FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.

FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.

Take a look inside James Engineering, a high-end CNC Deburring OEM that became a job shop when they decided to produce their own parts in-house.

In the latest episode of our View From My Shop series, MMS Editor-in-Chief Brent Donaldson visited the JN Shapiro Watches headquarters and production facility where Founder Joshua Shapiro—a history teacher turned watchmaker—realized his dream of "making a watch from scratch and everything in it."

Ever wonder what sets Top Shops apart from the competition? Dive into their award-winning practices and explore behind-the-scenes strategies for operational excellence.

FABTECH 2024 will be held October 15-17, 2024, in Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center. FABTECH provides a convenient ‘one-stop shop’ venue where you can meet with world-class suppliers, discover innovative solutions, and find the tools to improve productivity and increase profits. There is no better opportunity to network, share knowledge and explore the latest technology, all here in one place. Future U.S. Show Dates and Locations 2025 – September 8-11 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL 2026 – October 21-23 at Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV 2027 – September 13-16 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL

Zoller’s open house in Ann Arbor, Michigan, provided attendees with a glimpse of the connectivity and efficiency the company’s products offer to users.

For MRS, an additional advantage of the success of this homemade tooling has been the way it subtly validates and reinforces a mindset about cutting tools. The shop recognizes that machining a newly designed, custom tool body is an option for any work that comes in the door. On some jobs, this option has proven decisive.

A seemingly simple example is the left-hand drill seen in one of the photos. On a 100-piece job, MRS wanted to shave cycle time by feeding a drill down from the turret instead of up, using the improved leverage to cut more aggressively. However, moving this way required the drill geometry to be mirrored, and MRS was unable to find a left-hand drill in the necessary size. Starting with the right-hand drill, the shop engineered its own.

FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.

Lee Wimmer invited us to tour his second-generation family-owned machine shop in Perkasie, PA. This video explores the production processes behind precision-machined parts for both Wimmer Custom Cycle and LS Wimmer Machine Co., and shows how ingenuity and determination are still at the heart of American manufacturing. Today, both companies are now managed by Wimmer’s three sons.

Lee Wimmer invited us to tour his second-generation family-owned machine shop in Perkasie, PA. This video explores the production processes behind precision-machined parts for both Wimmer Custom Cycle and LS Wimmer Machine Co., and shows how ingenuity and determination are still at the heart of American manufacturing. Today, both companies are now managed by Wimmer’s three sons.

Grant funding for workforce training or the purchase of new equipment is an undervalued but complex resource for machine shops. We enlisted an expert to help navigate the process.

Mr. Guse is cautious about accepting this opportunity because he wonders how much volume of work the opportunity might bring. The business could have been welcome in some different year, but right now, he might not have the capacity. Pursuing this business might entail buying a new Integrex to equip the tool crib, which is a step he is considering. If he does this, then his shop’s tool crib would be unusual indeed. Not only would it buy tools from a supplier just like any tool crib does, but it would sell tools to that supplier as well.

Succeeding in aerospace manufacturing requires high-performing processes paired with high-performance machine tools. IMTS can help you find both.

Working closely with customers and making careful investments has enabled this Wisconsin machine shop to tackle difficult jobs with tight deadlines as a core part of its business.

Looking to automate your shop floor? The Automated Shop Conference (TASC) will connect shops with experts who can advise them through this transition.

Finding time is the chief impediment to creating these custom tools, Mr. Guse says. The collet-less tools could only have been created when business was slow. When business is as strong as it has been recently, the staff is too busy with production jobs to model the geometry and program the cycle for a custom tool body (unless the tool clearly promises significant savings on one of those paying jobs).

Weldon Solutions is demonstrating three grinders at IMTS 2024. Though they differ in size and use case, all feature the company’s hallmark customizations.

On the boring bars it produces internally, MRS engraves the minimum bore diameter for the tool. Adding this information is a simple step that might avoid a costly error.

When it comes to utilizing the spindle’s power, there is a lot of headroom at the upper limits, provided it’s in short bursts. Be mindful of your time at these loads so you don’t stall out.

