tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8826590937440044952024-02-06T18:35:20.472-08:00Manufacturing SolutionsThe place to ask your manufacturing questions and get straight answers from a slected group of authors with more than 150 collective years of experience in automation, production, machining, design, and procurement.Wessssshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692209288284144831noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882659093744004495.post-89652724631272485792010-08-05T21:34:00.000-07:002010-08-05T22:06:38.285-07:00Continuous Motion Lid Seal Installation<object width="500" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/a9Ct0rydTu0&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/a9Ct0rydTu0&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="405"></embed></object>Wessssshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692209288284144831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882659093744004495.post-14508385101515488972010-04-29T12:38:00.001-07:002010-04-29T12:40:01.739-07:00What's happening with Fed Rate<meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRJAA5F%7E1.WES%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><style>
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: firebrick; font-family: Arial; font-size: 7.5pt;">INTEREST RATES</span><br />
<div style="color: #f1c232;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Fed Leaves Key Interest Rate Unchanged </span></b></div><div style="color: #f1c232;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">As expected, the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee yesterday kept its target for the federal funds rate at between zero and 0.25 percent. The committee again said the low rates are likely to continue for “an extended period.”</span></div></div>Wessssshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692209288284144831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882659093744004495.post-79505374020737212382010-04-28T21:19:00.000-07:002010-04-28T21:19:59.515-07:00Economy for April 2010<div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3T85iqAOuJZ6_e4-ZJK_uBzr9Vq5TTIAj1VdSVnxy_v1A8Wih78etHdKhOLv7pg_nTkokXKAzFi21ezI7lqyfvYUMfZsdI5fhlZz5u1k9LP4eOS-2uHdaBZWhIW9xZEOz1CGiSGI7lY8/s1600/Econ_April.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3T85iqAOuJZ6_e4-ZJK_uBzr9Vq5TTIAj1VdSVnxy_v1A8Wih78etHdKhOLv7pg_nTkokXKAzFi21ezI7lqyfvYUMfZsdI5fhlZz5u1k9LP4eOS-2uHdaBZWhIW9xZEOz1CGiSGI7lY8/s320/Econ_April.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The manufacturing economy continues its slow and steady recovery. Good thing. The collapse was so dramatic that the entire durable goods supply chain retreated by almost 50%. Once production levels have been scaled back, getting back up to speed and synchronized is the most complex management problem in business. Any attempt to ramp faster would be met with supply starvation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">With durable goods now leading the way it looks like a real recovery is under way. Auto retail sales increases also bode well for sustainability. Only housing remains on the sidelines. With the long delays in cleaning up the foreclosure mess, this may hang on for a while. We now find that 40% of the homes processed through the government aid program are in foreclosure again. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Industrial production was off 0.1% month-to-month. Probably not a serious issue give the strong January performance.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Durable goods new orders increased 0.9% in February.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Durable goods shipments declined slightly; now balanced with orders.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Durable goods employment grew by 21,000. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Durable goods deliveries are still slow (average 5.5 months vs. normal of 4). <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Core retail (excludes autos, gas, food service) grew again, this time by 0.8%. Now above record year of 2008.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Autos grew by 6.7% in February. First serious growth in two years. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Capacity utilization is still well below normal levels. Long way to go to get back to normal.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Health care legislation has started a rush by manufacturers to seek alternatives. Major write downs due to increased costs is just the beginning. Attempts to control costs via price controls will produce the same result as under Nixon and Carter. Expect much higher costs and problems with availability and quality. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Paul Volker (Obama Economic Advisor) is floating the idea of a value added tax and/or a carbon tax as ways to deal with the huge deficit projections. Either will damage the economy. See more info next month.<o:p></o:p></div>Wessssshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692209288284144831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882659093744004495.post-46825575924623004092010-03-17T16:00:00.000-07:002010-03-17T16:00:31.793-07:00How's Manufacturing doing in the U.S. Economy Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEq33k0-W-X1AeVdUZaLrbRg8HJtKgoHZLpPro1fgW14eKOZECiEd48gdRXo_Nt9snfzo2nx6BeT_0B64r66WOL8V3bS3uu5nl6LUG-aIao3ELRWHzz0mbbQbH7O3Kr7SR2sEd4ckLt0g/s1600-h/machineLathe.10.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEq33k0-W-X1AeVdUZaLrbRg8HJtKgoHZLpPro1fgW14eKOZECiEd48gdRXo_Nt9snfzo2nx6BeT_0B64r66WOL8V3bS3uu5nl6LUG-aIao3ELRWHzz0mbbQbH7O3Kr7SR2sEd4ckLt0g/s320/machineLathe.10.gif" /></a></div><br />
