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Articles tagged with "work"

Results: 172

Plasma pleases plenty

Technological developments in lasers are positioning them as an attractive alternative to plasma. But fabricators are still sticking with plasma cutting for many applications where speed and cost-effective operation are concerns.

Publish date: June 8, 2004

Tech cell: Plasma Cutting


Cutting through the obstacles: The challenges of sawing structural tube, pipe, and solids

Of all the materials that can be cut on industrial band saw machines, structural steels—such as pipe and tubing, plate, angle and channel iron, and I beams—are all among the most common and challenging.

Publish date: December 11, 2001

Tech cell: Sawing


What is your facility cut out for? Circular and band saw purchases depend on application requirements

What cutting equipment you buy depends very heavily on what area of industry you are supplying, throughput requirements, and, not least, finances. Don't let preconceived notions prevent you from making the very best possible decision.

Publish date: April 24, 2001

Tech cell: Sawing


Cutting to the chase: Array

By: Array
Array

Publish date: Array

Tech cell: Array


Band saw cutting of tube and pipe: Tips for blade selection and machine settings

Production quantities of cut tube and pipe can be produced economically with a band saw. However, the choice of which blade to use is very important in maintaining a low cost per cut.

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Sawing


Making hands-free straight, saddle, and miter cuts

Rovanco Piping Systems Inc. designs and fabricates piping systems for applications such as water (hot and cold), steam, and jet fuel. It sells fabricated pipe—typically with straight or miter end cuts—up to 36 inches in diameter. It provides preinsulated, high-temperature, low-temperature, and containment systems.

Publish date: June 26, 2003

Tech cell: Sawing


Cutting to the chase Sawing structural and architectural tubing: Sawing structural and architectural tubing

This article examines common fabrication processes for structural and architectural tube. It specifically focuses on cutting, sawing, miter cutting, bundle sawing, and cambering.

Publish date: December 13, 2001

Tech cell: Sawing


Selecting a table for abrasive jet machining

Publish date: June 26, 2003

Tech cell: Waterjet Cutting


Advancements in waterjet technology

When Jack Budd, president of Precision Waterjet, Orange, Calif., purchased his first waterjet system seven years ago, he expected most of the company's work to come from the aerospace industry, which was robust at the time. When business from that industry tapered off, he searched for new customers in the architectural, signage, and automotive aftermarket industries.

Publish date: July 24, 2003

Tech cell: Waterjet Cutting


Fabricating technology advancements drive new plate finishing trends

The same industry forces of nature—globalization, economic conditions, quality demands, and safety and environmental regulations—that are pressuring metal fabricators to do more, better, and faster with less are blowing no less forcefully on finishing fabricators.

Publish date: July 10, 2003

Tech cell: Finishing


Choosing the right coated abrasive for plate finishing applications: A look at grain properties

Most plate fabricating companies need to select a coated abrasive to finish their parts. This selection process can be intimidating, as well as confusing, because so many types of coated abrasives are available.

Publish date: January 29, 2004

Tech cell: Finishing


Effective simulation of hydroforming: Current capabilities and requirements for the future

Simulation is used in the hydroforming process to replace the experimental investigation and tests required in a real tryout process.

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Hydroforming


Pressure-sequence and high-pressure hydroforming: Knowing the processes can mean boosting profits

Pressure-sequence hydroforming can form complex parts as well as forming most ductile metals, including high-strength, low-alloy, and stainless steels with sharper corners, thick-walled tube, and other difficult features.

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Hydroforming


Examining the effects of push assist on the formability of aluminum tubes

It is well-known that tube has become an important material for hydroforming hollow components. The increasing complexity of product structures, particularly in the automotive industry, often requires one or more forming operations before a tube actually is hydroformed. Prebending is one of these forming processes used to prepare tubes for the so-called prebent tube hydroforming.

Publish date: July 10, 2003

Tech cell: Hydroforming


Tube Hydroforming Design Flexibility—Part IV

Publish date: October 23, 2003

Tech cell: Hydroforming


Handling appliance steel: Tips for processing surface-sensitive materials

Savvy stampers are purchasing new equipment or modifying and retrofitting existing equipment to include prefinished materials features. By paying close attention to equipment, tension practices, material processing methods, and material handling, stampers can participate in the market for surface-sensitive materials.

Publish date: November 20, 2003

Tech cell: Materials Handling


Interaction of chemicals used in forming and fabricating

Knowing how chemicals tend to react with one another and how each type of lubricant and coolant commonly used during steel processing tends to behave is a boon when you're trying to fabricate products properly.

Publish date: October 11, 2001

Tech cell: Metals/Materials


Phases, structures, and the influences of temperature

When you heat or cool a piece of metal to a specific temperature, that metal goes through what's called a phase change, in which its crystal structure changes. Sometimes the change is obvious. For example, when a piece of metal melts, it goes through a phase change when the crystal structure breaks down and the metal goes from solid to liquid. When it solidifies it's also a phase change, as the structure re-forms from liquid to solid.

Publish date: June 26, 2003

Tech cell: Metals/Materials


Making steels stronger

When it comes to modifying a steel's strength and hardness, it's important to not confuse hardness with hardenability and remember that hardenability characteristics are important because they help identify how much a specific steel will harden during welding.

Publish date: October 9, 2003

Tech cell: Metals/Materials


Selecting the right materials for roll forming—Part 2: How mechanical properties affect production

This is the second part of a two-part article. Read Part I. If you examine the mechanical properties of several materials, including carbon steel, alloyed steel, stainless steel, as they relate to roll forming, you'll gain an understanding of the influence of some primary metal processes on roll forming.

Publish date: September 13, 2001

Tech cell: Roll Forming


Thermal spray safety and OSHA compliance: Protecting operators from ultraviolet light, fumes, dust, compressed air, gases

OSHA has regulations for both facets of thermal spray environment, and shops should be aware of some practical safety tips for how to comply with those regulations.

Publish date: July 12, 2001

Tech cell: Safety


How to avoid getting burned by hot work: Preventing losses and insuring safety

Maintaining a safe work environment in facilities in which hot work, such as welding, is done can be easier said than done. Measures such as preventive safety, safety zones, and fire watches can keep employees safe and worker's comp time down

Publish date: July 26, 2001

Tech cell: Safety


Stamp of Approval: Full-court press safety: How to maintain an effective safety program end to end

If you want a safe press operation, look beyond the machinery. Don't be surprised to find the keys to a good safety program well outside the confines of the pressroom.

Publish date: August 23, 2001

Tech cell: Safety


Ensuring a plant's electrical system safety: One company's experience with infrared thermography

This article takes a look at using infrared thermography in the plant setting to detect potential fire hazards. It discusses who can provide the service, what sorts of problems it can detect, and generally explains how the problems discovered when using this technology should be handled. It also uses an actual inspection as a basis for the discussion.

Publish date: November 29, 2001

Tech cell: Safety


A breath of fresh air: Array

By: Array
Array

Publish date: Array

Tech cell: Array


Assessing cutting and forming machine tool safety

The expanded breadth of recent standards typically includes the entire life expectancy of machines, the full scope of possible risks, the frequency and severity of risks, and the possibility of harm.

Publish date: November 15, 2001

Tech cell: Safety


Common threads in workplace safety: How different committees work to ensure the health and safety of their workers

Although various safety committees differ somewhat from plan to plan, they all function as a means to promote workplace health and safety. Different components of a safety plan include responsibilities, activities, and the structure of each company's committee.

Publish date: April 24, 2001

Tech cell: Safety


Proper guarding protects workers: Six steps to focusing on your employees' needs

When people think of machine guarding, usually they think of devices to protect people from the moving parts on machinery.

Publish date: July 12, 2001

Tech cell: Safety


When sparks fly ...

This article combines examples of fires caused by inadequate protection from welding with information on heat-resistant textiles and how they can be used to provide that protection.

Publish date: December 13, 2001

Tech cell: Safety


Staying safe during HF welding: A common sense approach to personnel protection

Proper clothing, training, procedures, troubleshooting, preparation, and equipment for HF welding are critical if you want to prevent workplace accidents.

Publish date: October 11, 2001

Tech cell: Safety


Dressing for success and other welding safety tips

Whether we are attending a social occasion or dressing for the job, we all give some thought about what we are going to wear.

Publish date: May 30, 2001

Tech cell: Safety


Substance abuse in the workplace—Part 1

Publish date: March 27, 2003

Tech cell: Safety


Substance abuse in the workplace—Part 2: Preventing and dealing with the problem

The toll that substance abuse takes on the abuser, his or her family and friends, and those who become victims of substance abuse-induced accidents and crimes is well-documented.

Publish date: April 10, 2003

Tech cell: Safety


Employees value workplace health and wellness programs

Sixty percent of respondents to a recent survey consider health and wellness programs a viable incentive to stay at their current jobs. But it must be the right program, one that addresses the employees' concerns.

Publish date: April 24, 2003

Tech cell: Safety


Making the workplace safe for Spanish-speaking employees

Modifying your safety program to address the needs of your Spanish-speaking employees can create a much safer work environment. Here's how one company achieved that goal.

Publish date: June 26, 2003

Tech cell: Safety


Six dangerous misconceptions about crane safety: Knowing the facts could save your life

Knowing how cranes should be used, and how they should not be used, is critical to crane safety. Overload, side pull, limit switches, secondary braking devices, using the reverse direction for speed control, and daily inspections are surrounded by myth and mystery in the workplace.

Publish date: July 10, 2003

Tech cell: Safety


Workplace stress—Part 1

Stress is a fact of life. It's here to stay, and even if we could abolish it, we wouldn't want to. At its best, stress can be the catalyst that moves us to make changes and achieve great things in life. At its worst, it can create all kinds of emotional and physical problems. What determines whether stress is a friend or foe? Whether it precipitates changes that improve our lives or whether it greatly diminishes the quality of our lives? One determining factor is how we handle or manage stress. We can be our own best friend or our own worst enemy.

Publish date: July 24, 2003

Tech cell: Safety


Workplace stress—Part 2

If you've visited a doctor recently and were told that stress is the cause of or a contributing factor to what ails you, you're not alone. Although you can't expect to eliminate all of the stress in your life, you can learn to manage it and reduce its negative effects.

Publish date: August 14, 2003

Tech cell: Safety


Protecting yourself from gases and fumes: 10 tips for healthier lungs

Welding gases, fumes, and smoke can cause both short-term and long-term health hazards for welders. Presented here are 10 ways to help ensure welders are kept safe.

Publish date: September 25, 2003

Tech cell: Safety


Selecting the best lens for welders' eye protection

In the industrial environment, safety glasses are a necessity for jobs that put employees' eyes at risk of exposure to heat, impact, chemicals, or dust. But workers also need protection from nonimpact dangers, such as radiant energy, eye strain, and fatigue. So choosing the appropriate lens or filter plate for your workers' eye protection is just as important in preventing eye injury as is selecting the appropriate style of safety eyewear.

Publish date: October 9, 2003

Tech cell: Safety


Take control of safety

Welders are among the millions of workers who face respiratory hazards every day in the workplace. Confined spaces, solvents, and gas emissions, as well as welding, grinding, and soldering, may expose workers to airborne hazards.

Publish date: October 23, 2003

Tech cell: Safety


Material handling safety

Handling material is a daily function in the workplace. All too often it is a task taken for granted, with little knowledge of or attention to the consequences if done incorrectly. Management and employees need to look at and evaluate how material goods are handled inside and outside their facilities. Whether the operation involves delivering or receiving material, an area should be designated for that purpose.

Publish date: October 23, 2003

Tech cell: Safety


One system does not fit all: Ventilation equipment becomes more specific to improve the welding environment

Ventilation systems come in a variety of types for different types of welding processes and varying fabrication facility setups. The emphasis on proper application of these systems and best use of the components used in them comes from an increased interest in cleaner air for the welder.

Publish date: January 13, 2004

Tech cell: Safety


Respirator selection as a business decision: How to choose the right equipment for your welders

Several technical articles have addressed respiratory diseases associated with welding activities and when a respirator should be used to help prevent these diseases. Once an employer concludes that respiratory protection is the appropriate option for a particular application, the next step is selecting the right respirator.

Publish date: January 29, 2004

Tech cell: Safety


Occupational injury and illness statistics: Where does your manufacturing job rank?

In December 2003 the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released its 2002 occupational injuries and illnesses data. A total of 4.7 million nonfatal injuries and illnesses were reported in private-industry workplaces during 2002, resulting in a rate of 5.3 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers. Among goods-producing categories, incidence rates ranged from 4.0 cases per 100 workers in mining to 7.2 cases per 100 workers in manufacturing. These numbers are overall averages of subsets in each major category.

Publish date: January 29, 2004

Tech cell: Safety


Emergency preparedness: A critical safety program component

You're at work and a fire alarm or other emergency warning device sounds. Do you know what to do? Where to go and the appropriate route to get there?

Publish date: February 12, 2004

Tech cell: Safety


Gear up for welding

Publish date: March 11, 2004

Tech cell: Safety


Welding fume health hazards

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), more than 400,000 U.S. men and women are employed in welding and related occupations. Some studies suggest that these workers are at risk of serious respiratory, neurological, and reproductive effects. More and better data is needed to assess the risks.

Publish date: March 11, 2004

Tech cell: Safety


A breath of fresh air - Taking a look at in-plant filtration systems: Taking a look at in-plant filtration systems

The article explains how to carry out a facility and process evaluation and discusses the basics of in-plant air filtration system selection.

Publish date: November 15, 2001

Tech cell: Safety


Applying the theory of constraints in a structural steel plant: How keeping busy can be a BAD idea

Merely staying busy is not a determinant of success.

Publish date: March 5, 2001

Tech cell: For CEOs


Managing innovation in the factory: Turning improvements into intellectual property

In many industries, more than three fourths of new products start out as direct requests from customers. How can you find and capitalize on the opportunities hidden in offbeat requests?

Publish date: February 15, 2001

Tech cell: For CEOs


Put your money where your mouse is: How to succeed in e-business

To decrease your chance of failure in e-business, focus on the business issues first and the technology issues second.

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: For CEOs


Mediating commercial conflict

This article explores some of the aspects of a commercial mediation I performed some years ago. The identities of the participants and the facts of the case have been changed to preserve the participants' privacy and the confidentiality inherent in mediation cases. This case was selected because of the intense emotional feelings that surrounded what should have been a straightforward and rather simple business arrangement. So often it seems that the feelings, emotions, and egos of the participants in a conflict can mean more than the dollars or tangible value involved.

Publish date: May 15, 2003

Tech cell: For CEOs


What price workers' compensation insurance?

It's a Catch-22 for many manufacturers. Not having workers' compensation insurance can put them out of business. Paying for workers' compensation insurance can put them out of business. How is a company to survive?

Publish date: July 10, 2003

Tech cell: For CEOs


Workers' compensation—Managing the process

Publish date: November 20, 2003

Tech cell: For CEOs


Reflection—Getting the most from experience

Leaders, what have you learned about yourself, your employees, and your company in the past year? What were your business blessings? What did you learn about your leadership style or methods? What do you intend to take into the new year, and what will you leave behind?

Publish date: November 20, 2003

Tech cell: For CEOs


Implementing open-book management: A management philosophy for surviving the global economy

Today global competitors are literally willing to work for food. U.S. workers want a car, a home, and a college education for their kids in addition to their meals. Reducing pay and eliminating benefits is not an answer for anything but a lower standard of living. The challenge is not reducing compensation but rather dramatically improving productivity. Making owners out of employees is the ticket to that productivity. Open Book Management is a philosophy—a value system.

Publish date: March 11, 2004

Tech cell: For CEOs


Slash maintenance inventory costs: Five steps for managing MRO parts

The quickest boost for most organizations' bottom line is finding opportunities for decreasing costs without sacrificing quality. An area frequently overlooked is the inventory of parts kept for maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO).

Publish date: April 10, 2003

Tech cell: For Engineers


Improving the bottom line in automotive applications: How to reduce the total cost of weld quality

The automotive industry is under extreme pressure to improve the productivity and quality of its operations. Tier 1 suppliers especially are being squeezed by a combination of very competitive upfront bidding for contracts and yearly price reductions. One area ripe for savings in most automotive companies is the total cost associated with welding quality.

Publish date: April 24, 2003

Tech cell: For Engineers


Inline Process auditing: Moving beyond random sampling

Imagine this: The line is running smoothly, delivery is tight but on schedule, it is 10 minutes to shift change, and suddenly Art the quality control inspector runs by the office window shouting, "We've got bad parts coming out!" You shut the line down, your production supervisor comes running, Art is grabbing as many parts as he can to start checking, and the operator is thinking, "I should run now and let the second shift deal with it."

Publish date: June 12, 2003

Tech cell: For Engineers


Where the welders are: Skilled welders are out of work, but employers can’t find them

Publish date: July 13, 2004

Tech cell: Fab Stories


Staying lean in a lean economy

Slow times call for some desperate measures, but losing sight of a lean approach to manufacturing should not be one of them. Take an opportunity that slow times present to evaluate your business and take appropriate steps towards a lean operation.

