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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2012<br />
THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA MANUFACTURING<br />
<strong>Changing</strong> Perceptions. Increasing Workforce Quality.<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong>: <strong>Different</strong> <strong>Devices</strong>, <strong>Common</strong> <strong>Connection</strong><br />
PG. 12<br />
IN MEMORIAM<br />
Bill Kuban<br />
Legend and Legacy<br />
SHOP PROFILE<br />
PG. 16<br />
Bell Manufacturing and A&C Metals<br />
Keeping Their Saws in Tune with<br />
The Service Guys<br />
INDUSTRY PROFILE<br />
PG. 18<br />
Engineered Finishing Corp.<br />
A Simple Approach for Better Surface Finishing
Haas Automation<br />
Five-axis machining centers are so expensive you’d better<br />
be using them exclusively for complex five-axis work.<br />
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time using them for single-setup, multi-surface parts positioning. You can<br />
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affordable five-axis setup. Either way, you’re way ahead of the game.<br />
Haas Factory Outlet<br />
A Division of Productivity, Inc.<br />
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Tel: 763-742-1263 • Fax: 763-476-4092<br />
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p: 763.742.1263 I e: hfomn@productivity.com
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© Copyright 2012 • Federated Mutual Insurance Company
Precision<br />
Manufacturing<br />
w w w . p m - m n . c o m<br />
ISO 9001: 2008 certified<br />
CNC Milling | CNC Turning<br />
Manual Milling and Turning<br />
Surface Grinding<br />
Prototypes | Assembly<br />
Michael Yeager President<br />
mike@yeagermachine.com<br />
www.yeagermachine.com<br />
415 Tacoma Circle | Norwood Young America, MN 55368<br />
952.467.2800 office | 952.467.2880 fax<br />
Supporting Minnesota in becoming the world leader in precision<br />
contract manufacturing and related technologies.<br />
Editor & Publications Manager Amy Slettum<br />
Sales Manager<br />
Tim Crolley<br />
Designer & Art Director<br />
Severyn Skoug<br />
MINNESOTA PRECISION MANUFACTURING ASSOCIATION<br />
5353 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 350 • Minneapolis, MN 55416<br />
952.564.3041 • www.mpma.com<br />
MPMA OFFICERS<br />
President<br />
Paul Huot, Huot Manufacturing Company<br />
Vice President<br />
Treasurer<br />
Secretary<br />
Executive Director<br />
Associate Director<br />
Kimberly Arrigoni, Haberman Machine, Inc.<br />
Daniel Meyer, International Precision Machining, Inc.<br />
Jennifer Salisbury, Mack Engineering Corp.<br />
Jaime Nolan, CAE<br />
Luann Bartley<br />
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE<br />
Chair, Editor-in-Chief<br />
Brenda Kyle - blk@sppa.com<br />
Michelle Gates - mgates@bpkz.com<br />
Bill Remes - remesbill@aol.com<br />
Chuck Remillard - chuckr@kurt.com<br />
Ted Roberts - troberts@robertsautomatic.com<br />
Andrew Skoog - andrew@hexpedite.com<br />
Fred Zimmerman - zimco@visi.com<br />
Precision Manufacturing, (ISSN 0273-7523) is published six times per year by<br />
IntrinXec Management Inc., 5353 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 350, Minneapolis, MN 55416.<br />
Precision Manufacturing is the only authorized regular publication of the<br />
Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association (MPMA). Opinions and<br />
conclusions expressed in the magazine are those of the individual writer and<br />
do not necessarily reflect the official position of the MPMA or its officers.<br />
Advertising rates provided on request. Correspondence regarding the<br />
magazine, including industry news releases, photographs and press releases<br />
relating to precision manufacturing should be sent to Precision Manufacturing,<br />
Amy Slettum, c/o IntrinXec Management, Inc., 5353 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 350,<br />
Minneapolis, MN 55416. Electronic correspondence, including attached files<br />
in Word or plain text formats, may be sent to amy@mpma.com. Unsolicited<br />
materials will not be returned.<br />
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Precision Manufacturing, c/o IntrinXec<br />
Management, Inc., 5353 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 350, Minneapolis, MN 55416.<br />
For editorial, advertising or membership information:<br />
Phone: (952) 564-3041<br />
Fax: (952) 252-8096<br />
Copyright ©2012 Minnesota Precision Manufacturing Association.<br />
AWARDS<br />
- Association TRENDS 2009, 2010<br />
- American Graphic Design Award 2010<br />
- MSAE Award of Excellence. 2008, 2010<br />
MEMBERS OF<br />
follow us<br />
@ twitter.com/mpmajournal<br />
4 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
CONTENTS September | October 2012<br />
8<br />
DEPARTMENTS<br />
Departments<br />
7 President’s Letter<br />
7 MPMA Calendar<br />
26 Manufacturers’<br />
Marketplace<br />
28 MPMA Member<br />
Directory<br />
33 Advertisers’ Index<br />
Features<br />
FEATURES<br />
THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA MANUFACTURING<br />
8 Dream !t Do !t Initiative<br />
<strong>Changing</strong> Perceptions. Increasing Workforce Quality.<br />
by Harrison Lloyd with contributions from Karen White<br />
12 In Memoriam<br />
Bill Kuban: Legend and Legacy<br />
by B Kyle<br />
16 Shop Profile: Bell Manufacturing and A&C Metals<br />
Keeping Their Saws in Tune with The Service Guys<br />
by Melissa DeBilzan<br />
18 Industry Profile: Engineered Finishing Corp.<br />
A Simple Approach<br />
22 Feature Story: <strong>MTConnect</strong><br />
<strong>Different</strong> <strong>Devices</strong>, <strong>Common</strong> <strong>Connection</strong><br />
by Dave Edstrom<br />
12 16 18 22<br />
COLUMNS<br />
Columns<br />
11 Manufacturing Marvels<br />
Election Fervor in 2012<br />
15 Made In Minnesota<br />
Tower Solutions<br />
20 Who’s Who<br />
Karen White<br />
Bemidji State University<br />
24 Best Practices<br />
Environmentally<br />
Green<br />
34 Metaling Affairs<br />
Gone Fishing<br />
E-CLUSIVES<br />
E-clusives<br />
E-clusives are online only<br />
@ www.pm-mn.com.<br />
End the Uncertainty so<br />
Manufacturing Can Grow<br />
Advancing Manufacturing,<br />
Tomorrow and Today<br />
Lean from Beginning<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 5
MC103<br />
POWERFUL SOLUTIONS. GLOBAL FORCE.<br />
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orea<br />
orea Ltd.<br />
hihwa Industr. Complex<br />
Dong, Shihung-Shi,<br />
Specials are Our Standard<br />
Korea 429-450<br />
4 4506<br />
4 4507<br />
ugal<br />
N, S.L.<br />
Tie Rod Cylinders<br />
Series H<br />
Series LH<br />
Series A<br />
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Arriba<br />
gium,<br />
Denmark,<br />
States<br />
E Ede<br />
de<br />
com<br />
A long<br />
Milwauk<br />
pneum<br />
certifie<br />
Our<br />
pos<br />
of<br />
p<br />
ma<br />
hydrau<br />
WORKHOLDING E214<br />
ISO 9001<br />
REGISTERED<br />
Boosters<br />
Air Oil Tanks<br />
Accumulators<br />
Alignment Couplers<br />
Design Engineer’s Guide<br />
WORKHOLDING<br />
CATALOG<br />
WORK<br />
A global resource of workholding solutions<br />
Midwest Machine Tool Supply<br />
230 Commerce Circle South, Fridley, MN 55432-3148 • 763-571-3550<br />
800-327-9523 • Fax 763-571-3790 • www.midwestmachinetool.com<br />
Fargo Operations: 4340-15th Ave. N., Fargo, ND 58102 701-356-3810 Fax 701-356-3812<br />
YOUR Milwaukee Cylinder and Enerpac Workholding DISTRIBUTOR
MPMA EVENTS:<br />
SEPTEMBER<br />
Sept. 20 - 11 a.m. registration<br />
SHOOT FOR SCHOLARSHIPS<br />
Keynote Speaker: Lawrence J. Yatch II<br />
Location: Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club<br />
OCTOBER<br />
Oct. 21-27<br />
MANUFACTURERS WEEK<br />
THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA MANUFACTURING<br />
Oct. 21-27<br />
DREAM !T DO !T STATEWIDE TOUR OF<br />
MANUFACTURING<br />
Oct. 23<br />
MINNESOTA MANUFACTURERS SUMMIT<br />
Location: Hilton Minneapolis/St. Paul<br />
Airport<br />
Time: TBD<br />
Oct. 25 - 5:30 p.m.<br />
MPMA ANNUAL MEETING<br />
Location: Marriott Minneapolis West<br />
Oct. 30 - 6:00 p.m.<br />
MINNESOTA MANUFACTURING AWARDS<br />
Keynote Speaker: Harry Moser<br />
Location: Metropolitan Ballroom<br />