I thought that I'd give you a look at how manufacturing in general is looking in the U.S. today. A good friend of mine, writes monthly comments on the government reported statistics on GDP. His name is John Leyden and here's how to find him: <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">John Layden<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Prevel Technology<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">317-842-6417<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><a href="http://www.preveltech.com/" title="blocked::http://www.preveltech.com/">www.preveltech.com</a></span></div><a href="mailto:jlayden@preveltech.com" title="blocked::mailto:jlayden@preveltech.com">jlayden@preveltech.com</a> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">The economic data in durable goods has shown additional signs of slow but stable growth. There are no signs of a strong or rapid recovery. However, there are still no direct signs of a double dip recession, although concerns over commercial real estate loans are getting a lot of attention. Residential housing market remains depressed.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">With all the attention focused on the health care debate you may have missed the news on energy supplies. New mega-field oil discoveries are at an all time high, estimated and proven reserves are at an all time high and soaring, natural gas is nearing a 100 year supply (20 years is normal). Exxon “unexpectedly” reported new discoveries at 133% of production for the 16<sup>th</sup> consecutive year. But the US government continues to block development. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>GDP for Q4 was 1.5% above Q3. Annualized at 5.9%.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Industrial production was up 1% month-to-month.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Durable goods new orders increased 2.6% in January. December revised to +1.8%.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Durable goods shipments declined slightly; now balanced with orders.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Durable goods employment stabilized<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Durable goods deliveries are still slow (average 5.5 months). Typical level is almost a third faster.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Autos remained at the “new normal” (depressed) level. Capacity utilization is flat at 51%.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Single family housing starts and sales declined. New single family for sale at an all time low.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span>-<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>There are calls for the resignation of the head of the UN-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in the wake of manipulated and fabricated evidence. He was the co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. <span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span>Moves in Congress to block EPA attempt to regulate CO2 as pollutant are surfacing.</div><div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">tjos was just a summary, so if you'd like the whole GDP report just e-mail John at Preval Tech</div> <div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">.<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><a href="http://www.preveltech.com/" title="blocked::http://www.preveltech.com/"></a><o:p></o:p></span> <div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div>Wessssshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692209288284144831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882659093744004495.post-8018698369899399292010-03-03T20:27:00.000-08:002010-03-07T12:47:52.091-08:00The difference Americans and those who seek to represent us.<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #ffd966;"><b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="background-color: orange;"></span>As an American and as a manufacturer that has to earn a buck in this climate of spiraling Health costs and probably escalating taxes, I worry about where Washington is taking us. I can't take credit for this little story, but I will pass it along to you since it clearly points to why we need sweeping changes in the cast of characters that we send to our Capital in the name of "representing we the people"</span></span></b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIUAT73bQzs9EwFV90jpiW-xeumq8YwAyP6i2M8nErfmdEagzKvDKVoNDaF8akH-aC9eWeyT1C8RBMyaoaOkE2ch9aKEmCwtih2wmR40RmQ159l_BuRjkGgORi7WKjibIJvpOKYoU-RE/s1600-h/BLog+Pic+100304.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguIUAT73bQzs9EwFV90jpiW-xeumq8YwAyP6i2M8nErfmdEagzKvDKVoNDaF8akH-aC9eWeyT1C8RBMyaoaOkE2ch9aKEmCwtih2wmR40RmQ159l_BuRjkGgORi7WKjibIJvpOKYoU-RE/s400/BLog+Pic+100304.bmp" width="400" /></a></div><b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13.5pt;">. </span></span></b></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13.5pt; font-weight: bold;"><b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">A small town had a local barber shop, and one day the florist from down the street and walked in to get a hair cut. He sat in the chair and the barber proceeded to give him his usual hair cut.After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.</span></span></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">The florist was pleased and left the shop.</span></span></b></b><br />
<b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door. </span></span></b></b><br />
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Later, a cop came in for a haircut, and when he tried to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing </span></span></b></b><br />
<b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">community service this week. </span></span></b></b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13.5pt; font-weight: bold;"><b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">The cop too was happy and left the shop.</span></span></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> </span></span></b></b><br />
<b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> </span></span></b></b></span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13.5pt; font-weight: bold;"><b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door. </span></span></b></b><br />
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm </span></span></b></b><br />
<b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">doing community service this week.' The Congressman was very happy and left the shop. </span></span></b></b><br />
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut. </span></span></b></b><br />
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<b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.</span></span></b></b></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13.5pt; font-weight: bold;"><b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> Just a short commentary on who we sent to Washington from:</span></span></b></b></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #ffd966;"><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13.5pt; font-weight: bold;"><b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> The "Wiz" </span></span></b></b></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="color: #0003ff; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0003ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 13.5pt; font-weight: bold;"><b><b><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS;"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> </span></span></b></b></span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.5pt; font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>Wessssshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692209288284144831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882659093744004495.post-18760360327787599812009-12-09T11:16:00.000-08:002009-12-09T18:54:32.516-08:00Product Design and Development<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38suafBmetxPfMZORjAuvTUGXX366GSfzGh4ebsaXIbSAkRQsmmushKpNdGFa99AKgYVvyKdiAhWbu2M6tIxAU506htF-xlJejlaYgWBqLfl0Lx50orAxkx6TqsC7i7Ivo0ErCtODP3Vc/s1600-h/img12.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413325142273009890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38suafBmetxPfMZORjAuvTUGXX366GSfzGh4ebsaXIbSAkRQsmmushKpNdGFa99AKgYVvyKdiAhWbu2M6tIxAU506htF-xlJejlaYgWBqLfl0Lx50orAxkx6TqsC7i7Ivo0ErCtODP3Vc/s200/img12.gif" style="cursor: hand; float: left; height: 152px; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; width: 196px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><em>Recently I asked our contributing editor Werner how he goes about starting a new project... Here's what he had to say:</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi All,</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">In the Development Process for the project the start is of course the initial idea. To realize the idea we would start out with product sketches encompassing form and function. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then we will start a concept model in Pro/E and coordinate all materials from the initial work session with the client and go on with the design process, however complicated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">After a week or two we would have our first design review </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">with the client to check our objectives and go on with the </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">first design model.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We would go ahead in a chosen direction and after a few </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">more reviews and refinements we have our first design ready </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">to prototype.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">If it is a simple design program it can take 1 to six weeks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moderate design programs take 6 to 12 weeks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Extensive design programs last the duration of time by nature + complexity</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A Good Idea + A Good Development Plan = A Good Outcome </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-Werner Karwinski</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Design & Development</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span>caddesign1http://www.blogger.com/profile/09165679036432883021noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882659093744004495.post-44858845387398911322009-11-24T21:11:00.000-08:002009-11-26T09:48:28.031-08:00What's this Blog all aboutThe idea is one that I’ve had for a very long time and tried to get working when I was the CHAIRMAN of the Machine Tool Builders trade association.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtvHe1v4kaer7OkdsfyuU5BdqkjLsFZvAX0l8tPRF4-1imDsMa3fx3JQpVgp-8N_4aG58e7SUG3-TJPME5HtPK5W_Wg4t_v1MbHeIhMLqpKR1yWrCWen7HhyphenhyphenaOHOhLaC3Lvi4nwHebic/s1600/albert-einstein.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCtvHe1v4kaer7OkdsfyuU5BdqkjLsFZvAX0l8tPRF4-1imDsMa3fx3JQpVgp-8N_4aG58e7SUG3-TJPME5HtPK5W_Wg4t_v1MbHeIhMLqpKR1yWrCWen7HhyphenhyphenaOHOhLaC3Lvi4nwHebic/s320/albert-einstein.jpg" yr="true" /></a>I want the Blog to be a place where potential Customers can come and ask questions and get some direction. The real objective is to direct them to the Lake County Technologies web site “where the advice is always free”. On the Lake County web site (under construction) our effort will be to develop the concept for design, tooling, automation or production with the customer and then recommend potential suppliers if the customer requires help in that department. With this effort, I am counting on my reputation being good enough that people will respect that I shoot straight, and that the referral will be genuinely directed to where the customer can get the “Right” help. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So where does all this go?