Job shops are implementing automation and digitalization into workflows to eliminate set up time and increase repeatability in production.

Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.

Legacy Precision Molds takes us on a tour of their moldbuilding facility. They've recently implemented two automated 5-axis cells for metal and graphite machining that run lights out during nights and weekends.

The tools do have an obvious drawback, Mr. Guse says. Because the boring bar is integral, the gage length of every tool is fixed—literally, the gage length is set in steel. As a result, a shop that needs numerous boring bar gage lengths would need to buy numerous collet-less bars, which is probably not cost-effective. But in the far more typical case of the shop that needs just a few boring bar gage lengths for all jobs, the integral-shank tools offer various benefits, he says. Improved setup time is just the beginning, because rigidity improves as well.

Automation is no longer a luxury in manufacturing today – it’s a necessity. The Automated Shop Conference (TASC) will connect job shops with experts who offer advice and considerations for this process.

Carbide rods are made of premium cemented carbide with high performance to withstand thermal extremes, vibration, and impact wear, round bar shape, also known as rotary tool blanks and cutting tool blanks. These tungsten carbide rods could provide consistency in critical applications and are available in a wide range of finishes and grades. It can be used for tooling applications such as end mills, drills, taps, reamers, countersinks, engraving tools, routers, and other rotary tools.

The speed of this machining recently caught the attention of MRS’s cutting tool distributor. For custom tooling, this distributor generally has to quote lead times of 6 to 8 weeks from its vendors. If the distributor relied on MRS instead, then that lead time could be cut to 2 weeks or less.

Entrepreneur Scott Colosimo found early success in China producing parts for his Cleveland-based motorcycle company in the mid-2000s. This is the story of how IP theft issues overwhelmed the business, prompting Colosimo and his team to start over from scratch — and move production back to the United States.

The Mill A Groove tool can be used to cut step grooves, convex and concave radius grooves, chamfered edges, angles and special profiles with a single insert.

The latest episode “Made in the USA” podcast explores a company that uses collaborative robots, one of the key tools helping US machine shops and other manufacturers compete with lower cost countries by automating production.

Though most frequently used for diameter measurements, an air plug and platen can be readily configured to measure perpendicularity.

In the latest episode of our View From My Shop series, MMS Editor-in-Chief Brent Donaldson visited the JN Shapiro Watches headquarters and production facility where Founder Joshua Shapiro—a history teacher turned watchmaker—realized his dream of "making a watch from scratch and everything in it."

Yet after the design and engineering work is done, actually making the tool is surprisingly quick and cheap. The cycle time to machine a custom tool on one of the Integrex machines is typically less than 30 minutes. The stock is often essentially free of charge, because the shop has excess material from other jobs. The collet-less bodies are made from 4142 prehardened steel remnants left over from a recurring production job. That is better-quality material than a boring bar would typically be made of, says Mr. Guse.

Part of Major Tool’s 52,000 square-foot building expansion includes the installation of this new Waldrich Coburg Taurus 30 vertical machining center.

Chiron Group combines the best of both worlds at IMTS 2024, featuring live demonstrations of their Micro5 and Mill 2000 machines, alongside a cutting-edge virtual showroom. This innovative approach allows visitors to explore Chiron’s full product lineup without the logistical challenges of transporting large equipment.

This shop has developed various time-saving tool components by creating them internally, including one tooling solution now being used by other shops as well.

Manufacturers continue to feel the pressure to reduce costs, increase efficiencies and meet their sustainability strategies. As the industry evolves to keep pace with these priorities, there are opportunities within metalworking processes to use less resources with advanced lubricants and technical expertise. Agenda:  An overview of metalworking lubrication Evolutions in metalworking lubrication Experience on the shop floor Key takeaways

Job shops are implementing automation and digitalization into workflows to eliminate set up time and increase repeatability in production.