Publish date: June 18, 2002

Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis


Just what does Covisint mean, anyway?: How the auto industry's B2B supersite will transform its supply chain

Covisint aims to be a lot of things to a lot of people in the automotive industry, starting with the industry's largest suppliers and working down through the supply chain.

Publish date: March 13, 2001

Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis


Siege planning or stategic planning

"Globalization isn't news," said Lawrence J. Kendzior, a partner at Gleeson Sklar Sawyers & Cumpata LLP (GSSC), a privately held accounting firm that focuses on what it calls "middle-market manufacturers." "The news is that it's suddenly impacting companies that have never before been affected."

Publish date: April 24, 2003

Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis


Sick at Work?

All employees have days at work when they don't feel well. Usually these days are intermittent and can be attributed to a cold or other illness or job-related stress.

Publish date: May 15, 2003

Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis


The end of the (welding) world as we know it?: Connecticut may face changes in its vocational-technical welding programs

The end of manufacturing is near for the state of Connecticut, some fear.

Publish date: June 26, 2003

Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis


The Perfect Economic Storm and The 100-Year Flood in Manufacturing—Part 1

Publish date: July 10, 2003

Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis


The Perfect Economic Storm and The 100-Year Flood in Manufacturing—Part 2

Publish date: July 24, 2003

Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis


Pinpointing future laser welding markets

Aficionados of laser welding technology at times must feel a little like telephone vendors beamed back to 1603. They know almost everyone is going to use them in the future, but getting buy-in today can be like hawking loans at 25 percent-lots of interest and few takers.

Publish date: October 23, 2003

Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis


Meeting ISO 14001 requirements: Leveraging advanced forming lubricant technology

As of July 2003 all 5,000-plus Ford Motor Company suppliers were required to be ISO 14001-certified. In 2002 General Motors required all of its suppliers to implement environmental management systems (EMS) that conform to ISO 14001. The trend will continue for the auto industry and others.

Publish date: November 6, 2003

Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis


A 'bout' with the champion

Rep. Don Manzullo speaks about taxes, steel tariffs, health care, and manufacturing's future.

Publish date: February 26, 2004

Tech cell: Industry Trends and Analysis


Common barricades on the road to lean

The number of opportunities to steer your company wrong during a move toward lean manufacturing are myriad. Knowing a few of the common ones may help you achieve your goals without a lot of headaches.

Publish date: Array

Tech cell: Shop Strategies


Tips on Lean Manufacturing: How to purge weight from your manufacturing operation

All manufacturing operations need to reinvent themselves to compete in today's marketplace. What can you do to change? Try going lean.

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Shop Strategies


Tips on Lean Manufacturing: Mastering the stop 'n' go of your shop's work flow

Mastering the flow of work through your shop is your most important taks if you are attempting Toyota's approach to lean manufacturing.

Publish date: August 16, 2001

Tech cell: Shop Strategies


Changing the way they do business: Bridge, structural fabricators have to think about process choices

Dealing with work loads, delivery schedules, and many other responsibilities doesn't leave managers with much time to consider factors that justify equipment improvements.

Publish date: September 4, 2001

Tech cell: Shop Strategies


Taking a look at performance appraisals

If you make continuous feedback part of your managerial style, the annual performance appraisal becomes an affirmation of a positive working relationship.

Publish date: March 28, 2002

Tech cell: Training and Retention


Overcoming the skilled labor shortage

The labor force of tomorrow needs to embrace manufacturing today if the industry is going to attract and keep the workers it needs in the future.

Publish date: May 15, 2001

Tech cell: Training and Retention


In Human Terms—The value of engaging the workforce

Building trust with employees, listening to them, and spending time face-to-face with them helps managers in little critical ways they never may have imagined.

Publish date: May 30, 2001

Tech cell: Training and Retention


Overcoming organizational paralysis

Paralysis – what a horrible thought. What if you found yourself in a situation in which you had partial or complete loss of motion and sensation in your body?

Publish date: May 15, 2003

Tech cell: Training and Retention


Tuning a piano—making the most of your best resources

Publish date: July 24, 2003

Tech cell: Training and Retention


Shedding light on negativity—Part 1

Publish date: October 9, 2003

Tech cell: Training and Retention


Is your company a breeding ground for workplace violence?

Workplace violence—many of us think about it only when national or local media reports an incident. Most of us probably think it happens infrequently and never could happen where we work. And it's likely that workplace violence victims thought the same thing, before it happened to them.

Publish date: November 6, 2003

Tech cell: Training and Retention


Shedding light on negativity—Part 2

Publish date: November 6, 2003

Tech cell: Training and Retention


Balancing work and life: A commonsense approach to working smarter and living better

To remain competitive in today's cutthroat economic environment, companies are doing more with fewer people. The tight job market can make even those employees whose work loads haven't increased feel they have to expend more effort—or even create an illusion of having to expend more effort—simply to keep their jobs. No longer is it just the workaholics among us who are working harder and putting in longer hours.

Publish date: January 11, 2005

Tech cell: Training and Retention


Not Your Parents' Workplace

Editor's Note: This column was prepared by the staff of Winning Workplaces, a not-for-profit organization that helps small and midsized businesses create better work environments.

Publish date: March 8, 2005

Tech cell: Training and Retention


Connecting with employees: Low-tech ideas to keep communication channels flowing

Quickly growing companies find that keeping communication channels functioning and creating new ones are critical to sustaining the culture that made them good workplaces when they were small.

Publish date: July 10, 2007

Tech cell: Training and Retention


Flatness in coil processing operations: New turns in the leveling process

Most flat-rolled coil processing operations use some sort of roller leveling technology. Operations people understand what these machines can do to improve the quality of the product they produce. In the competitive marketplace, customers demand and get more that just flat sheets or slit coils.

Publish date: August 16, 2001

Tech cell: Coil Processing


Pairing a servo feed with a pull-through straightener: Applications for noncosmetic stamped parts

This article explores the possibility that servo feeds can be used with pull-through straighteners as opposed to a conventional feed line that uses a powered straightener. Using the servo-PTS (pull-through straightener) can save money on equipment and material. The only limitation may be marking the material so noncosmetic applications are recommended.