NOVEMBER<br />
Nov. 15<br />
For Members Only<br />
MANUFACTURING FACILITY TOUR<br />
Location: Mold-Tech, Inc.<br />
Time: TBD<br />
Manufacturing as a Career<br />
OUR FUTURE WORKFORCE<br />
by Paul Huot<br />
As manufacturers and business<br />
managers we are looking for the right<br />
employees to help our business succeed. Part<br />
of the current issue is that young people are<br />
not looking at manufacturing as a career.<br />
We all know the challenges. High school<br />
students are not shown all of the career<br />
opportunities possible in the manufacturing<br />
industry and are discouraged from pursuing<br />
many of the technical skills we need.<br />
In this issue the cover story is on the<br />
Dream It. Do It. initiative, educating<br />
people looking for a career about what<br />
manufacturing has to offer. I am proud<br />
to announce that the MPMA Board<br />
of Directors has approved $30,000 to<br />
support bringing the campaign statewide.<br />
Dream It. Do It. Initiative<br />
The Dream It. Do It. initiative is being<br />
sponsored by other Minnesota associations<br />
as well, including Tri-State Manufacturers’<br />
Association, West Central Initiative<br />
(WCI), MNSCU’s 360° Manufacturing,<br />
Applied Engineering Center of Excellence,<br />
Central Minnesota Manufacturers<br />
Association, and manufacturers from the<br />
Brainerd Lakes area. This is another great<br />
example of different associations working<br />
together for a common cause.<br />
We have seen programs that promote<br />
jobs in manufacturing come and go without<br />
much success. I like this program because<br />
it’s nationwide, promoting manufacturing<br />
careers to students around the country.<br />
The new Dream It. Do It. Web site<br />
will have resources for parents, teachers,<br />
school counselors, and prospective future<br />
employees. Prospective employees can find<br />
information on the types of jobs available,<br />
what they pay, and what schools offer the<br />
training someone would need to get that<br />
position. In addition, the Web site will<br />
offer success stories, with video interviews<br />
from local people in the industry telling<br />
their story and how they got started in<br />
manufacturing and the benefits.<br />
If you haven’t already noticed,<br />
billboard advertising for the Dream<br />
It. Do It. initiative has already started<br />
PRESIDENT’S LETTER<br />
around the state. More billboards are<br />
expected to be mounted around the<br />
metro area as the campaign gets into<br />
full swing during Manufacturers Week<br />
in October. In addition, you will see<br />
online radio ads and social media sites<br />
promoting the campaign.<br />
A Younger Generation<br />
As an organization, the MPMA asked<br />
the staff to look at ideas for ways to attract<br />
young people to manufacturing. Harrison<br />
Lloyd, marketing communications<br />
specialist took on the project and found<br />
the Dream It. Do It. campaign. It included<br />
everything the Board had asked him to<br />
develop, so he figured why reinvent it.<br />
Harrison contacted and collaborated<br />
with Karen White at 360° Center of<br />
Excellence who manages the campaign.<br />
The information then was presented to the<br />
Board and we unanimously voted that this<br />
was something the MPMA could work with<br />
and wanted to help bring statewide.<br />
You can help this campaign work.<br />
Find employees who are excelling in your<br />
business and talk to them about telling<br />
their story. Contact Harrison@mpma.<br />
com for more information.<br />
You or someone in your organization<br />
also can join the MPMA Workforce<br />
Development Committee. The mission<br />
of this committee is to support industry<br />
through workforce development. The<br />
goals of this committee include: identifing<br />
the educational needs of the industry;<br />
supporting current trends within industry;<br />
increasing awareness of job opportunities<br />
in the industry; and connecting with<br />
industry peers.<br />
If you would like to get involved in<br />
this committee contact me at P.Huot@<br />
huot.com or Jaime@mpma.com.<br />
PM<br />
PAUL HUOT is the president<br />
of Huot Manufacturing. He<br />
can be reached at<br />
p.huot@huot.com.<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 7
THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA MANUFACTURING<br />
Dream !t Do !t Initiative<br />
<strong>Changing</strong> Perceptions. Increasing Workforce Quality.<br />
by Harrison Lloyd with contributions from Karen White<br />
Minnesota manufacturers continually have expressed concern about their industry’s image. Despite<br />
offering over 3,300 clean, high-paying new jobs to the Minnesota market every year, parents and<br />
teachers are not encouraging young people to consider manufacturing careers. The Dream It. Do It.<br />
promotional campaign is the industry’s immediate response to manufacturers’ hiring challenges, aimed<br />
at changing perceptions and increasing the quality of Minnesota’s manufacturing workforce.<br />
8 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
COVER STORY<br />
Dream It. Do It. is a national effort produced by the National<br />
Association of Manufacturers (NAM) to promote manufacturing<br />
careers to students around the country. Here in Minnesota,<br />
the initiative is spearheaded by Minnesota State Colleges and<br />
Universities (MNSCU’s) 360° Manufacturing and Applied<br />
Engineering ATE Regional Center of Excellence, led by Bemidji State<br />
University. The campaign has served West Central Minnesota with<br />
Tri-State Manufacturers’ Association since 2009 and, more recently,<br />
the Brainerd Lakes area manufacturers.<br />
In a new collaborative effort with the Minnesota Precision<br />
Manufacturing Association (MPMA), the campaign plans to take<br />
its message statewide to create a brand image for the manufacturing<br />
industry. The Dream it. Do it. brand name will become the banner<br />
that unites manufacturers, technical colleges, middle and high<br />
schools, students, and parents in the statewide workforce development<br />
effort. The new launch will feature various Minnesota manufacturers<br />
and their employees by sharing stories of men and women who are<br />
passionate about their manufacturing careers. The initiative will show<br />
the public what modern manufacturing looks like every day.<br />
Over the past few months, Dream It. Do It. has been interviewing<br />
a diverse group of companies and manufacturing professionals who<br />
have high job satisfaction and break the “assembly line” stereotype. The<br />
highlighted interviewees are portrayed in clean environments where<br />
they are well paid, respected, and engaged in their work.<br />
For example, Troy Stenstrom is a lead machinist at StoneL<br />
Corporation in Fergus Falls, Minn., and is quoted on a billboard<br />
saying, “Manufacturing has come back to the states … because we<br />
do higher quality work.” In an interview, Stenstrom reported, “You<br />
see something different every day in manufacturing, and you’re<br />
constantly learning. It’s not the grunt job that it used to be. It’s a<br />
respectable position.” Stenstrom is a driven guy who is passionate<br />
about his job, and his interview will be featured in an online video at<br />
DreamitDoitMN.com.<br />
“This is the ‘Got Milk’ campaign for manufacturing …” said 360°<br />
Executive Director Karen White. “We are building a recognizable<br />
brand that represents a paradigm shift in the way people think about<br />
our industry.”<br />
This October the campaign is launching media to represent<br />
the manufacturing industry, including billboards, online videos,<br />
online radio spots, social media pages, and a robust new web site,<br />
all culminating for a dramatic explosion of media during Minnesota<br />
Manufacturers Week October 21-27, 2012. The statewide initiative is<br />
targeting specific regions for this launch including the Twin Cities,<br />
West Central, St. Cloud, Brainard Lakes, and Mankato.<br />
To track the campaign’s progress, 360° will be enlisting a research<br />
firm to conduct surveys and watch regional employment data. In<br />
addition, they will be closely monitoring trends in online activity like<br />
