PM Blog
Speed, Flexibility And Adaptability Are Key In Shop Management Software
It was 1999, and Precision Plus of Elkhorn, Wisconsin, was fairly satisfied with its 10-year-old DOS shop management software. However, the vendor would no longer be providing DOS updates.
Read MoreFighting Pressure With Pressure
High-pressure coolant systems are providing improved part quality, increased tool life and other benefits for this precision turning shop.
Read MoreFilling The Gap Between Single- And Multi-Spindle Machines
What do multi-spindle screw machine users need/want in their next machines? Five features are mentioned most frequently by customers: flexibility; easy changeover from one job to the next; ability to use readily available off-the-shelf tooling; greater accuracy and consistency; and ease of operation and maintenance.
Read MoreA Diet Of High Volumes, Long Runs
Suggest a strategy of high volumes and very long runs, and many screw machine houses grow anxious. Add that the high volumes are for automotive customers, and the anxious soon become squeamish—except in the case of this supplier. It thrives on the volumes and chases the long runs.
Read MoreStyle And Substance
At the Simodec show in France, Wirth & Gruffat (Argonay, France) introduced a new machine called Transturn TT-312. It is designed to combine the advantages of multi-spindle screw machines and rotary transfer technology. The company calls it a manufacturing cell.
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Waging The Ongoing Battle For Obtaining And Retaining Skilled Help
The recently released PMPA 2002 Wage Benefits&Work Schedule Report is a major resource helping PMPA members make sure they are competitive in the skilled employee marketplace. As the name of the report suggests, the report covers wages for most hourly wage jobs found in the shop as well as an overview of benefits provided, including costs to the employees and a look at work schedules throughout the industry.
Read MoreRequests For Exclusions From The President's Steel Tariff Decision
As is well known, President Bush has announced imposition of the most protectionist tariffs since the end of World War II on imported steel. The tariffs are up to 30 percent of the entered value of steel. Coupled with the tariffs (and a tariff rate quota or TRQ on steel slabs) is a provision for 'product exclusions.'
Read MoreShop Floor Alloy Analyzer: Material ID On The Fly
Part designers love to look through various material specification tables and charts to find an alloy that is 'just right' for a given application. While that works fine for designers, the myriad of alloy options available can wreak havoc in the shop charged with making the parts.
Read MoreThe Case For Resharpenable, Insert-Type Form Tools
Users explain the advantages of these tools over solid and throwaway-insert-type form tools.
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Finding Faster Deburring
While attending a trade show in the fall of 2000, a research and development employee at Upchurch Scientific (Oak Harbor, Washington) saw a magnetic deburring and polishing machine. It was well known throughout Upchurch that manual deburring was very labor intensive, so he took note of it.
Read MoreGrinding: Send It Out Or Keep It In-House?
CNC tool grinding can improve the output quality of any screw machine operation. But there are a number of factors to consider when deciding whether to send tools out or grind them in-house.
Read MoreLoad More Tools On Your CNC Lathe's Turret
Most shops accept the tooling limitations of their CNC lathes as a fact of life-something that cannot be changed and something to get around. However, one shop took a fresh look at the problem and came up with a way to increase the number of rotary tools that a turret can accommodate.
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