Founded in the 1950s, Lakeview Screw Machine Products Inc. was a successful part making business when Debbie Sommers was hired. She worked and learned and moved through the organization and eventually became general manager. The shop’s small size and scope allowed her to participate in every a

In 1916, when Nolte Precise Manufacturing opened the doors of its Cincinnati, Ohio, business as a screw machine shop, the founders would be hard pressed to recognize that business as it exists in 2018. Needless to say, 102 years of continuous operation is something to admire, but more importantly, i

A strong relationship with suppliers is an important part of a shop’s success. When the two can come together to tackle important shopfloor concerns, resolution comes more quickly and results are usually more effective and long-lasting. One shop in the San Jose, California, area recently

A visit to EMO, should be on the top of anyone’s list to see the latest in machining technology. It’s a huge manufacturing trade show, last held in September 2017 in Hannover, Germany. For multi-spindle production machines, Hall 17, which is dedicated to multi-spindle machine tools, was

As anyone involved in metalworking manufacturing is acutely aware, the battle between dedicated machining technology and flexible machining technology continues to be waged in machine shops around the world. The influx of high-mix and low volumes into metalworking manufacturing is unmistakable

Meeting the stringent quality finish requirements of medical parts can present challenges that not every machine is up to. As the demand for advances in medicine continues to accelerate, driven largely by the increasing average age of the population, manufacturers in the medical space are cha

The availability of a variety of multitasking machine tool configurations allows shops to select the best combination of components and capabilities for their specific applications. Continuing advances in multitasking machine tool technology are bringing shops to higher levels of productivity

  This video includes Wes Wolfenbarger and Gary Mailhiot describing what sparked the idea for their unique bike part and how they went from the development of it to becoming an international company that produces over 100 different variations of the part.   When avid cyclist and pro

When Mitch Looper founded M2C Racing in 1990, it was a small shop that produced high-quality parts for remote control (RC) vehicles. Neither he nor his son, Avery, now company owner, knew that in a quarter of a century, it would become one of the largest RC aftermarket parts manufacturers in the wor

  Meet “Thunderdome.” Total cycle time to complete machining of the 27 contoured parts clamped in this custom fixture on a five-axis machine is six hours. (Photo Credits: Powill Manufacturing and Engineering) Sometimes you have to have a little fun in our sometimes too serio

The 6 Benefits of CNC Turned Parts IntroWhen it comes to making small, intricate parts in medium volumes and high precision, it’s hard to overlook the power of a CNC turning machine. For CNC turned parts, it’s possible to get the best possible results at the fastest speeds.In this guide, our experts

All About Aluminum: Their Grades, Uses, and Qualities IntroAs an engineer, you probably understand how important material selection is. Our team noticed that there’s a lot of confusion when it comes to aluminum alloys. In this guide, we’ll put together a quick cheat sheet to tell you all about alumi

Common Injection Molding Terms Explained: Multi-Cavity, Family, Inserts, and More  IntroThe world of injection molding has a lot of different phrases that might make no sense to the everyday customer. Shops use phrases like multi-cavity, family molds, MUD inserts, and mold inserts — but, what do the

Common Plastic Injection Molding Materials IntroAs you might already know, injection molding is one of the best ways to mass-produce parts at affordable prices. It’s common to have per-unit costs of just a few cents for products that you can sell for dollars. In injection molding, plastic is the pre

All About Metal Finishes IntroThe finish of your part can completely change its function, aesthetics, and feasibility. There are even OSHA and federal requirements that might force you to use a certain finish. In other cases, a finish can help your part be more durable and reduce your downtime.In th

The Different Types of Steel and Why They Matter IntroIf you’re in the market for a fabricated part that uses steel, there are a few things you need to understand. For starters, there are different types of steels, and they’re very different from one another. In this guide, we’ll explain the differe

All About Injection Molding in the Medical Industry IntroInjection molding is a commonly used style of manufacturing. It’s a great way to create low-cost units at high throughputs. In a highly competitive environment, this method can help a lot. This leads us to the topic of today’s posts: injection

Collins Aerospace recognized Rapid Axis as an Outstanding Supplier Collins Aerospace has recognized Rapid Axis as an Outstanding Supplier.A statement provided by Collins highlights why they selected Rapid Axis as one of nine suppliers receiving recognition for Outstanding Supplier Performance 2022:“

Which Is Better, a 3-Axis, 4-Axis, or 5-Axis CNC Machine? IntroWhen you’re designing a part, you have to consider which machine will run the part. This entails learning about the different CNC machines on the market. If you’ve done some research, you’ve probably heard machines referred to by how man

Prototyping and Short-Run Production with Die Casting IntroA lot of customers have approached us in the past looking for advice when it comes to prototyping their ideas or servicing their initial demand quantities. Most people will immediately suggest 3D printers or CNC machining, but die casting is