A recently released survey conducted by the Association For Manufacturing Technology (AMT – the folks who bring us IMTS every other year) identifies three major trends that have enormous impact on how OEMs, distributors, integrators and end users will function in the future.
Few foresaw the impact digital technology and the Internet would have on all of us. Is 3-D printing the next major paradigm shift?
When enough CNC shops engage in a given activity it becomes a trend that others should be aware of. Here are five manufacturing trends identified by recent surveys and discussions with shop owners. They may not all be right for your company, but it’s prudent to consider how they might affect your business.
Chatter, the vibration created when CNC machine tooling engages a work piece, affects turning, milling, and drilling operations, but is especially troublesome for milling. Even minimal chatter can shorten tool life and impact part quality. Too much chatter can even damage machine tools.
Dayton, OH – Gosiger, Inc. field technicians are part of a team that provides customer support for the machine tools, accessories and factory automation systems the company sells and installs. As part of an ongoing program to enhance customer service, Gosiger recently launched the MyTECH component of its CRM (customer relations management) system.
Whether you’re brand new to CNC machine programming or working with a new machine tool control system, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and even a bit intimidated. Gosiger applications engineer and CNC programming instructor Kevin Chandler has taught scores of machine operators over the past 20 years, so we asked him to share a few basic programming thoughts.
One of the most prominent technological trends on display at IMTS 2012 had more to do with communications and process control than speeds, feeds and other mechanical specifications. While CNC machine tool OEMs continue to create better, faster and more accurate products, they also enable greater interoperability between various machines, controls and software applications by establishing shop floor networks to share data. By using XML and Internet Protocol technologies, CNC machines provide real-time data that promotes greater manufacturing efficiencies.
It’s no secret that, next to word-of-mouth, the Internet is where your potential customers are most likely to learn about your company. One of the most compelling ways to use the Internet is by including video presentations on your site and on YouTube. You can use video to give a virtual tour of your manufacturing capabilities, showcase new technology, interview satisfied customers and much more.
It’s a constant challenge to make high-quality parts while reducing cycle time, material waste and operator involvement. That’s why Okuma engineers design machines that use the latest technologies to help manufacturers reduce the time an operator spends adjusting for temperature-related issues, avoiding costly collisions and determining optimum cutting conditions.
These built-in functions on many Okuma CNC lathes, turning centers, multitasking machines and machining centers are part of the company’s Intelligent Technology initiative to make machining faster, easier and more profitable.