Aneesa Muthana grew up helping out at her parents’ Chicago grinding shop before striking out on her own in the ‘90s. When business slowed down dramatically, she embraced change and built her machine shop into a modern facility using Swiss-type CNC machines.__PRESENT
The 2025 Precision Machining Technology Show provided an excellent look at the variety of machining solutions catering to the U.S. metalworking industry, including a range of automation solutions for turned and milled parts.
From complex Swiss-type lathes to turning basics, we’ve rounded up 10 turning articles for both beginners and advanced machinists.
East Coast Precision Manufacturing’s uncommon specialties attract many customers — but its prompt, earnest communication strategy is what wins it repeat business.
Mason Montalvo took up the challenge of starting his own shop running manual machine tools to produce complex parts.
To compete in terms of stability and horsepower, Modig’s recent IM-8 mill takes an unorthodox approach: positioning the spindle at the bottom of the work area.
Selecting stable radial depths of cut for 2.5D milling.
Kennametal global product manager Katie Myers explains how cutting tool features can impact machining strategies for different materials.
Global Tungsten & Powders, part of the Ceratizit Group, sheds light on the processing steps that convert a shop’s used inserts into new tools and other applications.
Moving to a robust line of indexable drills enabled this shop to dramatically alter the manufacturing process for a problem part, doubling its profitability.
To monitor drilling operations for smart manufacturing solutions, torque and thrust force can be measured.
Rego-Fix’s PowRgrip tooling system has expanded over the past 20 years to incorporate a wider range of tool sizes, as well as automation.
Collecting data but not sure how to use it? You’re not alone. See how smart shops are turning raw machine data into real results—better decisions, smoother operations, and measurable ROI.
Data-driven manufacturing is no longer theoretical. In this special issue of Modern Machine Shop, we present five stories of how digital tools — including AI co-pilots, predictive analytics, and real-time feedback — optimize operations and reduce downtime.
How can AI and digital twins use data gathered on the shop floor? Learn how these digital tools can improve efficiency through programming, maintenance, sustainability and more.
By gathering data directly from the sensors of the CNC machine, the digital twin offered by Gemineering can identify whether a part is in tolerance and even identify the moment in the toolpath when a part fails to achieve tolerance.
By investing in machine monitoring that links machine data with the shop’s ERP system, this machine shop broke down communication barriers and dramatically reduced errors.
How can digital twins help solve a labor shortage? This tool and die shop uses digital twin technology to reverse engineer molds for glass bottles, making the process both faster and more reliable.
With today’s complicated and very high-precision parts, workpiece radii can have a variety of shapes and contours. Sophisticated tools can help simplify the measurement process.
How does an inspection equipment manufacturer organize its factory floor? Join us as we explore the continuous improvement strategies and culture shifts The L.S. Starrett Company is implementing across the over 500,000 square feet of its Athol, Massachusetts, headquarters.
Surface finish has a role in everything we see and touch.
Industry standards for surface finish help define the specifications of the instruments, how they are used, the results they provide and how they can be tested for performance.
Half an airplane on the wall, a ten-foot metal dragon, and a full-blown recording studio might not scream “manufacturing efficiency,” yet Marathon Precision proves otherwise. Here’s how forging, complex CNC operations and staff-driven creative projects combine to fuel the shop’s productivity and profitability.
Zeiss will reveal seven new metrology technologies and software updates at its Zeiss Live Tech Reveal on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. ET.
AMRs can provide a flexible, easy-to-use automation platform so long as manufacturers choose a suitable task and prepare their facilities.
The next five years will present their own unique set of challenges, and shops can alleviate them by embracing these technologies and trends.
This collection of articles delves into the latest CAD/CAM innovations, from AI-driven automation and optimized tool paths to the impact of digital twins and system requirements.
Don’t overlook controller options, process security options and coolant handling when staring down the line items of a new machine purchase.
TASC 2025 takes place in Indianapolis this August. Attendees will be able to learn automation strategies from their peers: All information—no bluster.
TASC is our industry’s premier peer-to-peer automation stage where America’s shop leaders refine the art of metalworking and CNC machining. For conference speakers, it's also an opportunity to showcase your skills and gain exposure for your business. Here are five why stepping into the spotlight at TASC could be your smartest move toward elevating your shop.
