Modeling and Simulation among U.S. Manufacturers: The Case for Digital Manufacturing

In partnership with Intersect360 Research, the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) conducted a broad-based survey of U.S. manufacturers regarding the current state of digital manufacturing technologies and the drivers and barriers to expanding adoption. This study reveals the desire and potential benefits of digital manufacturing for a broad range of companies, particularly the assistance needed by small and medium-size manufacturers (SMMs) and the partnerships they would seek.

An SME Finds the "Sweet Spot" and Achieves an Overnight Success

A progressive BC manufacturing company, Redline Pro Manufacturing, has always invested into new technologies, and they have benefited greatly over the years. They transformed 450 sq. ft. garage shop with a single low end machine tool into a successful, fully automated, state-of-the-art job shop that is running around the clock and making parts for the high tech sector.

Impressive Cycle Time Optimization in Stamping Die Machining

Stamping dies are one of the most time consuming, hard to machine components of the automotive industry. A typical machining strategy for contour surface is to use ball type cutters removing material at varying depths of cut. Long overhangs from the spindle nose puts excessive loading on the tool, and spindle. In addition, constantly varying part geometry and depths of cut make it extremely difficult to maintain a proper chip load on the cutting edges. As a result, process planners typically choose conservative cutting conditions because an error in part program is not affordable when it comes to machining small quantities. 

A striking example of chatter vibration suppression

We wanted to give an example of how to increase productivity by chatter suppression. Below, you will see two videos of machining an aluminum workpiece with two different cutting conditions. The first cutting condition is selected by a process planner based on recommendations of a tool vendor: