Metalworking professionals who possess diverse proficient skills have an edge in a tight job market. In this first installment in a series, tool-and-die expert Art Hedrick presents an overview of the metal stamping industry and describes the various careers available in the sector.

Cast iron comes in many different types with different properties. Not all can be welded, cut, or machined in the same way, and some types are better suited for specific applications than others. This article discusses the most common types and how to use them.

Production flexibility can enable a tube and pipe producer to expand its offerings and customer base and increase its chances of survival in a down economy. One way to achieve this flexibility is to upgrade the operation's flying shear component.

Automated vision inspection and optimization technology can help streamline manufacturing operations and improve part quality. This technology detects defects in welding seams that often are missed by manual inspection and provides documentation that can be used in researching and resolving product issues.

Editor's Note: This series presents an overview of metal stamping. Part I focuses on the various careers in the metal stamping industry. Part II discusses stamping materials and equipment. Part III focuses on dies and cutting and Part IV offers more detail about cutting processes. Part V, the final installment, investigates forming methods.