Category: Advanced Manufacturing

Using automated inspection tools in CNC machining provides numerous benefits that improve productivity and reduce scrap. In-process metrology is both a product of automation and a necessary step towards further automation. It enables a shop to measure at any point in the manufacturing process, providing numerous opportunities to address out-of-spec parts without removing the workpiece…

There’s little doubt that the manufacturing industry is undergoing some seismic changes at the moment. Technological advances in automation, computing power and communications (the 4th industrial revolution) have made intelligent manufacturing and smart factories a reality. In a nutshell, smart factories employ advanced technology to optimize planning, production, transportation, and management processes. A recent report…

Over the years there have been plenty of false dawns with supposedly ‘revolutionary’ technology. Segways and maglev trains were supposed to revolutionize transport. Sony mini-discs were quickly superseded by the iPod. It’s easy to become skeptical when you hear about the next big thing. But some innovations are so powerful that it’s apparent they will…

Augmented reality, or AR for short, overlays virtual information over a user’s existing natural environment. Sound, graphics and touch feedback are seamlessly integrated to create an enhanced experience. The information overlaid is highly topical and relevant to what the user is doing. It ranges from simple text to instructions for complicated surgical procedures. Uses for…

Generative design creates various outputs through an iterative process. These outputs must meet certain constraints set by the designer, which can include parameters such as material type, manufacturing methods, and manufacturing costs. The process is different from methods such as topology optimization and lattice optimization as it can generate many possible solutions for the design.…

Additive manufacturing made a splash in the consumer market nearly a decade ago, but 3D printing has been around much longer than that. Now that 3D printers are available and functional for anybody with the internet and $200, they have become a necessary tool in most engineering environments. But what about manufacturing? Metal 3D Printing…

CNC machines and automation have long been the bastion of success for growing shops. When a business can afford to add these tools to their shop, it usually means that they have had enough business to grow. But adding automation isn’t just for the major shops anymore. In the past, shops had to rely on…

Additive manufacturing is a process that uses 3D design software and a multi-axis arm to deposit materials onto a printing platform. The material can be resin, nylon, ceramic, and many others. It differs from conventional subtraction techniques which remove unwanted pieces from a solid block to reveal the final product. Not only does this save…

Additive manufacturing or AM for short was first developed in the 1980s. This technology is unlike traditional manufacturing as it is additive by nature, meaning that the process starts with an empty build envelope and material is subsequently added layer by layer. These layers are usually measured in microns and are deposited and melted together…

Both big and small manufacturers have a need to be more efficient. After all, the more efficient you can be, the more parts/products you can make, which means more money for your business. So what are some of the most helpful tools to make you more efficient? Feeds and Speeds There’s a number of ways…

There is a lot of shroud and mystery around the process of tool and mold making. Creating molds for production is one of the more pricey investments a business can make, though it will save time and money down the road. So, why is mold making so hard? A lot of the mystery comes from…

Humans have never ceased to evolve no matter what the walk of life is. When it comes to engineering, it all started off with applying basic technologies to make objects like hunting tools and carts. Major advancements resulted when the Industrial Revolution came, an event which was further refined by the introduction of automation. Now…

Innovative manufacturing can be anything from intelligently using age-old technology to adapting processes to new technologies. Machining has been around since the mid-nineteenth century… even NC (which eventually became CNC) machining has been a thing since the 1940s and 50s. Workholding and tooling, as well as improved CAM-generated toolpaths and machine capabilities, have helped these…

As the manufacturing industry sets about the fourth industrial revolution, you need look no further than smart factories to see a physical representation of this concept. These factories present a new way of manufacturing in which everything is connected. Machine learning and AI (artificial intelligence) systems work together with man and machine to efficiently manage…