Web site hits and social media conversations.<br />
During April and May of this year MNSCU, along with the<br />
Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and the Department of<br />
Employment and Economic Development conducted 12 listening<br />
sessions across Minnesota to connect with manufacturers and<br />
hear their workforce concerns. In all sessions, companies voiced<br />
concerns about the industry’s image and how young people are not<br />
[ continued ]<br />
Strong, versatile and innovative,<br />
Minnesota’s manufacturing sector is the<br />
backbone of the state’s economy. From<br />
high-tech electronics to high-end food products, Minnesota<br />
manufacturers produce a wide variety of goods that are<br />
known the world over for their high quality.<br />
CAREER OUTLOOK<br />
MN manufacturing has over 3,300<br />
job openings every year<br />
and paid over......<br />
ECONOMIC IMPACT<br />
largest<br />
industry<br />
13%<br />
AVERAGE SALARY<br />
manufacturing jobs<br />
most MN jobs<br />
HERE’S WHY manufacturing<br />
is the backbone of the<br />
economy.<br />
of all MN jobs are in<br />
Manufacturing. That’s<br />
292,078 careers<br />
That’s<br />
Manufacturing<br />
Job<br />
creates 1.9 jobs<br />
in supporting<br />
industries<br />
employees<br />
MN FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES<br />
Many of the top manufacturing brands are in MN<br />
other MN<br />
Fortune 500s<br />
in wages to employees during 2010<br />
MN<br />
manufacturing<br />
Fortune 500s<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 9
COVER STORY That’s<br />
employees<br />
MN FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES<br />
Many of the top manufacturing brands are in MN<br />
other MN<br />
Fortune 500s<br />
MN<br />
manufacturing<br />
Fortune 500s<br />
“The new Dream It. Do It. Web site is the central<br />
online space for manufacturing workforce<br />
development. People can share their stories,<br />
connect with training programs, and learn<br />
about the vast potential that manufacturing<br />
has to offer them.“<br />
- Jaime Nolan, executive director of the Minnesota<br />
Precision Manufacturing Association<br />
Rated one of the top<br />
20 places to work for<br />
recent grads in 2010<br />
by Experience, Inc.<br />
2000<br />
1500<br />
1000<br />
500<br />
0<br />
Largest private<br />
company in the U.S.<br />
with $119.5 billion in<br />
revenue for 2011<br />
WELL EDUCATED WORKERS<br />
Manufacturing careers are great for<br />
Minnesota’s well educated population<br />
MINNESOTA<br />
STATE COLLEGES<br />
& UNIVERSITIES<br />
state for most<br />
high school<br />
diplomas<br />
of Minnesotans<br />
have a<br />
bachelors<br />
degree<br />
Minnesota State Colleges<br />
and Universities (MnSCU)<br />
works with the National<br />
Science Foundation to host<br />
two “Centers of Excellence”<br />
related to manufacturing<br />
where students can get<br />
plugged in to great careers.<br />
YOUR FUTURE IS HERE FOR THE MAKING<br />
Statistics from The MN Department of Employment and<br />
Economic Development. Original artwork by the<br />
Dream !t Do !t Campaign. DreamItDoItMN.com<br />
encouraged by their teachers or parents to find a career in<br />
manufacturing. As an immediate response to these concerns,<br />
Dream It. Do It. focuses on three target markets:<br />
1. The Youth: Both male and female in grades 6 – 12<br />
with an expressed interest in engineering, mechanics,<br />
mathematics, and tactile learning.<br />
2. The Futures: Male and female ages 18 – 34 who are<br />
unemployed or unsatisfied with current job.<br />
3. The Influencers: Educators, institutions, influential relatives<br />
of The Youth and Futures segments, and manufacturing<br />
companies that support workforce development.<br />
White comments, “Reaching these target markets will<br />
depend greatly on the effective collaboration between state<br />
and local organizations.”<br />
“We are seeing great interest in Dream It. Do It. from<br />
manufacturers and others, and believe that now is the perfect time<br />
to take this across the state. Our sponsors combine to create a vast<br />
network of manufacturers, educational influencers and students.<br />
It is a great foundation from which the campaign can start to build<br />
momentum and impact as a brand,” reported White.<br />
360°’s recent National Science Foundation Award qualifies<br />
them to become an Advanced Technological Education Regional<br />
Center for advanced manufacturing—which will bring continuity<br />
and financial support over the next 4 years to the Dream It. Do<br />
It. campaign. The campaign hopes to find more strategic regional<br />
partnerships in order to retain a steady stream of media and<br />
publish year-round promotions about manufacturing after the<br />
October launch. Dream It. Do It. is here to stay as manufacturing’s<br />
voice to the public.<br />
Want to get involved? Keep a close eye on<br />
DreamItDoItMN.com for the new Web site launch with<br />
videos, articles, and photos from the campaign. You also<br />
can help to make the campaign successful by sharing the<br />
message with your colleagues or getting involved through<br />
the “for industry” tab on the Web site.<br />
PM<br />
HARRISON LLOYD is the marketing communications<br />
specialist with the Minnesota Precision Manufacturing<br />
Association. He can be reached at Harrison@mpma.com.<br />
KAREN WHITE is the executive director of MNSCU’s 360°<br />
Manufacturing and Applied Engineering Center of<br />
Excellence at Bemidji State University. She can be<br />
reached at KWhite@bemidjistate.edu.<br />
10 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
MANUFACTURING MARVELS<br />
Election Fervor in 2012<br />
ECONOMIC FIX LIES IN MATH, NOT POLITICS<br />
by Fred Zimmerman<br />
One of my mid-20th century history<br />
professors was fond of asserting that<br />
wars were inconsequential to the<br />
pattern of history. He argued that<br />
technology, economics, demographics,<br />
education and moral development<br />
were more influential. In addition to<br />
wars, the professor might have added<br />
elections as less meaningful events in<br />
the long term.<br />
Much of the world is embroiled<br />
in election fervor in 2012. Citizens in<br />
France, Ireland, Egypt, Greece, Russia,<br />
several German states and the United<br />
States are fervently championing one<br />
candidate or another in the hope of<br />
restoring the prosperity and comfort of<br />
past decades.<br />
Yet, given our collective abhorrence<br />
of any sort of behavior modification or<br />
sacrifice, prosperity and comfort may<br />
no longer be within our reach. As an<br />
informed friend has noted, “We have<br />
one party that will never increase any<br />
taxes and another that will never stop<br />
spending. Where will it end?”<br />
Europe, the United States, and<br />
many other countries have something<br />
in common. Many of their citizens<br />
have absolutely no personal interest in<br />
participating in either responsible fiscal<br />
policies or qualitative improvements<br />
in their own activities. Yet, they insist<br />
that greater prosperity is due to them<br />
and harbor the mistaken belief that<br />
deep societal problems such as neglect,<br />
waste, declining production, overcompensation,<br />
premature retirements<br />
and profligate spending can be reversed<br />
by elections. As we all become energized<br />
in identifying the evils of opposing<br />
political parties, we perhaps have<br />
overlooked the dysfunctional influence<br />
that we, the citizens, have played.<br />
Did Greece’s economic fortunes<br />
improve with elections? Will<br />
France fare any better if that new<br />
administration repudiates recent<br />
European initiatives to forestall<br />
financial contagion? Will U.S. citizens<br />
really support the tough remedial<br />
actions necessary to avoid similar<br />
problems in this country?<br />
It is easy to blame elected officials,<br />
and many of them do have grievous<br />
faults. But, perhaps their greatest fault is<br />
listening too much to us, the constituents.<br />
We want to retire earlier than we should<br />
and we want someone else to fund it<br />
because we don’t save anything.<br />
