Editorial, News, and Products
2023 Emerging Leaders Strengthen Their Staffs, Solve Problems
Superb critical thinking, top-notch leadership skills and a passion for building a strong team are a few of the common traits held by this year’s five Production Machining Emerging Leader award winners.
Video Tech Brief: Twin-Turret, Twin-Spindle Lathe Machining
This machine model features roller linear ways to accommodate low-frequency vibration technology to minimize chip size.
Turret Lathe Features LFV Technology
PMTS 2023: Marubeni Citizen-Cincom offers the Miyano ANX-42SYY fixed headstock-type CNC automatic lathe which has a variety of features that improve machine operating convenience.
A Small CNC Machine Shop’s Journey to CMMC
Achieving Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) — soon to be required to do work for the U.S. government — takes time and money. This 10-person shop takes us through some of the challenges it has faced and lessons it has learned on its CMMC voyage.
Swiss-Type Add-On System Enables In-Line Inspection
When small part inspection and/or segregation is critical, this flexible, automated unloading and palletizing system for Swiss-type lathes can be the answer.
Growth Comes When Machining Challenges Are Met
Manufacturers such as SDP/SI that embrace machining challenges ultimately find ways to become more efficient and profitable operations.
VIDEO: Swiss Shop’s Choice of Collets Facilitates Backworking
This Swiss shop discovered workholding collets that satisfy the needs of its very small, delicate and complex medical parts production on the subspindle, making once impossible processes not only doable but more efficient and esthetically pleasing.
Using Video and Machining Demos to Tell the Story
Marubeni Citizen-Cincom’s booth features 11 machines cutting live as well as multiple video monitors highlighting testimonials from customers leveraging its machine tools to their advantage.
Use ERP to Capture Tribal Knowledge?
When McCormick Industries adopted a new enterprise resource planning software for better data visibility and accessibility, it found that the software also enabled it to cull the expertise of its experienced shopfloor employees.
Marubeni Citizen-Cincom Twin-Turret Lathes for Flexible Tooling
Miyano machines are designed to ensure high rigidity, high accuracy and long life.
Where Automated Five-Axis Machining Isn’t a Challenge
A Minnesota shop recently added a five-axis machine with integrated pallet changer to perform days-long stretches of precision, repeatable small-parts machining on its own.
Inside an Amish-Owned Family Machine Shop
Modern Machine Shop, PM’s sister brand, took an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of an Amish-owned machine shop, where advanced machining technologies work alongside old-world traditions.
A Shop Snapshot(s) in Time
Shamrock Precision has made significant strides to diversify its customer base and implement various process improvements, applying a crawl, walk, run approach to adding new technology such as ERP and automation.
Let’s Go to the Tech Brief Video
Machining “Tech Brief” topics in print can also be presented via video. Here are a few examples.
Video Tech Brief: Vacuum-Assist Collection of Small, Machined Parts
Marubeni Citizen-Cincom offers an optional vacuum collection system for very small parts machined on its Swiss-type CNC lathes to avoid losing or damaging parts. Main system components are 3D-printed made at its U.S. headquarters.
Manufacturing Automation Beyond Robots at PMTS
A variety of automated machining and manufacturing processes — including, but not limited to, robotics — that can enable shops to become more efficient were on display at the recent Precision Machining Technology Show.
PMTS 2021 Product Preview: CNC Turning Centers and Swiss-Types
Learn about some of the new CNC turning centers and Swiss-Type lathes to be displayed at PMTS 2021.
As a Business Evolves, So Does its Machining Technology
Gent Machine, now under its fourth-generation of family ownership, has made operational and equipment decisions to position it for continued success moving forward.
Low Frequency Vibration Increases Job Shop’s Productivity
With the ability to machine difficult materials more efficiently while improving surface finish, this job shop is reaping the benefits of its Swiss-type lathes that incorporate low frequency vibration.
Precision Machining Technology Moving Shops Forward
New equipment and software continue to be developed to support the needs of production machine shops like yours. Here’s a sample of technology now on the market that can help you grow your operation and become more efficient.
MCC Lathes Improve Productivity, Operating Convenience
MCC’s M532 VIII and L12X have added capabilities to improve productivity.
VIDEOS: PMTS 2019 In-Booth Demos, in Case You Missed Them
Find videos from in-booth demonstrations from Absolute Machine Tools, Edge Technologies, Gosiger, Hardinge, Index Corp., Marubeni Citizen, Tsugami, and ZPS.
Dry Swiss Machining in Medical
Continuing to build its reputation for creative solutions, this multi-faceted medical device component manufacturer took its Swiss machining operations to a new level to meet a customer’s market demands.
Low Frequency Vibration Technology Avoids Spiraling Chips
Low Frequency Vibration is a cutting technology from Citizen designed to avoid the problem of spiraling chips, entanglement of chips and built-up edges.
