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.

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.

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.

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.

SSP’s commitment to adopting the latest machining technology benefits not only the business, but its employees as well.

With application knowledge as broad as the jointly branded product offering, booth representatives also stand ready to show rather than tell. Live cutting demonstrations of both cutting tool types highlight where and why each stands out, while also showcasing the inherent flexibility of a mill-turn machine capable of milling and turning with both indexable or solid carbide tools.

IMTS 2024: Siemens Digital Industries Software unveils its NX X manufacturing software, a cloud-based and data-secure CAD/CAM solution for part manufacturing and efficiency.

In thicker composite structures, beware of heat buildup as well as chip jamming. Select drills with narrow flutes, wide gullets and tighter spirals that complete the hole before things get too hot and in addition consider coolant.

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.

Structured light scanning is used to create a digital twin of a manufactured part, but we must understand the measurement reproducibility to best use the data.

RobbJack has developed cutting tool solutions like its solid PCD-tipped W-Point drills for drilling carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) parts like wing spars to eliminate poor quality cuts and expensive scrap. “The W-point geometry supports the materials as it pierces through and its sharp outer edge shears the material without delamination, uncut fibers, or fiber pullout. The solid polycrystalline diamond tip outperforms diamond-coated carbide drills for tool life up to 25 times longer than uncoated carbide,” said MacArthur. He recounted how one manufacturer was going through 25 carbide drills to make one ship set of wing spars, scrapping many very expensive parts in a costly and unstable process. “RobbJack’s solid PCD-tipped W-point was the only tool that could meet the manufacturer’s exacting design and performance standards, cutting over 4000 clean holes in tolerance; other tools struggled to get 160 holes. Cutting tool savings totaled $548,290.08 per year,” said MacArthur.

Are AMRs the next big trend in job shop automation? System 3R’s IMTS booth will emphasize both its specialty EDM tooling and its automation products, including an autonomous moving robot.

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

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

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

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.

The EXOPRO ARTO-LHX is a diamond-coated, low-helix drill designed to eliminate uncut fibers and delamination when cutting tough laminates. The drill features triple angle geometry and OSG’s diamond coating, ensuring smoother and sharper cutting edges that provide up to 40 times longer tool life, according to the company. Triple-angle geometry reduces push-out exit delamination and the low-helix style geometry provides sharper cutting edges to help shear tough fibers.

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.

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.

Attend TASC, The Automated Shop Conference, in Novi, Mich on Oct. 11, 2023 for a comprehensive look into how to use automation to transform your machine shop.

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.

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.

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

When titanium is in the stack, the preferred practice is everything that composites hate. To avert work hardening and overheating and to keep chips controllable, select tools with low reliefs and rake angles and a low spindle speed. Although coolant or mist is not generally used, it may be unavoidable for titanium because of heat and/or chip flushing.

Milling composites, like drilling, is equally challenging. If the tool encounters several different layers at the same time, you need to engineer the process, taking all limitations into account. “If you are progressing through the layers pass by pass, you may have to change parameters to match the layer,” said Tom Raun, national product manager- milling. “That’s the reason why Iscar has designed many of the most popular styles of milling cutters and routers available in versions optimized for CFRPs and complex laminates. The SOLIDMILL solid carbide end mills for rough and finish end- and side-milling now come with optimal diamond coatings, and TANGSLIT slitter and TANGSLOT slotters now are available with PCD tips, as are Heli2000 indexable inserts for 90° milling applications. All have proven effective in wing strut and airframe applications,” said Raun.

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.

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.

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

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!

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

Effective team collaboration is a critical component of success in today’s manufacturing world. With cloud-based technologies that make it easy for team members to brainstorm and problem solve remotely from various locations, design-to-manufacturing processes can become faster and more efficient. This webinar will demonstrate how fully integrated CAM software can be utilized with 3DExperience SolidWorks in a seamless work environment to accelerate product development. Agenda: See how HCL CAMWorks can be used as an add-in for all SolidWorks applications working with the cloud-based 3DExperience platform Learn how fully integrated CAD/CAM saves significant amounts of time during the design to manufacturing process Gain a new understanding of how software can connect users worldwide to accelerate product development Watch a demonstration of team collaboration using platform tools in the CAD/CAM software environment

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

Select the tool geometry based on the last material in the stack. If the last material is a plastic, use a tapered drill with a long point angle. If the last layer is aluminum or titanium, a high-shear drill with a sharp point angle will exit more cleanly and leave less burr. The tapered drill would just smear aluminum.