Publish date: December 13, 2001

Tech cell: Coil Processing


Getting it Straight: Understanding coil straightening in stamping operations

Before coiled material can pass through a die to produce an acceptable part, it must be straightened. Coil straightening is accomplished by bending a strip of material around sets of rollers that alternately stretch and compress the upper and lower surfaces so that the material's yield point is exceeded.

Publish date: May 29, 2003

Tech cell: Coil Processing


Maximizing a coil fed press: Variables that influence production speed, setup

Coil-fed stamping presses are nothing new, but coil feeding processes have changed a lot since the days when press feeders were driven mechanically by crank motion. Influencing these processes are differences between transfer and progressive tooling.

Publish date: July 24, 2003

Tech cell: Press Feeding


Contract stamper increases die life and draw die productivity: Link-drive presses, value-added services, and employee initiative keep the company competitive

Publish date: November 15, 2001

Tech cell: Press Technology


Metal stamping and electromagnetic forming: New process improves material formability, reduces wrinkling

This article describes the development of electromagnetic forming (EMF) and how EMF works.

Publish date: October 25, 2001

Tech cell: Press Technology


Hydraulic workholding from scratch: How to select and set up components

Hydraulic clamps are used in place of manual or toggle clamps to hold the workpiece or tool in place during stamping. This article examines the four steps that comprise the selection and installation of a hydraulic workholding system: cylinder selection, cylinder force and stroke, power source selection, and system connection.

Publish date: December 13, 2001

Tech cell: Press Technology


Robotic press tending: vailable equipment and its effects on press productivity

Robots offer an alternative to automatic transfer presses in applications in which parts must be reoriented (tilted, rotated, or flipped) as they are moved between operations. When selecting a robot for press tending, three of the many features to be considered are size, flexibility, and mountion options.

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Press Technology


Standardizing finger tooling: Modular systems provide alternative to dedicated transfer tooling

Modular, adjustable, articulated finger tooling for transfer presses may provide the flexibility you need to increase productivity and efficiency in your stamping operation.

Publish date: September 4, 2001

Tech cell: Press Technology


Increasing stamping press productivity in the appliance industry: Advances in press technology and materials leave their mark

An appliance plant with 80 to 100 presses in opeation is likely to buy new presses regularly. Under these circumstances, it makes good sense to pursue aggressive productivity goals inch by inch through steady advances in such prosaic concerns as machiner ergonomics, prventive maintenance, tooling efficiency, and material quality.

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Press Technology


Designing high-strength steel stamped parts for formability

The use of high-strength steel to manufacture automobiles and other transportation vehicles has increased dramatically. The material's strength allows manufacturers to reduce vehicle weight substantially and increase fuel efficiency, without sacrificing performance.

Publish date: June 12, 2003

Tech cell: Press Technology


Taking the heat, keeping the current: Heat sinks provide thermal conductivity, electrical isolation

Publish date: July 24, 2003

Tech cell: Press Technology


Virtual tryout: Simulation software simplifies progressive die troubleshooting

Publish date: August 14, 2003

Tech cell: Press Technology


Hydraulic presses make their mark

Publish date: September 25, 2003

Tech cell: Press Technology


Stamping 101: Chicago-area training facility offers a hands-on education

To promote real-world stamping training, the Tooling & Manufacturing Association (TMA) wanted to create a resource whereby stampers could receive a consistent, recognized, hands-on education on the industry's most current equipment.

Publish date: September 25, 2003

Tech cell: Press Technology


High-tech presses: Servo technology meets mechanical presses

Publish date: November 20, 2003

Tech cell: Press Technology


Filling in the blanks: What to look for in an in-house blank shearing line

Publish date: December 11, 2003

Tech cell: Press Technology


Finding and creating value in your stamping operation: How to analyze your plant to improve profitability

A different breed of competitor has emerged recently in the stamping industry to challenge traditional thinking. These competitors are companies that focus on time as a basic measurement, giving them the advantages of flexibility, innovation, responsiveness, and low costs. They know how to make money in stamping operations and take business away from less astute competitors.

Publish date: December 11, 2003

Tech cell: Press Technology


Spraying it right: Containing and controlling lubricants

Publish date: June 8, 2004

Tech cell: Press Technology


Do you use checking jigs and fixtures?: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

How do you check tube fabrications to ensure they meet quality standards? Do you ship parts without checking them and hope that the next time the phone rings it isn't a prelude to a tirade from a disgruntled customer? Or do you check finished parts only to realize that your scrap rate is too high and wish you had checked them at earlier stages of the manufacturing process?

Publish date: July 10, 2003

Tech cell: Testing and Measuring


Achieving straight-side capabilities in a gap-frame press: New developments in motion and frame technology

Recent changes in tooling technologies, material specifications, part quality requirements, and inventory levels have driven the demand for new developments in the way a mechanical press operates. This article discusses how link motion and bridge-frame structures help stampers. This includes a description of what link motion is and how it works, and how bridge frame presses affect frame deflection.

Publish date: October 25, 2001

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Designing progressive dies: Reviewing the basics of progressive tooling

Decisions and compromises must be made when designing progressive dies to produce a part. Knowing ahead of time what this process entails just might help you.

Publish date: September 17, 2001

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Part nesting and die design tips for reducing and utilizing scrap in stamping operations

You might be able to gain a competitive edge by learning how to reduce the amount of engineered scrap, or that material that was inteded to be scrap rather than scrap created because of defective piece parts.

Publish date: November 15, 2001

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Protecting dies against press system faults

The need for die protection has existed ever since the first die was produced. The most elementary form of protection has always been an alert, dependable operator. However, an operator cannot always react to a problem before it damages a die.