Tungsten steel rods are widely used as materials, such as milling cutters, planers, drills, boring cutters, etc., for cutting cast iron, non-ferrous metals, plastics, chemical fibers, graphite, glass, stone and ordinary steel, and can also be used for cutting Heat-resistant steel, stainless steel, high manganese steel, tool steel and other difficult-to-process materials. Tungsten steel can also be used to make rock drilling tools, mining tools, drilling tools, measuring tools, wear-resistant parts, metal abrasive tools, cylinder linings, precision bearings, nozzles, etc.

Making custom workholding components is one thing. Shops mill their own fixtures all the time. But MRS Machining of Augusta, Wisconsin goes further than this. The shop routinely invents and produces its own cutting tool components as well. In fact, the boring tools that this shop created have also been adopted by several other manufacturers that learned about the potential of this tooling to simplify setups.

Features that save on training, programming and cycle times have enabled Speedway Motors to rapidly grow and mature its manufacturing arm.

The Automated Shop Conference (TASC) will give shops of all sizes and production volumes key insights and practical guidance on how to implement automation.

This rigidity can speed cycle time by permitting heavier cutting. To help with this, the bars feature through-tool coolant, which can be plumbed from the rear of the tool. Alternately, the rigidity can improve capability. Mr. Guse says the stiffness of the tool is typically enough to add 1 boring bar diameter to the boring depth. That is, if a given application allows a collet-held boring bar to reach to a depth of 4 times the bar diameter before chattering, then the collet-less bar can reach to 5 times diameter.

FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.

Heidenhain and Acu-Rite Solutions are offering several hands-on experiences at their booth this year, as well as internal components that reduce energy use.

Take a look inside James Engineering, a high-end CNC Deburring OEM that became a job shop when they decided to produce their own parts in-house.

As the demand for faster production cycles continues to grow, the ability to produce high-quality parts quickly and efficiently has become increasingly important. High-speed 3D printing has emerged as a key solution to reduce lead times and increase productivity across industries. However, like any advanced technology, it comes with its own set of challenges. In this webinar, Forward AM will explore both the opportunities and hurdles of adopting high-speed printing with a particular focus on overcoming those challenges. It’ll start by discussing the fundamentals of high-speed 3D printing and how it differs from conventional 3D printing methods. It’ll then move on to the key factors that influence successful implementation, including the impact of materials, equipment and design considerations. One of the main hurdles in high-speed 3D printing is ensuring the right balance between speed and part quality. Different materials behave differently under high-speed conditions — and not all equipment is optimized for this process. Forward AM will showcase some validated materials and equipment that are proven to perform well under these conditions. In addition, the presenters will look at real-world examples and applications where high-speed 3D printing has been successfully implemented, highlighting the collaboration between designers, engineers and manufacturers. By the end of this webinar, you'll not only have a clearer understanding of high-speed 3D printing with FFF but also the practical steps and considerations needed to make the most of this cutting-edge technology. Agenda:  Introduction The power of high-speed printing Know the process The practical side

The pressure sintering furnace is applied to provide more pressure during the sintering process in order to obtain a denser structure.

Modern Machine Shop is the leading publication and media brand in North America devoted to CNC machining. MMS combines unprecedented editorial access to manufacturing facilities with decades of experience to provide long-form content that is both insightful and impactful. About Us

Across a range of technical presentations aimed at small and mid-sized job shops, the first-ever Automated Shop Conference (TASC) offered insights into several automated technologies, implementation strategies, shopfloor training tips, and even the untapped power of automated coolant delivery.

AccuRounds has created synergy between culture and technology, driving a commitment to customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.

This presentation focuses on the vital role that linear and angular encoders play in ensuring precision in machine tools. Attendees will learn about the common challenges compromising accuracy, such as thermal expansion, mechanical misalignments and vibration. Whether you're an OEM, integrator, or machine operator, this webinar will offer valuable insights into optimizing CNC performance. Agenda: Challenges to CNC machine accuracy Understanding encoder technology How encoders address accuracy challenges

From quadruped robot dogs, to an in-booth putting green where you can test out a new golf putter, to a 3D-printed car and more, attendees enjoyed cutting-edge technology and innovations all week long. Take a look to see what (or who!) you might have missed this week!

