Production line software can be an important part of automating a manufacturing plant, and choosing the best software can make automation easy or difficult. If you have delicate items or items that need to be processed at different speeds, then a speed adjustment tool should be useful. When

Selective laser melting is a rapid manufacturing process in which a laser fuses metallic particles to make a three dimensional component, part, or object. This technique can be used to make a part in a few hours for use as a prototype or as part of a device. It has potential applications in

The best tips for total quality management (TQM) in manufacturing are to involve everyone in the organization in the pursuit of quality control, and to foster a corporate culture of personal ownership among staff. Teaching staff to understand that it is typically systems and not individuals

Woodworking software consists of the computer programs that are mostly used to help manage the business side of a woodworking service, but there are also tools and programs for hobbyists who are just looking to make shelves, tables and other wooden objects. There is a large amount of variati

Computer numerical control (CNC) lathe programming is the process by which a computer controlled lathe is programmed so as to automate its operation. A programmer inputs instructions according to design parameters, and the machine follows these instructions, quickly and efficiently producing

Building prototype inventions can be the costliest and hardest part of developing inventions, but there are some ways to make the process a little easier. Building non-working prototype inventions may be useful, because they give the inventor an idea of whether the working prototypes or prod

The gravure printing process is a modern type of automated intaglio procedure used to print commercial materials such as wrapping paper, magazines, greeting cards, catalogs, ad inserts for newspapers, and food packaging. Typically, a gravure press comprises several smaller units for each col

Thread rolling is a fastener production method that involves impressing screw or bolt threads into the raw stock rather than cutting them. This process makes use of a hardened-steel tool bit formed in the shape of the relevant thread. The raw, unformed stock is rotated at a controlled rate w

A wire conveyor belt is a component used on some types of conveyor systems to facilitate movement of items or materials from one fixed location to another within a space. The wire conveyor belt is an alternative to a rubber or plastic belt; it is made of metal wire woven together to create a

Vapor degreasing is an industrial process that uses solvent vapors to wash oils and other contaminants off of metal and plastic parts that will be used in manufacturing. It is especially effective for cleaning small parts and those containing deep recesses that are difficult to reach by hand

Reactive ion etching is a type of technology used in microfabrication to remove substances from wafers. Wafers are small semiconductor strips used in the creation of microdevices, and reactive ion etching technology ensures they remain free of materials that could negatively impact their eff

A catheter manufacturer specializes in producing class I, II and III medical devices and supplying them to healthcare units such as hospitals, clinics and related medical establishments. The manufacturer might be dealing with a single store owner of a medical supply store, a wholesaler who d

Maintenance procedures typically refer to inspection and repairs of various machines or buildings to ensure there are no problems that might halt production or use. There are various types of these procedures, including preventative maintenance, that ensure equipment and machinery continue t

Projection welding is a variation of the spot welding process in which raised projections on one or both sheets localize and concentrate the welding energy. This technique allows for closer weld spacings on thicker materials than are possible with the conventional approach. Projection weldin

Cold heading is a process that uses die forms and punches to create variably shaped parts from metal wire. The process is able to reproduce exact specifications reliably. Cold heading, as indicated by the name, does not use heat to reshape raw material; it uses force driven by a punch to pus

Hot isostatic pressing is a process in which a component’s overall density is increased by removing excess liquids and voids. This normally occurs during a two-part process to ensure that the material is structurally-sound and able to withstand tremendous amounts of force while under stress.

5S manufacturing is a lean manufacturing practice geared towards bringing order and improving safety in the workplace and raising productivity. It is a housekeeping discipline conceptualized by Japanese companies to achieve manufacturing excellence and raise product quality. This practice ma

Finite element analysis, or FEA, is a computer-based tool for approximating the solution to an otherwise unsolvable problem. It is commonly employed in structural engineering, though it is also used in other problems like fluid mechanics and heat flow. Most mathematical problems for practica

An air separation plant is an industrial facility that separates naturally occurring air, or atmospheric air, into its component gases. The gases harvested in the process include oxygen, nitrogen, and argon, as well as some inert gases such as neon, xenon, and krypton. Since nitrogen and oxy

Rotary die cutting is a manufacturing process that is used to cut a pattern on a flat stock material. This method is commonly used in mass production because it is the most time efficient die-cutting method. As an engraved die rolls over the stock material, it cuts through the material leavi