The Modern Machine Shop editorial team highlights their takeaways from IMTS 2024 in a video recap.
IMTS only happens every two years. Here’s how to make the most of your time at the 2024 show.
Across a range of technical presentations aimed at small and mid-sized job shops, the first-ever Automated Shop Conference (TASC) offered insights into several automated technologies, implementation strategies, shopfloor training tips, and even the untapped power of automated coolant delivery.
Automation is no longer a luxury in manufacturing today – it’s a necessity. The Automated Shop Conference (TASC) will connect job shops with experts who offer advice and considerations for this process.
New tech center is serving as a cutting-edge showroom and a technological hub for advanced machining applications.
New U.S.-based event announced in 2021 finally debuts next year: focuses on complete additive manufacturing value chain. More at formnextchicago.com.
Chiron Group combines the best of both worlds at IMTS 2024, featuring live demonstrations of their Micro5 and Mill 2000 machines, alongside a cutting-edge virtual showroom. This innovative approach allows visitors to explore Chiron’s full product lineup without the logistical challenges of transporting large equipment.
Half of the 16 machines in the company’s booth are world or North American debuts.
Learn more about the variety of technology and machinery Hwacheon Machinery America, Inc. is featuring at its IMTS 2024 booth.
FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.
The real-world behavior and performance of a machine depends on use case much more than the numbers listed on its spec sheet.
Use these strategies to streamline CNC programming with standardized processes, boosting efficiency and precision in modern manufacturing. Learn practical tips to optimize your workflow.
As new tariffs loom, Tormach’s CEO shares how the company has adapted its supply chain to mitigate risk. By shifting production from Asia to Mexico and redesigning key products, the company is showing how strategic agility is the key to surviving and thriving in a volatile trade environment.
Grants. Software. Process consolidation. These three pillars can bring new life to a shop, enabling it to take on more complex jobs with faster turnarounds. In this shop tour, find out how MSP Manufacturing has used each pillar to solidify itself as a reliable partner for defense and aerospace companies.
In this episode of “View From My Shop,” East Coast Precision Manufacturing guides us through their plastics job shop. Learn how this shop has quickly and inexpensively built out its shop floor, as well as how it formed a niche for itself during difficult business conditions.
In the latest installment of our “View From My Shop” series, explore Marathon Precision’s multi-process approach to manufacturing, where blacksmiths and hand-forged dies meet state-of-the-art CNC machining. Discover how restoring classic muscle cars and building custom art projects creates a dynamic shop culture — and draws top talent to this unique and innovative metalworking facility.
From repairing aircraft interiors to manufacturing medical implants, Superior Joining Technologies excels at CNC machining, TIG welding, laser welding, and NADCAP-accredited nondestructive testing. Discover how this Rockford-based company supports the aerospace industry through a combination of advanced technologies.
How does a CNC machine shop meet the demands of high-volume aerospace and medical manufacturing? In this shop tour, Hirsh Precision Products showcases how their custom production management software integrates with the shop floor to drive efficiency, quality control, and traceability — and serve as the backbone of their AS9100 and ISO 13485-certified operations.
In this episode of Made in the USA, several executives and senior staff at Hardinge give their first-person account of how they formulated the plan to shift the manufacturing of its milling and turning product lines from its Taiwan plant to its plant in Elmira, New York, the major challenges they encountered and the rewards that made it worth the effort.
The L.S. Starrett Co. has been manufacturing precision measurement tools in Athol, Massachusetts, since 1880. Attention to U.S. manufacturing often focuses on reshoring manufacturing from other countries, but Starrett never left. The facility in Athol employs hundreds and produces thousands of tools that remain vital for measurement in machining and other fields.
The latest episode “Made in the USA” podcast explores a company that uses collaborative robots, one of the key tools helping US machine shops and other manufacturers compete with lower cost countries by automating production.
When Puneet and Neelam Neotia moved from India to the United States several years ago, they brought with them a family background in manufacturing and CNC machining. Now the couple is working to get their startup machine shop off the ground, sourcing new customers and getting the word out about their shop in Clarksville, Indiana. The couple — proud to publicize their "Made in the USA" parts — is leveraging family connections and manufacturing capabilities back in India, but not in the way that some people assume.