Publish date: May 30, 2001

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Cutting die-related costs: Where to look to save money

Demands for cheaper, better, and faster tooling for stampings and the pace of business continue to escalate. This trend is not going to reverse itself.

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Tooling tricks of the trade: A few tips for extending die life

Publish date: June 26, 2003

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Taking an integrated build approach to stamping tool tryout

Market pressures to reduce tooling costs are pressing the tool and die industry to seek lower-cost tooling solutions. This column discusses different build approaches and the merits of an integrated build for trying out stamping dies (and molds) as part of the manufacturing validation process.

Publish date: June 26, 2003

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Improving blank edge conditions

A blank, stamped in the first station of a progressive stamping operation, usually is subject to subsequent forming processes to form a designated part. If the blank is subject to straining, deformation, bending, stretching, or lateral expansion in later stations, its edge condition should be carefully examined.

Publish date: July 24, 2003

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Choosing the proper steel to minimize abrasive adhesive tool wear

The most disruptive type of failure in any tooling application is when the tool cracks. To prevent this type of failure in cold-work applications, it's important to select the correct steel.

Publish date: September 25, 2003

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Selecting a pressure system for a stamping die

Author's Note: Before I begin, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to thefabricator.com's readers. I hope you have enjoyed the stamping articles, and I am excited about writing for 2004. I also would like to wish all of you a great holiday season as well as a prosperous and successful year. Best holiday wishes!Art

Publish date: December 11, 2003

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Rolling bolsters bolster productivity

To thrive and experience growth and healthy profits, a stamping company must have systems in place that allow flexible manufacturing and minimize press downtime. Changing from one job to the next in the least amount of time possible is one of the primary factors impacting productivity and a company's ability to adjust to the changing needs of customers quickly and efficiently.

Publish date: January 13, 2004

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Venturing Into the World of 3-D Die Design: 10 questions to ask to make an informed decision

2-D, or not 2-D; that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler to venture out into a brisk, bold, new world of 3-D or to stick with old, reliable methods in 2-D.

Publish date: March 11, 2004

Tech cell: Tool and Die


Magnetic pulse welding for tubular applications: Discovering new technology for welding conductive materials

A review of how magnetic pulse welding works, in what applications it can be used, and what considerations users must take to perform it properly.

Publish date: July 26, 2001

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication


Cutting tube in a recut operation: How to decide on a method and equipment

This piece, which originally appeared in TPJ-The Tube & Pipe Journal in 1997, explains how to decide whether to cut tubing on the production line or cut it later in a recut operation. Discusses various types of recutting equipment and focuses on the dual-blade shear cutting method.

Publish date: October 25, 2001

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication


Automating your end forming operation: How to maximize efficiency in the shop

Efficiency, productivity, and quality are focal points for end forming operations, and many manufacturers are looking to automation to improve those dimensions of their businesses.

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication


Automotive motives - Tips for cutting per-piece prices for automotive customers

Today's automotive industry is more competitive than ever. To compete with the European, Mexican, and Asian markets, the U.S. market must become more aggressive in finding ways to cut costs.

Publish date: May 29, 2003

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication


The Bold in Arches: Pipe fabricator uses induction bending to create roof truss assemblies

The phraseobstructed viewis probably most connected with older sports stadiums. For example, at Wrigley Field in Chicago, depending on where your seat is, watching Sammy Sosa in action in right field might be replaced by a view of a rusting steel girder.

Publish date: June 26, 2003

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication


The little-known life of the scarfing tool: Focusing on a small device to see the bigger picture

Who cares about scarfing tools? There are more important things in life. When the beauty pageant contestant is asked what problem she would like to solve, she's more likely to answer "I'd like to establish world peace" than "I wish I could find ways to help scarfing tools last longer."

Publish date: June 26, 2003

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication


The wrinkle-wiper for tube bends: How to choose and use wiper dies

A wiper die is a piece of tooling used in tube bending that helps keep the bend from wrinkling. While there are many reasons and ways to use a wiper die in a tube bending maching, you should also know what types are available, their differences, and how to choose the right one for your application.

Publish date: September 25, 2003

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication


Using a gel-type tube lube: Manufacturer decreases waste, improves lubrication

Publish date: October 23, 2003

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication


Troubleshooting compression bending

You can achieve nearly trouble-free bending by being aware of the causes of typical compression bending problems and by correctly operating and maintaining the compression bender.

Publish date: January 13, 2004

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication


Choosing the right robotic weld cell for your operation

Your company's first robot may cause more trouble than expected. This doesn't mean that the robot will not work, but it is a piece of

Publish date: January 29, 2004

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication


Tooling, the key for mill production

This article discusses three main criteria that govern tube mill tooling—design, materials used in their construction, and alignment of tooling on the mill. Discusses advancements in design due to CAD technology; experimental use of ceramic and plastic materials for making tooling; and the use of subplates and interchangeable components to ease tube mill alignment.

Publish date: November 29, 2001

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Production


Laser welding of stainless pressure tubes

Not all laser welded tubes are created equal. Know what to look for in the final product to ensure that you're buying quality and not just an imposter.

Publish date: July 12, 2001

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Production


Examining tube mill roll tooling, setup, and maintenance

In today's competitive market, two of the most important considerations for high-quality production are proper roll tooling setup and mill alignment.

Publish date: September 17, 2001

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Production


Solving the mysteries of the fin pass—Part 2

Editor's Note: This article is the second part of a two-part series about fin passes. Part I, which appeared in the March issue, discussed their location, what they do, and how they do it. Part II focuses on troubleshooting.

Publish date: May 15, 2003

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Production


Minimizing wall thickness variation in seamless tubing

All mechanical steel tubing has some amount of wall thickness variation. Wall variation in welded tubing results from the strip manufacturing and tube welding processes. Seamless tube, which is created from a hot billet of solid steel, has wall variation that results from tooling wear, bearing and shaft variation, and normal hot-process variation. The wall thickness in seamless tubing varies in the cross section and along the tube's length.

