As the year comes to a close, SPM is looking back at the state of manufacturing in 2019 and looking ahead at the trends that will shape our future in 2020. Here is what we’re paying attention to. Manufacturing in 2019 Overall, executive confidence in the future dropped in 2019 compared to 2018. However, a recent study of Minnesota manufacturing companies found that financial confidence remained at record high levels in that state, with 93% of respondents confident in the…
Computer numerical control (CNC) programmers develop programs for precision CNC machines in order to cut and shape component parts for manufactured goods such as cars, airplanes, and medical devices. In a nutshell, their work instructs machines to produce parts. “To determine the sequence of actions needed to make a part, CNC programmers evaluate the specifications for a particular part that is to be machined. The programmers make calculations based on raw material and physical production such as what kind of…
In the 21st century, we take metal for granted. Not just steel and aluminum and copper, but titanium and the multitude of steel and copper alloys that make modern life possible. Complex surgical devices and permanent implants in the human body have been made possible by the evolution of sophisticated metals and alloys. The surprising thing about metals is not how many of them we have today, but how many thousands of years it took for us to move beyond…
CNC machining is the best career you’ve never heard of. It pays well, has excellent long-term employment prospects, and offers interesting work. And you don’t need a college degree to get started. According to collegecalc.org, the average in-state tuition for Illinois public colleges is almost $9,500 a year. For a private college, it’s almost $30,000 a year. Getting a college degree is a business decision so why spend that much money unless you are certain of the ROI? Especially if…
To browse through a catalog of dental instruments is to take a journey back in time to the 19th century — or so it seems. There are pliers, wire cutters, probes, picks, awls, forceps, extracting forceps. After a few minutes, it’s easy to let your imagination run away with you, especially if you’ve always wanted to be a screenwriter. However, looks can be deceiving. Yes, the essential function of dental instruments has changed little over the years, but the instruments themselves have…
If you were asked what is the most important manufacturing process of the 21st century, what would you say? Perhaps 3D printing would come to mind or laser engraving or possibly something to do with semiconductor fabrication. But we would argue that none of these manufacturing processes has the power to change the world in as significant a way as CNC machining. In the 21st century, manufacturing with CNC machined parts is literally changing the world. Like dust, CNC…
Medical device design and manufacturing requires expertise in three engineering disciplines: mechanical, electrical, and software. As a provider of medical machined parts, we operate within the mechanical engineering discipline. The planning stages of medical device design include research and discovery, specification development, prototyping, and documented testing. We work with our customers throughout all phases of the design and production process to ensure that the end product is safe, effective, innovative, and successful. Developing precision parts for medical devices is one…
The global market for medical devices is expected to reach $543.9B in revenue by 2020. With the move toward minimally invasive surgery and micro-machined parts, medical device manufacturing is expected to experience growth for years to come. The medical technology industry invests heavily in research and development to keep up with the innovation and constant pressure for improvement. About Medical Device Manufacturing Medical devices are essential in countries with aging populations like the United States and Japan. In addition to demographics,…
In this edition of “More Than Machining: A Look Inside SPM”, we talk to Althea Gregory, Human Resources Manager at Swiss Precision Machining. Althea joined SPM in 1997 and has been with the company for more than 21 years. There are few people better qualified to give an inside look at life inside SPM. Althea’s job is to make sure that open positions are filled with the very best employees so that SPM can serve their customers well. She and…
Corrosion The word corrode comes from the Latin “corrodo which means ‘I gnaw (to pieces)’, from cor- (‘completely’) + rodo (‘I gnaw’). According to the Google dictionary, corrode means to “destroy or damage slowly by chemical action”. Certainly, no one wants to see that happen to an important metal component part of a critical device, machine, or structure. It’s why passivation is important. According to ASM International, the “corrosion of steel reinforcing bar (rebar) in concrete can proceed out of…