It is reported that, not too long ago, before the current precipitous decline in machine-tool shipments, the number of 30-taper machines that were being manufactured and sold in Japan had surpassed the numbers of 40-taper and 50-taper machining centers.
Why use a metrology device on or near a machine tool? It isn’t just useful for making sure a tool is present or monitoring tools for wear or breakage. On-machine measurement technologies can save time and money, by speeding up processes and eliminating extra personnel, and they are a critical step in the movement towards “lights-out” manufacturing.
Micro components continue to shrink in size, demanding ever-greater precision and improved handling of parts with sub-micron-sized features. New approaches in micro machining technology include higher-precision systems from traditional micro machining developers, as well as techniques using additive manufacturing processes and semiconductor wafer-scale technology on the smallest of micro parts.
Until the middle of 2010, first-tier subcontract machinist, JJ Churchill, could produce turbine blades only if they had their fir-tree root-forms preground elsewhere, or if they were subsequently added by another subcontractor. No longer is this the case.
A job shop develops skilled CNC machinists and programmers, invests in world-class technology and refines manufacturing procedures in this shop solutions story.
Visibility, uptime, profits, and part quality: why a networked manufacturing floor is no longer a nice-to-have
Smart strategies to address workforce development challenges
Tough materials, tight tolerances, low quantities, and complex shapes—leading suppliers offer advice for navigating the energy industry’s stringent demands.
While fossil fuels dominate the energy market, expect a new mix of parts as renewable energy and EVs grow in market share.
Advancements in waterjet technology lead to new uses, industries.
