For many years, additive manufacturing seemed like it was going to be the future of all manufacturing industries. Most of this can be chocked up to hype around the new technology. In reality, the future of additive lies in a hybrid manufacturing system, one that combines additive and subtractive techniques for ultimate optimization. When we…
Advanced Manufacturing
Cutting forces on an end mill have axial and radial components that affect how it functions. The radial component often leads to vibrations and the axial component affects the force of the mill against the holder. These components are varied by changing the helix angle on a tool, and different angles are better for different…
Advanced Manufacturing
Car manufacturers are constantly pushing to create the lightest cars possible to increase speed and power. So, what materials are most common when an automotive designer needs to cut weight? The goal in lightweighting a car is to increase performance and efficiency while maintaining safety and comfort. Roughly speaking, when a car’s weight is decreased…
Advanced Manufacturing
Manufacturing is an industry that sees constant growth and change, but in the past 15 years, the industry has made drastic shifts that will forever shape its future. The manufacturing industry affects nearly every facet of everyday life, and companies are constantly seeking ways to optimize processes and decrease costs. While this tends to be…
Advanced Manufacturing
If you own or work in a job shop with CAM software whose maintenance is expensive, and getting pricier, you should consider Fusion 360. It may be able to replace some or all of your current CAD/CAM systems in use. Where it makes sense in your workflow, implement Fusion 360 for a solution that is both…
Advanced Manufacturing
Can you make this? It’s one thing to design something, but can it actually be made? That’s what design for manufacturing is all about. First, there’s the question of whether it can be made at all. George Lucas may be able to design a “Death Star” but that doesn’t mean it can be manufactured with…
Advanced Manufacturing

Connecting your entire organization makes good sense for any business, and fabrication shops are no exception. Managers are more effective when they can see all operations, from design to distribution, in one system. This leads to faster decision-making, more efficient processing and fewer mistakes. That’s why more and more manufacturing companies are connecting their manufacturing solutions…
Advanced Manufacturing