Dillon Manufacturing’s extra-long hard jaws feature extended reach, making them well suited for machining small diameters.

Even more aggressive cutting came from the large custom tool seen in one of the other accompanying photos. For a blind 4-inch-diameter hole in a hard forging, the shop had settled for a sequence of steps: drilling with a small tool, then enlarging the hole with a series of progressively larger tools. This took time. By contrast, the large custom tool with six cutting edges machines the blind hole quickly and reliably in just one pass. By inventing this tool, MRS cut 15 minutes per piece from what remains an ongoing production job.

The MarSurf CD 140 AF is designed to measure many different kinds of workpieces, making it suitable for a wide range of measurement tasks.

A set of the collet-less boring bars. The base in this photo says “patent pending,” but the patent has since been secured.

Differential gaging measures using two devices, which has advantages over standard, comparative measurements using a single sensing head. These include the ability to measure size without regard to position.

Q-Mark has built its metrology business by providing what customers need, when they want it. This goes for its IMTS booth, too, with free drinks alongside custom technology.

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In this webinar, industry-leading experts will demonstrate how additive manufacturing can revolutionize your operations and answer the question: Can you afford not to? From rapid prototyping to robust fixturing and specialized custom tooling, it’ll showcase the diverse applications that can drive your business forward in a time where cost and time saving can be crucial. Discover how to reduce costs, accelerate production cycles and achieve unparalleled design freedom through the strategic integration of 3D printing technology. Phillip’s panel of seasoned professionals will share real-world examples and practical insights to help you understand the potential of additive manufacturing. Learn how to overcome production challenges, improve product quality and gain a competitive advantage. It will explore the cost-benefit analysis of 3D printing — including material and labor savings — as well as the potential for increased revenue. Join this webinar to discover why additive manufacturing is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for success. Agenda:  Prototyping example: quick-change prototype Custom tooling real-world example: press brake, tube bending die CMM fixturing and workholding example: CMM fixture and soft jaw

Tool-holder-spindle-machine combinations each have a unique dynamic response in the same way that each person has a unique fingerprint, which can be revealed using modal testing.

In one case, inventing a custom tool was essential. MRS won a job involving a 4-inch-deep groove in the face of a stainless steel O-ring. Unable to find a tool designed to make this cut, the shop once again made its own.

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The shop relies on multitasking. That is, much of the work here involves single-setup machining cycles on turn-mill machine tools such as Integrex machines from Mazak. Because the machining routines are complex, change-over from one job to another can entail numerous tool changes. And out of all of the tool types the shop uses, perhaps the most difficult to set up are the boring bars, because of the need to tighten these tools into collets at the machine. For years, Mr. Guse had envisioned how much easier tool change would be if the boring bar and collet were one unit—just a single piece of steel. Such a tool would save him from ever again barking his knuckles because the wrench slipped while he was leaning into the machine to tighten a collet.

UKO has a complete line of carbide rods in a wide selection of tungsten carbide grades with binders ranging from 6% to 15%, and grain sizes to suit your application. We offer a wide range of tungsten carbide rods, including solid carbide rods (unground rod blanks, ground and polished rods with or without chamfers), rods with coolant holes (central, two straight coolant holes, two helical holes 30°).

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When it comes to utilizing the spindle’s power, there is a lot of headroom at the upper limits, provided it’s in short bursts. Be mindful of your time at these loads so you don’t stall out.

JD Machine, 2024’s Top Shops Honoree in Human Resources, embodies its “Education for Life” core value with a robust apprenticeship program and significant continuous improvement efforts.

Learn more about the variety of technology and machinery Hwacheon Machinery America, Inc. is featuring at its IMTS 2024 booth.

So far, Made in the USA has looked into system-wide effects of broken supply chains, automation, skilled workforce issues and our perception of manufacturing jobs — examining each topic through a prism of individual experiences. For this final episode for Season 1, let’s look at one more system-wide question and bring it back to personal perspectives: Is there today a new dawn, a new moment for American manufacturing?

