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December 11, 2019 - Volume 13 Issue 12
  Featured Sponsor
Image - Get a Grip on Your ID! Get a Grip on Your ID!

Mitee-Bite Products offers a wide array of solutions for clamping on the ID, including: the Original ID Xpansion™ Clamp that ranges from .160" -- 9.85", the new 17-4 XYZ Xpansion™ Pins and for blind holes the Side-Loc Xpansion® Clamps for mills and lathes. We strive to deliver in stock, off-the-shelf solutions, many that can be used in automation.


ID-Xpansion Clamp | Modular XYZ Xpansion Pins | Sideloc Clamps


Image - A Holiday Message from MAN A Holiday Message from MAN

The staff at Modern Applications News would like to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a very Happy New Year! We hope you're able to put work aside and spend some quality time with your family and loved ones over the holidays. That's definitely our plan!

Looking back at 2019, we're thankful that the U.S. economy continued to soar for a 3rd straight year. Unemployment has dropped to 3.5% -- a 50 year low, while the stock market has set more than a dozen record highs. However, the manufacturing industry is ending the year on an uneven note. The Institute for Supply Management's index dropped to 48.1%, significantly lower than the robust 59.3% at this time last year.

While forecasts are mixed, we believe the machine tool/metalworking industry will continue to play a vital role in a healthy economy. One of the biggest trends, Additive Manufacturing/3D Printing, looks to take the next step into serial production. Advancements in other recent trends -- Robotic Automation, Digital Manufacturing, and Artificial intelligence -- also provide a bright outlook for 2020.

The same remains true for us here at Nelson Publishing. Our eNewsletters -- Modern Applications News (MAN), Tooling & Production (T&P), and the Manufacturing Center Product Spotlight continue to thrive. MAN begins its 53rd year in January while T&P embarks on its 85th year of serving the machine tool industry!

In what has become our annual tradition, we have put together our "Best of 2019" issue. We have compiled two lists -- the Top 10 Most Read Features and Top 10 Most Read Product Spotlights, as judged by our readers. We hope you enjoy these stories and catch some helpful information you may have missed the first time around. Again, we want to thank you for your loyalty to our publications and we'd like to wish you a successful and prosperous 2020!


  Featured Sponsor
Image - Quick Selective Marking Quick Selective Marking

Numberall Model 83 Selective Numbering Machines offer a fast set-up in the semi-automatic class where permanent indenting of nameplates, parts or packaging materials are needed. You can quickly rotate the wheels to a desired sequence. Available from 1/32" to 1/4" characters and up to 12 wheels. Available in hand held or press mount versions. Made in the USA, since 1930.


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  "Top 10" Most Read Feature Articles
Image - The Case of the Self-Destructing End Mills The Case of the Self-Destructing End Mills
Sometimes all it takes is the right person in the right place at the right time to solve a productivity mystery. Andy Joerg, Owner of Custom Precision, went in search of a good machining detective when faced with a job that was eating up end mills at a rapid rate.
Full Article
Image - Texas Shop Installs Collaborative Robots, Sees 60% Profit Increase Texas Shop Installs Collaborative Robots, Sees 60% Profit Increase
All Axis Machining struggled to automate the operation of old machinery. But when the shop discovered the Universal Robots+ platform, it was quickly able to automate 6 different operations with collaborative robots. The deployment was so successful that All Axis started offering UR cobot integration services to other machine shops.
Full Article
Image - The Truth About 5-Axis Machining The Truth About 5-Axis Machining
For shops that aren't already using it, 5-axis can seem pretty intimidating. In the early days, this reputation was justified. But Errol Burrell, Machining Center Product Specialist for Okuma, says, "not anymore."
Full Article
Image - Siemens Gas & Power 3D Prints Circular Saw and Cuts Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Cost Siemens Gas & Power 3D Prints Circular Saw and Cuts Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Cost
Using Markforged's 3D technology, Siemens Gas & Power division printed a custom circular saw housing to repair gas turbines in the field. The result? Lead times and costs have been dramatically slashed.
Full Article
Image - Suhner's Power Tools Help California Shop Earn its Reputation -- "Where Quality is King" Suhner's Power Tools Help California Shop Earn its Reputation -- "Where Quality is King"
The Fullerton, California shop, Royal Welding, uses Suhner power tools and abrasives because they hold tight tolerances and they help the workflow. And they've also helped the shop earn its reputation for high-quality fabrications in service to wide variety of industries.
Full Article
Image - How Job Shops Can Achieve Greater Returns on Their CNC Investments and Establish a Game-Changing Competitive Advantage How Job Shops Can Achieve Greater Returns on Their CNC Investments and Establish a Game-Changing Competitive Advantage
The highest performing shops have stayed on top by investing in highly skilled people, empowered by advanced CNC technology. These shops have seen beyond their immediate moves, planning which investments to make and when to make them, always staying ahead of their competitors. However, the experts at Siemens say the marketplace is different today. The rules of the game are still the same, but the game board itself is in danger of being overturned.
Full Article
Image - Toolpath Technology Allows Shops to Successfully Compete in World Markets Toolpath Technology Allows Shops to Successfully Compete in World Markets
Thousands of job shops have transformed into highly cost-efficient operations without making changes to existing equipment and infrastructure -- allowing them to compete globally. Here's how they did it.
Full Article
Image - Texas Job Shop Reaps the Benefits of Quick-Change Toolholders Texas Job Shop Reaps the Benefits of Quick-Change Toolholders
Since 1946, Anthony Machine, a job shop in San Antonio, has served various industries and accrued enough experience to handle just about any job thrown its way. But the latest challenge is from within -- finding the right tooling to make the most of its recent investment in new live-tool lathes.
Full Article
Image - Tool Shop Supervisor Keeps on Grinding -- Even After an 8 Hour Surgery Tool Shop Supervisor Keeps on Grinding -- Even After an 8 Hour Surgery
AB Tools (Lincoln, CA) has been manufacturing high-performance specialty cutting tools since 1977. The shop is currently experiencing its highest sales in 40 years, thanks in part to an ANCA CNC grinding machine and its software. The technology kept the operation going while the operator was home recovering from back surgery.
Full Article
Image - Shop Owners Hoping Swiss-Type Lathe Helps Them Achieve Goal of Early Retirement Shop Owners Hoping Swiss-Type Lathe Helps Them Achieve Goal of Early Retirement
Triax, a Sarasota Florida job shop, recently invested in a 7-axis, Swiss-type CNC lathe and the result has been a 50% reduction in cycle time and parts manufactured completely without any secondary operations.
Full Article

