PM Blog
Bore Finishing Machine Increases Uptime
Tight tolerances are extremely important in gear manufacturing, and even more so when those gears are used in performance motorcycle transmissions. The ability to manufacture as competitively as possible is also a critical factor to consider.
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Mill/Turn Centers Spur Shop's Growth With Increased Uptime
After adding a 12,000-square-foot addition onto an existing 32,000-square-foot facility, the management of Nolte Precise Manufacturing (Cincinnati, Ohio) is in the mindset to expand its business and improve its processes, allowing it to grow not only in square footage, but in machining capability as well.
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Ingenuity Drives Single-Spindle Shop
Ideas for improvement are always welcomed here. Some of the most notable results have come from the merging of new technology with older, reliable equipment.
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How Should Tools Fail?
Two incidents early in my career started me on the path to learning all that I could about how tools fail. The first, at a Tier One subsidiary plant of a major domestic automaker near Rochester, was a call for immediate assistance because the cold-drawn bars that my company had supplied were causing their form tools to burn up.
Read MoreHaas Vertical Mold Machines Offer Speed and Versatility
Designed specifically for mold makers, the Haas VM Series are high-performance machines featuring a generous work cubes and tables, and a 12,000-rpm spindle powered by a 30-hp vector dual drive system. These mills are equipped with a high-speed control with full look-ahead, and the 40-taper spindle uses a unique inline, direct-drive system that couples the motor directly to the spindle rather than using belts (which are a major source of heat). The result is less vibration, less heat and less noise - which means excellent surface finishes, extreme thermal stability and quiet operation.
Read MoreHaas Toolroom Lathes – Operate Manual or CNC
The Haas Toolroom Lathe series offers versatility in turning diameters to 30" and lengths to 60". With a functional range from manual turning to full CNC, Haas Toolroom Lathes feature a proprietary conversational operating system that makes cutting parts and creating part programs nearly effortless. The operator chooses an operation, touches off the X and Z surfaces, and is then prompted to enter basic dimension information.
Read MoreIncrease Production With Setup Reduction
There are considerably more opportunities to improve efficiency than to reduce a tool’s cycle time. All too often, manufacturing companies invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in new machine tools to increase production, or countless hours testing tools to take 30 seconds out of an operation, when they could accomplish more dramatic results with existing machinery at a fraction of the cost.
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PMPA Member Profile: Permac Industries
Founded in 1966, Permac Industries started out as a small screw machine shop with a few Brown & Sharpe machines. Today, the Minnesota-based company is a custom manufacturer of precision machined products for a range of industries.
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CNC Retrofit Improves Production And Saves Money
Brooklyn Technical Services selected the Siemens Sinumerik 802D panel-based control system for this creep feed grinding application because it provides a lot of value for the customer in a compact package.
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Training–Perform, Document, Manage Effectiveness
The need for training in our shops and businesses is indisputable. No one graduates from high school with the skills and knowledge to perform as a journeyman machinist. If your company is ISO 9001:2000, Section 6.2.2 describes the records of training that must be maintained; if you are TS16949:2002, the requirement is found in Section 6.2.2.2. If you are FDA Medical Device-compliant, 21CFR, Part 820.25 describes the training requirements for your company.
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Pinning Down Production Clinches Significant Savings
Rotary transfer machines have allowed this shop to capitalize on single-operation capabilities to increase production, cut leadtimes and save manufacturing costs.
Read MoreForget About Parts--We Are Really In The Satisfaction Business
Several times this year, I have presented a "Cost of Quality" talk to local meetings of PMPA districts or chapters around the country. This program makes the case for why we have to adopt Lean Manufacturing techniques in our shops.
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