Each tool setting technique has merit, and it depends on where you are as a shop and the type of work you do, as cost and efficiency all come into play.

Weldon Solutions is demonstrating three grinders at IMTS 2024. Though they differ in size and use case, all feature the company’s hallmark customizations.

Consistency is key for beryllium manufacturing, so the data visibility granted by Harmoni has swiftly become a vital, profitable tool in the shop’s arsenal.

Tool-holder-spindle-machine combinations each have a unique dynamic response in the same way that each person has a unique fingerprint, which can be revealed using modal testing.

The collet-less boring bar was an idea that Matt Guse had in mind for years before he made one. Finding time is the chief obstacle to developing custom tooling solutions.

Legacy Precision Molds takes us on a tour of their moldbuilding facility. They've recently implemented two automated 5-axis cells for metal and graphite machining that run lights out during nights and weekends.

Carbide rods are mainly suitable for drills, end mills, and reamers. It can also be used for cutting, punching and measuring tools. It is used in the paper, packaging, printing, and non-ferrous metal processing industries.

Ceratizit USA has promoted Troy Wilt from national sales manager to managing director of Ceratizit USA, cutting tools division.

Then came a lull in business several years ago. Machines were open and he had free time, so he decided to give this idea a try. The shop manufactured a set of what have since come to be called “collet-less boring bars”—bars that are integral to the toolholder body. The tools were made on some of the very machines that now employ those tools. Today, the shop uses around 50 of the integral bars in various sizes, and employees have come to think of this tooling as the natural choice for machining centerline bores. The company even established Augusta Cutting Tools, a small side business that has so far sold 25 kits of these tools to other manufacturers.

Newly patented technologies for controlling chatter and vibration during milling, turning and boring operations promise to drastically reduce production time and increase machining performance.

Standards for surface finishes and profiles are not static; they change as technology changes or new processes come along that need to be considered.

AccuRounds has created synergy between culture and technology, driving a commitment to customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.

Rob Guiao, Chris Hall and Bassanio Peters will demonstrate relatable situations to equip you with data to improve predictability, future-proof operations and maximize ROI. Agenda:  Explore the importance of data in decision-making, especially for facility upgrades or new projects Learn how comprehensive solutions for manufacturing and construction projects can improve predictability and ROI See real demonstrations of machine integrations, facility layouts and automations to ensure proper throughput and integration

Working closely with customers and making careful investments has enabled this Wisconsin machine shop to tackle difficult jobs with tight deadlines as a core part of its business.

Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).

Walter USA has acquired PDQ Workholding, intending to strengthen its offering of workholding products and develop future cutting tool sales.

One benefit of the collet-less boring bar system is rigidity. This photo shows one of these boring bars just after a heavy cut that might have produced chatter if the boring bar had been held in a collet.

Differential gaging measures using two devices, which has advantages over standard, comparative measurements using a single sensing head. These include the ability to measure size without regard to position.

Join Mahr for an informative webinar to discover the latest advancements in precision measurement, designed to elevate your quality assurance processes and unlock peak productivity. It'll explore cutting-edge technologies — such as modern height gages and contour measuring systems — along with their applications, benefits and technical capabilities. Discover the power of height gages: Learn how intuitive and sophisticated height gages can revolutionize your measurement processes, enabling quick and accurate results in inspection and production areas. Explore the practical functions and ease of use that make height gages an ideal solution for manufacturers seeking high-performance and reliable measuring technology. Examine sample applications and industries where height gages excel, such as qualifying first parts, inspecting incoming parts and measuring series of parts in industries like aerospace, automotive and medical. Unlock efficient contour measurement: An introduction to the latest contour measuring technologies that enable fast, simple and comprehensive contour measurement in the production environment. Discover how these innovative solutions ensure reliable measurements, saving time and increasing efficiency while measuring a wide range of workpieces. Learn how to streamline your contour measuring process with speed and simplicity, achieving fast and precise measurements with incredible versatility. Register now and discover how to unlock peak productivity with new innovations in precision measurement. Agenda: Insights into the latest precision measurement technologies and their applications Understanding of how to improve quality assurance processes and increase productivity Knowledge of how to select the right measurement solutions for your specific needs Tips on how to optimize your measurement processes for maximum efficiency

CoroMill MS 20 is designed for repeated shoulder milling, face milling, linear and helical ramping, full slotting and plunging applications.