Publish date: August 28, 2003

Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Production


Cutting to the chase: Array

By: Array
Array

Publish date: Array

Tech cell: Array


Al GMAW: CC or CV?

For about 40 years, a great debate in welding is whether to use constant-current or constant-voltage power supplies when using gas metal arc welding on aluminum. Constant-current power supplies made sense 30 years ago and are still used in some applications today, but for most applications, constant-voltage power supplies are suitable for gas metal arc welding aluminum.

Publish date: June 12, 2003

Tech cell: Aluminum Welding


GMAW vs. FCAW for beginners: Choose the best process for your small operation

There are several pros and cons to using the gas metal arc welding process versus the flux cored arc welding process in compact applications.

Publish date: August 16, 2001

Tech cell: Arc Welding


It's all about precision, craftsmanship: Shop makes commitment to solid welding practices

A case study looking at how Superior Joining Technologies Inc. got into the microwelding business, the welding equipment they use, how the meet customer requirements, and how they use a solid foundation in welding to keep up with today's stringent requirements.

Publish date: December 13, 2001

Tech cell: Arc Welding


Gun Control: GTAW torch design innovations enhance productivity, quality

This article discusses improvements to the GTAW torch that should enhance the productivity and quality of welding operations. It specifically discusses the welding gun's affect on ergonomics and cooling capacity.

Publish date: November 15, 2001

Tech cell: Arc Welding


Remote GTAW of spent fuel canisters: How this process reduces operator exposure to radiation

This off-the-beaten-path article defines a remote GTAW process that allows weld operators to minimize their exposure to radiation when welding spent fuel canisters used to contain nuclear fuel.

Publish date: October 11, 2001

Tech cell: Arc Welding


Examining the GTAW environment: Choosing the right electrode and booth for your application

The author outlines basic components of a welding booth suitable for GTAW, and offers possible solutions to a decline in availability of the thoriated tungsten used in a GTAW electrode. He also offers ideas for providing a clean air supply for the GTAW operator.

Publish date: July 12, 2001

Tech cell: Arc Welding


Joining aluminum with GTAW: Advice for the novice

Aluminum is a real challenge to weld, especially for beginners. A knowledge of the gas tungsten arc welding equipment that is available to do the job as well as required accessories, preparation tips, and proper techniques is a good thing to have before jumping in.

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Arc Welding


The fundamentals of gas tungsten arc welding: Preparation, consumables, and equipment necessary for the process

Learning the fundamentals of the GTAW process will increase the welder's ability to produce quality weldments. Knowing the correct consumables, equipment, and preweld preparation necessary will help the welder troubleshoot welding problems.

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Arc Welding


Choosing the right oxyfuel gas and supply system

Mixing oxygen with fuel gases for brazing, cutting, heating, and welding metal has been around since the early 1900s. Oxyfuel processes have remained in use over the years despite the introduction of other metal fabrication processes, such as arc welding, plasma cutting, and laser materials processing. Finding the most economical method for supplying oxyfuel gases requires a basic understanding of the process.

Publish date: November 6, 2003

Tech cell: Arc Welding


The history of welding according to Marty

This is a welding history synopsis, as seen by me. If you are a history or English professor, you might want to stop reading at this point; it ain't gonna be pretty.

Publish date: November 20, 2003

Tech cell: Arc Welding


Getting the best results in gas-shielded FCAW: Filler metals play a crucial role in the process

Publish date: December 11, 2003

Tech cell: Arc Welding


It happens 'under the hood': Chicago-area builder of water gardens becomes sculptor

Rick Walsh isn't your typical artisan, nor are his works typical welding pieces. But his personal evolution as both an artist and a welder illustrate the innovation and persistence of any successful welding operation.

Publish date: July 12, 2002

Tech cell: Art and Sculpture


Riding on the cusp of something great: When Colorado artist's career hits plateaus, he climbs them

Kevin Robb's sculptures seem to defy gravity, arrest time, encroach space. Each sculpture is a moment freeze-framed; each element seems to be impossibly suspended.

Publish date: May 15, 2003

Tech cell: Art and Sculpture


Art From the Forge: Finding new sources for inspiration

Those of you who are busy fulfilling commissions for gates, fences, staircases, and the myriad items that keep food on the table might want to look at artwork created by people whose backgrounds are based in the arts. Metalworkers often are so tuned to traditional designs that they are unaware of a swelling modern movement that could generate new ideas, new visions, and new clients.

Publish date: May 29, 2003

Tech cell: Art and Sculpture


Found art: Welding artist finds inspiration in industrial, natural forms

Watching the sparks fly as his dad welded a temperamental posthole digger mesmerized Derek Arnold. "I found the immediacy of something so permanent absolutely fascinating," he said. "I knew I wanted to weld."A hands-on welding education on the family farm drove Arnold to take his skills and creativity to the next level. In 1993 he graduated from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. "I've been welding regularly since my freshman sculpture class," he said.

Publish date: June 12, 2003

Tech cell: Art and Sculpture


Unique fireplace items can fire up your income

Fireplace screens don't have to be boring. Fireplace tools don't have to be ordinary. Re-thinking the function of fireplace screens and tools can add a new dimension to these items and attract customers like moths to a flame.

Publish date: August 28, 2003

Tech cell: Art and Sculpture


Welding aluminum tailored blanks with Nd:YAG lasers for automotive applications

The increased average power at the workpiece delivered by a 4-kilowatt, continuous-wave Nd:YAG laser source can be used for tailored blank welding of aluminum alloys

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Automation and Robotics


How to Kill a Robotic Project in Five Easy Steps

How would you like to fail utterly in your quest to modernize your shop with robotic weldingequipment? Look no further—we've got all the bad advice you need right here.

