So much has changed since the United States first shutdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic two years ago. During a time of unprecedented e-commerce acceleration and labor shortages, legacy pick-and-pack processes lack scalability to meet demand. While there are certainly negative consequences

The strongest and richest form of human interaction is face to face. However, the pandemic drastically upended our usual way of communicating, particularly when it came to shift-to-shift handovers and consistent information-sharing. Much of this information transfer being handled remotely caus

Many areas of the economy are wrestling with the labor shortage. For CNC machine shops, the lack of labor is a persistent nemesis—particularly if you run an eight-person shop like Benito Calderon, founder of CAV Manufacturing. Calderon’s machining journey has been a well-trodden

On our April 2022 cover, a neurosurgeon and a computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging expert discuss how best to remove a cancerous tumor from a 64-year-old patient’s spine. The resulting procedure involved eight vertebrae and took 19 hours to perform—and, spoilers—

In military science, a “force multiplier” is an operational system that uses strategy to increase the effectiveness of existing armaments. We can use the idea as a metaphor for improving the efficiency of engineering and manufacturing information systems, from initial concept to on

When SOP Technologies sought the ideal destination to develop, test, manufacture, and market its devices that help stop ocean pollution, Miami quickly rose high on the list.  Miami-Dade County’s multiple metal fabricating facilities gave SOP a choice among contractors to create its

LORAIN, Ohio --  Absolute Machine Tools has added the You Ji VMT Vertical Mill/Turn Center Series to its extensive line of large Vertical Turning Lathes by You Ji (Kaohsiung City, Taiwan). Combining vertical and horizontal 5-face milling with vertical turning capabilities, the You Ji VMT

Fastems is introducing Version 8 of their Flexible Pallet Container (FPC 8), which provides easy and extendable automation for one to three CNC milling machines with 400 mm to 1,000 mm pallets. The FPC 8 also includes the new FPC-1800, which accommodates twelve to 36 pallets measuring

One of my favorite things about working in the manufacturing industry, and specifically in industrial automation, is the opportunity to visit factories across the country and learn how things are made. As an engineer working to help others leverage robotics and automation to improve their p

Mechatronics systems play an essential part in today’s smart, connected manufacturing landscape. A new generation of systems called smart mechatronics has emerged, offering greater intelligence, more efficient operation and a modular “kit” approach to delivering complete syst

The IoT and AI are separate technology trends that are both making waves in industry. The IoT can connect devices together, giving and receiving signals like a nervous system. In contrast, AI can act as a brain, using data to make informed decisions that control the overall system. When joined

As manufacturing continues to return to the United States, Polk County plays a key role in attracting new companies to the area, offering reasonably priced land, tax incentives and a strong talent pipeline – all in a location where people want to live.  In the last five years, a

The advent of private space vehicle development companies has transformed the manufacturing environment for rocket and satellite components. Previously, government organizations, including NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense, sponsored the majority of space-related manufacturing. Now, mone

Worker training will be key to implementing Industry 4.0 in manufacturing, speakers at a presentation said today. “It’s incredibly important to keep workers motivated,” said Mary Beth Hudson, executive director of the Smart Manufacturing Institute in Chattanooga, Tenn. &ldquo

Taipei, February 21, 2022—TIMTOS x TMTS 2022, the first co-branded machine tool mega show in Taiwan makes its debut today. A total of 950 exhibitors in 5,100 booths has packed Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 1 & 2. The physical show will go for six days while the one-month onli

A new web version has just been released of RoboDK, the robot programming software. This simplified version needs no license and provides a portable, simplified interface for sales representatives, new robot users, and educational uses.RoboDK is a Canadian provider of robotics software dedicat

Vertical machining center suppliers are looking ahead to 2022 with optimism. They expect increased use of automation and increased awareness of the benefits of machining with more than three-axis equipment. Getting to more sides of a workpiece in one or two setups is just part of the value

Consider how cell phones and the Internet redefined communication, education and entertainment, not to mention manufacturing. XR technologies, comprising virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) processes and equipment, are making those same fundamental shifts. All t

Many articles have been written about how to solve the skills gap and the diminishing manufacturing workforce, which I believe are very closely related, so I will offer my thoughts on the subject as well. Engineering fields have been successful at developing and implementing technologies over

Smart manufacturing will come to the fore in 2022 as a holistic strategy that considers the entire process throughout a product’s entire lifecycle. It now takes advantage of greater connectivity and live data capture to improve the process. Digital transformation is enabling smart man