Nov 7

Nov 7 Workflow in the Shop - What it Takes to Make CNC Lathe Parts

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Engineer, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineer, Manufacturing Engineers, Professional Engineer

The workflow varies from shop to shop, but we will breakdown what it might take to process a CNC lathe part.

Oct 30

Oct 30 Spartan Manufacturing - A Student Run Business

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Machining, Machinist, Technical Education

Spartan Manufacturing in the School District of Superior Wisconsin is on a mission to expose students to industry and the trades in their area, and to better represent all the post high school options available to students at Superior High School. They want to remove the stigma of a two-year technical degree or an apprenticeship program.

Oct 17

Oct 17 Introducing the Younger Generation to Manufacturing

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

Adapting to the worker shortage in manufacturing is difficult. Some shops may choose to search more aggressively for employees, while others might invest in technology that helps streamline the manufacturing processes. Then there are other manufacturing facilities that may buy another machine shop to gain capabilities. Those are all ways to overcome the worker shortage, but this article will focus on how to introduce manufacturing to the younger generation to help fix the worker shortage.

Oct 10

Oct 10 Why Become a Machinist?

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

The machinist’s role is to setup advanced CNC machines and monitor the cutting conditions as the machine makes parts. As the machinist makes the parts, they inspect the parts with inspection tools and adjust the CNC parameters to achieve a conforming part that is within specifications.

Aug 21

Aug 21 Machining Terms to Know

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

There are many terms to know and understand in the machining industry. If you are just getting started in the industry, we have designed this list to better prepare you for the job.

Aug 15

Aug 15 We Can Solve the Skilled Manufacturing Worker Shortage

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

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

Over the last 5 years, I have been observing the manufacturing industry worker shortage. The drastic change that I have seen over my 24-year career is alarming. While most industries change over time, I believe the changes that are happening to manufacturing are more than that. We are in a worker shortage crisis.

Aug 12

Aug 12 Which Machine Shop is for Me?

Bethmarie Leannah Simons

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Interview Questions, Machining, Machining Interview, Machining Questions, Machinist, Machinist Interview

So, you have finished your education, either in high school or post-secondary trade school or both, and you are ready to find that machine shop meant for you. Many people do not take compatibility into consideration when completing their job search, but they should.

May 20

May 20 CNC Machining Process Planning - 25 Considerations

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machinist

When planning a CNC machining process there are many considerations and options to choose. From cutting tool selection to cutting parameters, the choices have a major effect on the end results. Here is what it might take to define a CNC toolpath:

Apr 22

Apr 22 Programming a Counter-Clockwise Arc on a Lathe

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining

The code to program a G3 counter-clockwise arc on a lathe is: G3X______ Z_______ R_______

Jan 15

Jan 15 Machine Shop Math

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Technical Education

How we are taught how to pronounce a measurement in mathematics class is different from how we pronounce a measurement in machine shop class. In the following chart, I will break down the decimal place pronunciation of 0.123456.

Sep 5

Sep 5 Endmills

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

An endmill is a cutting tool that is typically used in a milling machine, or a mill/turn machine. They come in various diameters and lengths, to suit the needs of the user and the application. With that, they typically come in variations with 2-flutes, 3-flutes and 4 flutes. A 2-flute and 3-flute endmill is typically used in cutting aluminum. The 4-flute version is used in milling steel. The versions with 5 to 12 flutes are used in finish cutting steel.

Mar 19

Mar 19 CNC Macro Programming Basics

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Manufacturing Engineer, Manufacturing Engineers

We will cover the basics of Parameter programming. The concepts learned can be applied to many CNC projects and can be used in small shops and large shops alike. In G Code, macro programming variables are assigned values and when they are referenced and called they provide the last value that they were assigned. Some ways that variables can be used are for machining part families and for modifying work offsets and tooling offsets.

Jan 16

Jan 16 Ask A CNC Machining Question

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machining Questions, Machinist, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineer, Manufacturing Engineers, toolmaker

Please fill out the form to ask us machining questions.

Jul 29

Jul 29 The Student-Run Business Teaching Model

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Technical Education

While recently attending a workshop on starting or growing your school-based enterprise at the school district of Eleva-Strum in Wisconsin I discovered that they have great model for their student-run business. Their program, Cardinal Manufacturing teaches soft skills and employability skills along with learning the technology.

Jul 24

Jul 24 Red Raider Manufacturing

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Collaboration, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Technical Education

The Red Raider Manufacturing program in the Sheboygan Area School District had 1,090 students in the 2021-22 school year. Its mission is to give all SASD students access to the most up-to-date, relevant and exciting learning experience to succeed. The vision of the program is education and industry partnering to turn a manufacturing/technical career into an aspiration. The students in the program are high achieving, proud of what they do, and career ready.