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.

Manufacturing lead times for new orthopedic implants using standard methods can take between 12 and 24 months. Mach Medi...
06/19/2026

Manufacturing lead times for new orthopedic implants using standard methods can take between 12 and 24 months. Mach Medical has reduced that to 3 to 4 months.

The bottleneck is not design — it is engineering and manufacturing transfer, the process of translating design specifications into validated, executable manufacturing. For implants that can come in as many as 100 sizes and variations, that transfer must be completed for every version.

Mach Medical addresses this through two connected strategies:

- A digital thread built on Siemens PLM and parametric CAD modeling, which automates engineering transfer from a single master model across all sizes and versions
- Shopfloor standardization of tooling, workholding, and process flow, enabling automation down to lot sizes of one

The digital thread also supports ISO 13485 and GMP-compliant quality workflows, including automated corrective and preventative action when inspection data warrants it.

At least two-thirds of a typical implant launch timeline is consumed by engineering transfer. Compressing that phase, as Rozow notes, "can produce humongous benefits."

The full article from Modern Machine Shop examines how this approach works in practice. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/software-and-standardization-speed-orthopedic-implant-launches-

Large-format multiprocess lathes demand more than versatility — they demand precision in how that versatility is enginee...
06/18/2026

Large-format multiprocess lathes demand more than versatility — they demand precision in how that versatility is engineered.

Geminis Lathes competes not on two-axis machines, but on high-end, large-format lathes with multiprocess capacity. A visit to the company's facility in Elgoibar, Spain, revealed how it builds that capability into two distinct machine series.

The GTi series uses a quick-change system on the carriage, allowing operators to swap accessories for turning, milling, boring, grinding, or additive processes — without moving the part to a separate machine. The GMi series takes a different approach, swapping machine heads instead, and adds an automatic tool changer and a universal head enabling 3+2-axis machining.

Both series retain a flat-bed design, which Geminis says helps disperse cutting forces and achieve tighter tolerances — a deliberate departure from the slant-bed configurations common elsewhere.

Grinding on a multitasking machine presents specific challenges, particularly swarf infiltration. Geminis addresses this through grinding-specific control cycles and coolant flush to the front of the ways.

The full report examines how machine design, casting preparation, and accessory architecture come together for large-format production. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/two-roads-to-multiprocess-lathes

Taiwan's machine tool industry is no longer competing solely on machine supply — it is transitioning toward integrated, ...
06/17/2026

Taiwan's machine tool industry is no longer competing solely on machine supply — it is transitioning toward integrated, application-focused manufacturing solutions.

TMTS 2026, held in Taichung, where nearly 90% of Taiwan's machine tool ecosystem is concentrated, reflected this shift across its exhibition floor and surrounding facilities. The show's "Front-Showroom, Back-Factory" model connected exhibits directly to nearby production facilities, reinforcing the industry's engineering depth.

Several themes defined the edition:

- AI and digital monitoring applied to predictive maintenance, process optimization and real-time production analytics
- Multitasking and hybrid machining platforms targeting aerospace, semiconductor and energy applications
- Collaborative exhibits integrating automation, inspection, software and material handling into complete manufacturing workflows
- Energy efficiency and digital traceability embedded within broader manufacturing strategies

TMBA president Patrick Chen noted that the industry's objective is no longer simply to compete as a machine supplier, but to evolve toward higher value-added, application-specific solutions.

The technological advancement of Chinese builders and shifting global trade dynamics are accelerating this transformation — making specialization and industrial collaboration strategic priorities.

Read the full report for a detailed analysis of the technologies and strategies shaping Taiwan's machine tool industry. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/tmts-2026-taiwan-redefines-its-advanced-manufacturing-strategy

Supply chain stabilization matters more than ever — but stabilization does not mean stability.Manufacturers are operatin...
06/15/2026

Supply chain stabilization matters more than ever — but stabilization does not mean stability.

Manufacturers are operating in what one supply chain expert describes as "structural volatility" — a condition where geopolitical conflict, tariffs, fuel fluctuations, and supplier disruptions continuously reset the landscape just as companies find their footing.

The decision-making framework has changed accordingly. It is no longer enough to ask what the cheapest option is. The more critical questions are:

- Will the material arrive on time?
- What happens if tariffs change?
- Do we have alternative sourcing options?

Resilience is not simply a matter of stockpiling inventory. Excess stock carries real costs — working capital, storage, and obsolescence risk. Future-proofing is better understood as visibility, planning, forecasting, and supplier collaboration.

For manufacturers, the most important immediate focus is supply chain risk assessment: identifying critical components, understanding supplier vulnerabilities, and determining which materials could halt operations if delayed.

Supply chain leadership today is about adaptability and smarter decision-making — not efficiency alone.

Read the full analysis from Mike Sibley, Partner, for a deeper look at building a resilient supply chain strategy. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/how-to-build-supply-chain-resilience-in-a-volatile-economy

Inspection alone does not create quality — placement determines impact.As tolerances tighten and throughput expectations...
06/12/2026

Inspection alone does not create quality — placement determines impact.

As tolerances tighten and throughput expectations rise, the question is not only how accurately a part is measured, but where that measurement belongs in the process.

The distinction between inline, near-line, and offline metrology is consequential:

- **Inline** captures deviations from tool wear or thermal effects almost as they occur — but operates in the same environment that produces variation
- **Near-line** offers shorter feedback loops than a quality lab while avoiding the environmental compromises of fully inline measurement
- **Offline** delivers the highest confidence in results, best suited for first-article inspection and root-cause investigations — but detection is not prevention

Moving measurements upstream is where many manufacturers find their greatest gains. When drift is caught at final inspection, corrective action is expensive. Earlier placement makes it manageable.