Collectively, we want more<br />
social programs, no taxes, and the<br />
complete freedom to conduct all of<br />
our affairs without regulation—even<br />
if that sometimes results in financial<br />
catastrophe. We want a highly technical<br />
modern society, but we don’t want<br />
to spend any money maintaining<br />
the infrastructure. Almost all of us,<br />
individually, want any economic<br />
adjustments to be borne by somebody<br />
else. We tend to deny any responsibility<br />
for ourselves.<br />
While we fight with one another<br />
about which political party is the<br />
personification of the greatest evil, we<br />
are rocketing forth to an economic<br />
situation that is unmistakably<br />
arithmetic rather than political. The<br />
debts we are accumulating are so large<br />
that they are not payable without<br />
stifling growth, scaling back needed<br />
programs, raising unemployment<br />
and neglecting further our already<br />
deteriorating infrastructure.<br />
Whether we are Republicans,<br />
Democrats or Independents, this<br />
endemic denial of responsibility is<br />
likely to end poorly for us. We forget<br />
that interest payments are part of a<br />
sovereign nation’s budget that has<br />
priority over such worthy endeavors as<br />
education, health care, construction,<br />
maintenance and national defense.<br />
Interest rates are held to artificially<br />
low levels now. But what happens if<br />
the Chinese ever need their money to<br />
address their many unsolved social<br />
problems? What will interest rates be<br />
like then?<br />
The way out of the developed<br />
world’s difficult financial quandary<br />
is unlikely to be solved by electing<br />
anybody. We need to change ourselves.<br />
Serious modifications of our own<br />
behavior are overdue. In order to avoid<br />
financial implosion we are going to<br />
have to work with more dedication and<br />
innovation, accept more reasonable<br />
compensation, retire later, stay<br />
healthier, embrace practical financial<br />
regulation, incorporate reasonable<br />
taxation, collect the taxes we have, and<br />
make meaningful investments for the<br />
future. These steps should not be that<br />
difficult or that surprising. As recently<br />
noted in the Financial Times, “Billions<br />
of people around the world would give<br />
anything for what Europeans (and<br />
Americans) call austerity.”<br />
By taking these needed and overdue<br />
steps, our country and others like<br />
it, will have reasonable chances of<br />
avoiding the long gradual descent to<br />
far more problematic and less pleasant<br />
societies. Then, whoever is elected<br />
might have a chance of succeeding.<br />
This article was orginally published in the<br />
Star Tribune on June 3, 2012. Reprinted with<br />
permisson from Dr. Fred Zimmerman.<br />
DR. FRED ZIMMERMAN<br />
is professor emeritus<br />
of Engineering and<br />
Management at the<br />
University of St. Thomas.<br />
He can be reached at<br />
zimco@visi.com.<br />
PM<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 11
y B Kyle<br />
Bill Kuban<br />
Legend and Legacy<br />
“As a legend, Bill spanned the gap<br />
between our industry founders and the<br />
leaders of today. In creating a legacy,<br />
Bill stewarded his father’s company<br />
into a secure future with an excellent<br />
management team and the employees<br />
who helped build it.”<br />
- Mike Neeley, president, Technology Reps<br />
The passing of William G. (Bill)<br />
Kuban in March 2012 marks the end of<br />
an era. Kuban was something special. He<br />
combined shrewd, home-grown business<br />
acumen with the irreverent charisma of a<br />
regular guy who truly cared about people.<br />
His life and career truly personified a<br />
season within the fabric of Minnesota’s<br />
manufacturing community that has<br />
been known for tough but collegial<br />
competition, the forging of an association<br />
to promote manufacturing, a humble<br />
yet strategic flair that has mobilized this<br />
sector towards ever more sophistication,<br />
productivity, and competitive advantage.<br />
Those of us fortunate enough to have<br />
known Kuban have lost a dear friend,<br />
a father, and an inspiring mentor. Our<br />
community is better because of Kuban.<br />
He will be missed.<br />
The Curious Entrepreneur<br />
“Bill was a man of infinite possibility.<br />
He explored ideas of all kinds because<br />
they were interesting. There was no up<br />
or down, no fences, no structure. He’d<br />
go straight to the possibilities. That said,<br />
he could ground and focus himself with<br />
laser intensity when needed. He was a<br />
remarkable man.”<br />
- Steve Carlsen, president, Kurt Manufacturing<br />
Known for his trademark sessions<br />
of opining in the office, asking such<br />
questions as “I was wondering about …,”<br />
Kuban always was “working on a new<br />
idea.” He tinkered with technology as<br />
esoteric as metallurgy and as earthy as<br />
creating racquetballs with more bounce.<br />
“Kuban became intrigued with the<br />
design of a police baton, for example,”<br />
Carlsen remembered with a grin. “He<br />
spent hours tweaking the design until he<br />
came up with several designs. The designs<br />
then became tool room prototypes that<br />
would be tested by everyone who came to<br />
his office. He was like that with everything,<br />
always energizing off of new ideas, looking<br />
for that ‘better mousetrap.’ And for every<br />
success, he wrestled through 100 failures.<br />
That’s what an entrepreneurial genius<br />
looks like on the ground. In truth, for<br />
Kuban, often the creation itself was more<br />
fun than the ensuing sales dollars.”<br />
Kern Walker, long time employee and<br />
friend, picked up the story with a chuckle.<br />
“Another one of Kuban’s ideas came from<br />
our days of racquetball together. We played<br />
all the time. Kuban would tell me that he<br />
couldn’t afford all the racquetballs we had<br />
to buy because we wore so many out. So<br />
he started chewing this idea, and finally<br />
12 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
Bill Kuban: Legend and Legacy<br />
designed a re-pressurization chamber from<br />
a used milk can canister. He put some balls<br />
in there, re-pressurized the canister and<br />
took them to the court … we didn’t have<br />
racquetballs anymore, we had bullets!”<br />
This entrepreneurial spirit was<br />
channeled in business through Kuban’s<br />
extraordinary vision. A voracious reader,<br />
Kuban studied economics, politics and, of<br />
course, his first love—manufacturing. He<br />
was remarkably astute at deciphering the<br />
effect of economic or political activities for<br />
manufacturing and making savvy business<br />
decisions to capitalize on those anticipated<br />
leanings. He kept alert for the next good<br />
business opportunity that could contribute<br />
to the company’s growth.<br />
And he shared what he learned. “As<br />
did many others, I often called or met with<br />
Kuban, over the years, in an effort to better<br />
understand some technical concept or get<br />
his take on some public policy or economic<br />
event that might impact manufacturing,”<br />
said Fred Zimmerman, professor emeritus,<br />
University of St. Thomas. “His insights<br />
into the personalities of large corporations<br />
were profoundly instructional—insights<br />
that never would be found in any academic<br />
article or textbook. He was very much part<br />
of my own education—and that of others.”<br />
“Conversely, Kuban was deeply<br />
sentimental,” finished Carlsen. “For years<br />
we had a 1960s vintage Omnimill OM120<br />
sitting on our floor. It hasn’t turned a spindle<br />
in years. When I would broach the subject<br />
of selling the machine, Kuban would shoot<br />
back, ‘that is a good machine, but the<br />
engineers just won’t put a job on it.’ He just<br />
liked having it around. I kept the machine<br />
on the floor till Kuban passed away.”<br />
Growing the Business<br />
“Kurt’s transition to a big company<br />
is due to what I consider to be Bill’s<br />
strongest attribute as a leader. He had<br />
the ability to let others make decisions<br />
and then got out of the way, while<br />
focusing on what he did best.”<br />