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.

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.

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?

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

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.

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

Kyocera SGS Precision Tools’ mill-turn demonstrations highlight varied tool choices and varied application knowledge.

User-friendly inspection software for CNC machining centers is shown monitoring measurements between and after machining while performing SPC based on recorded measurement values.

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Another tool that RobbJack has developed for composites is a solid diamond-tipped drill with multifaceted geometry. “The compound 135° and 20° tip geometry has tested to be the best drilling solution across the most diverse range of carbon fiber composites,” said MacArthur. “The new multifaceted solid-diamond tipped drill produces the cleanest holes I’ve ever seen in carbon fiber materials. There is no delamination or uncut fibers in almost every material we have tested in our machining lab. “

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.

For shallower holes, use stubby, straight-shank drills. For deeper holes, design the process for absolutely reliable ejection of all types of chip. Consider “peck drilling” and even coolant flushing, if possible.

Are AMRs the next big trend in job shop automation? System 3R’s IMTS booth will emphasize both its specialty EDM tooling and its automation products, including an autonomous moving robot.

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

Misapplication of these important CNC features will result in wasted time, wasted or duplicated effort and/or wasted material.

Iscar offers a wide selection of PCD drilling and milling cutters for a wide range of composite-specific industry applications. “There are drills suited for thicker materials with aluminum on the bottom, as well as for thinner materials with the CFRP on the bottom,” said Pat Cline, national product manager-drilling. “There are combination drill-countersinks and drill-reamers, slotting cutters and combination mill/drill cutters. The bottom line is that possibly for the first time since reinforced composites came on the scene, you can find a no-compromise tool for any conceivable composite machining task,” said Cline.

The Walter Turn toolholder features rake-face cooling to help break and control chips, and double flank-face cooling directly at the cutting edge to extend tool life.

Fryer Machine Systems Inc. presents its TC Series of CNC machining centers for high-performance cutting, accuracy, reliability and ease of use.

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

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

The Diatool Top Speed Disc features a solid reamer body with multiple connections to produce tolerance stack up.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Iscar has developed new ICF (interchangeable) drilling heads geometry for drilling CFRP and CFRP laminates, combining small point angles and positive rakes. “The geometry provides low axial forces for smooth penetration during the cutting process without splintering phenomenon which is critical on thin-wall workpieces. The new heads are produced in the new grade IC107 which combines IC07 hard submicron substrate and CVD diamond coating for prolonged and predictable tool life. SUMOCHAM for composites is suitable to be used on CNC or PKM (parallel kinematic machines) machines, and for robots and powered feed machines, a special connector is available,” said Cline.

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

Thoughtful considerations will set you on a shortened path to the most optimized solution once cutter meets metal.

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 does an application call for an indexable-insert cutting tool rather than solid carbide? With both tooling types on display in a shared space – an IMTS first for the jointly branded company – Kyocera SGS Precision Tools is likely to have the answer. In addition to standard milling and turning offerings, SGS’s solid line includes sweeping-geometry, circle-segment “barrel cutters” and coolant-through drills, while highlights of Kyocera’s indexables range from end and face mills to grooving, turning and drilling tools.

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

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

Solid tools like the one cutting the blisk are the province of SGS, while indexable offerings like the turning tool are Kyocera’s specialty. Photo Credit: Kyocera SGS Precision Tools

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

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

Thoughtful considerations will set you on a shortened path to the most optimized solution once cutter meets metal.

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.

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.

With advances in material sciences and the ability to design composite parts with new virtual software technology, cutting tool manufacturers are being challenged to continually evolve and develop solutions for these versatile materials. “Common challenges in machining composites are excessive tool wear, delamination of layers, uncut fibers, fiber pullout, and scrapped parts in both milling and drilling,” said Mike MacArthur, vice president-engineering, RobbJack Corp. (Lincoln, CA). “Another challenge when machining composites is that they are made in an autoclave as unmachined parts and don’t always match the CAD file associated with the part. When that happens, multiple operations are needed to bring them into the tight tolerances required.”

Ceratizit USA announces it has appointed Carlos Garza as its business development leader for the oil and gas industry sector.

