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eBulletin, February 2006

Feb. 1, 2006
February 23, 2006 In This Issue 2006 American Machinist Benchmarking Study Commentary by Editor Bruce Vernyi - American Machinist launches a benchmarking survey to help you to succeed. Commentary by Publisher Bob Rosenbaum - China appears ...
February 23, 2006In This Issue
  1. 2006 American Machinist Benchmarking Study
  2. Commentary by Editor Bruce Vernyi
    - American Machinist launches a benchmarking survey to help you to succeed.
  3. Commentary by Publisher Bob Rosenbaum
    - China appears to be an insurmountable challenge, but that is only a pose.
  4. American Machinist for American Manufacturing
    - Three key factors can help you to increase productivity in drilling, the American Machinist benchmarking study will give you tools to stay competitive.
  5. Featured Articles
    - Robots have been launched into five-axis machining, Old EDMs can work like new with bolt-on upgrades, Cut costs by making your coolants last longer.
  6. Government Matters
    - What did not happen in 2005 in regulating trade with China was more important than what did happen.
  7. Technology Trends
    - Carbide thread chasers cut costs; a dry-ice cleaning technique has been developed for machined molds, Edge Technologies is a new name in bar feeders, toolholders now can be adjusted to coolant-thru or DIN configurations with the turn of a screw.
  8. Tech Zone of the Month
  9. Product Spotlight
  10. Cutting Tool Digest
  11. Events
Newsletter Sponsor



Makino
— a leading manufacturer of horizontal and vertical machining centers and EDM machines — has announced a new series of online Webinars. Designed for shops of all types and sizes, the seminars are free to anyone who registers. The planned seminars are intended for shops in the automotive, aerospace, medical product and die and mold industries. In addition to metal cutting and die/mold, the seminars will cover new technologies, such as micromachining. Mark Rentschler, marketing manager, says, "Online seminars allow anyone with an Internet connection to attend without losing a day of work." The seminars concentrate on shop efficiency, lean manufacturing, asset utilization, machine tool integration and automation, machine tool technologies, and metal cutting processes. Makino's application engineers, product managers and guest speakers will give presentations. Click here for more info on upcoming seminars and registration information. 2006 American Machinist Benchmarking Study 2006 Machining Operations Benchmarking Study was launched on February 15, 2006. This groundbreaking research will identify a standard set of key performance indicators for metalworking businesses. The results will enable operations of all sizes ­ from job shops to original equipment manufacturers ­ to validate processes, measure efficiency, attract new business and improve competitiveness. The study examines more than 100 variables to identify common practices among top performing machining operations. "The study will provide members of the metalworking community with tools that help them compete in the global marketplace," said Bob Rosenbaum, publisher. "The first step in any improvement program is to measure your starting point and compare it to industry benchmarks. In metalworking, these tools don’t exist. It's been impossible to take a systematic approach to become more competitive. It’s our job to create these tools." AM’s Seal of Excellence will recognize top operations at a special event during the IMTS show. ClICK HERE to participate! CommentaryNeed a tool to help you to improve?-- Editor Bruce Vernyi American Machinist has launched a comprehensive survey to collect operating information from shops across the nation. Information collected in this survey will help you to measure key performance indicators, compare your operations with others, plan for improvements and set a goal that you will be able to measure again. This effort is part of American Machinist's focus on helping American manufacturers to become more competitive. The other side of belt tightening-- Publisher Bob RosenbaumIf you put on 9.6 percent of your weight each year, your pants wouldn't fit each year. China has grown 9.6 percent each year for the past 25 years, and that rate of growth is making it uncomfortable. Its culture, its infrastructure and its government are being strained, and it's not the insurmountable economic giant that it may seem to be. American Machinist for American Manufacturing In a report on "Cool Drilling," American Machinist provides a look at the three key factors that can help you to become more efficient in the common practice of drilling holes in a workpiece. In addition to that shop floor wisdom, the benchmarking survey that is launched will add competitive tools for you can take advantage of. -- Read More!Featured Articles

  • Move Over Machine Tools, Here Come Robots
    Robots are being used increasingly as five-axis machining platforms because computer language designed for machine tools is being translated into language used to control used for robots, and robotic arms are making headway on jobs that once were done only by machine tools. -- Read More!


  • Kit cuts consumable costs
    New technology can be added to older EDM machines to enhance their performance and reduce costs. -- Read more!


  • Maximizing coolant endurance & economy
    Taking planned steps will help you to extend the life of the vital fluids needed to keep workpieces cool. -- Read more!


Government MattersThe uncertain environment or continued China trade 2005 was a significant year regarding export controls, particularly for the rules that determine what is - or is not --legitimate trade with China. What did not happen, however, was more important than what did. -- Read More!Technology Trends
  • Dry ice cleaning system developed for small molds -- Read more!


  • Autodesk launches program to recognize inventors -- Read more!


  • Hydromat Inc. launches Edge Technologies for bar feeders -- Read more!


Click hereto read more technology trends.Tech Zone of the MonthTURNING [ LEARN MORE ] Breaking machine the screw-mindset Not all jobs involve high-volumes and lots of simple turning operations. [ READ MORE!] AmericanMachinist.com features category-specific sections called Tech Zones, that include articles, products, supplier information, and more organized by key topics. Product SpotlightMakino announced its first quarter 2006 online seminar series. The company says it created the series to help shops of all types and sizes to compete in the global marketplace. The seminar series is designed for shops involved in production machining, metal cutting and micromachining, and in the automotive, aerospace, medical product and die and mold industries. Mark Rentschler, marketing manager, says, "Online seminars allow anyone with an Internet connection to attend without losing a day of work." The seminars concentrate on shop efficiency, getting the most out of your machine tools, asset utilization, machine tool integration and automation, machine tool technologies, and metalcutting processes.Makino's application engineers, product managers and guest speakers will give presentations. The events are free of charge to registered attendees. Upcoming seminars and registration information are listed at www.makino.com/events. Cutting Tool DigestClick hereto read more from the Cutting Tool Digest.EventsPractical Machining Principles for Shop Application March 7-9, 2006 Cincinnati, OH Click Here for more information. Great Designs in Steel 2006 March 8, 2006 Livonia, MI Click Here for more information. Advanced Concepts in Laser Safety March 13-15, 2006 Orlando, FL Click Here for more information.

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