See Chip Control and Chipless Cutting at Marubeni Citizen-Cincom
Visit Marubeni Citizen Cincom’s booth to see how the new Low Frequency Vibration (LFV) cutting technology deals with the problem of chip accumulation.
Making Parts on a Swiss/Laser Machine
Adding laser cutting to Swiss-type machining is helping this shop do more work for its customers in the medical industry.
Moving into Medical Machining
A background in aerospace manufacturing provided this company with the skills it needed to begin medical machining.
Marubeni Citizen-Cincom to Raise the Roof at IMTS
A new second level will allow more ground-level space to showcase the MCC Tech Center in its IMTS booth.
Process Control in the Medical Shop
For this shop, successful delivery of medical and dental components is about proper process and machine tools that can handle the job.
Expanding for the Future
This 2-day event showcased the expansion of Marubeni's New Jersey facility that went from 26,000 square feet to more than 42,000 square feet.
Marubeni Citizen Hosts Celebration at IMTS for 30 Years in U.S.
Guests were treated like family at the Shedd Aquarium dinner and reception.
Hitting the Target with Creative Workholding
While growth has been steady in its Swiss operations, this archery equipment supplier’s most drastic improvements have come at the hands of the workholding systems on its VMCs.
CNC Programming Software Increases Precision and Speed
Programming by hand was once a reality for IM Torneria (Bologna, Italy). However, when projects with complicated components became the norm for the shop, it was obvious to the company that CAM was needed.
Medical Machining is in the Genes
Sometimes it’s difficult to stay away. This company is an example of a precision machining family that simply can’t stop doing what it does.
Things are Hot in Japan: Week 2
After a somewhat gypsy-like first week, three hotels in 5 days, we settled into the Marriott in Nagoya as our base of operations for Week 2’s plant visits.
A Swiss Shop’s Next Generation
The shallow talent pool of available skilled machinists can be an even bigger obstacle to the shop that is rapidly growing. Perhaps the best solution is to attack the problem from within.
Marshall Manufacturing Chosen to Produce DrillStops
Marshall Manufacturing Company was chosen by Dr.Emil Verben to manufacture DrillStops.
Grinding on a Swiss
This shop owner has developed a unique, and effective, approach to delivering a burr-free, tight-tolerance part.
Optimizing B Axis on Gang Tool-Based Swiss Machines
This technological innovation has been increasing in popularity as well as multitasking sophistication.
Stepping Up to Unattended Machining
Lights out, unattended machining is a goal for many precision machined parts manufacturers. For many parts using easily machined materials, the process is fairly straightforward. However, this Ohio shop uses a systematic process to maximize unattended machining of more difficult materials.
Technical Member Profile: Marubeni Citizen-Cincom
Marubeni Citizen-Cincom (MCC) was founded in 1984 to market and service the company’s line of Swiss-type turning centers.
Take the Highland Road
From programming to setup to production, this Ohio job shop plans everything it does around untended machining. The company has been refining the process for more than a decade and has become very good at it.
CNC Swiss Delivers in Many Ways
Designed to efficiently process long, slender parts for the watch industry, the Swiss-type screw machine has evolved well beyond its original application niche.
July PM News
Grand Opening Showcases HeadquartersBIG Kaiser Precision Tooling welcomed customers and partners to its new headquarters’ grand opening on April 29-30.
Trends in Swiss Machining
This Florida medical manufacturer is an expert in the production of complex medical parts on CNC Swiss machines. Their job shop has evolved from 18 to 135 employees by efficient production of small, difficult parts for the demanding medical industry. And moving forward, the shop’s co-founder only sees better things ahead.
September 2009 News
Citizen, AMT Machine Systems, CNC Engineering, Kennebec, ZPS and Tooling U are covered in this edition of news.
One-Part Solution With Huge Payoff
Machine shops prioritize different challenges daily, but some challenges are more critical than others. Precise Products Corporation (Minneapolis) was faced with a challenge when one of its original customers asked the company to reduce the cost of a family of parts or risk losing the job.
Software Bridges Gap For Dental Implant Manufacturer
This dental implant manufacturer has found the right combination of technology and personnel to help implement its changing philosophy rooted in the control of its manufacturing processes.
The New American Night Shift
Strong customer service is what has made this company successful. However, while keeping the customer happy is a primary goal for American Eagle, it is the customer service it has received that has made the biggest difference. Now, increased lights-out operations are allowing the company to be even more competitive by providing lower shop rates for the customer.
Thread Whirling--One Of The Oldest New Products In Town
What's new is whirling's recent and growing acceptance in the United States. It has become widely used in the manufacturing of 'large' parts, such as steering gears, worm gears, acme threads, ballscrews and other threaded parts.