OSG USA Inc. (Glendale Heights, IL) offers a full range of tools engineered to machine abrasive composite materials for aerospace, automotive, and medical applications, among others. OSG continues to develop custom roughing and finishing routers and drills for CNC applications. The company’s composite tools include drills and routers that feature OSG’s patented ultrafine diamond coating for applications ranging from trimming carbon fiber and glass cloth to machining tough laminates.

OSG’s EXOPRO ARTO-D-RRSM diamond-coated drill/reamer is for cutting carbon and glass fiber composites. It features a tapered four-flute design and OSG’s diamond coating. The drill/reamer features a straight-flute, elongated double-angle geometry. According to OSG, benefits include limited peel-up at hole entrance, limited exit delamination, and smoother and sharper cutting edges, providing up to 50 times longer tool life.

Thoughtful considerations will set you on a shortened path to the most optimized solution once cutter meets metal.

RobbJack has been able to grow wear-resistant diamond on the cutting edges of carbide tools. “One solution we have developed is a combination tool that trims and bevels composites in one operation. This tool eliminated three other tools and eliminated the operation of trimming the part to match the CAD model. The tool bevels the mating surfaces and trims the part in one operation, reducing cycle time by five days,” MacArthur said.

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

IMTS 2024: SMW Autoblok presents the WPS XL for milling, measuring and grinding operations with five-axis and large part workpieces, as well as several products from its electronics and automation line.

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

According to Iscar, the current cutting tool material of choice for composites is a solid-carbide shank with thin PCD coatings, brazed-in PCD inserts or PCD veins at the cutting edge. The solid carbide shank provides the rigidity and dimensional accuracy necessary to maintain close tolerances on size and location as well as smooth surfaces. Solid carbide also makes it possible to start with an optimal cutting geometry that minimizes cutting forces, heat, uncut fibers, cups, fuzz and burrs while controlling chips. The thin PCD coating (or insert) provides the wear resistance at the cutting edge to maintain that optimal geometry over long service intervals. Thin PCD coatings deliver the wear resistance of diamond while preserving the ideal cutting geometry machined into the carbide shank. By contrast, CVD (chemical vapor deposition) inevitably creates a thicker diamond layer that may detract from optimal geometry.

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.

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.

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.

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.

New tech center is serving as a cutting-edge showroom and a technological hub for advanced machining applications.

Enhanced software is available that increases the ability of manufacturing engineers to analyze, optimize, and document the CNC programming and machining process for advanced composites. For example, the latest release of Vericut CNC from CGTech (Irvine, CA) can simulate all types of CNC machining of composites, including drilling and trimming, water jet cutting, riveting, mill/turn, and parallel kinematics. The release features several enhancements designed to increase workflow, enabling users to quickly access only the menu choices needed at the time. A new ribbon bar helps users find the functionality they need quickly and with minimal mouse clicks.

The MB45 series is designed to deliver the low cutting force benefits of positive inserts and the fracture resistance of negative inserts.

The sheer volume of composites being used in the aircraft industry seems to dwarf all other applications and is expanding rapidly due to their inherent advantages of durability, resistance to corrosion, and high strength-to-weight ratio. Difficulty of machining can vary greatly depending on the combinations of matrix material and fiber reinforcements chosen. Composites are as varied as the matrix formulation, fiber type, fiber content, fiber orientation, and build-up of the material.

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.

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

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

New tech center is serving as a cutting-edge showroom and a technological hub for advanced machining applications.

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

Be sure the process reliably breaks up the titanium chips into small, easily ejected pieces. You especially don’t want to risk a titanium chip jamming the hole in a composite. Again, the most effective remedies are slower speeds and pecking cycles.

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

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

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

For machining composites, there are three common types of drills—solid carbide, diamond-coated carbide, and PCD (polycrystalline diamond), according to MacArthur. “Each has its place. Carbide drills are usually used only for manual operations because of their poor tool life. Both diamond coating and PCD are the drills of choice for most applications in abrasive composites like carbon fiber. Diamond coating is excellent for drilling, and in some applications you can even increase tool life over PCD drills. Diamond-coated drills, however, can’t be resharpened like PCD cutters and are disposable. PCD drills are an excellent choice for drilling in CFRP materials. PCD tools tend to outperform diamond-coated drills in materials with high plastic content because they can maintain a sharper cutting edge.”

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."

