Tag Archives: manufacturing

In the third quarter of 2019, many in manufacturing are waiting and watching to see where the last half of the year will leave the industry after a slight dip in manufacturing production in April. The 0.2 percent year-on-year drop created a revision from the 0.7 rise in March, according to TradingEconomics.com. U.S. manufacturing production averaged 3.79 percent from 1920-2019, according to the data provider.

Calculations from Trading Economics’ global macro models and its associated analysts shared a forecast for U.S. manufacturing of 2181.00 USD billion. Predictions for the long-term, based on econometric modeling, were expected around 2266.00 U.S. Billion in 2020.

Economics and Politics

Economic predictions for 2020 will also be impacted by the upcoming election year. 2020 is already attracting speculation from political pundits. This election like many others will find candidates looking to ally with voters, exploiting the associated economic element of a stronger manufacturing industry. Some within the political world are already touting a manufacturing comeback, crediting current and proposed tariffs on Chinese goods. Others who aren’t ready to give credit still see an imminent boom. Nevertheless, candidates on both sides of the party aisle are casting their bets on the impact manufacturing will have in the upcoming election as many candidates look to regain votes on manufacturing-centric platforms.

One example of this occurred when former vice-president Joe Biden announced his bid as a 2020 Democratic candidate in May. The announcement took place in front of Pennsylvania union workers. Biden told these potential voters they would likely be instrumental in who ultimately wins the candidacy. Biden is one of many looking to capture the vote of Rust Belt voters who seek stronger economic development and growth.

Importance of Reliable Deburring

With elections come campaign promises. Following the last election, several companies pledged to bring their business back to the U.S. In some cases, the outcome of those promises remains unresolved because of the recent trade wars and tariff stand-offs. Despite this or perhaps because of this, there remains an increasing demand for consumer goods. Lower unemployment and more manufacturing jobs create an associated increase in the production of raw materials manufactured stateside.

With an increase in raw materials comes a greater need for reliable deburring and edge finishing processes. Deburring remains an important and recommended finishing aspect throughout the manufacturing industry. The manufacture of sprockets, gears, camshafts and other parts depend on the trimming and polishing inherent in the deburring process.

Deburring is regularly used in a variety of manufacturing industries from automobile and aircraft to the production of computer parts and in toy manufacturing. Each of these areas rely on deburring and edge finishing to remove rough edges, improve cost and performance and enhance safety and appearance. Throughout the world, deburring is a necessary and expected application within the manufacturing process. As the global economy becomes more interconnected, deburring will remain an important element in the production of quality goods throughout the world.

Continue reading »

Deburring and finishing are critical elements of the manufacturing process. The production of parts would be incomplete without the use of these technologies. Often used as the final step in manufacturing, deburring and finishing are just as important today as when they were applied at the beginning of the industrial age. Deburring is a way to produce smooth, clean edges on parts and machinery. By employing quality deburring processes manufacturers add a measure of safety, consistency and reliability with the production of parts that are free from burrs and edge projections.

A burr is a ridge of roughness on a piece of metal or hard plastic that forms during the shaping or cutting process. Much of deburring occurs with metalwork and related manufacturing. The need to deburr relates to metal strengths. On a spectrum, cast iron rates low. 2024 aluminum used for the construction of aircrafts has a medium tendency for burrs, and 18-8 chrome-nickel steel has a higher propensity for burring because of its soft and easily moldable tendencies. Although such projections can appear to be slight to the naked eye, they have the potential to cause serious issues for people and machinery if not properly removed.

If not eliminated, these minute inconsistencies have the potential to increase friction. Over time, these small pieces can break off and land in the seams of machinery, eventually leading to interference on the assembly line. If the problem is not rectified, the machine can jam and possibly overheat, causing a dangerous situation on the floor. The imperfection of burrs can also create irregular mating surfaces in parts and machinery. If not attended to, burrs generate unnecessary waste and can be a cause of time lost on the floor for those tasked with remedying these issues.

Machinery and Parts

Some of the most important advantages of investing in quality deburring and finishing services is reliability and repeatability. These processes are a critical part of the manufacturing process and maintenance of machinery and parts prior to installation on the production floor. Beyond enhancing operations, parts and machinery that have been deburred also protect the workforce. The elimination of rough edges lowers the probability of parts jamming in critical mechanisms as well as preventing cuts and bruises for those working the line.

Deburring Solutions

The last step of the manufacturing process is something that should never be overlooked. Cleveland Deburring Machine Company (CDMC) understands the importance of reliability, consistency and repeatability during processes. We offer a range of cost-effective deburring solutions for high-volume, repeatable processes to flexible, easy-to-adjust solutions. Find out why CDMC is the first word on the last step in the manufacturing process.

Continue reading »

Wearable technology and its many applications are all around us. Without looking too far, there’s a good chance you’re already familiar with wearables through the technology of an Apple or Samsung Watch, a Garmin model or a Fitbit. Compact, versatile and smart, these fitness trackers multi-task allowing a range of actions from counting steps or minutes spent exercising to answering phone calls or even taking an electrocardiogram on the spot.

Impressive, but when it comes to flexible electronics think of applications that are smaller and potentially even smarter. These incredibly thin electronics contain traces and circuits printed on paper-based flexible substrates.

Produced on foil, paper and even in ink, these electronics retain a high level of conductivity even on curved products and are flexible enough to bend or fold. Such a flexible application, pun intended, offers the potential of roll-able TVs and displays, electronic paper, transparent and smart sensors, not to mention a range of other applications in clothing.

Advantages of Flexible Technologies

Use inexpensive plastics

Low manufacturing costs

Lightweight and bendable

Easily portable

Potentially cheaper

Internet of Things

Over the last five years, tech companies have begun forming collaborations with clothing companies to produce a range of custom apparel products using stretchable electronic inks and flexible substrates. Today it’s easier than ever to find applications of the paper-thin, form-fitting circuits in smart clothing. Companies such as DuPont are manufacturing Intexar, an advanced material. By adding Intexar to clothing like shirts and sports bras, the technology can provide its users with a range of biometric data. Wearing a smart shirt with Intexar has the potential to offer a user or a designated medical provider with information such as heart and breathing rate, form awareness and muscle tension, according to DuPont.

With real-time monitoring and data collection, smart apparel has the potential to not only supply information but also adjust to a range of user needs, like the self-heating jacket created by Ralph Lauren for the Winter Olympics. Use of flexible technologies extends far beyond the world of athletics. Flexible technologies are finding application within the medical, military and first-responder markets. This includes the potential of contact lenses adept at monitoring the glucose levels of a diabetic patient, clothing that can keep first responders safer and jean jackets that offer internet connectivity.

Building Synergies

Akin to the ability to place more and more semiconductors on a chip, flexible technologies show a growing range of possibilities. Imagine a thin layer of film that can regulate the temperature on a home or building or a strip of plastic embedded in a bag that charges the devices inside. Such advances are not only real, they are happening on a small scale now. Research continues as more are discovering the abilities and inherent restrictions of this exciting technology.

This article is brought to you by The Cleveland Deburring Machine Company. CDMC can provide a deburring solution for gears, sprockets, aerospace and defense, automotive deburring, power transmission, powdered metals, fluid power and custom deburring applications. 

Continue reading »