Monthly Archives : March 2019

blurring in motion as a concept of modern technologies in Metalworking machine with control panel CNC machine

The Keys to Successful High Speed Machining in your Machine Shop

Advancements in CNC manufacturing and industry developments in high speed machinery are just two of the factors that are driving a global CNC machines market that is expected to reach $100 Billion by the year 2025, according to a research study. This industry growth is underpinned by CNC technology that provides manufacturers with a reduction in machining errors, lower operating costs for machine shops, and lower labor costs when state-of-the-art factory automation is implemented in US manufacturing sectors across the board.

Taking Advantage of CNC Manufacturing

The key to successful high speed machining in your machine shop is directly tied to your adoption of high speed CNC machines and tooling or partnering with a machine shop Denver that delivers high speed, custom machine shop services to US manufacturers. These companies provide mills, lathes, grinders, ad routers controlled by computer CNC programming to operate at a significantly higher feed rate – and with a minimum of tool breakage.

Expect a cleaner cut with high-speed machines that operate at lower heat per piece due to the efficient manner in which metal chips are evacuated. The result is tooling that remains cooler with less vibration and a reduction in other machining forces when compared to conventional machine shop operations.

These inherent traits of CNC manufacturing will also provide 3 other major benefits to US manufacturing production – repeatability, precision, and range of materials:

  • Improved Repeatability: CNC programming and machines can reproduce a shop outcome that is unchanged for multiple pieces running at high speeds. Even more important than accuracy, repeatability means errors can be traced and compensated for, to reduce scrap and gain higher precision for intricate geometry machining.
  • Component Precision: When 3D Computer Aided Design (CAD) software is used in conjunction with CNC machines, expect components that are manufactured to exact and extremely precise specifications. Complex shapes and fine or thin parts which at one time required a Master machinist and hours of labor are now easily manufactured without error.
  • Greater Range of Materials: Aside from common manufacturing metals, CNC machining is used to produce components and products from a wide range of materials, including steel, aluminum, bronze, gold, and silver. Today, many domestic consumer products manufactured from polymers such as ABS and PTFE are machined using high speed production as well.

4 Keys to Successful High Speed Machining

Staying competitive in an increasingly fast-paced manufacturing arena means achieving better productivity from your  manufacturing automation strategies. And when it comes to high speed machine shops, the following four keys will do more to ensure success than most other factors:

Material Selection Process

Due to the high feed rates of high speed machine (HSM) processing, softer materials don’t fare as well. For the best results, tough or hardened materials provide the best results. When you consider that different materials are processed at vastly different speeds, mostly due to the preservation of the machine’s cutting tool life, the most common metals include hardened steels, stainless steel, tool steel, and titanium, and often mild steel.

CNC machines are high performing and depend upon critical attention to every detail between the cutting tool, the CNC program, and the material being cut, including:

  • spindle rpm
  • spindle power
  • high feed rates
  • tool path rates

Material properties will affect the material removal rate and how much wear and tear is being placed on the cutting tool. Companies can overcome these material selection challenges by partnering with a machine shop Denver that specializes in CNC manufacturing and custom machine shop processes. Here you will find the expertise required to overcome component material specification and cutting tool material challenges and how material will relate to depth of cut, coolant flow rate, and the type of coating for the cutting tool.

Acceptable Workpiece Geometries

While CNC machines are regularly used to process common geometries, when it comes to high speed operations, the tool geometry and tool access to all parts of the working piece are dependent on the geometry of each component. Workpiece geometry with internal or ‘hidden’ cuts will often place a limit on to the maximum depth of an undercut.

Likewise, the stiffness of the workpiece and the tool must be matched to reduce deformation and vibration during machining, otherwise the temperature increase due to cutting forces are too great for high speed applications. Consideration of workpiece geometry also includes maintaining a minimum wall thickness for a successful component that is machined using high speed CNC equipment.

The Right CNC Machinery

If your CNC machines are not rated for high speed operations, then expect broken tooling and lot’s of scrap pieces. There are a wide range of factors that are needed for high speed production to run smoothly – and these factors mut be considered when selecting a CNC machine for your machine shop. From complex mechanical parts to mold & die processes, the right CNC machinery depends on:

  • Part Complexity
  • Machining Operations
  • Operator Training
  • CNC Control System
  • Cost Per Part
  • Available Floor Space

When setting up floor space for high speed machining, operations may need to be rearranged to accommodate material flow from point-to-point for increased productivity. When selecting a machine, worker safety and chip disposal during non-stop machining operations are an integral part of operations planning.

If you are in the process of choosing a CNC machine shop Denver to drive your high speed manufacturing projects, request samples of their previous work and discuss any in-house limitations they may have which can affect how flexible they can be during production.

Partner with a US manufacturing service provider that can run a range of project sizes from big scale productions to small prototype machining with a variety of materials.

Access to Trained CNC Operators

There is no denying that there exists a shortage of skilled CNC operators in America to fulfill the needs of manufacturers for trained and experienced workers to fill new positions in high speed manufacturing. The Golden Age of skilled machinists existed during the Baby Boomer generation – and today that workforce is retiring at a record pace.

The majority of Millennials that have entered the manufacturing industry have looked to supervisory or management positions in lieu of the traditional machine shop occupations that were held by their parents.

For these reasons, companies are finding access to trained CNC operators that are experienced in the nuances of high-speed manufacturing by turning to third party or outsourced, machine shops to meet demanding production schedules.

