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Totally Tubular: Take Profile Design to the Next Level
One of the fastest-growing sectors of North American metal manufacturing is laser processing of tubes and profiles. Design software and machines that automatically perform multiple manufacturing steps are making this complicated fabrication process cost-effective for smaller companies.
Beautify Welds Without Resorting to Anti-Spatter Compounds
Being sprayed with searing-hot drops of melted metal is one aspect of the job no welder relishes. Following these five productivity, quality, and cost-saving tips will produce better-looking welds with less mess.
Troubleshooting 4 Common Cutting Wheel Problems
Shops can save time and money — and reduce safety risks — when products are used properly. Here’s what to look for and how to correct it to get the most life out of yours.
Think of Weld Traceability As Your Company’s Unofficial Insurance Policy
Robotic welding cells with arc-monitoring and -reporting capability provide peace of mind in two ways. They ensure consistent production and automatically collect and store data a fabrication company can easily share with customers that impose traceability requirements.
Taking Stock: A Brief History of Metal Manufacturing’s Response to COVID-19
Despite what news reports would have you believe, the outlook isn’t all gloom and doom. Armed with funds from new federal loan programs, companies bought or refinanced equipment and consolidated debt to serve expanding markets and/or new business generated by reconfiguring supply lines.
Partnering for a New and Stronger Tomorrow
When the pandemic hit, many companies used the downtime to make data-driven automation, process, and employee training improvements. As global supply chains reconfigure, those investments are paying off.
How to Choose the Right Type of Contact Tip for Your Robotic Welding Cell
Contact tips may be tiny, but using the wrong type or replacing them too soon can have a huge impact on productivity. Here’s what to consider to improve results and save money by properly matching tip type to application.
Advanced-Grain Nonwoven Belt Improves Stainless Steel Finishing Process
Finding people who are willing and able to press metal against an abrasive belt all day long can be challenging. Nonwoven belts make the job more appealing by increasing productivity without increasing effort.
Growing CNC Services With 5-Axis Milling
McAfee Tool & Die is successful because it’s always ready to take a leap of faith with new technology. When owner Gary McAfee bought a 5-axis machine, he realized it was time to update the shop’s CAD/CAM software.
What to Know About Stress Relieving After Welding
With the proper process, oil and gas industries that require components to maintain corrosion or cracking resistance can have peace of mind that elevated service temperatures or multiple repair cycles won’t cause damage.
Comparing Methods for Welding Preheat
Heating the base metal adds time and money up front, but can save time and money by minimizing potential for weld failure. Here’s how to determine the best preheating method – convection ovens, induction, open flame, or resistance heating – for your application.
Give It Up for an All-Around Value-Maker, Efficiency-Builder: Press Brakes
What can’t they do? An MC Machinery spokesman demonstrates how press brakes and press brake tools are so multifunctional and adaptable, manufacturers can creatively use them in applications beyond sheet metal and stamping dies.
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