The core question to ask at each stage: is the measurement controlling the process, or simply evaluating its outcome?

Read the full analysis from Mason Wilson IV, Director of Technical Services. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/how-to-prevent-waste-with-ideal-metrology-placement

The Metalworking Index has held in expansion for five consecutive months — but rising material costs are introducing mea...
06/10/2026

The Metalworking Index has held in expansion for five consecutive months — but rising material costs are introducing measurable pressure on the outlook.

The Gardner Business Index (GBI): Metalworking registered 56.2 in May, a modest decline of 0.6 points. Key takeaways from the month:

- Employment posted its strongest gain since February, rising nearly three points
- Material prices accelerated for the seventh consecutive month, nearing record highs
- Exports remained the only component in contraction, falling nearly three points
- Five of six components remain in expansion on a three-month average basis

The Future Business Index, while still optimistic at 66.4, has softened over recent months — a signal that climbing input costs are tempering confidence even as current activity stays firm.

Production and supplier deliveries hold strongest above 60 on a three-month basis, suggesting near-term operational capacity remains sound.

The full May GBI Metalworking report, authored by Senior Market Research Analyst Mike Shirk, is available at GardnerIntelligence.com. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/metalworking-index-holds-expansion-in-may

Automation is key, but the investment doesn't stop at the machine.Flex-Cell Precision Inc. in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, h...
06/08/2026

Automation is key, but the investment doesn't stop at the machine.

Flex-Cell Precision Inc. in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, has built its five-axis machining operation on a foundation of advanced equipment, automation, custom workholding, tooling, inspection, trained personnel, standardized processes, and continual reinvestment in technology.

Several principles define how the shop sustains unattended machining across 25 automated milling machines:

- Standardized Erowa zero-point workholding systems enable fast, repeatable positioning on both machine tools and the shop's CMM
- Rego-Fix powRgrip toolholding delivers TIR of ≤ 3 micron, with cutters changed in seconds
- CAM programmers prioritize tool longevity over cycle time minimization to reduce unattended downtime
- Skilled operators are empowered to run multiple machines, not just monitor automation

"Automation is key to our success and growth," says operations manager Steve Fanning. "That trained person can run a second or third machine."

The full account of how Flex-Cell structures its five-axis processes is worth reading for any shop evaluating a similar path. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/fannings-automated-five-axis-formula-for-success

A shop can have the right machines, people and capacity — and still lose the job. The reason may be quoting speed.U.S. s...
06/05/2026

A shop can have the right machines, people and capacity — and still lose the job. The reason may be quoting speed.

U.S. small and mid-sized manufacturers often lose work to overseas suppliers not because of inferior technology or expertise, but because of how quickly they can respond to RFQs. "One of the elements in which we get outbid by Asia is not only cost, it's also speed," says Benny Buller, cofounder of Uptool.

The core problem: manual quoting processes, lack of digitalization, and understaffing push response times to days — while overseas suppliers return same-day quotes.

Uptool, a cloud-based AI platform, addresses this bottleneck directly:

- Parses incoming RFQs and attachments automatically
- Organizes part requirements, assemblies, and customer intent within a single dashboard
- Automates material, finishing, and process cost estimates
- Reduces quoting time from 15–20 minutes per part to roughly 90 seconds

The platform is designed for zero configuration and can be deployed in under an hour.

"If they're not winning enough work, nothing else really matters." Read the full piece to understand how quoting speed is reshaping domestic manufacturing competitiveness. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/winning-more-work-as-the-shop-next-door

A career in precision manufacturing doesn't require a traditional path — it requires transferable skills, curiosity, and...
06/03/2026

A career in precision manufacturing doesn't require a traditional path — it requires transferable skills, curiosity, and the right culture.

AccuRounds Quality Coordinator Yessenia began her manufacturing career through a high school externship at a children's outerwear company, where she observed the full arc of production — from concept and raw materials to logistics. Those early experiences shaped a skill set she later applied to precision machining, an entirely unfamiliar industry.

At AccuRounds, her responsibilities have expanded steadily:

- Inside account representative to internal auditor and social media manager
- First coordinator of the company's internal lifelong learning and training program
- Lead on simplifying a complex ISO documentation and certification system
- Most recently, promoted to quality coordinator

Her work now spans employee development, lean manufacturing standards, 5S organization, and continuous improvement — roles built through experience, not a single prescribed credential.

Her perspective is direct: manufacturing has always been about a path of growth, not just a job — and it's okay not to have everything figured out at a young age.

Read the full profile to learn more about her career trajectory. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/how-i-made-it-amanda-florenca

Lang Technik USA has opened a 23,000-square-foot facility in Hartland, Wisconsin — its first U.S. manufacturing site — s...
06/02/2026

Lang Technik USA has opened a 23,000-square-foot facility in Hartland, Wisconsin — its first U.S. manufacturing site — signaling a significant expansion of its commitment to American manufacturers.

The facility holds nearly $14 million in inventory ready for distribution. It will also produce Lang products domestically for the first time, pairing a Hermle C22 machining center with a RoboTrex automation system.

Two technical directions define the expansion:

- **Larger workholding capacity:** The Quick Point zero-point clamping system and Makro Grip part clamping system are engineered for aerospace, defense, and spaceflight applications. Makro Grip handles parts over 33 inches, achieves repeatability within 5 microns, and reduces vise torque by up to 60% through a specialized stamping process.

- **More compact automation:** The RoboTrex Compact fits up to 100 vises in 20 square feet and is designed as an out-of-the-box machine-tending solution. The standard RoboTrex requires no pneumatics on the machine tool side and can be integrated within five days.

Read the full piece for a closer look at both systems. https://www.mmsonline.com/articles/lang-technik-usa-scales-up-(and-down)-in-new-facility

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