Better, Stronger, Faster Manufacturing January 8, 2020 Today, an iPhone has more than 100,000 times the processing power of the computer that took Neil Armstrong to the moon in Apollo 11 – and the size and capabilities of today’s computer boards are making an even more monumental change in how we manufacture. All this technology gives manufacturers the capability to operate, as stated in The Six Million Dollar Man, “better, stronger, faster.” Christoph Berlin, Partner Program Manager at Microsoft sat down with Associate Editor Chris Mahar to talk about smart manufacturing and Microsoft’s Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) vision.
Holding Tight and Going Digital with BIG Kaiser January 15, 2020 As manufacturers continue to see demand for tighter tolerances and less waste, new solutions are needed to solve challenges. Dave O’Neil, Vice President of SME Media, sits down with Patrick Cratty, Assistant Product Manager and Richard Bevers, Southern District Manager for BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling, to talk about new technology and products. Hitting upon how digital technology and advanced workholding designs are improving machining and eliminating persistent manufacturing issues.
SME Chief Warns of ‘Silver Tsunami’ Facing Manufacturing October 10, 2017 Manufacturing faces an even larger shortage of skilled workers as older employees retire over the next few years, the head of SME said in a speech today.
Heading Off the Inevitable Hack Attack October 10, 2017 Manufacturers must wrestle with the “Black Hats” of the cyberworld in order to keep processes secure
With Heavy Vehicles, Self-Driving Is Old Hat October 9, 2017 The auto industry’s biggest current focus is self-driving cars. Established automakers as well as technology companies such as Apple Inc.
Smaller manufacturers can use AR to keep eyes on prize October 12, 2017 As manufacturing becomes ever more complex, tools that assist workers with difficult or unfamiliar tasks are becoming critical to process efficiency and product quality. An explosion in the development of mobile, wearable, and augmented reality (AR) computing technologies has thus created a new world of possibilities for the manufacturing industry.
Advanced Shops Aim to be on the Top of their Game October 11, 2017 Shops looking for ways to improve productivity in traditional subtractive machining processes need look no further than ways to reduce setup time, improve spindle uptime, and implement CNC programming efficiencies. Shop managers overwhelmed by claims about the future of digitalization and Industry 4.0 can find ways to translate that exciting promise into their day-to-day operations—today.
CMMs Stake Their Claim September 6, 2017 An eternal truth is that manufacturing will always push the limits on cost, performance, and especially quality. “Tolerances never get looser, they always get tighter,” remarked Gene Hancz, product specialist, CMM of Mitutoyo America Corp. (Aurora, IL).
Robots, Shop Personnel Collaborate, Maximizing Synergy and Safety September 11, 2017 Efficient manufacturing calls for coordinated systems of shop personnel, equipment and software. These systems increasingly include robotic technology, as manufacturers recognize the reliability, repeatability and flexibility that robots provide. According to the International Federation of Robotics, the number of industrial robots in use worldwide will increase to around 2.6 million by 2019, about one million more than in 2015. Approximately 70% of industrial robots are used in the automotive, electrical/electronics and metal and machinery industries.
NAMRI/SME Highlights Research Innovations at NAMRC Conference September 26, 2017 Manufacturing academics were honored for their service, contributions and outstanding manufacturing research during the annual North American Manufacturing Research Conference (NAMRC), held by the North American Manufacturing Research Institution of SME (NAMRI/SME).