Jun 2

Jun 2 12 Ways to Collaborate Within the Community About Manufacturing

CNC Machining, Collaboration, Machining, Machinist, Worker Shortage

Communication and collaboration are important in the manufacturing industry. If we want to grow the industry, we need to keep up on the communication and collaboration. We must Communicate, Collaborate, and Connect and do it on a Consistent basis.

May 27

May 27 Popular Machinist Tools

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

When I got started in machining, I really didn’t know what kind of tools to purchase. There is a vast variety of tooling to use in the shop, from inspection tools to hand tools. While having a limited budget, I had to choose to first buy the tools that I thought that I would use the most. This will vary from machine shop to machine shop often dependent on the type of work that the machinist does. Here is a list of some of the more popular choices for tools:

May 10

May 10 Starting or Growing Your Student Run Business Workshop

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Apprenticeship, CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Worker Shortage

Cardinal Manufacturing in Strum Wisconsin is a school-based manufacturing program that operates both as a class and a business as well. The students gain real world life experiences while enrolled in the program. These experiences include problem solving and working in professional roles.

Apr 26

Apr 26 What it Takes to Become a Machinist

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Manufacturing, Technical Education

Machining and Tool & Die Making is what I have spent most of my career doing. There is something to be said for being able to turn a raw piece of material into a complex finished part. Through all my roles in the machine shop environment, I have identified a few soft skills, hard skills, and technical skills to have mastered if you want to be a great machinist.

Apr 14

Apr 14 What is CNC Machining?

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

CNC is an acronym for Computer Numerical Controlled. CNC is a type of machining practice. Besides CNC the other type of machining is manual machining. In CNC machining the workpiece is held in the machine and the CNC Programmer writes code so that the CNC machine can machine the workpiece. The CNC Machinist sets up and operates the CNC machine and oversees the machining process.

Apr 10

Apr 10 The Basics of 1-2-3 Blocks

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

My first project in technical collage for tool and die making was to make 1-2-3 blocks. I milled the blocks oversize to leave stock for precision grinding. After drilling and tapping the holes in the blocks, we case hardened them. The last process was to precision grind them to size. The grinding process involved both grinding to blocks to size and to a squareness tolerance.

Mar 18

Mar 18 Machining a Great Career Path - The Steps to Success in Manufacturing Technology

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

When you ask what machining means to me, I could go on for hours with stories about how I made complex parts on machines that are even more complicated than the parts themselves. Machining is by far more interesting than what most people know. From the challenges of implementing new complex equipment in the shop, to CNC programming, or even making complex parts in one setup. It is a career choice that most do not know how advanced it can be, especially the machining of today. Now, we can make parts in one setup that were once made in many setups on multiple pieces of equipment over a long-time frame. My career is a success story in manufacturing technology as I have embraced the technology of today and here is how I made it happen with six simple steps in career success.

Mar 13

Mar 13 Connecting a Cobot to a Vintage CNC Mill

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Cobot, Machining, Manufacturing

A cobot can add a lot of value to the manufacturing process in a machine shop. It can increase the productivity of the CNC machine, while also contributing to process accuracy and consistency. Cobots can be easy to program and are safe to use.

Feb 24

Feb 24 Cardinal Manufacturing Overview

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machinist, Machinist Interview, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineer, Soft Skills, Technical Education

Cardinal Manufacturing is a student-run business in the Eleva-Strum High School. In a student-run business the students are responsible for all aspects of the business. It is a custom job shop that makes machined parts for community members and people throughout the country. Check out this video on the program.

Feb 22

Feb 22 The Basics of Gage Blocks

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Manufacturing, toolmaker

Gage blocks (also known as gauge blocks) are inspection tools that are used in the machining industry. They typically come in an 81-piece set and the sizes in the set are as follows:

Feb 16

Feb 16 Growing the Lathe Department

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineer

While spending much of my career working in the medical machining industry, it was an education into complex part machining. What is being done today in the machining industry is exceptional. Now a highly engineered part can be made compete in one setup in a machine that can turn, mill, drill, hob, broach, thread whirl, and gun drill parts. I have implemented lathes from 5-axis models up to 11-axis models. Here is a breakdown of what it might take to implement advanced lathes.

Feb 4

Feb 4 What is Production Machining?

Erin Luke

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Precision Machining, Production Machining

Production machining means making a lot of the same parts with great accuracy. Factories use machines like CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines, Swiss machines, and multi-axis turning machines to do this.

Jan 30

Jan 30 Is Being a Machinist Stressful?

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, toolmaker

Machining could be a stressful job, but it is as stressful as you make it out to be. For example, there are many things to consider when machining parts, like quality issues, time deadlines, and machining conditions. These items may be stressful when you look at everything at once, but if you form a plan with many individual goals to meet it will add up to the end goal of making a quality part and on time.

Jan 17

Jan 17 Machine Tools

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Manufacturing

A machine tool is a mechanical device that is used to machine metal components. The machine tool is essential in manufacturing processes and is used to cut, drill, and grind parts. A machine tool could be a lathe, mill, or a grinding machine. Machine tools are essential to making precision parts for production machining operations.

Jan 15

Jan 15 What is Precision Machining?

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Precision Machining

Precision machining is the process of removing material from the workpiece and holding a tight tolerance and finish on the part. The process of removing material from the workpiece is usually done with computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines.