Articles
A Whole Book about the Collaborative Commons
I find the concept of the Collaborative Commons both compelling and a bit disquieting. My recent column offered a few comments on this development as an alternative to the market-based economy that we take for granted. Author Jeremy Rifkin has written a book that explores this concept in great depth. It’s called "The Zero Marginal Cost Society."
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Advanced Technology Drives 40 Years of Manufacturing
Mazak has been manufacturing machine tools in Florence, Kentucky for 40 years. The growth and development of the production technology deployed in this plant reflect the most important advances in manufacturing during this span—from enhanced flexible manufacturing systems and multi-tasking part processing to automation and digital-driven manufacturing.
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Multitasking Five-Axis Machining Center for Large Gears
Mazak's Integrex e-1550V/10 multitasking five-axis machining center suits the production of large gears.
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Clamping Options for Five-Axis Machining
In five-axis machining, the workholding has to get out of the way. The wrong choice of clamping risks collision and can obscure one of the principal benefits of a five-axis machine.
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The Automotive Industry is Booming in Germany
Before heading off to Esslingen, Germany (near Stuttgart) to help Index celebrate its 100th anniversary, my publisher told me that the area is “the Detroit of Germany.” I soon found that to be an apt description as a large number of shops I visited were heavily vested in automotive manufacturing. What’s even more noteworthy is that business was booming.
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What Is Power Skiving?
Skiving has been around for a long time, but recent technology advances have improved the speed and effectiveness of this gear-making process.
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Advantages of a B-Axis Swiss-Type
Learn how a Northeastern shop leverages a Swiss-type lathe with a B-axis milling spindle to produce small batches of complex parts.
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Robot Eliminates WIP, Improves Efficiency
Automating loading/unloading of two new Mori Seiki lathes and a part wash/dry system with a FANUC robot from Automated Cells and Equipment enabled the company to eliminate an initial testing process as well as reduce labor and WIP.
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Model Machine Shop Video: MK Precision
This medical contract shop’s video describes its culture of training, as well as its president’s personal connection to the parts the company machines.
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Manufacturing Cell Enables Large-Part Production
A "done-in-one" manufacturing cell for large part production consisting of an Orbitec 20 machine, an Integrex multitasking machine and a Palletech automation system is now available from Mazak.
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In the Groove for 50 Years
It’s an American success story. In 1964, William and Hazel Kaiser founded a company to produce and market Thinbit, an innovative line of grooving tools. At first, the business operated out of the couple’s attic and garage. Fifty years later, the Kaiser Tool Company’s products continue to help shops such as Mack Tool and Engineering with successful solutions for demanding grooving applications.
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May MBI Shows Five Months of Growth
With a reading of 53.7, Gardner Business Media’s May metalworking index showed that the industry continues to grow at a fast pace. The index was higher than 53.0 in each of the first five months of 2014, and the industry grew seven of the last eight months.
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