metalworking processes, is experiencing ever tightening specifications. Shops must continuously evaluate whether to clean parts in-house or use a supplier. This article looks at current aqueous cleaning processes and suggests criteria for the make or buy decision.
Read MorePromoting Communication: Sales, Operations And Your Customer
Solidifying communication between operations, sales and the customer is a huge step to take in the quest for total process improvement. Often, we get caught up in the discussion of right versus wrong, good versus bad, and “is” versus “is not.”
Read MoreEmpowerment – How Do They Know?
The trend to flatter organizations has made it necessary for people throughout our companies to make decisions and take immediate action. Our customers demand 100-percent on-time and zero-parts-per-million defects rates. This makes it mandatory that every person who recognizes a nonconforming condition must take immediate action.
Read MoreSurface Treatment For Medical Parts
Micro-abrasive blasting provides a cost-effective, environmentally friendly solution to surface treatment requirements in a range of medical applications. Though most engineers are familiar with grit, or cabinet, blasting, few know much about its obscure relative, micro-abrasive blasting.
Read MoreTransfer Machines Help Regain Business In The States
As companies continue to wrestle with offshore competitors, many are finding that the use of transfer machines aids the situation. Once used solely for dedicated machining of high-volume parts runs, transfer machines now give OEMs and job shops enhanced flexibility because of the improved onboard controls. Medium-quantity runs, as well as smaller batches of complex parts, are now suitable for properly equipped CNC transfer machines.
Read MoreUnique Business Coincides With Unique Customers
Using Rollomatic grinding machines, as well as other grinding machines, this company manufactures micro-cutting tools ranging in size from 0.0002 inch to 0.125 inch.
Read MoreTeaching Machine Tool Skills
This transcript is from an interview with Dr. Yamazaki, professor and director of the IMS (Intelligent Manufacturing Systems) – Mechatronics Laboratory at the University of California Davis and CEO and president of the Machine Tool Technologies Research Foundation (MTTRF). He covers his involvement with MTTRF and the University of California, and his outlook on the continuing development of quality machine operators for both the domestic and worldwide machine tool industries.
Read MoreKeeping the Tradition
The attention that is given to advanced techniques such as turning materials of high hardness, ultra-precision turning and dry and high-speed turning may lead one to believe that traditional ISO turning techniques are at a standstill. The reality is that ongoing innovations keep traditional methods at the forefront.
Read MoreTechnical Member Profile: New Dimension Metals Corp.
New Dimension Metals Corp. (NDM) is a supplier of cold-finished carbon and alloy steel bar products. The company was founded in 1990 in Dayton, Ohio, by John C. Gray, who has spent his entire career in the steel business.
Read MoreTrunnion Trends
With strong roots solving manufacturing issues in Europe, rotary transfer machine technology is finding justification solving similar issues in North America. It’s still not for everybody, but increasingly, with technological advances in capability and flexibility, it may make more sense for shops on this side of the pond.
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