Category: BLOG


  • Combining Additive and Subtractive Techniques for Hybrid Manufacturing

    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…


  • Basic Math Machinists Need to Know and Tricks to Help

    Machinists have to use math on a daily basis to succeed at their jobs. Let’s look at a few ways to make the arduous process of mathematics a little easier on machinists. Fractions to Decimals Machinists constantly have to do math conversions from fraction to decimal. Some of them are easy, but then there are…


  • How the Tool Helix Affects 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…


  • What Materials are Used to Lightweight Cars?

    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…


  • How Manufacturing has Changed in the last 15 Years

    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…


  • Top 10 Reasons your Job Shop Should Check Out Fusion 360 Today

    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…


  • Problem Solving: What Skills do Manufacturers use to Get the Job Done?

    Problem solving in engineering is important, but finding solutions to manufacturing processing problems is crucial to maintaining the flow of the entire supply chain. So, what skills do Manufacturers use? In manufacturing problem solving, a key method stands out: Lean. This problem solving method focuses in on eliminating waste and finding a solution as quickly…


  • Design for Manufacturing, or – Is it Millable?

    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…


  • 3 Benefits of Integrated CAD/CAM Solutions

    Discover the benefits of transitioning to integrated CAD/CAM solutions with Autodesk Fusion.


  • Fabrication and ERP: Benefits of Working Together

    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…


  • Changing the Mindset About Manufacturing

    As manufacturers, we’ve heard it all before: We know and understand these issues, but until the younger generation gets it, the problem won’t go away. What kids need now is a new perspective on manufacturing. Shifting the perspective of the younger generation According to TechCrunch, manufacturing jobs are “believed to be dirty, grungy jobs for…