<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I’m not completely sure but so far I have been able to match my customers with some of my suppliers. I set up my parts maker with a customer that needs production parts. One of my customers now makes parts for another customer as a result of working with Lake County Technologies (LCT-Inc.). The objective is to create within LCT-Inc. “Your Network to Manufacturing Excellence”.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This whole idea is one that many of you have heard me talk about over beers; Every one in this industry thinks that they are the only ones that can build that Rocket-ship to the moon. We all know that's not exactly true and that if we all worked together it would be more productive and profitable for everyone; but no one is willing to take the first step…....until now.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I’m taking the first step, and I want to promote the blog and the web site as THE PLACE TO GO FOR MANUFACTURING QUESTIONS: automation, machining, sourcing, etc. We have a custom molder, a fastener source, a stamping source, an Asian Tooling manufacturer, and the current network can get you wheels, casters, special fasteners, and investment cast parts at prices that beat the competition by 50% if volumes are over 500 parts/yr. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">That’s my entire story and that’s what Lake County Technologies is all about. It used to be Lake County Equipment, but we have found in the last 6 months that we do a lot beyond EQUIPMENT. We’ve done turn-arounds, and project management, installed MRP and even helped emerging companies get their accounting systems set up. We hope to shortly have an accounting (CPA) firm as a blog contributor. We are really trying to be the one stop where YOU (Mr. <em>emerging/struggling/new</em> MANUFACTURER) can get not just answers, and not just consulting, but YOU <strong>can get</strong> RESULTS.<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So, you get on the blog, and respond or author anything that you want as long as it’s not too commercial. I would recommend that you respond to the Lake County Technologies “The Network that Works”.<br />
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</div>Thanks for your interest; I really think that this idea can work and that we can make the USA stronger and bring back manufacturing to our shores. We can’t do it alone: we can only do it as a team or network and by working together.Wessssshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692209288284144831noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882659093744004495.post-37704975770726782502009-11-19T16:01:00.000-08:002009-11-19T16:48:42.738-08:00Screwed by TolerancesWell screwed:A <img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZVIyXjjp6jSdOImOoWTt3tueXbsnGEh4S9iJEUZxy-8QkUzz0HQz1DOUvmvHzi78UEkmYRW_qVyFiDe-wxFrFyTCflqont5AuXOasHxcrxXLNZJTYNGIG0G-Fl-gfMpB-CaNTNhNJ5U/s200/Sheet+metal+screws.bmp" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405977911567411426" />customer had a bracket that needed assembly. The unit used four self-tapping screws to hold it in position. The wrong disk washer bolt type was used, but that's only part of the problem. With hand assembly everything went together and the simple assembly fixture worked pretty well.<div><br /></div><div>Then the production rate went up and the demand rose to about 90,000 units per month. It was time to automate, and instead of starting the screws with an operator, four automatic drivers (on fixed centers) were attempted. After many "machine caused" rejects, the parts were inspected.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stamped parts with tolerances hole to hole mate quite nicely, but not when located on the part profile. The interference in the holes caused the screws not to start through the holes and jam in the self-feeder drivers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Part of the problem is the way the parts were drawn and the way the holes were referenced. But a big part of the problem is a supplier that used up all the tolerance in the drawing to make up for differences in bend radius, material changes, spring-back, and take up. Selecting a supplier that was ISO qualified and could certify all the parts would be a help, but part of the issue is poor drawings and no Cpk spec on the incoming product. These are the manufacturer's problems.</div><div><br /></div><div>The drive to lower cost parts delivered faster and with higher quality is not going to stop. The first step to being the manufacturer that can deliver better, faster, cheaper is under</div><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 102px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7p5hxnZNoKruyGHlQufVUZxuTTg20vLfON_xhtYKZR26bBszeKFE6pHws2LDMNoEnJrulz9j8K6xkip-H6rcG08n1fMX8zgisvxYX-_zOn4Qx0EnY8RwpF2y8PxevYXmlhMrNwxD069Q/s200/Disk+washer+bolts.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405978518296106306" /><div>standing that good parts start with good drawing and solid specifications. Responsibility for this issue falls on both the consciencious manufacturer and the qualified supplier.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>We welcome your comments and criticisms, so PLEASE tell us what you think.</div>Wessssshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692209288284144831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882659093744004495.post-40187754521080922702009-11-19T07:40:00.000-08:002009-11-19T08:06:44.250-08:00From Manual to Automatic assembly<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56eQjQ0WlEAMEYmgu-9lJ7y0xk4NmolNWxxFAC0HK4-BDMfG-1rbU8xfQeCGyBAoyC0ZPhu5fNYVFKfs6VwRVpYUdGDN0pWq6EAvx2FH3MUMEphPQBtYe2_INZHzEdwIB5sPn0iVlzjw/s1600/Sheetmetal+riveting.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56eQjQ0WlEAMEYmgu-9lJ7y0xk4NmolNWxxFAC0HK4-BDMfG-1rbU8xfQeCGyBAoyC0ZPhu5fNYVFKfs6VwRVpYUdGDN0pWq6EAvx2FH3MUMEphPQBtYe2_INZHzEdwIB5sPn0iVlzjw/s320/Sheetmetal+riveting.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5405840507643573810" /></a><br />Recently I worked on a project to assemble sheet metal parts with rivets. Several noteworthy aspects of this project come to mind. The first being the fact thay because people can put the parts together doesn't mean that they can be asseembled automatically.<br /><br />Stamped parts that are punched and THEN formed can only be located from the stamped details; the profile or outer edges are subject to the variances of material thickness as well as hardness (springback). The customer thought that because workers could locate the parts and line up the holes for riveting, fixturing and automation could do the same but with a real reduction in labor cost: until we reviewed the part tolerances.<br /><br />The tool maker had negotiated tolerances that were easy for him to meet, but in a review of the two making holes and their respective mating surfces, there was +/- over a half a hole diameter in the tolerance. So, if you locate the part, even on punched features, the holes only line up about half of the time. Okay, let's locate the mating parts when they are loaded by placing thme over pins that retract as the rivet is installed into the hole. THis worked for two of the holes, but not for all the holes. There was no way to locate the two pivot points from the inside of the parts without a piece of "loose" tooling. This was unacceptable to the customer. <br /><br />The parts had an assembled tolerance of +/- 0.4 degrees and the customer required a Cpk of 1.333 on the assembled critical dimensions. The downtime requirement was very low and the requirement for efficiency was 99%+ at a rate of 360 parts per hour. The budget was tight and finally the recommendation to the customer was to load/unload the parts with operators. Install the easy rivets over retracting pins and then install the rivets in the positions with location problems manually. Inspection was to be automated.<br /><br />The system generated an overall throughput increase of about 20% and had a cash payback of about 14 month based on labor savings alone. The customer was not please with the solution, and cancelled the contract. Sometimes you just have to walk away from a project if it is really not possible.<br /><br />I would like to hear from any on you who have installed Pop Rivets into blind hole with no pins to line up the holes. In this case because of the way the parts are formed, all the rivets had to be install from the beakout side ir sharp edge of the stamping making getting into the hole even tougher. Do any of you out there have similar experiences that you'll share?Wessssshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08692209288284144831noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882659093744004495.post-61580229034458528302009-11-16T13:47:00.000-08:002009-11-19T08:11:27.933-08:00New Products: Inventions, Widgets, Design for Manufacturing<span style="font-family:verdana;">Let me begin by congratulating Wessss for his never </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">ending entrepreneurship</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">and spirit to help all of us by</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">creating this blog site.</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">His credentials and leadership </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">on latest projects speaks for itself.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">To our followers: BadVibes, the medication is not working, </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">try a little extra</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">skin cream to get back to the youthful </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">look I remember.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Keith, thank you for special efforts on recent projects, </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">no matter how many</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">times the diameter changed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Regarding project creations..............</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Diversification and added knowledge will prevail in today's </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">manufacturing </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">business whereby we all will conquer the </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">economy change.</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Networking with others is the key to </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">success to arrive with new clients</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">and vendors for</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">features </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and parts needed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">It may be different regarding the way we do things. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Yet the individual steps</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">taken are identical. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">We still design, maybe with better software for </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">solid modeling</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">and surfacing, to prototype parts by way </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">of SLA techniques. The project itself</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">still needs 2d assembly </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">drawings, BOM and detail drawings with specifications.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>The Design and The Project Plan is the road towards </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>the goal we want to achieve.</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><strong>Sit and think is good, but you have to get started.