Publish date: July 12, 2001

Tech cell: Automation and Robotics


Setting realistic goals for robotic welding projects

Expecting a robot to solve all of your production problems can inflict the cruel irony of ceating more. If you want your robots to speed up your operation, know what they can and can't do from the start.

Publish date: November 15, 2001

Tech cell: Automation and Robotics


Is robotic welding right for you?: Making an informed decision

This article examines robotic welding and discusses the considerations behind choosing to use (or not use) welding robots. It answers the questions what comprises a robotic welding installation, what costs are associated, and what industries are best suited for robotic welding.

Publish date: November 15, 2001

Tech cell: Automation and Robotics


Laser-integrated robotics for assembly: How one job shop met an aluminum welding challenge

In recent years laser welding has advanced into many different industries, from automotive to electronics. With lasers, it is possible to weld at high speeds with great efficiency. Once unthinkable applications and processes are now being developed into working systems.

Publish date: June 26, 2003

Tech cell: Automation and Robotics


Shielding gas consumption efficiency-- Part I: Spend a penny, save a dollar

Installing a bulk delivery system in your welding shop is perhaps the best way to save money

Publish date: February 19, 2001

Tech cell: Consumables


Making the most of the daily grind: How to choose and use abrasives for welding and fabricating applications

The article divides grinding equipment into three application categories: welding/heavy metal removal; metal fabrication and construction; and light metal removal, finishing, and sharpening. It also discusses grits and grains and operator safety.

Publish date: November 29, 2001

Tech cell: Consumables


Don't be a hot dog with heating heads: Tips for safe use

Some call them rosebuds, others call them multiflame heating heads, and a few call them heat sticks. No matter what you call torch attachments, this article is a frank discussion about these tools that use oxygen and a fuel gas to make a lot of heat quickly. When used properly, they can make quick work of many heating jobs.

Publish date: May 29, 2003

Tech cell: Consumables


Selecting the right tungsten: How your choice affects AC GTAW

Most welders used to agree that a pure tungsten electrode was crucial to obtaining the best results for gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) aluminum, magnesium, and other alloys that required an AC arc.

Publish date: February 26, 2004

Tech cell: Consumables


Selecting a shielding gas for joining stainless steel: The right choice is critical for success

Publish date: June 8, 2004

Tech cell: Consumables


Three optional techniques for beveling: Understanding the advantages and drawbacks of each

Many fabricators use standard plasma cutters and abrasives to create beveled edges. Along with these traditional methods, welders also have the option of using three alternative beveling techniques: punch and nibble, peeling and shearing, and milling and routing. Each has advantages and drawbacks.

Publish date: February 26, 2004

Tech cell: Cutting and Weld Prep


Producing side-impact profiles: Automotive body part combines roll forming, punching, laser welding

The ramming machine bores into the side of the new automobile at a speed of 50 kilometers (31 miles) per hour. Within a fraction of a second, sensors situated all over the test dummy signal details of the stress load. Shortly afterward the overall results of the Euro-NCAP crash test will appear in all the specialized automobile magazines.

Publish date: January 13, 2004

Tech cell: Laser Welding


The Brakes: Press Brakes and You -- Preventing common mistakes on press brakes

Most common mistakes made while operating press brakes can be avoided with a little diligence and awareness of where others have gone astray.

Publish date: August 16, 2001

Tech cell: Bending


Mobilizing equipment-saving time and talent

It's hard to believe that machines such as press brakes and hardware setting equipment can move around on wheels or be moved by forklift and still function correctly. But I can tell you, from experience, that it is true and can be done.

Publish date: November 29, 2001

Tech cell: Bending


The Brakes: Press Brakes and You -- Whose business is safety? Everybody's

What sort of safety measures needed in your shop depends somewhat on your equipment, but making your press brake a safe piece of equipment is largely a matter of old-fashioned common sense.

Publish date: October 11, 2001

Tech cell: Bending


Press brakes: the quest for a happy ending: Manufacturers, users hope technology is the ticket

Screen some press brake owners and manufacturers these days, and it's like they're all reading from the same script:

Publish date: June 26, 2003

Tech cell: Bending


Repair Brazing: Fixing Faulty Jobs and worn-out components

Brazing has myriad uses for shop repairs. Knowing what seperates a proper brazing job from a poop one can save you alot of headaches and produce some slick results in the process.

Publish date: July 26, 2002

Tech cell: Repair and Field Welding


Turning up the power: Using lasers to cut thick plate

The most common power levels ranged between 1,500 and 2,000 watts. However, a statistical survey conducted by the AMT Laser System Product Group indicates a steady increase during the last 12 months of installations for high-power 3,000- to 4,000-watt laser systems and a decline in sales of lasers with power levels less than 2,000 watts.

Publish date: July 12, 2001

Tech cell: Laser Cutting


Monitoring laser beam performance: How beam focusability helps evaluate beam quality online

This article discusses online laser beam monitoring and its alternatives, with emphasis on beam quality and focusability.

Publish date: September 17, 2001

Tech cell: Laser Cutting


The business of lasers

As we all know, the laser industry has seen easier times. Economic and market pressures have changed the competitive landscape for laser cutting equipment, and the changes are likely to continue. Both lasermakers and laser users need to adapt to the changes in the laser market, and the companies that recognize and adapt first are likely to be those that succeed.

Publish date: July 24, 2003

Tech cell: Laser Cutting


Laser cell system gives job shop the home field advantage

Contract manufacturer CGI Automated Manufacturing Inc., Cicero, Ill., fabricates parts as an outsource resource for vertical manufacturers. The company started out as a stamping operation, then added other fabrication technologies, including welding, press brake forming, drilling, punching, rolling, shearing, and cutting.

Publish date: February 12, 2004

Tech cell: Laser Cutting


A breath of fresh air: Array

By: Array
Array

Publish date: Array

Tech cell: Array