Modern Machine Shop

Modern Machine Shop Metalworking's leading information source Gardner Business Media was founded in 1928 (as Gardner Publications Inc.)

Gardner Business Media is the premier publisher for the heart of manufacturing in North America – providing unique, one-of-a-kind, relevant information of keen interest to the people who power plants, shops and factories. in Cincinnati, Ohio, with the introduction of Modern Machine Shop magazine. To this day, Modern Machine Shop is recognized around the world as the premier metalworking and machin

e tool publication in North America. Since then, Gardner has built a niche with eight titles focused on one area: manufacturing. We bring industrial buyers and sellers together through our integrated approach to media. Modern Machine Shop strives to use media—be it print publications, websites, electronic devices, newsletters, webinars, research or in-person events—to show best practices and practical, how-to information to explain technology and help our customers be competitive in today’s challenging environment.

Desktop CNC mills are common. A desktop Swiss-type lathe is another matter entirely.The APSX Nano is a compact, 150-poun...
05/29/2026

Desktop CNC mills are common. A desktop Swiss-type lathe is another matter entirely.

The APSX Nano is a compact, 150-pound benchtop machine that brings genuine Swiss-type guide bushing functionality to a 14 × 31-inch footprint. It runs on standard 120V power and basic compressed air, yet is engineered to machine materials from aluminum to titanium.

Key specifications:
- 13 tooling stations: six OD, five ID, and two 500-W live-tool spindles
- Guide bushings available from 0.25 to 0.75 inch
- Maximum bar length of 20 inches; machinable length of 17 inches
- Compatible with Fusion 360, Esprit, Mastercam, and SolidCAM

The practical question is where a machine like this fits in a traditional shop environment. Potential applications include low-volume or prototype work that shops prefer not to run on production Swiss-types, running ground barstock remnants to reduce material costs, and — perhaps most compellingly — shopfloor training on guide bushing adjustment and sliding-headstock operation without occupying a high-production machine.

The full piece examines the Nano's capabilities and the range of shop scenarios where it may offer genuine utility. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/how-might-you-use-a-desktop-cnc-swiss-type--2

Job shops face two persistent challenges: producing complex, high-end parts efficiently and operating amid ongoing talen...
05/29/2026

Job shops face two persistent challenges: producing complex, high-end parts efficiently and operating amid ongoing talent shortages.

At its 2026 Manufacturing Without Limits event, DN Solutions addressed both — showcasing multitasking and five-axis machines, expanded automation hardware, and AI-augmented software designed to minimize setups and improve throughput.

Key technologies on display included:

- The LPS 5000 linear pallet system with RFID and QR code tool tracking to maximize tool life without risking premature failure
- Automatic work changer systems, including a 40-pallet Hennig system with integrated job profitability monitoring
- A FANUC CRX robotic cell paired with a twin-spindle turning center and vision-based quality inspection
- A digital twin and simulation software using industrial AI to optimize program motion over time
- A ChatGPT-powered machine monitoring chatbot trained on DN Solutions' manuals, enabling shopfloor employees to resolve questions without consulting an expert

The event also marked the first joint appearance of Heller machinery since DN Solutions' acquisition of the OEM, with large-format five-axis machines positioned for high-production automotive and aerospace applications.

Read the full recap for a detailed look at what was demonstrated. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/dn-solutions-event-showcases-high-efficiency-technologies

Manual tool handling creates production loss, long lead times, and data gaps that compound across machine shop operation...
05/28/2026

Manual tool handling creates production loss, long lead times, and data gaps that compound across machine shop operations of all sizes.

At the 2026 Zoller Technology Days and Smart Manufacturing Summit in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Zoller Inc. presented its approach to addressing these challenges through automated tool management and data handling systems.

A client case from Atlas Fibre, a thermoset composites manufacturer serving rail, aerospace, medical, and energy sectors, illustrated measurable outcomes: extended tool life, improved production efficiency, and reduced carbide costs. Their adoption of Zoller's ZidCode automated tool data handling system enabled more efficient data transfer in-house.

ZidCode is designed to close data loops by moving information from tool management, to CAM, to simulation, to the machine, and back — accelerating lead times and improving process reliability.

Zoller's broader portfolio spans seven solution areas:
- Tool management
- Presetting and measurement
- Inspection
- Automation
- Heat shrinking technology
- Tool identification
- Balancing technology

Read the full coverage for a deeper look at how smart manufacturing solutions are being implemented across the shop floor. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/zoller-smart-manufacturing-summit-highlights-tms-capabilities-

Programming remains a time-intensive task for both routine and complex parts in manufacturing.Feature- and macro-based p...
05/27/2026

Programming remains a time-intensive task for both routine and complex parts in manufacturing.

Feature- and macro-based programming recognizes holes, pockets and grooves to reduce their programming time to a few minutes. This allows programmers to focus on more complex areas of the part.

- Automation centers handle repeated steps such as job setup, milling area definition and common toolpath movements
- On-premise machine learning references past projects to apply proven strategies to new work while keeping data local
- Advanced tool support improves performance with barrel cutters and angle heads through controlled contact points and collision detection
- Topology-aware paths and high-precision surface modes reduce machining points, manage continuity and supply smoother data to controls

These methods can automate 80-90% of programming on many parts and cut overall programming time by 70-80%.

Learn more about the cutting edge of programming your cutting edge. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/advanced-cam-features-cut-programming-and-cycle-times

The Center for Machining Excellence provides shops with access to virtually every kind of component manufacturer involve...
05/26/2026

The Center for Machining Excellence provides shops with access to virtually every kind of component manufacturer involved in establishing an effective machining process.

Partner companies include manufacturers of machine tools, cutting tools, workholding, lubrication, inspection equipment, software and more. The 12,000-sq.ft. facility in Whitestown, IN, houses machine tools from Kitamura Machinery, Tornos Group, Kern Precision and Precitrame Machines SA, along with a 75-seat auditorium, boardroom, offices and permanent displays from all partners.

Companies can use the space for training, customer test cuts, events or as a Midwest base. When a partner brings a customer to the CME, the visitor sees not only that company’s technology but also how products from other partners integrate into the full machining operation. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/touring-the-center-for-machining-excellence-2

Tool wear in machining leads to finite tool life, often measured in minutes. Because tool costs can be significant, sele...
05/22/2026

Tool wear in machining leads to finite tool life, often measured in minutes. Because tool costs can be significant, selecting a process plan that limits tool wear to an acceptable, predictable level is important for part production by machining.

Wear is driven by high temperatures at the tool-chip interface, intimate contact that promotes diffusion, hard inclusions that abrade the tool, large cutting forces that cause deformation or fracture, and thermal cycling in interrupted cuts.

Common mechanisms include abrasion, adhesion, diffusion and attrition. These produce characteristic flank, crater and notch wear. Tool life prediction remains difficult, so empirical models based on repeated flank wear measurements are used to relate cutting speed to time to reach a wear limit.

A milling study on 1018 steel with uncoated carbide yielded the relation vT^0.455 = 1,120, allowing spindle speed selection for a target tool life. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/a-framework-for-limiting-tool-wear-in-machining

Without standardized data on robot energy consumption, users cannot determine total cost of ownership when purchasing in...
05/20/2026

Without standardized data on robot energy consumption, users cannot determine total cost of ownership when purchasing industrial robots or assess their full environmental impact.

An international, interdisciplinary working group led by ABB is developing technical specifications to measure robot energy consumption. The group draws on experts from academia, industry and standards bodies in countries including China, Japan, Germany, the U.S. and Sweden.

The specifications target six-axis articulated arms first and seek to deliver transparent, comparable data. This data would support purchasing decisions, help reduce total cost of ownership and lower carbon footprints.

Manufacturers and users can already improve efficiency by selecting the correct robot size, optimizing paths and applying standby modes. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/technical-specification-amps-up-robot-energy-efficiency

Leaders who approach margin governance with discipline and structure protect profitability when conditions tighten.Most ...
05/18/2026

Leaders who approach margin governance with discipline and structure protect profitability when conditions tighten.

Most manufacturers operate with two margin stories at once: the one shown in product-level reports and the one reflected in financial statements. When these diverge, the gap between perceived and actual profitability allows money to disappear quietly.

Tariffs, labor competition and logistics volatility widen that gap, while inaccurate costing and misallocated overhead produce misleading data. Inventory carrying costs of 20-30 percent annually often go undercounted, and delayed pricing decisions compound erosion over time.

Context from operations, accurate cost capture and scenario planning that includes base, downside and upside cases help close the difference between reported and realized margins. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/margin-governance-in-volatile-costs-how-manufacturers-can-stop-margin-erosion-before-it-starts

Verifying that a machined part's shape matches its intended design is becoming a critical challenge in modern manufactur...
05/16/2026

Verifying that a machined part's shape matches its intended design is becoming a critical challenge in modern manufacturing.

Parts today carry tighter radii, smoother transitions and more complex profiles than before. Standard dimensional checks often pass, yet the geometry itself can still create stress concentrations, sealing failures or seating problems once the component is in service.

Contour measuring instruments address this gap by tracing the actual surface with a carbide stylus. The resulting profile allows operators to evaluate radii, angles, groove depths and blend points against nominal elements using supporting software. This confirms the final cut shape rather than assuming cutting tools performed as expected.

Recent systems add stability and repeatability while simplifying operation through guided sequences. Many units now capture both contour and surface finish data in a single trace, reducing measurement time and providing a more complete view of process output. Options range from high-precision benchtop models to semi-portable units suited for large parts or limited space.

Shape fidelity matters as much as dimensional tolerance. Contour measurement supplies the visibility needed to ensure parts function as designed once placed in service. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/when-size-dimensions-arent-enough

Programming bottlenecks. Tribal knowledge walking out the door. Tight tolerances and tighter deadlines.Sound familiar? O...
05/14/2026

Programming bottlenecks. Tribal knowledge walking out the door. Tight tolerances and tighter deadlines.

Sound familiar? On June 4, HCL CAMWorks is hosting a free webinar that tackles all three — and does it without putting your IP in the cloud.

𝗔𝗜-𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗔𝗠: 𝗟𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁, 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗡𝗼 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘂𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗱

In this session you'll learn how to:
→ Automate programming using AI that captures your shop's best practices
→ Generate smarter toolpaths faster — and reduce cycle times
→ Keep complete control of your data in a fully on-premise environment
→ Program complex environments including mill-turn and Swiss turn with confidence
→ Accelerate ROI through leaner, more efficient workflows

This isn't a pitch for a cloud platform. It's a look at what AI can do when it runs on your terms, on your machines, with your data staying exactly where it belongs.

Free to attend. Register here 👇
https://www.mmsonline.com/events/details/ai-powered-cam-lightning-fast-fully-secure-no-cloud-required?utm_source=Facebook&utm_campaign=auto&utm_medium=social ?utm_source=FB

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