- Steve Carlsen, president, Kurt Manufacturing<br />
Kuban was an entrepreneur who<br />
grew his company into so much more.<br />
He developed his leaders’ strengths<br />
and released them with authority and<br />
empowerment. This is still a people<br />
business, and Kuban knew that.<br />
In his book, The Science to Success,<br />
Charles Koch talks about “decision rights.”<br />
Leaders earn them by making good<br />
decisions. It’s a process; it happens over<br />
time. The owner ultimately can release,<br />
detach appropriately, to the point that an<br />
organization moves beyond a personal<br />
enterprise into a business. “Kuban would<br />
employ this,” said Carlsen. “At a division<br />
meeting, when I had a suggestion for<br />
something to change or employ, he’d ask<br />
me, ‘Do you have the money to do that?’ It<br />
was his company, ultimately his money, and<br />
yet he had released it—he was empowering<br />
me to make my decisions for my division.”<br />
“Kuban was very, very good at letting<br />
go,” confirmed Walker. “He led Steve<br />
as he led me. He gave us latitude, he<br />
empowered us. Even when he didn’t<br />
approve of a decision, he’d let us give it<br />
a try—he’d let us fail. That says so much<br />
about Kuban’s leadership.”<br />
A Savvy Business Person<br />
Who Cared About People<br />
“Bill was funny, hard working, loyal,<br />
charming, and outrageous. Once you<br />
were Bill’s friend, you were friends for<br />
life. And he would drop everything if<br />
you called needing help.”<br />
- Ralph Hegman, president, Hegman Machine Tool<br />
“He just cared about what you said,<br />
what you were doing, why you were<br />
doing it, and what was going on in your<br />
life,” said Walker. “It made him easy to<br />
talk to and he got along with just about<br />
everybody. And he was funny. Oh, the<br />
stories he would tell—the stories we could<br />
tell. Kuban had no problem laughing at<br />
life. He was a good man—not perfect, but<br />
very good. And he wore his success so<br />
humbly. We worked together for almost<br />
40 years and we were real friends.”<br />
“Kuban always was available to meet<br />
with fellow members of the manufacturing<br />
community to exchange ideas, to appraise<br />
the economy, or to listen and appreciate<br />
any misfortune that anyone may have been<br />
having,” said Zimmerman. “His regard for<br />
other manufacturers was genuine. ‘We are<br />
competitors, but we are not enemies,’ he<br />
would say. During less robust periods, I<br />
can remember his being deeply concerned<br />
about some of the difficulties competitors,<br />
or associates, were experiencing. Often<br />
these concerns resulted in quiet, unknown<br />
help. In addition to his technical and<br />
managerial prowess, Kuban was a true<br />
friend to many.”<br />
Chuck Hales, a friend and business<br />
colleague for over 40 years, proudly<br />
recalled their friendship. “Kuban was<br />
a soft spoken man with the highest<br />
integrity, and one of the most caring<br />
people I’ve ever had the privilege of<br />
knowing. A couple days before Kuban<br />
went to heaven, he called me at home to<br />
see how I was doing after my recent heart<br />
surgery. Not one word about himself the<br />
whole time we talked. Our conversation<br />
ended with my asking him if he could<br />
make our annual fishing trip to South<br />
Dakota. He answered, ‘we’ll see.’ Kuban<br />
and I were friends to the end.”<br />
History of Kurt Manufacturing<br />
Kuban succeeded his father as head<br />
of Kurt Manufacturing in the mid-<br />
1970s, when the company’s annual sales<br />
were at $7 million. That foundation led<br />
to decades of long term global growth<br />
and expansion for Kurt under Kuban’s<br />
direction. He was a true visionary,<br />
developing branded products, which<br />
today account for over half of Kurt’s $100<br />
million in annual sales. Among these is a<br />
broad base of products for the hydraulics,<br />
machine tool and fitness markets.<br />
Active in the business as chairman<br />
until his death, Kuban completed an<br />
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)<br />
in 2011. The completed sale transaction<br />
provided for the continuation of Kurt<br />
Manufacturing with its present senior<br />
executive management team and<br />
employees as owners of the company.<br />
“With the employees now owning the<br />
company, we are continuing to expand<br />
with the addition of new products and<br />
services, ongoing additions of highly<br />
automated manufacturing systems, and<br />
potential acquisitions,” said president<br />
Steve Carlsen. “The ownership transition<br />
put in place by Kuban is working well and<br />
we look forward to a bright future.” PM<br />
B KYLE is the vice president of business<br />
development at the Saint Paul Port Authority<br />
in Saint Paul, Minn., and a friend to Bill Kuban.<br />
She can be reached at blk@sppa.com.<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 13
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MADE IN MINNESOTA<br />
Tower Solutions<br />
SECURITY, INTELLIGENCE, AND LIFE SAVING<br />
by Bill Remes<br />
Tower Solutions’ fully extended tower.<br />
Photo courtesy of Tower Solutions.<br />
Imagine yourself a member of the<br />
United States military, deployed in a<br />
hostile area, in a forward position and<br />
being assigned to conduct reconnaissance<br />
and surveillance regarding the enemy. Or<br />
imagine yourself as a member of the United<br />
States border patrol, responsible for finding<br />
and intercepting any illegal immigrants.<br />
Envision the ability to rapidly deploy your<br />
equipment—cameras, thermal imaging<br />
equipment, motion detectors, etc.—to an<br />
elevation of 20 to 80 feet at the push of a<br />
button. And, more importantly, be able to<br />
retrieve that equipment very rapidly and to<br />
depart from your forward, exposed area.<br />
That can be the difference between success<br />
and failure, and even life and death.<br />
Lift Payloads<br />
Tower Solutions, in Pine City, Minn.,<br />
is providing the most portable, high speed,<br />
stable, tower equipment available on the<br />
market today. Their systems are capable<br />
of lifting payloads up to 2,000 pounds,<br />
reaching heights up to 80 feet. They have<br />
some of the most capable and highly<br />
sought-after systems around the world, in<br />
use by our own military, the Department<br />
of Homeland Security, and police and<br />
sherriff ’s departments across the nation.<br />
The multi-patented design is unique<br />
in the world of portable erectable towers.<br />
Prior to the first Tower Solutions models,<br />
the U.S. Military used only “telescoping”<br />
tower models which could take up to three<br />
people up to a full day to erect. The Tower<br />
Solutions units can be erected by one<br />
person in as little as 5 minutes.<br />
Unique Mechanism<br />
At the heart of the design is the<br />
completely unique hooking mechanism<br />
that locks the three-sided tower together,<br />
creating a rigid structure. Each side of<br />
the tower consists of sections hinged<br />
together, which are stowed in three<br />
rolls. When the patented lift system<br />
is activated each section hooks to the<br />
adjacent sections—the sections essentially<br />
are zipped together as they are raised,<br />
creating a rigid structure. Once extended,<br />
the tower requires no power to keep it up<br />
and is capable of supporting a 2,000 pound<br />
payload and resists winds over 65 mph.<br />
One of the strengths of the system is the<br />
design of the maintenance-free drive. The<br />
tower is erected to full height by means of<br />
gears and is powered by an electric motor.<br />
Other competitive towers rely on<br />
hydraulics, pneumatics, and cabling systems<br />
to erect and retract their towers. In harsh<br />
environments, the hydraulic and pneumatic<br />
systems are viewed, particularly by the<br />
U.S. Military, as being unreliable and easily<br />
compromised in critical applications.<br />
Numerous Applications<br />
Applications for the towers are not<br />
limited to military and security and/<br />
or police applications—they have many<br />
commercial uses as well. John Norris,<br />
co-owner of Tower Solutions, showed me<br />
some of the applications during my visit. In<br />
one instance, a company developing a new<br />
wind turbine generator design purchased<br />
one of the 80-foot towers for testing and<br />
fine-tuning the performance of their<br />
unique electric generator. Tower Solutions<br />
was selected for this task because it could<br />
quickly and easily elevate the turbine<br />
up into the wind to take performance<br />
measurements and retract the turbine<br />
to make engineering adjustments. This<br />
capability significantly accelerated the<br />
research and development progress of the<br />
turbine. It provided the added benefit of<br />
having their employees working on the unit<br />
at ground level, rather than while elevated.<br />
Recently, Tower Solutions developed<br />
a scaled down tower unit that is in the<br />
pre-production stage of development.<br />
This small, tabletop unit is capable of<br />
elevations up to 20 feet, which makes it<br />
highly effective for mobile surveillance and<br />
reconnaissance. It deploys any payload up<br />
to 100 pounds in less than 60 seconds and<br />
offers excellent wind resistance for steady<br />
monitoring of surveillance.<br />
But the story that Norris related that<br />
I enjoyed the most was of the experience<br />
by co-owner Steve Kensinger, while at<br />
a trade show over in Europe. A U.S.<br />
Marine attending the trade show told<br />
Kensinger that he, recently, had been<br />
serving in the Middle East working in a<br />
forward reconnaissance position using<br />
their tower. The soldier said that once an<br />
80-foot structure is extended into the sky,<br />
everyone knows your position. The speed<br />
of retracting the tower allowed them to get<br />
out of the area before local mortar units<br />
could aim their weapons and launch an<br />
attack. This tower, without doubt, in his<br />
opinion saved U.S. lives.<br />
Tower Solutions is truly a “Made in<br />
Minnesota” success story of which we all<br />
can be proud.<br />
PM<br />
BILL REMES is a Sales &<br />
Marketing Consultant in<br />
Manufacturing and Capital<br />
Equipment and can be<br />
reached at<br />
remesbill@aol.com<br />
sponsored by HEGMAN MACHINE TOOL INC.<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 15
Bell Manufacturing and A&C Metals<br />
KEEPING THEIR SAWS IN TUNE WITH<br />
THE SERVICE GUYS<br />
To keep up with increased demand<br />
for its products, Bell Manufacturing,<br />
a custom metal fabricator located in<br />
Golden Valley, feeds its band saws<br />
almost continuously. Business is up<br />
15 percent this year over last year and,<br />
if one machine breaks down, it could<br />
lead to days or weeks of backlog. For<br />
that reason, the company relies on The<br />
Service Guys for emergency repairs and<br />
routine maintenance.<br />
A family-owned business since 1965,<br />
Bell Manufacturing works with all types<br />
of metal to make a variety of products,<br />
from industrial shelving to store fixtures.<br />
The majority of its business, however, is<br />
making steel furniture and accessories,<br />
such as loft beds, table bases, and outdoor<br />
furniture. Currently, it is a major supplier<br />
to Room and Board, one of the largest<br />
furniture retailers in the United States.<br />
Last year, however, a portion of Bell<br />
Manufacturing’s business nearly came<br />
to a screeching halt. One of its two band<br />
saws stopped working and needed to be<br />
fixed immediately. It appeared there was<br />
a problem with the wiring that controlled<br />
the machine’s backstop. Steve Buckman,<br />
maintenance supervisor, called the<br />
machine’s manufacturer in Germany and<br />
was shocked to learn that a replacement<br />
system would cost $10,000 and take 2 to 3<br />
months to arrive.<br />
Buckman’s next call was to The<br />
Service Guys, a local metalworking<br />
machine repair company. He had been<br />
doing business with founders Chris<br />
Tarvestad and Dave Meyer for more<br />
than a decade, even before he was hired<br />
Chris Tarvestad (left) and<br />
Dave Meyer (right) at IMTS.<br />
at Bell Manufacturing, and wanted a<br />
second opinion. Tarvestad recommended<br />
a product called a Tigerstop, which was<br />
retrofitted to the machine and performed<br />
as well as the replacement system at a<br />
fraction of the cost. Within a week, the<br />
band saw was up and running.<br />
The Tigerstop has been in use for<br />
nearly a year without any problems. In<br />
fact, Bell Manufacturing installed another<br />
Tigerstop on its second band saw a few<br />
months later.<br />
“It has been a lifesaver,” Buckman<br />
said. “Essentially, we got a brand new<br />
machine for $8,000 installed and under<br />
warranty. Plus it’s a lot easier to use. The<br />
old system was a moveable backstop or<br />
link stop, which was very complicated for<br />
the average person to use. Now anyone<br />
with 5 minutes of training can walk right<br />
up to these machines and use them.<br />
The controls are as simple to use as a<br />
handheld calculator.”<br />
Over the years, The Service Guys<br />
have worked on at least a dozen other<br />
“There have been several times when<br />
The Service Guys were able to repair<br />
or debug a machine faster than the<br />
manufacturers of those machines …”<br />
- Jeff Jensen, plant manager, A&C Metals<br />
machines at Bell Manufacturing, from<br />
CNC mills to cold saws to band saws.<br />
Often times The Service Guys are able<br />
to walk Buckman through repair and<br />
maintenance right over the phone.<br />
“I would highly recommend them to<br />
other companies,” he said. “They have a<br />
wide knowledge base and have always<br />
been able to get our machines up and<br />
running quickly.”<br />
A&C Metals<br />
A&C Metals, another longtime<br />
customer, agrees. This metal service<br />
center, located in Blaine, relies on The<br />
Service Guys to repair all of its metal<br />
cutting machines in order to keep up<br />
with local demand for next-day delivery<br />
on pre-cut metals. A&C Metal’s band<br />
saws, cold saws, precision plate saws and<br />
contour saws run 24 hours a day, 6 days a<br />
week, resulting in at least one breakdown<br />
every few weeks. But nothing has been<br />
beyond repair for The Service Guys,<br />
according to Jeff Jensen, plant manager.<br />
“There have been several times<br />
when The Service Guys were able to<br />
repair or debug a machine faster than<br />
the manufacturers of those machines,”<br />
he said. “Several years ago, for example,<br />
one of our plate saws broke down, so<br />
the machine’s manufacturer sent out a<br />
technician. The technician spent 3 days<br />
working on the machine but couldn’t<br />
figure out what was wrong. I called Chris<br />
and he was able to repair it in 1 hour.”<br />
“Another time there was a problem<br />
with one of our cold saws,” added Jon<br />
Degnan, foreman. “Dave stopped by on<br />
his way up to the cabin and spent 3 hours<br />
fixing the machine, with his wife waiting<br />
patiently in the parking lot—all so the<br />
machine would be ready for the first shift<br />
on Monday morning. That’s the kind of<br />
service they provide.”<br />
In addition to routine maintenance<br />
and emergency repairs, A&C Metals relies<br />
on The Service Guys for machine parts as<br />
well. It recently began purchasing a new<br />
16 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012<br />
PAID SUPPLEMENT
SHOP PROFILE<br />
“If you schedule regular maintenance a few times per year,<br />
we can catch 90 percent or more of all the failures you’ll<br />
potentially see within the next few months, especially with<br />
regard to bearings and blades …”<br />
- Chris Tarvestad, founder, The Service Guys<br />
line of band saw blades and discovered<br />
that they perform just as well as the topend<br />
blades, for less money.<br />
“We just feel there’s nothing they can’t<br />
do,” Jensen said, “whether it’s solving<br />
a tough problem with a machine or<br />
knowing which parts we don’t have to<br />
order from the manufacturer.”<br />
About The Service Guys<br />
Tarvestad and Meyer started The<br />
Service Guys as a “service only” company<br />
in 2004, after working for several years<br />
