Production Machining's Most-Viewed November Articles
Production Machining’s top articles for November provide valuable insights for modern machine shops, covering strategies to leverage data, enhance efficiency, and run a successful operation.
9. Domain Mastery for Mastering Change
After 50 years in the steel and manufacturing business, the PMPA’s Miles Free continues to be amazed at the rate of change. Change continues to accelerate throughout the economy, our markets and our technology. In this article, Miles gives some thoughts so that precision machining shops do not repeat the experiences of his former employers.
8. Take Advantage of Those 'Cheatin’ Tools'
A person once claimed Editor-in-Chief, Derek Korn, was using “cheatin’ tools” to replace the brakes on his car, but they were simply the best tools for the job. Various examples for the precision machining world was seen at IMTS 2024 and will similarly be on display at PMTS 2025. In this article, Derek examines why trade shows are so important.
7. How to Differentiate First Aid From a Recordable Event
Does your company treat all first aid incidents as recordables? Do you require that every dispensed bandage or pain reliever be reported to management? Should you? Distinguish between a first aid incident and a recordable in this article.
6. Craftsman Cribsheet No. 132: Why You Should Care About Slips, Trips and Falls
Slips, trips and falls cause nearly 700 fatalities per year and many more serious injuries, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. OSHA maintains regulations on walking and working surfaces for general industry in 29 CFR 1910.22-30. Slips, trips and falls are becoming an increasingly cited regulation. Let’s look at how to recognize these hazards in this article from the PMPA: Precision Machined Products Association.
5. Can Machining Metal 3D-Printed Parts be a New Business Opportunity?
Metal 3D printing is gaining traction for higher part production volumes, yet it’s just one aspect of additive manufacturing (AM), which also includes postprocessing steps like support removal, trimming, and polishing. Many companies outsource these finishing steps, presenting a potential opportunity for CNC machine shops. While shops could use their existing CNC machines for this work, it may be more cost-effective to invest in dedicated robotic postprocessing equipment, like the systems from Rivelin Robotics.
4. An Automated Answer for Machining Ball Pins
Ball joints are essential vehicle components, acting as pivot points in the chassis and steering systems while enduring constant motion and high physical loads. Ball pins and sleeves are safety-critical parts requiring micrometer precision and high-quality surfaces, despite cost pressures and mass production demands. Traditionally, ball pins weren’t machined on an EMAG Group vertical turning center, but the new VST 50 changes that. This machine can complete ball pin machining in just 7 seconds, followed by a comprehensive measurement check. Read more about the VST 50 in this article.
3. 4 Rules for Running a Successful Machine Shop
Machine shops face increasing pressure to deliver high-quality products on time. Many struggle to meet demand due to various challenges, making it essential to structure operations effectively to minimize stress. Here are four key rules to help maintain order in your shop.
2. Craftsman Cribsheet No. 133: Identifying ISO Workpiece Material Groups
When you look at a box of inserts, you see a colored coded set of letters and numbers for our feeds and speeds. What does all this mean? While manufacturers may use varying color shades, ISO material groups ensure consistent categorization. Knowing these groups helps you select the right tooling and achieve optimal results. Learn more in this article from PMPA: Precision Machined Products Association.
1. Shops Capturing and Applying Data to Drive Employee Efficiency
Data-driven manufacturing means basing decisions on facts, not guesses, opinions, or instincts. New hardware and software enable both people and equipment to gather and use these facts for better results, promoting integration across the supply chain. Here are three examples from shops Editor-in-Chief, Derek Korn, visited that apply this approach. As you read, imagine your shop’s unique challenges and consider how these ideas might help address bottlenecks while uniting people and processes through accessible shop-floor data.
Read Next
An Automated Answer for Machining Ball Pins
This new vertical turning center with measurement and robotic automation processes is able to produce vehicle ball joint ball pins in 7 seconds.
Read More
4 Rules for Running a Successful Machine Shop
Take time to optimize your shop’s structure to effectively meet demand while causing the least amount of stress in the shop.
Read More
Shops Capturing and Applying Data to Drive Employee Efficiency
Here are three examples of machine shops using manufacturing software and data-driven improvement concepts to bolster not only their shopfloor employees’ efficiency, but their overall productivity, too.
Read More