Nathan Voss • Sep 29, 2026 • 8 min read
For most beginners, the Kennedy Manufacturing 520B: seven wool-lined drawers, a tubular lock, 22-gauge steel, and the brand forum machinists treat as the...
Nathan Voss • Sep 26, 2026 • 9 min read
Buy a 0 to 1 inch outside micrometer first, and spend the most money on it. For most beginners that means a Mitutoyo Series 103...
Renata Kowalski • Sep 21, 2026 • 23 min read
Process selection on a print comes down to three questions: what shape the feature is, how tight it has to be, and whether the material...
Nathan Voss • Sep 18, 2026 • 16 min read
For a shop running three to eight machines, shop floor automation means four purchases that get sold as one: something that loads and unloads a...
Renata Kowalski • Sep 14, 2026 • 11 min read
Eleven Okuma machines, four of them Americas debuts, an Integrex that grinds, and two Index/Traub machines North America has not seen in the metal: IMTS...
Dave Miller • Jan 19, 2026 • 7 min read
Every machinist knows the trusty micrometer and dial caliper. These workhorses live in nearly every toolbox and get pulled out dozens of times a day....
Dave Miller • Jan 16, 2026 • 8 min read
Five-axis machining represents the pinnacle of CNC capability, but owning a 5-axis machine doesn't automatically translate to maximum productivity. The...
Nathan Voss • Jan 12, 2026 • 23 min read
Walk into any high-volume fabrication shop, and you'll notice something interesting: the plasma cutting stations run by veteran operators consistently...
Nathan Voss • Jan 11, 2026 • 9 min read
Ask any experienced machinist what separates a good shop from a great one, and workholding will come up within the first three answers. While beginners...
Nathan Voss • Jan 7, 2026 • 8 min read
If you're running a small to mid-sized fabrication shop, you've probably noticed that finding skilled welders is getting harder every year. The welding...