  Featured Sponsor
Image - A Full Range of Styli for All Applications A Full Range of Styli for All Applications

Renishaw offers a comprehensive range of precision-engineered styli and stylus accessories. We offer standard, custom, high-performance, and additive manufactured styli. Whatever your styli requirements, Renishaw has the solution for you.


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  "Top 10" Most Read Product Spotlights
Image - "OK, So What Can Generate 20,000 Pounds of Pressure?" "OK, So What Can Generate 20,000 Pounds of Pressure?"
View This Product
Image - Blue Laser Technology Enables Measurement of Very Small Tools; Reduces Errors Blue Laser Technology Enables Measurement of Very Small Tools; Reduces Errors
View This Product
Image - Contain Your Scrap, Chips, or Parts with This New Drum Cover Contain Your Scrap, Chips, or Parts with This New Drum Cover
View This Product
Image - Laser Texturing: Cost-Effective Solution for Hard-to-Reach Areas on Molds Laser Texturing: Cost-Effective Solution for Hard-to-Reach Areas on Molds
View This Product

  Featured Sponsor
Image - Teach a Cobot How to MIGWeld Through a Smartphone App? Teach a Cobot How to MIGWeld Through a Smartphone App?

That's exactly what Wisconsin-based Processed Metal Innovators (PMI) did with BotX, a cobot welder powered by Universal Robots' UR10e and developed by Hirebotics. With a tight labor market, few available certified welders and traditional robotic welders unable to handle small runs, the BotX solved PMI's production challenges.


Watch PMI's story | Learn more on cobots -- download the free ebook
Ready to get started? Talk to an expert today and book a demo.


  "Top 10" Most Read Product Spotlights Cont'd
Image - New System Protects Shop Employees from Toxic Plasma Cutting Fumes and Smoke New System Protects Shop Employees from Toxic Plasma Cutting Fumes and Smoke
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Image - World's Largest Single-Piece Rocket Engine 3D Printed on Laser Melting Machine World's Largest Single-Piece Rocket Engine 3D Printed on Laser Melting Machine
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Image - Fixture Plate Machining Kit a "Break Through" in Workholding Fixture Plate Machining Kit a "Break Through" in Workholding
View This Product
Image - The Perfect Compact Mill for a Job Shop The Perfect Compact Mill for a Job Shop
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Image - First Desktop Waterjet Cuts Virtually Anything -- Including the Cost First Desktop Waterjet Cuts Virtually Anything -- Including the Cost
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Image - Rotary Indexer Eliminates the Cost of a Reducer Rotary Indexer Eliminates the Cost of a Reducer
View This Product

Image - Career Builder<br>Hot Job Opportunities Career Builder
Hot Job Opportunities


Modern Applications News has Partnered with CareerBuilder to Provide You with Links to the Latest Jobs in Metalworking.

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