Press brakes are a key piece of metal forming equipment in many manufacturing machine shops. These devices apply tons of force to shape solid metal objects. The most common application is to bend sheet metal at a specific angle. Over the years, press brake forming technology has undergone many chan

Your manufacturing capacity is often limited by the type and number of machines that you currently have available. So, when considering ways to increase manufacturing capacity, there are two basic choices: Adding more of the same machinery, or Adding different machines with new functions/capabilit

To the untrained eye, it can often be difficult to understand the different types and actions of CNC machinery. Knowing the differences between CNC Turning and CNC Milling will ultimately lead to making the best purchase for your application, yielding better and faster part production. From the out

So, you have an old piece of machinery on your shop floor that you don’t use anymore. Maybe you’ve added a new machine that does the same thing but better, or you’ve switched away from the product lines that required that particular type of fabrication equipment. Whatever the case, you now have a mu

Machine shops and fabrication shops rely on numerous types of equipment to keep operating at peak efficiency. Electrical discharge machining (EDM), vertical machining centers, and turning centers are a few examples of precision machining equipment found in the most exacting of machine shops. In fabr

New machinery dealers are aptly trained in the machine tool sales profession. Training covers not only the features and benefits of their equipment but also on the tactics and strategies employed to work the emotional needs and fears of a buyer. How else are they going to get you to pay two to three

Machine shop automation is becoming the norm for many processes. Robotic welding equipment, in particular, has caught on for manufacturers because it helps to prevent jobsite injuries from manual welding processes and helps to achieve more consistent results in welds—improving product quality and re

Plastic is the most widely used material for manufacturing in the world. Because of that, there are many machines available that can perform many specialized and unique tasks. Plastics machinery covers a wide category of equipment—including anything from molding machinery to material recycling (and

Introduction to Vertical Machining Vertical Machining has been around in its most basic form for more than 150 years. Yet, its still one of the newest forms of machining technology (turning/lathes is the oldest). The process of “milling” entails a rotating cutter, or drilling bit, and a movable work

I always seem to get asked “How can I get the most value for my equipment?” or “Hey, whats the trick to getting my machine to sell quicker? The answers are simple, there are quite a lot of things you can do to draw more attention to—and get extra value out of—your machine. Here are six simple rules

Regardless of whether youre part of a new machine shop startup, your old, beat up shear finally gave out on you, or your vertical machining center (VMC) just can’t put out the amount of parts you need fast enough to meet your deadlines, one thing is certain: you need a new machine. Now, I don’t mean

Performing a quality check of operability on any machine tool you are considering for purchase is a vital necessity. Whether you choose to have the inspection done by a factory representative, a third party, or you want to do it yourself, inspecting a machine is critical to know exactly what youre g

Having a comprehensive plan and a good checklist to follow is vital when inspecting a used piece of machinery. At Southern Fab, we thoroughly inspect any machine we buy for our inventory to lessen the likelihood of costly surprises. We use the below checklist internally for shears, and are now makin

When buying a press brake, or any machine for that matter, it is important to properly check it out. At Southern Fabricating Machinery Sales, we perform a thorough inspection of the press brakes we purchase for our inventory by using the checklist below. This guide is provided to assist you in perfo

There are many different kinds of plastics machinery available on the market today. Every day, there are blow molders, extruders, granulators, vacuum formers, routers, thermoformers, and injection molding machines hard at work creating countless popular products (and product containers) all over the

Electrical discharge machining (EDM), also known as spark machining, uses either an electrode for EDM sinking or a brass wire for wire EDM. This is a process where electrical discharge “sparks” come from the wire or electrode which, basically, erodes the material to make the required part. Uses of a

As many of us in the machine industry are aware, Plastic Injection Molding is just as relevant and important as any other machining process. There are many things to consider when considering purchasing plastic injection molding equipment, such as: Shot Size, Tie Bar Spacing, Ejector Stroke, Platen

Wire electrical discharge machining (EDM) can cut amazing shapes with precision accuracy and very fine finishes. There are many wire choices, with each having their own advantages and disadvantages. Do you need to hold two-tenths or are you looking to go as fast as possible? Here is an easy explanat

The Swiss principal was developed in Switzerland in the 1800s for the turning of very small, intricate, and long watch parts. The watch industry has been very important to the Swiss people for a long time, so they invented the Swiss Lathe that made small parts that could not be made on a conventiona

Most everyone is familiar with the lease vs. buy analysis when making a purchase like a car. But, if youre the owner of a fabrication or machine shop, what does this mean for you? When references to leasing are made in the machine tool industry, it generally means equipment financing. True, leases h