Ever wonder what sets Top Shops apart from the competition? Dive into their award-winning practices and explore behind-the-scenes strategies for operational excellence.

Tungsten carbide rod is a material with high hardness, which is difficult to achieve by other mechanical processing methods. Wire cutting is more suitable, but due to the unevenness of the “internal energy” of the cemented carbide, especially large cemented carbide, It is easy to produce cracks during processing. So how to avoid this situation?

Incremental mode can be more advantageous when programming sculptured surfaces or for certain hole-machining canned cycle applications.

In this episode of Made in the USA, several executives and senior staff at Hardinge give their first-person account of how they formulated the plan to shift the manufacturing of its milling and turning product lines from its Taiwan plant to its plant in Elmira, New York, the major challenges they encountered and the rewards that made it worth the effort.

Chiron Group combines the best of both worlds at IMTS 2024, featuring live demonstrations of their Micro5 and Mill 2000 machines, alongside a cutting-edge virtual showroom. This innovative approach allows visitors to explore Chiron’s full product lineup without the logistical challenges of transporting large equipment.

Heidenhain and Acu-Rite Solutions are offering several hands-on experiences at their booth this year, as well as internal components that reduce energy use.

Universal machines were the main draw of Grob’s 5-Axis Live — though the company’s apprenticeship and support proved equally impressive.

Ceratizit USA has promoted Troy Wilt from national sales manager to managing director of Ceratizit USA, cutting tools division.

With many machine shops anticipating long-term growth in demand from the semiconductor industry, it is worth the time to heed the advice of manufacturers who have already been servicing this end-market for years.

Horn USA’s new booth concept is designed to enable attendees to (literally) get a better feel for its various tooling offerings.

In addition, it is also widely used for processing high-speed steel tools, carbide milling cutters, carbide cutters, NAS cutting tools, aviation tools, carbide drills, milling cores, high-speed steel, tapered milling cutters, metric Milling cutters, miniature end mills, ream pilots, electronic cutters, step drills, metal cutting saws, double guarantee gold drills, gun rods, angle cutters, carbide burrs, carbide cutters, etc.

Understanding all the things that contribute to a machine’s full potential accuracy will inform what to prioritize when fine-tuning the machine.

The L.S. Starrett Co. has been manufacturing precision measurement tools in Athol, Massachusetts, since 1880. Attention to U.S. manufacturing often focuses on reshoring manufacturing from other countries, but Starrett never left. The facility in Athol employs hundreds and produces thousands of tools that remain vital for measurement in machining and other fields.

Did you know that the show was postponed for WWII? Or that McCormick Place was expanded in the ’70s just to accommodate IMTS? A fascinating look at the show’s history from 1927 to today.

Lee Wimmer invited us to tour his second-generation family-owned machine shop in Perkasie, PA. This video explores the production processes behind precision-machined parts for both Wimmer Custom Cycle and LS Wimmer Machine Co., and shows how ingenuity and determination are still at the heart of American manufacturing. Today, both companies are now managed by Wimmer’s three sons.

When revising part designs, investigate the 3D CAD, the 2D drawing and the part’s functional requirements to determine which details should be tightened up.

New U.S.-based event announced in 2021 finally debuts next year: focuses on complete additive manufacturing value chain. More at formnextchicago.com.

The choice between buying a new machine or refurbishing the current one will become clear after a thorough assessment of the machine.

When Puneet and Neelam Neotia moved from India to the United States several years ago, they brought with them a family background in manufacturing and CNC machining. Now the couple is working to get their startup machine shop off the ground, sourcing new customers and getting the word out about their shop in Clarksville, Indiana. The couple — proud to publicize their "Made in the USA" parts — is leveraging family connections and manufacturing capabilities back in India, but not in the way that some people assume.