Entrepreneur Scott Colosimo found early success in China producing parts for his Cleveland-based motorcycle company in the mid-2000s. This is the story of how IP theft issues overwhelmed the business, prompting Colosimo and his team to start over from scratch — and move production back to the United States.
So far, Made in the USA has looked into system-wide effects of broken supply chains, automation, skilled workforce issues and our perception of manufacturing jobs — examining each topic through a prism of individual experiences. For this final episode for Season 1, let’s look at one more system-wide question and bring it back to personal perspectives: Is there today a new dawn, a new moment for American manufacturing?
Making Chips and Modern Machine Shop are teaming up for a new podcast series called Machine Shop MBA—designed to help manufacturers measure their success against the industry’s best. Through the lens of the Top Shops benchmarking program, the series explores the KPIs that set high-performing shops apart, from machine utilization and first-pass yield to employee engagement and revenue per employee.
Don’t miss out! Modern Machine Shop's Top Shops Benchmarking Survey is still open — but not for long. This is your last chance to a receive free, customized benchmarking report that includes actionable feedback across several shopfloor and business metrics.
Working closely with customers and making careful investments has enabled this Wisconsin machine shop to tackle difficult jobs with tight deadlines as a core part of its business.
Part of Major Tool’s 52,000 square-foot building expansion includes the installation of this new Waldrich Coburg Taurus 30 vertical machining center.
JD Machine, 2024’s Top Shops Honoree in Human Resources, embodies its “Education for Life” core value with a robust apprenticeship program and significant continuous improvement efforts.
Ever wonder what sets Top Shops apart from the competition? Dive into their award-winning practices and explore behind-the-scenes strategies for operational excellence.
Thousands of people visit our Supplier Guide every day to source equipment and materials. Get in front of them with a free company profile.
Jared Doerfler quit his comfortable job and taught himself CNC machining to launch his boutique putter company in small-town Iowa. With zero prior machining experience, Doerfler poured his life savings into a dream — crafting high-quality, American-made golf putters in his own machine shop. A story of risk, resilience and turning passion into reality.
While the metalworking industry includes a wide variety of machine shops, it is worthwhile remembering that the differences obscure a key commonality: they all run on human ingenuity.
Eastec 2025: NSK America Corp.’s Nakanishi high-speed rotary hand tool systems, ultrasonic systems and ultraprecision spindles are engineered to make processes more efficient both on the CNC and in the final steps of polishing.
Eastec 2025: GF Machining Solutions’ Cut F Series provides manufacturers with extreme production control and flexibility for ultraprecise machining and high surface finish capability.
Eastec 2025: Sunnen Products Co. showcases a range of honing machines as well as inspection and measurement technology.
Eastec 2025: Open Mind Technologies’ HyperMill 2025 CAD/CAM Software Suite includes enhanced programming and machining strategies to boost productivity and precision in five-axis and mill/turn machining.
Eastec 2025: The T-A Pro high penetration drilling system offers customers a high performance drilling solution which combines excellent penetration capabilities with versatility across a wide range of sizes.
Eastec 2025: DCC tooling is designed to drill and chamfer both sides of the workpiece in a single operation without turning the workpiece or changing tooling.
