Selecting the right cutting clearance and tool for an application is among the challenges stampers face. Material properties and other factors influence this decision. Following some basic guidelines presented in this article can help you select or design the best tool for your needs.

Are you producing quality weld beads? If not, perhaps your parameters need tweaking. This article presents guidelines that can help you identify which parameters to adjust and how to adjust them. It also offers a good buddy-system tip for achieving correct settings.

Who can inspire a young person to pursue a welding career better than a peer who welds? How about a peer who also is a stock car driver? Racer and welder Brennan Palmiter has teamed up with the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association (FMA) Foundation and Practical Welding Today® magazine to introduce more young people to manufacturing careers.

The fourth annual Fabricating Update subscriber survey revealed that anxiety about the U.S. economy outranks other metal manufacturing industry concerns, including steel prices, the No. 1 concern the previous three years. Beating steel prices by a nose was the skilled-labor shortage. Find out what metal manufacturers think of these and other concerns.