as field service engineers for a local<br />
distributor. Today, they sell and service a<br />
full line of production machinery for small<br />
manufacturers as well as large OEMs.<br />
They also handle special applications<br />
and integration in-house. Most of their<br />
customers are in the Midwest area but,<br />
since they receive referrals from many<br />
machine manufacturers, they get calls<br />
from people all over the country.<br />
The most common problems they see<br />
on band saws, according to Tarvestad, are<br />
parts coming off the machines that are<br />
not cut straight and true, and saw blades<br />
that may last only a fraction of the time<br />
they should. To avoid these issues, he<br />
offers manufacturers two words of advice:<br />
scheduled maintenance.<br />
“If you schedule regular maintenance a<br />
few times per year, we can catch 90 percent<br />
or more of all the failures you’ll potentially<br />
see within the next few months, especially<br />
with regard to bearings and blades,” he<br />
said. “This is so much easier to deal with<br />
than an emergency downtime situation,<br />
because we can schedule downtime for<br />
inspection inside your work schedule, not<br />
in an emergency case when the machine<br />
stops working.”<br />
Recently, The Service Guys began<br />
refurbishing and selling used machines<br />
to complement their offering of new<br />
machinery. However, service has and<br />
always will be the focus of the business.<br />
“We service first and sell by accident,”<br />
Tarvestad said. “I think our customers<br />
appreciate that approach.”<br />
PM<br />
For more information about The Service Guys, visit www.theserviceguys.net or contact Chris<br />
Tarvestad at 763.234.9810 or chris@theserviceguys.net.<br />
Above: Two Tigerstop linear measurement rails operate back-to-back as installed on Bell’s Kaltenback saws.<br />
PAID SUPPLEMENT<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 17
10044 Goodhue St. NE<br />
Blaine, MN 55449<br />
Phone: 763.785.9278<br />
Email: bertb@engfinish.com<br />
A SIMPLE APPROACH<br />
FOR BETTER SURFACE FINISHING<br />
In the race to compete and stay<br />
ahead on a global scale, manufacturing<br />
firms constantly must look to improve<br />
equipment utilization and throughput. A<br />
big part of staying ahead is the reduction<br />
and/or elimination of non-value added<br />
activities or waste through continuous<br />
improvement of the entire value chain.<br />
Over-processing is waste when it occurs<br />
anytime more work is done on a piece<br />
than is required by the customer. This<br />
also includes using tools that are more<br />
precise, complex, or expensive than<br />
absolutely required and includes using<br />
milling centers for surface finishing.<br />
The term “surface finish” refers<br />
to the surface, including the texture,<br />
the flaws, the material, and/or any<br />
applied coatings. We generally describe<br />
the surface topography in terms of<br />
texture. Surface texture is most often<br />
characterized by four parameters:<br />
roughness, waviness, lay, and flaws.<br />
Surface roughness consists of fine<br />
irregularities in the surface texture,<br />
usually those resulting from the inherent<br />
action of a production process, such as<br />
feed marks produced during machining.<br />
Waviness is a more widely spaced<br />
component of surface texture and can<br />
result from such factors as machine or<br />
work deflections, vibration, or chatter.<br />
Lay is the direction of the predominant<br />
surface pattern. This typically would be<br />
in the length direction for tubes. Profiles<br />
almost always are made in a direction<br />
perpendicular to the lay of the surface.<br />
Tubing profiles usually are parallel to the<br />
lay direction.<br />
Flaws are unintentional, unexpected,<br />
and unwanted interruptions in the<br />
surface such as cracks, nicks, scratches,<br />
burrs, hangers, and ridges.<br />
Figure 1<br />
As shown in Figure 1 (above),<br />
surfaces produced with a milling<br />
process can have a strong lay pattern,<br />
i.e., they are unidirectional. The<br />
generation of a lay pattern is accepted<br />
and understood when you consider<br />
that milling technology is a production<br />
process where a rotating cutter is moved<br />
sequentially along prescribed tool paths.<br />
The final surface roughness from milling<br />
might be considered as the sum of two<br />
independent effects: 1) the surface<br />
roughness is a result of the geometry<br />
of tool and feed rate; and 2) the natural<br />
surface roughness is a result of the<br />
irregularities in the cutting operation<br />
(tool path/motion).<br />
The desired surface finish/roughness<br />
usually is specified by a design engineer<br />
and the appropriate processes are<br />
selected by a manufacturing and/or a<br />
process engineer. Most specifications<br />
call out a surface finish roughness<br />
described and measured as a Ra value<br />
with Ra being calculated per the ANSI<br />
B46.1 standard.<br />
Illustrated in Figure 2 (below) is a<br />
surface roughness profile along with the<br />
formula for calculating Ra. Producing<br />
the part to the Ra specification,<br />
including how rough the surface is,<br />
for many reasons, directly impacts the<br />
functional attributes of parts, including<br />
surface friction, wear, light reflection,<br />
heat transmission, ability of distributing<br />
and holding a lubricant, and fatigue, etc.<br />
The two primary objectives in<br />
machining are the production of parts<br />
with low cost and high quality. To<br />
achieve these objectives, maximum and<br />
minimum feed rates and cutting speeds,<br />
depths of cut as well as tool life, cutting<br />
force, surface roughness, and cutting<br />
power consumption are considered.<br />
Figure 2<br />
18 18 | | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | | October 2012 2012
INDUSTRY PROFILE: ENGINEERED FINISHING CORP.<br />
The first step for minimizing is<br />
to reduce the costs for individual<br />
finishing and roughing passes for the<br />
various depths of the cut. Considered<br />
in the next step is the combination of<br />
depths of the cut for the finishing and<br />
roughing passes. Depth of cuts, along<br />
with an optimal number of passes,<br />
are combined with the stepover path<br />
distance to minimize run times and<br />
cost. The stepover value determines<br />
whether the surface finish on a<br />
component is rough or smooth.<br />
For example, when using a<br />
flatbottomed tool such as an end<br />
mill, the stepover value is normally<br />
around 70 percent of the cutter<br />
diameter in combination with depth,<br />
feed, and speed rates. Raster passes,<br />
radial passes, spiral passes, morph<br />
passes, and boundary passes are the<br />
methods of choice for true surface<br />
machining. Allocating expensive CNC<br />
machine time for cleanup and surface<br />
finishing should be considered overprocessing<br />
and costly when measured<br />
in machine time (throughput dollars)<br />
and the achieved results. Abrasive Flow<br />
Grinding (also known as abrasive flow<br />
machining) is a cost effective machining<br />
process for finishing and polishing a<br />
surface, including difficult-to-reach<br />
surfaces and internal passages.<br />
The Abrasive Flow Grinding process<br />
involves three principle elements: a<br />
tooling fixture, the machine, and the<br />
abrasive. The typical Abrasive Flow<br />
Grinding process uses two opposing<br />
cylinders to push the media in two<br />
directions, i.e., back and forth with a<br />
controlled flow pressure. Tooling is<br />
used to direct the media flow across the<br />
surface of the part and through internal<br />
passages and intersecting passages. Flow<br />
grinding action occurs wherever the<br />
media comes in contact with a surface.<br />
The flow pressure as well as the number<br />
of finishing cycles (back and forth media<br />
grinding/flow) are controlled.<br />
A workpiece fixture is used to hold<br />
a part or multiple parts for processing.<br />
The fixture directs and controls the<br />
volume and pressure of media flow<br />
across surfaces and through internal<br />
passages. Lightweight fixtures are placed<br />