In short, take everything into account in tool selection, including the relative thicknesses and location of the metal and plastic layers. It is a balancing act. A stack heavy towards the metal favors solid-carbide tools with internal coolant. If CFRP is the main part, PCD carbide tools would be preferable.

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."

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.

Refined machines at EROWA are handling heavier loads, while its precision workholding enhances stability and rigidity.

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

A new generation of cutting tools from Iscar Metals Inc. (Arlington, TX) is tailored specifically for machining all types of advanced composites. The new breed of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics/laminates are lighter and stronger than ever and elevate performance levels in applications ranging from downhill skis and tennis rackets to military aircraft and automobiles. Although composites technology is helping automakers reach their lightweighting goals faster, as a workpiece material composites have raised fabrication challenges, especially machining.

Iscar offers these tips for successful machining of composite materials. The harder the matrix and higher the reinforcing fiber content, the more PCD coatings/inserts will be needed at the cutting edge. When hole size allows, orbital drilling with a solid-carbide end mill or helical interpolation using the Multi-Master with PCD-coated tips is preferable to straight twist drilling.

Two recent product introductions, the EXOPRO AERO-LHX and EXOPRO AERO-D-REAM, combine special geometries and ultrafine diamond coatings to achieve extended tool life and solutions for common difficult-to-machine material combinations. Typical applications include carbon fiber, glass fiber, CFRP/Nomex honeycomb, glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP)/Nomex honeycomb, CFRP/Al honeycomb, Al/Al honeycomb, and carbon/carbon combinations.

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

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.

ANCA CNC Machines is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a global producer of CNC tool and cutter grinders.

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

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

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

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.

One recent innovation for composites and stack drilling is Iscar’s new head for the Multi-Master line, which provides the ability to mount a variety of changeable heads on one shank quickly and easily. “The novel new head comprises PCD cutting edges and composite-optimized geometries for performing roughing, semi-finishing, and finishing operations in sequence. This geometry enables opening of cavities and slots and performing shoulder applications. Since the shank is thinner than the cutting tip, contact and friction with walls is reduced, so the operation runs cooler,” said Cline. Another promising newcomer is the Iscar SOLIDRILL-REAM, a combination drill and reamer for producing more accurate holes in a single step. Separate brazed-in PCD inserts on the same shank handle the drilling and reaming.

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.

At AeroDef Manufacturing 2017, CGTech will showcase the steps needed to get from a CAD-designed composite part to CNC programs. Highlighted will be the implementation and use of machine-independent, off-line NC programming software for automated fiber placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) machines, such as the work being done at NASA’s Langley Research Center using a 16-tow Electroimpact automated fiber placement machine. Current customer projects to be highlighted include the use of robots, lasers, probing, and ultrasonic knives. AeroDef is the leading annual aerospace manufacturing conference and exposition, where aerospace companies can find new ways to apply, machine, finish, and automate composite processes. Technical session topics will focus on advanced manufacturing technology, including modeling/simulation, autoclave, thermoplastic composites, additive, automation, NDT, and bonding and assembly.

Match speeds and feed to the layers in the laminate. Be ready to change parameters for each layer as the drill progresses.

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.

Mitsui Seiki USA Inc. appoints Joseph Farkas as its director of sales West and Terry Ritterbush as its director of sales East.

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).

Women in Manufacturing is excited to announce that the 2024 SUMMIT will be a hybrid event — both an in-person and virtual experience. Both program offerings will enable you to grow through education and connections that are insightful, meaningful and actionable. Join Women in Manufacturing Oct. 6-9, 2024, in Boston or digitally for an event filled with plant tours at leading manufacturing facilities, professional development sessions, roundtable discussions on important topics, and inspiring keynotes.  All while engaging and interacting with peers through social and networking events! __PRESENT __PRESENT

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.

Possible combinations and their machining characteristics, according to Kennametal’s Composite Machining Guide, include fiber reinforcement materials like carbon fiber/graphite fiber, glass fibers, ceramic fibers, polymer fibers, and tungsten fibers. Poly matrix materials include epoxy, phenolic, polymide, and polyetheretherketone (PEEK). Machining characteristics of CFRP/CFRP and CFRP/metal materials are impacted by the abrasiveness of fibers, fiber size, fiber diameter, fiber length, volume of fiber percentage, and fiber layout, i.e. unidirectional or fabric weave. For example, fiber abrasiveness increases with strength and diameter. Short fibers tend to delaminate, as do unidirectional layered composites.