Partner with a high speed manufacturing machine shop that specializes in custom production at a facility that features clean and organized shop floors that are technology driven. Tag Team Manufacturing is dedicated to production quality and s inspired by today’s innovations in high speed machining processes.

At Tag Team, we work closely with your engineers to develop first-run prototypes, and we can collaborate with your product developers to deliver quality components at a competitive price with the ability to output up to 50,000 units annually.

CNC Manufacturing

How Changing Manufacturing Perceptions Are Shaping the Industry

The manufacturing industry in general, including CNC manufacturing and precision manufacturing, is one that is consistently recognized as one of the most important industries that contributes to economic prosperity. However, the US manufacturing industry is facing a gap. Not only are there not enough skilled workers available, but also there isn’t an interest in pursuing long-term careers in CNC manufacturing. A lot of this has to do with the public perception of the industry.

What Is the Public View of Manufacturing?

Americans value the industry, with 83% believing that manufacturing is important to economic prosperity in the country. Seven out of 10 Americans believe that the country should invest more in the industry. Eight in 10 Americans view manufacturing as an important way to maintain the standard of living in the country. Sixty-four percent believe that the manufacturing industry in the country is high tech. Even with these positive stats, Americans still aren’t choosing careers in CNC manufacturing. One-third would not encourage their children to pursue a career in manufacturing because they believe it doesn’t pay enough, is not a strong career path, and they are worried about the stability and security of the job. While 67% believe these jobs are rewarding and interesting, only half believe that a career in this industry provides good pay when compared to other industries.

Even though Americans aren’t encouraging their children to pursue those jobs and don’t seem to want to have these jobs themselves, they are optimistic about the future of manufacturing jobs and do believe that these perceptions can change and improve. Americans believe that future jobs can have better career prospects because they will require higher levels of expertise, have safer and cleaner environments, and be more innovative and creative. In order to get more people interested in manufacturing jobs, Americans believe there should be more targeted programs, such as apprenticeships and internships, as well as CNC manufacturing degree and certification programs. When Americans become more familiar with the industry, they are twice as likely to encourage their children to pursue a manufacturing career.

Education Matters in the Industry

As Americans are becoming more educated about the industry, their perception is changing. In order to fix some of these perceptions, it’s necessary to increase the pool of qualified candidates to be able to get the right talent to staff the roles that today’s manufacturing companies need. Community colleges, as well as technical schools across the country, are working with government and non-profit agencies, as well as manufacturers, to develop curriculum that will help make sure that students have the in-demand skills that are needed for these roles. These institutions, as well as manufacturers themselves, are better understanding the role that they play in transforming the public perception. Oftentimes in the past, manufacturers would spend money to invest in technology and equipment, but didn’t invest in their existing workforce and in the human capital. Due to this, the industry has fallen behind and is lagging when it comes to adapting to new operations in more technologically advanced environments. Schools have worked with private manufacturers in order to develop programs that will help focus on specific skills employers want, which not only makes it easier for the manufacturers themselves, but also benefits the students who want to make sure they can get a job when they are done with school. An example of this is a worker training program with American Makes. This organization is a leading partner in research for 3D printing and additive manufacturing. The organization is a public-private partnership that works to accelerate and innovate additive manufacturing with the goal to help increase the manufacturing competitiveness in the United States. The curriculum that is offered is skills-based training, and the apprenticeships offer a range of jobs that are in demand with a focus on the 3D workforce.

Improving the US Manufacturing Competitiveness

In order to improve perceptions about the industry, more than three-fourths of Americans agree that there needs to be a more strategic approach to invest and develop the manufacturing base. Seven in ten Americans believe that a strong manufacturing base should be a priority for the nation and there should be tax incentives to encourage it. There needs to be lowered health care costs, reforms in the education system, and a comprehensive energy policy. These are just some of the actions that Americans believe could help bolster the competitiveness of the US manufacturing industry.

What’s Really Happening in the Industry?

The manufacturing industry provides one of the most stable and secure career paths, and the average tenure of workers in manufacturing jobs is the highest among private sector industries. Manufacturing jobs have some of the lowest turnover rates as well. Despite what some think, CNC manufacturing jobs are paying well. According to statistics from the Bureau of Labor and Bureau of Economic Analysis, the average worker earned $81,289, which included benefits and pay, compared to the average worker in other industries only earning $63,830. Health benefits can be a concern with job seekers, and manufacturers have some of the higher percentage of workers who are eligible for health benefits provided by an employer. Skilled workers are needed, especially over the next decade. About 3.5 million manufacturing jobs will be needed, which is due to a combination of the retirement of Baby Boomers and the strengthening economy. By making these statistics more well known and increasing public awareness, it can help dispel false perceptions to help get the news out that the industry is actually doing pretty well. Manufacturing is a big contributor to the US economy. The industry employs about 12 million people and the effect of it ripples throughout the entire nation. For every one dollar that is spent in manufacturing, another $1.81 is added to the economy. For every job that is added in the manufacturing industry, four other jobs are added in the broader economy.

How Trends in the Industry Affect Perceptions

Different technological advances that are entering the industry, such as IoT and robotics, are also changing perceptions that are helping to shape the industry. Despite the new technology and many people thinking that technology is going to replace jobs, there is still a huge demand for jobs that are more skilled and can work alongside the changing technology. While some jobs are lost due to robotics and new technology, these jobs are being replaced with higher skilled jobs, which pay more and offer more stability. The newer jobs for higher skilled workers are exactly the kind of jobs that are needed to counteract the negative perceptions that go along with the industry.