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Prairie Muffins: THE U.S. Debt Ceiling
A Reckless Threat: The clock is winding down as the markets anxiously wait for the honorables to make a decision about the government debt ceiling. Here’s the kicker: Even if the latest round of budget talks fail, well-known economist Peter Morici explains why the U.S. does not have to default on national debt and why higher taxes are not needed.
Closing the Wall Street Casino
The Elephant In The Room: Guest columnist and well-known economist Peter Morici shares some thought-provoking business insights in this great analysis of why kids are going to school to get degrees and no one is making things.
HELP – HILFE – AIUTO – AYUDA . . .
IN ANY LANGUAGE, YOUR CNC CAN FIND ANSWERS
Randy Pearson of Siemens Industry explains how, with help screens, full instruction manuals and troubleshooting advice embedded in various languages at the touch of a button, today’s CNC can help machine tool operators identify and overcome most in-cycle problems quickly, so they can make more parts.
FABRICATING RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE WELDING OF TWO-SIDED GROOVE WELDS
Regis Geisler of Lincoln Electric explores some real-world considerations and practices to improve quality and productivity during the welding of two-sided butt joints that are frequently used in pressure vessels and wind tower construction.
THE BASICS OF SAFETY:
PROCESS-BASED SAFETY
Proactive Prevention: In Part Three of his back-to-basics series on worker safety, Phil La Duke of Rockford Greene examines a safety philosophy based upon engineering injuries out of a process during the design stage when it is far less costly.
WHAT’S UNDER THE HOOD:
SOLID STATE OR CO2
Deciding what type of power plant (resonator) will go into your laser machine must be a decision based upon the materials you will be processing and the style of resonator that offers the best performance and the lowest total cost of operation. Al Bohlen of Trumpf explores some specific considerations to think about.
THE FOUR MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SPINDLE REPAIR
In the decision-making process on how best to return a failed spindle into service, Ed Zitney of SKF Services answers four frequently asked questions that are applicable to any operation considering spindle remanufacture.
UNDERSTANDING AND LOWERING WELD COSTS
Given that labor typically accounts for 60 percent to 85 percent of the total cost of any welding operation, fabricators stand to reap significant benefits by better understanding and controlling those costs. However, that’s often easier said than done. Nick Peterson of Miller Electric explores some practical ways to do it.
CHOOSING A GOUGING METHOD
Increasing emphasis on environmental issues and safety has led the welding industry to reconsider how certain tasks are performed. Gouging and cutting metal are primary operations that have come under scrutiny. Robert Fernicola of ESAB Welding & Cutting Products compares carbon-arc vs. plasma gouging for various applications.
QUALIFICATION OF ROBOTIC ARC WELDING PERSONNEL
Geoff Lipnevicius of Lincoln Electric explains why an investment in people and training is a pre-requisite to maximize the value of the automated welding solution that is designed to significantly improve productivity over a manual welding process.
The Biggest Job in Business Today: Turning the Tide in Your Favor
Today’s good news in manufacturing can disappear as quickly as it appeared, so it may be a good idea to prepare for even more demanding conditions. Here is a series of strategies that may help gain a prospect’s attention and solidify a customer relationship.
Why We Violate the Rules
Why do people – including safety professionals themselves – repeatedly ignore safety protocols? Let’ think through why less is more in safety, especially if the problem is the rule rather than the person.