Skip to content

Manufacturing Engineering: April 2018

The April 2018 edition of Manufacturing Engineering is available as a digital magazine. Links to individual articles are below.
AM Continues Rapid Ascent, Targets New Markets

AM Continues Rapid Ascent, Targets New Markets

March 30, 2018
Additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, is a vibrant and dynamic field. Each year, developments in AM allow organizations to create products that were previously unthinkable.
Ray Huff Associate Engineer, Wohlers Associates Inc.
By Ray Huff Associate Engineer, Wohlers Associates, Inc.
Terry Wohlers
By Terry Wohlers Head of Advisory Services and Market Intelligence, Wohlers Associates
Vision and Robotics: Happy Together

Vision and Robotics: Happy Together

March 30, 2018
The next “dynamic duo” may not involve humans at all. “Machine vision and robots make for a perfect marriage,” stated Klas Bengtsson, global product manager, vision systems for ABB Robotics (Auburn Hills, MI). This is not new. Vision and robotics have gone hand in hand for years.
Bruce Morey
By Bruce Morey Senior Technical Editor, SME Media
Sensor-Based Control of Cutting Tools, Machine Tools Moves From Drawing Board to Mainstream

Sensor-Based Control of Cutting Tools, Machine Tools Moves From Drawing Board to Mainstream

March 30, 2018
A key success factor for Industry 4.0 and IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) initiatives is the emergence of more and better sensors in machining centers, and even in the cutting tools themselves. These sensors provide the data and connectivity that are the foundation for the “factory of the future.”
Robert Puhr
By Robert Puhr Contributing Editor, SME Media
AR and VR

PLM’s Promise for a Connected Manufacturing Industry

April 2, 2018
Complexity is pervasive in today’s component design and manufacturing processes. In the latest product lifecycle management (PLM) software, manufacturers get more choices, with new functionality being added to help visualize manufacturing processes with technologies that include augmented reality (VR) and virtual reality (VR).
Pat Waurzyniak
By Patrick Waurzyniak Contributing Editor, SME Media
DMG Mori’s Lasertec 3D hybrid

Hybrid Machines Make Parts Using Brand New and Tried and True Technologies

April 2, 2018
There will be a lot of success stories coming out soon featuring hybrid additive/subtractive machine technology. Still in its early development stages, hybrid machine technology is carving out—after carefully building up layer by layer—examples of complex parts, large repaired workpieces, and molds with process-enhancing conformal cooling channels designed in.
Jim Lorincz
By Jim Lorincz Contributing Editor, SME Media

Shop Solutions

  • NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Up Front

  • NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

SME Speaks

  • NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Tech Front

  • NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Software Update

  • NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Mfg Intel

  • NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Workforce Pipeline

  • NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Viewpoints

  • NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Laser Special Section

  • NEWS DESK

    RS Taps Nisha Brown to Lead Marketing and Digital Strategy

    PRESS RELEASE: RS Americas August 18, 2026
    RS welcomes Nisha Brown to its executive leadership team as the Vice President of Marketing and Digital Experience for RS Americas.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Fluke CalStudio Conduit Has Intelligent Workflow Automation

    PRESS RELEASE: Fluke Corp. August 18, 2026
    Calibration laboratories are under growing pressure to do more with fewer resources while managing disconnected systems, manual workflows and increasing compliance demands. To address these challenges, Fluke today announced the latest release of CalStudio, headlined by CalStudio Conduit, a no-code workflow and integration platform that connects calibration data with hundreds of business applications.
  • HUMANS OF MANUFACTURING

    Proud to Be a Woman in Manufacturing

    Jessica Bird, Sales and Account Management, Midwest CAM Solutions August 18, 2026
    There's a moment early in my manufacturing career that I still think about.

Download our mobile app

Requires iOS 8.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.