</strong></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">We still build plastic injection molds, die cast dies, </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">progressive metal stamping dies</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">and form stations,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">fabricate metal, weld, rivet, assemble with nuts and bolts;</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">machine parts out of steel, aluminum and brass.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">We still assemble products with special machinery and </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">complete assembly lines.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Nowadays robots are added to reduce labor cost and </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">repetitious intensity.</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">Some mechanical functions are </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">taken over by electronic equipment,</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">special valves and sensors to prevent failure.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">If you need advice, new ideas and methods to succeed in </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">your project venture</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">please write us or add a comment </span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">regarding the difficulty you have.</span> <span style="font-family:Verdana;">We will provide the missing</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">link and guide you towards success.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Design & Development</span>caddesign1http://www.blogger.com/profile/09165679036432883021noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-882659093744004495.post-2927457741386018752009-11-12T14:20:00.000-08:002010-01-21T07:00:29.564-08:00Innovation and Value creationI recently attended a meeting of the the American machine tool trade association. The organization is called the Association for Manufacturing Technology or AMT. The industry is down this year, largely as a result of the economy. The Association and all its members are looking for ways to generate revenue. I was fascinated with a presentation that made the point that manufacturing is the only way to generate revenue producing products that are transportable through time and space. A "widget" made here has a value and it can be shipped anywhere, anytime and it will always have a value.<br />
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<div>The presentation went on to demonstrate that if the resources available to make "widgets" are fixed, the only way generate more revenue is through higher productivity, or Innovation. The machine tool industry is all about productivity enhancement; higher speeds, faster feeds, easier programming, and unattended operation, all to improve productivity. But, the low cost solution for revenue growth just might be Innovation. Clever ideas and creative vision can both increase productivity and launch new "widgets" with more function and more features that more people are willing to buy.<br />
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</div><div>The incubator for American ingenuity has long been small business and it's no different for manufacturing. The American entrepreneur has been coming up with better ways to build products faster, better, and cheaper since before the industrial revolution. It wasn't really easier in the old days, but the global economy has changed the landscape of the competitive market place. With foreign countries subsidizing labor and materials as well as assisting in the penetration of key markets, the small and emerging manufacturing companies in the USA need to change the way that they have traditionally worked. <br />
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<div>To be an entrepreneur has long meant that you were your own boss, the captain of your ship, and that command was often a lonely thing. Today's demand for competitive prices has driven overhead down so that internal resources are often not available. The company with the clever concept, may not have the engineering staff to design it, the manufacturing know-how to build it, or know where to find the help to bring the idea to market and create the value and sustainable growth that the innovation should bring. Today's business leader needs to find ways to network in order to find manufacturing solutions that make dollars and sense.<br />
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<div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-ghcRz77zc-aXddcWSY9T0gh5lVxjKUweq3IGX1Fa9afvCH0B4dIGZi5bY478Zpi3teS-Q21zYC5fesvuvT0cT1VF4IzTbaAZJYD9zlUqvQy24k6g8Bc5dqAt5nare75ut6hhzyQ6KU/s1600-h/_wsb_139x166_Flipper+1.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403343513282627042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-ghcRz77zc-aXddcWSY9T0gh5lVxjKUweq3IGX1Fa9afvCH0B4dIGZi5bY478Zpi3teS-Q21zYC5fesvuvT0cT1VF4IzTbaAZJYD9zlUqvQy24k6g8Bc5dqAt5nare75ut6hhzyQ6KU/s320/_wsb_139x166_Flipper+1.jpg" style="float: right; height: 166px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 139px;" /></a>Being the "Captain of your own ship" can no longer mean steering the boat with no help. Finding the right part, or partner to help create the solution is more important than ever, because getting to market with the right idea at the right price is a matter of timing. As some wise old guy once said <i>"The <b>Opportunity of a Lifetime</b> must be <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">seized</span> within the <b>Lifetime of the Opportunity".</b></i><br />
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<div>Without knowing where to find the pedal, the "right" material for the rod, or how to mold the seat, America would still be standing and waiting.<br />
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</div><div align="right">Innovation @ Work <br />
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