Cutting Tools for Composites April 1, 2009 Machining composites presents unique challenges compared to metals. Reinforcement fibers are abrasive, shortening tool life. The plastic matrix carries away little heat, unlike metal chips, and overheating can melt the matrix.
Advanced Materials in Automotive September 1, 2009 Advanced materials for automotive manufacturing are helping automakers build lighter, more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Advanced Technologies Supplement: Processes Reduce Composite Costs April 1, 2007 Composites engineers are expanding their craft to build more complex, durable parts at higher production volumes. One way they are achieving this objective is by using infusion-molding processes based on Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) and Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM).
Reducing Complexity in Assembly Equipment May 25, 2022 In this podcast, John Derry, senior application engineer at Promess, talks to SME Media contributing editor Michael Anderson about reducing complexity in assembly equipment. Derry discusses how assembly systems may become unnecessarily complex--and how that complexity can reduce quality and increase costs. Derry goes on to describe effective ways of addressing these issues and to reduce and even eliminate unnecessary complexity.
Targeting the Skills Gap in Forming and Fabricating July 24, 2020 As in other industries, U.S. forming and fabricating companies are experiencing a critical shortage of skilled labor. In this SME Media podcast, Alan Rooks, Editor in Chief of Manufacturing Engineering magazine, talks with Robert Tessier, National Director of Advanced Fabrication Technologies for Airgas about the skills gap in the forming and fabricating industry; changes needed in the education system to fill the need for skilled labor; how automation factors into efforts to reduce the skills gap; and efforts at Airgas to develop workers for manufacturing operations, including a special program for military veterans.
3D Printing Company Adds Materials, Italian Firms December 27, 2022 Desktop Metal Inc., the company founded in 2015 with no plan to produce a production-level printer, is now promoting 3D printing for high-volume serial production under its AM (additive manufacturing) 2.0 initiative.
New Metal Alloys to Enable Advanced Propulsion Concepts December 6, 2022 Two NASA engineers discuss how new metal alloys will aid advanced propulsion concepts.
Materials Trek April 11, 2022 Additive veteran Andrew Graves boldly goes where no materials expert has gone before.
LIFT Gears Up March 10, 2022 LIFT, the Detroit-based manufacturing institute, is gearing up after the COVID-19 pandemic suppressed activity.
IMTS Returns After a Four-Year Hiatus September 12, 2022 The International Manufacturing Technology Show set up shop today after a four-year break stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.