In the world of metal forming, relying on assumptions can lead to expensive disasters. That’s why activities such as die tryout need to be based on solid math. The results of these mathematical efforts then need to be shared in a language that decision-makers can understand.

Establishing an effective plating process for demanding applications is one thing; running a successful plating business is something else altogether. The former requires technical know-how; the latter requires soft skills and business acumen. Gatto Industrial Platers has established itself as adept at both of these endeavors.

Designing components, assemblies, and finished products is one thing; designing them for ease of manufacturability is something else altogether. Designers and engineers can use the tips in this article to design bent tubular parts to be as simple, and therefore as economical, as possible.

Interviews with BLM, LVD Strippit, Mazak, and TRUMPF reveal tips and tactics for buying, handling, cleaning, cutting tube. Other topics include machine maintenance, software upgrades, and operator training.

Cleaning the inside of long, bent tubes is a chore, especially when it has to be done outdoors in inclement weather. Nobody knew this better than the staff at Heartthrob Exhaust Accessories, Litchfield, Minn., when they had to use a pressure washer outside during winter months. An ultrasonic cleaning machine brought the process indoors while making it faster and less labor intensive.

Columnist Gerald Davis reviews methods for creating animations. The use of dedicated software is discussed.

Editor’s Note: Regular readers of this column might recognize that Mr. Cattell answered a similar question in the May/June 2010 issue of STAMPING Journal®. Since this question reflects a common concern among stampers—and is asked of Mr. Cattell quite frequently in his work—we felt it would be beneficial to address the issue again.

Q: We are getting more and more inquiries for components made of titanium. We have never worked with this material. Any advice? A: Titanium can be cold- or hot-formed on standard equipment using techniques similar to those used on stainless steels, but you need to consider two main issues:The...

Fabricating operations interested in taking on more complex projects now have additional motivation: The R&D Tax Credit is permanent and could pay off for those companies involved in solving manufacturing problems.

In September 2015 contract fabricator BTD expanded to the Southeast with its purchase of Impulse Manufacturing. The deal hints at just how scalable custom metal fabrication may be.

Areas to consider for formable aluminum are formability, thickness and bend radius, tensile, yield, and elongation, and how to deal with bending tempered materials. Learn more here.

This year’s FMA Annual Meeting, held in San Diego in February, celebrated the technology companies need to compete and the worker skill shops need to sustain that success through the generations.

In the past, lighting manufacturers introduced product designs that might last 10 years. Because of the lengthy product lifetime and volumes, these manufacturers didn't think twice about relying on hard tooling. Today product designs change regularly, and the constant evolution of LED technology means a manufacturer has to react quickly. For TAMCO, Port St. Lucie, Fla., that meant it needed its own laser cutting capability.

Q: When I move a die from one press to another, the die runs fine in the first press but will not run in the second press. The presses are the same size, stroke, and speed range, although one is a few years older than the other. What can I do to ensure the die runs in both presses. A: There are...