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More from Tim Heston
- From The Fabricator
Technology Spotlight: Reading the laser cutting beam—there’s an app for that
- By Tim Heston
- Feb 1, 2017
- Laser Cutting
- Article
Precitec’s cutting head senses trouble in real time, and communicates via Bluetooth directly to an operator’s phone or tablet.
- From The Fabricator
Following the roll forming road map
- By Tim Heston
- Feb 1, 2017
- Roll Forming
- Article
Many people call roll forming a black art, but David Rostocil isn’t one of them. If an operator is given the print, follows documented operating procedures, and maintains good records—and has consistent material thickness and properties to work with—the process becomes a science, one that over time can be tweaked and perfected.
- From The Fabricator
A new way to automate sheet metal bending
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 30, 2017
- Bending and Forming
- Article
At Minneapolis-based Atlas Manufacturing, a collaborative robot has taken over the mundane task of forming long runs of simple parts.
- From The Fabricator
Managing the three legs of the custom metal fabrication stool
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 27, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
Technology has become the ticket to entry for metal fabrication. But when a fabricator buys a new machine, it doesn’t stay secret for long. So what really sets a company apart from its competitors? Past speakers at FMA events give some insights.
- From The Fabricator
Laser cutting basics: The science of burr-free laser cutting
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 25, 2017
- Laser Cutting
- Article
Attaining a burr-free laser cut is about setting up the beam parameters and gas flow dynamics right. Learn the laser cutting basics from the experts at FMA.
- From The Fabricator
A case study in lean manufacturing: Opening the door to single-piece flow
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 25, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
Total Door Systems, Waterford, Mich., has successfully adopted single-piece part flow to engineer- to-order commercial door manufacturing. In its old building, the company held up to six weeks of work-in-process. It moved into a new building in 2010, and today the manufacturer holds only one day’s worth of WIP—and can respond to customers within days, instead of weeks.
- From The Fabricator
It’s not your father’s manufacturing, but …
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 17, 2017
- Shop Management
- Blog Post
Manufacturing's image is not just about how plants look, but also about what plant employees do.
- From The Fabricator
What makes estimating effective in metal fabrication?
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 9, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
Good estimating involves more than just numbers crunching. A good estimator needs to communicate and collaborate with various people, from the owner to the machine operator. That person also needs the right organizational structure and technology in place to be effective.
- From The Fabricator
The future of work in metal fabrication
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 9, 2017
- Shop Management
- Article
The future of work in metal fabrication may be less about a specific task and more about uncovering better ways to satisfy customer demand and get the job done.
- From The Fabricator
Shaping the laser beam for the best cut
- By Tim Heston
- Jan 4, 2017
- Laser Cutting
- Article
The Fraunhofer Institute in Germany has developed a system that quickly oscillates the beam in specific patterns as it cuts, welds, or otherwise processes material. These patterns have the effect of “shaping” a laser beam, allowing the technician to tailor the beam’s shape to fit the application.
- From The Fabricator
Trust and turnarounds in manufacturing
- By Tim Heston
- Dec 13, 2016
- Bending and Forming
- Blog Post
Lack of communication and trust may lie at the heart of a lot of problems at a lot of companies, in manufacturing and elsewhere.
- From The Fabricator
Reimagining the C-clamp
- By Tim Heston
- Dec 7, 2016
- Assembly and Joining
- Article
The C-clamp is easy to take for granted. It’s an unchanging, almost timeless part of the typical workbench. It works well enough—but for one structural analyst, it didn’t.
- From The Fabricator
Metal fabrication in a small shop: The hidden blessing of having no space
- By Tim Heston
- Dec 5, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
As shop metrics go, sales per square foot is elegantly simple. One New England fab shop has a sales-per-sq.-ft. metric that’s twice the industry average. Its success shows how having so little space can be a blessing in disguise.
- From The Fabricator
2017 metal fabrication forecast: Voyage into the unknown
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 29, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
Before the election, industry watchers predicted more of the same slow growth the economy has seen for years. After the election, stock markets unexpectedly soared on the backs of companies that may benefit from a Trump presidency. One thing is for sure: The American political sphere heads into the unknown.
- From The Fabricator
Structural fabrication, the next generation
- By Tim Heston
- Nov 28, 2016
- Shop Management
- Article
Structural fabrication is on the cusp of some big changes, and the entry-level employee of today will grow in a field that’s becoming increasingly digitized.
- Podcasting
- Podcast:
- The Fabricator Podcast
- Published:
- 04/30/2024
- Running Time:
- 53:00
Seth Feldman of Iowa-based Wertzbaugher Services joins The Fabricator Podcast to offer his take as a Gen Zer...
- Industry Events
Pipe and Tube Conference
- May 21 - 22, 2024
- Omaha, NE
World-Class Roll Forming Workshop
- June 5 - 6, 2024
- Louisville, KY
Advanced Laser Application Workshop
- June 25 - 27, 2024
- Novi, MI
Precision Press Brake Certificate Course
- July 31 - August 1, 2024
- Elgin,
- Upcoming Webcasts
Navigating Change: The Manufacturer’s Guide to Change Management with ERP Implementation
- May 16, 2024
- Sponsored
- Presented By: ECI Software Solutions, M1
Managing Dangerous Dusts from Metalworking
- June 26, 2024
- Sponsored
- Presented By: Camfil Air Pollution Control