American Machinist Weekly Update

Pandemic Plunges Global Steel Output

Global steel production fell -13.05% in April as manufacturing shut down in Asia, North America, and Europe to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, but Chinese output rose to 62.0% of the world's total output for the month – and remained nearly even with the ye

Six-Axis Machine Fits Metalex’s Big Plans

Starrag Group is addressing one contract manufacturer's expansion and development strategy with a large-scale portal machining center.

Boeing Restarts 737 MAX Production

Low-rate production resumed after a four-month pause, though the twin-engine jet series has not yet been approved to resume service with its redesigned flight-control program.

Automakers Split Over U.S. Fuel-Efficiency Rules

A lobbying group for GM, Ford, Fiat Chrysler, Honda, Toyota, and others is siding with the Trump Administration's position on fuel-efficiency standards — leaving aside some members' goals on gas mileage and emissions.

Identifying Quality Retention Knobs for CNC Productivity

Reliable retention knobs formed from high-quality steel enhance set-up rigidity — improving tool life and reducing cycle times.

PVD Coatings Provide Wear and Corrosion Protection for Howitzer Spindles

Physical Vapor Deposition coating replaced conventional chromium coatings for U.S. Army howitzer breech spindles, with very low levels of defects, and testing showed it outperformed conventional chromium treatments.

High-Precision System for Real-Time 3D Inspection

The ZeroTouch high-speed metrology and inspection system processes complex geometries faster than traditional CMM inspection, generating large volumes of data necessary to evaluate quality for complex geometries.

Modular Linear Pallet Storage Links Machining Systems

Up to five machine tools can be connected to a pallet storage rack with a maximum of 87 pallet positions, to establish flexible manufacturing lines for various types of parts.