Chinese automakers are eying the U.S. market, and that only spells trouble for the Big Three, says associate publisher and editorial director Tom Grasson. Every vehicle built in China and sold in the U.S. means one less vehicle rolling off our homeland assembly lines. Combine this with GM's less-than-stellar performance, and Americans might soon be buying Chinese. Do you agree? Read Tom's comments

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Immersion's new MicroScribe MX system fills the gap between lower accuracy hand tools and expensive or hard-to-use gauges, articulated measurement systems, and CMMs. Convert from time-consuming hand tool measurements and expensive fixture gauges to the easy-to-use and portable MicroScribe system. Call (888) 580-8272, or visit Immersion's Website

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American Machinist feature articles
Getting parts really clean
If you're producing medical parts or thinking about getting into this niche market, part cleanliness is a huge concern. Traditional cleaning methods aren't good enough to clean small, intricate devices. Learn what ultracleaning techniques are keeping pace with the stringent requirements of medical-device manufacturers.

MicroEDMing medical parts
Various machine modules monitor, record, and automatically compensate for centrifugal force, unbalance, vibration, and thermal expansion. Read how these systems can help shops move from manually adjusting machines to realiable high-speed machining.

Creating a vision for the blind
How collaborative engineering, a focus on training, and an upgrade of 50-yr-old machines helped a shop win contract work from the U.S. government. This shop faces a tricky balance at: dealing with traditional competitive challenges while training its blind operators for the real world. Learn how these operators can help other shops.

Machine of the month
Grinder provides nano precision
A new cylindrical grinder is so precise that users can program in-feed movement in 10-nanometer steps. Learn more about this fast, flexible, and extremely precise machine.
Find out how

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Technology trends
Manufacturers flock to grinding gathering
Prototyping Darth Vader's face
Setting the standard for lean certification

Hot products
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Banner's revolutionary PICO-GUARD Fiber Optic Safety System achieves highest Category 4 safety rating with a single switch point. Check it out

The New Tsugami BA26L high-precision CNC automatic lathe is the ultimate small parts CNC turning machine for production rates that rival automatic cam-type machines. Check it out

Charmilles continues to push the boundaries of EDM capabilities with the recent release of the Robofil 2050TW. Find out more

Latebreaking news
New Mori Seiki U.S.A. president
Mori Seiki U.S.A. Inc. has promoted Thomas R. Dillon to president. Dillon joined Mori Seiki in 2001 as executive vice president and was promoted to COO. In 2003, he became the first president of Mori Seiki Mid-American Sales.
For more information

Visteon returns manufacturing plants to Ford
As part of its restructuring efforts, Visteon Corp. is returning 24 plants and facilities in the U.S. and Mexico to former parent Ford Motor Co. The facilities will be held in a temporary business managed by Ford until they are sold. Visteon is Ford's largest supplier of critical auto parts and components. According to Ford, the arrangement protects its parts supply, allows it to diversify that supply base, and creates production-material cost savings.
To learn more

Schwartz named Okuma America president/COO 
Okuma Corp. has promoted Larry Schwartz to president and COO of Okuma American Corp., Charlotte. He succeeds Dean Hanaki, who has been named Okuma America's chairman and CEO. Schwartz was formerly vice president of sales and marketing. He has been with Okuma America for 10 yr, working in manufacturing, sales, marketing, and executive management. Read more

Mark your calendar
Free "Increase Productivity Through Automation" seminars
GE Fanuc, Charlottesville, Va., has assembled a winning team of industry experts to help you optimize your factory and become more globally competitive through automation. Attend this or one of the company's other free half-day seminars and you are eligible to win a trip to the 2006 Olympic games in Italy. Seminar topics include: Advanced Manufacturing, Solutions in Action, Renishaw Inc.; How Robotic Automation Can Save Your Factory, FANUC Robotics; and Real-Time Data From The Plant Floor, GE Fanuc. Register on-line
June 15: Fanuc Robotics America Inc., Charlotte, N.C

June 21: Fanuc Robotics America Inc., Lake Forest, Calif.

July 12-13
Micro-Manufacturing Workshop, Rockford, Ill., EIGERlab, (815) 965-3522.
Find out more

July 14-15
NTMA 2005 Technology Conference, Las Vegas, National Tooling & Machining Assoc., (800) 248-6862, Check it out

July 19-21
Implementing Lean Manufacturing and Beyond, Toronto, Ont., Lean Enterprise Institute, (617) 713-2900, Find out more

July 26-27
Manufacturing Technology Forum, Ann Arbor, Mich., National Center for Manufacturing Sciences and Association for Manufacturing Technology, Read more

Our readers continue to provide thought-provoking replies to the question of the month, posed in the V.I.P. Edition of this newsletter. Check out the We've Got Mail section of June's AMERICAN MACHINIST to see what they've got to say.

Coming in July: AMERICAN MACHINIST will focus on recreational manufacturing.