Discover how SolidShop seamlessly integrates G-code editing, G-code machine simulation, SolidCAM for operators, DNC and CNC machine monitoring into the SolidCAM complete ecosystem. This enables you to control, monitor and maximize your shop's productivity. Agenda: System modules overview G-code machine simulation PDM SolidCAM for operators Monitoring SolidShop in action
Join Sandvik Coromant for an informative webinar on efficient roughing techniques for machining Blisk components. Explore strategies to optimize tool performance, minimize wear and address the challenges of complex geometries. Learn how indexable carbide options and solid round tools can enhance results in these demanding applications. Agenda: Understanding HRSA materials, complex geometries and machine tool capabilities Analyzing various roughing strategies for optimal performance Selecting the best roughing method to enhance tool life and part quality Choosing the right tools and settings for different roughing strategies Case studies and machining trials performed on inconel and titanium materials
Discover how to program KUKA robots directly from your CNC controls — no robot programmer required. This webinar will showcase practical examples of plug-and-play communication between your machine tool and robot, enabling direct robot control through your existing CNC interface. Learn how to bridge the gap between robot integration and machine tool automation, by utilizing your existing in-house resources. Agenda: Introduction to KUKA Robotics Overview of machine tool automation using robots Advantages of controlling a robot from your CNC interface Functions and features of KUKA.PLC mxAutomation Simplifying machine tool automation with examples
Manufacturers and CNC shops face pressure to boost efficiency, cut costs and tackle labor challenges. Robotic machine tending can help, but success requires more than just a robot. Join Vention’s webinar to learn from experts with experience in 4,000+ automation deployments. They’ll cover key considerations, technical capabilities and best practices to ensure a smooth integration. Whether you're new to automation or optimizing an existing setup, this session will equip you with the knowledge to implement robotic machine tending confidently. Agenda: The real-world impact of robotic machine tending on workforce and production efficiency Key factors to consider when evaluating automation for your CNC machines How to integrate robots into existing operations and workflows Live examples and case studies from successful deployments
Does your machine shop include a wide range of CNC machines? Having a single, all-in-one CAD/CAM system for all your CNC machines is efficient and cost-effective. This webinar will provide information on five of the top benefits of implementing a fully-integrated CAD/CAM system with solutions for all your CNC machines. Agenda: Learn how an all-in-one CAD/CAM system will help streamline your workflows and provide faster design to manufacturing See a demonstration of CAM software for a wide range of CNC machines — with functionality for milling up to five-axis simultaneous, turning, mill turning, wire EDM, routers, lasers, waterjets, probing and more Receive information on how a fully-integrated CAD/CAM system improves accuracy, eliminates data translation issues, lowers training requirements and provides overall cost savings
Staying compliant with regulatory bodies, customer requirements and supplier needs are an absolute necessity for manufacturers. If you want to maintain a respected reputation, retain trading partners and grow your business, you must be up to date on the never-ending changes your industry demands. Hear from Bobbie Jarvi, VP of Radley Operations, on how digital tools and an experienced software partner can not only bring you into compliance but help you stay there. CAI will share real-life use cases of manufacturers in a variety of industries on their efforts to stay compliant and how manufacturing software helped get them there.
The Manufacturing Technology Series East, featuring EASTEC in West Springfield, Massachusetts — is at the epicenter of a region that is a traditional manufacturing powerhouse. Historically, more than 700 companies have connected at this event to network, learn from industry experts and explore the latest manufacturing technologies.
Extrusion's general sessions cover best practices, troubleshooting and processing solutions that can help you run your operation and maximize the utilization of your existing assets—as efficiently as possible. ​ Extrusion professionals from the shop floor to the front office are represented at the Extrusion Conference.​ You’ll meet the entire global supply chain: manufacturing managers, supervisors, engineers and technicians, as well as engineers and technical managers at OEMs and other firms.
TASC returns for its third edition as a two-day conference on August 12-13, 2025 in Indianapolis, IN. Participants will walk away with a world-class education in shop automation and then head to the floor to see the technology in action and meet with automation leaders. From machine shop owners to managers and technical leaders, we attract the CNC machining industry’s innovators across machine shops of all sizes. Attendees learn from experts transitioning to lights-out machining and automating mid- to high-volume operations.
The goal of National Composites Week is to celebrate and bring attention to the myriad ways that composite materials and composites manufacturing contributes to the products and structures that shape the American manufacturing landscape today. Learn how you can participate in this year's National Composites Week on NationalCompositesWeek.com.
North America’s largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event heads to McCormick Place, September 8-11, 2025. FABTECH provides a convenient ‘one-stop shop’ venue where you can meet with world-class suppliers, see the latest industry products and developments, and find the tools to improve productivity, increase profits and discover new solutions to all of your metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing needs. Future U.S. Show Dates and Locations 2026 – October 21-23 at Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV 2027 – September 13-16 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL
Being held September 16 – 18, 2025 at the Georgia World Congress Center, SPS Smart Production Solutions Atlanta is bringing innovations, insight, and expertise across the exhibit floor as well as within the educational programming. Be a part of this dynamic platform joining the North American automation industry with international suppliers from around the globe.
Simulation software’s effectiveness comes down to proper implementation and alignment with shop priorities.
Consider the entire system — along with your goals — when deciding between a full five-axis or a 3+2 approach.
Think of additive and subtractive as complementary processes, rather than being in opposition.