on and removed from the lower media<br />
Figure 3<br />
cylinder by the machine operator. The<br />
lower media cylinder (the processing<br />
station) is located in the center of the<br />
worktable. Higher production and/<br />
or heavier fixtures can be positioned<br />
automatically from the loading station to<br />
the processing station by a hydraulically<br />
actuated dual fixture rotary table. In the<br />
way of increasing throughput dollars,<br />
flow grinding reduces other costs by<br />
reducing and/or eliminating handwork<br />
that may not be as uniform, repeatable,<br />
or predictable.<br />
The flow grinding media is made of<br />
a flowable polymer carrier mixed with<br />
one or more sizes of abrasive grain. The<br />
media viscosity range is from a soft,<br />
almost grease-like consistency, to a firm,<br />
putty-like material consistency. With<br />
a pure grinding and polishing backand-forth<br />
type of action, the grinding/<br />
abrasive media flows across surfaces<br />
or through internal passages to refine<br />
surfaces and edges.<br />
The most commonly used abrasives<br />
are silicon carbide and aluminum oxide.<br />
These provide a good balance between<br />
high performance and moderate cost.<br />
Typically, the particle sizes of abrasives<br />
used range from a coarse 20 mesh<br />
abrasive (average particle size ~0.9<br />
mm) to a very fine 600 mesh abrasive<br />
(average particle size ~0.9 microns).<br />
Abrasive media will contain around 25<br />
percent up to around 67 percent, by<br />
weight of the abrasive grain.<br />
Abrasive Flow Grinding has helped<br />
us achieve polished and lapped external<br />
and internal passages characterized by<br />
their measured Ra values. Tools that are<br />
used together can help to reduce waste<br />
as measured in throughput dollars and<br />
over processing. All production practices<br />
promote the reduction of waste,<br />
reduction of over-processing, and the<br />
control of flow for increasing throughput<br />
dollars. The benefits of milling a finished<br />
surface probably are not worth the cost.<br />
Several examples of surface finishes we<br />
have accomplished with abrasive flow<br />
grinding are shown below.<br />
September | October | 2012 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 19| 19
WHO’S WHO<br />
Karen White, Bemidji State University<br />
DREAMING IT. DOING IT.<br />
by Stephani Simon<br />
There could not be a more appropriate<br />
personality affiliated with the Dream<br />
It. Do It. campaign than Karen White.<br />
She embodies the motto at home as<br />
well as in her role as executive director<br />
of MNSCU’s 360° Manufacturing and<br />
Applied Engineering Center of Excellence<br />
at Bemidji State University.<br />
The Dream<br />
Born and raised in Moorhead, Minn.,<br />
White’s life seems to have been based<br />
on a series of focused dreams that she<br />
has accomplished over time. In high<br />
school, White had a strong desire to<br />
compete, and naturally gravitated toward<br />
sports—namely tennis and cheerleading.<br />
She also began to discover a passion for<br />
engineering, taking male-dominated shop<br />
courses like automotive mechanics. It<br />
was then that White began to dream of a<br />
career in engineering.<br />
Setting out to make her dream a<br />
reality, White enrolled in the engineering<br />
program at the University of Minnesota-<br />
Duluth. She graduated with a bachelor’s<br />
degree in chemical engineering and<br />
went on to obtain a Master of Science in<br />
Chemical Engineering at the University<br />
of Kentucky.<br />
Turning Dreams into Reality<br />
It was after graduation that White’s<br />
degree introduced her to the world of<br />
manufacturing, when she accepted an<br />
engineering job at Imation in Wahpeton,<br />
North Dakota, a diskette manufacturing<br />
plant. It was at Imation that she came<br />
to understand how products are made.<br />
White credits Imation for her biggest<br />
learning moments, including being part<br />
of a 13-member plant management<br />
team responsible for meeting corporate<br />
objectives. She also came to love the fast<br />
pace of the manufacturing industry and<br />
the diverse aspects that the industry had<br />
to offer, whether it was focusing on safety,<br />
quality, cost, or capacity.<br />
After 5 years of being in engineering<br />
and management roles at Imation, White<br />
Karen White, executive director, 360° with<br />
kids left to right: Justin, Lauren and Alec.<br />
ventured back into the world of higher<br />
education, taking on an engineering<br />
operations role at North Dakota State<br />
University (NDSU) in the Center for<br />
Nanoscale Science and Engineering. At<br />
NDSU, she gained an understanding and<br />
passion for how businesses, universities,<br />
and governments form partnerships.<br />
Ultimately, the role became a natural segue<br />
into her career at Bemidji State, where she<br />
helps train workers for the manufacturing<br />
industry and has become involved with<br />
the Dream It. Do It. campaign.<br />
The Initiative<br />
It was in early 2007 that a lack<br />
of skilled workers in manufacturing<br />
prompted White to seek out support<br />
from the Minnesota Department of<br />
Employment and Economic Development.<br />
This is when she first was introduced to<br />
the concept of Dream It. Do It. Because<br />
of her passion around the campaign,<br />
White now works with the Minnesota<br />
Precision Manufacturing Association,<br />
Tri-State Manufacturers’ Association,<br />
West Central Initiative, Central Minnesota<br />
Manufacturers Association, and<br />
manufacturers from the Brainerd Lakes<br />
area to further the campaign’s initiatives,<br />
promoting a clear understanding of<br />
advanced, high-tech manufacturing.<br />
White carries this same dream it,<br />
do it philosophy into her home life.<br />
Having met her husband Jim in college,<br />
a Minnesota native from Cook (a small<br />
community north of the Iron Range), the<br />
pair is determined to teach their three<br />
kids about the diverse lifestyle Minnesota<br />
has to offer. The family, including Alec<br />
(13), Justin (9) and Lauren (4), often<br />
travels around the state taking advantage<br />
of rural and city living.<br />
One favorite White always looks<br />
forward to is visiting the farmstead of<br />
Jim’s grandfather that was established<br />
more than 80 years ago just north of<br />
Cook. They also can be found enjoying<br />
cabin life near their home in Bemidji.<br />
In addition to waterskiing and fishing,<br />
the family enjoys downhill skiing and<br />
hunting. Indeed, rarely a week goes by<br />
without playing sports of some kind.<br />
For White, that includes exercising her<br />
competitive nature by playing on a tennis<br />
league. The family also frequently travels<br />
to the Twin Cities, taking in sporting<br />
events, attending cultural exhibits, and<br />
visiting family.<br />
Open to Experiences<br />
“We want our kids to grow up<br />
knowing that hard work has rewards: to<br />
enjoy life, and to be open to experiences,”<br />
White said during the interview.<br />
This also means getting them to<br />
think about their futures. White works<br />
to involve the family in technology,<br />
robotics, and Camp Invention activities.<br />
She wants them to know what the inside<br />
of manufacturing facilities look like and<br />
how product development happens.<br />
White’s ultimate dream is for youth to<br />
be accepted when they say, “I want to be a<br />
welder.” Until then, she intends to continue<br />
to highlight the impact that manufacturing<br />
has to the state’s and nation’s economic<br />
PM<br />
health and to live her dreams.<br />
STEPHANI SIMON is<br />
the president of Orange<br />
Communications in<br />
Minneapolis, Minnesota.<br />
She can be reached at<br />
ssimon@orange77.com.<br />
20 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
WHEN NUMBERS<br />
MATTER:<br />
6 NEW JOBS.<br />
2 MONTHS TO<br />
FULFILL.<br />
1 a51nx HMC.<br />
Making the parts that really<br />
matter takes a horizontal<br />
machining center that<br />
delivers what matters most:<br />
faster cycle times, greater<br />
reliability and higher-quality<br />
results. Which is why a<br />
Makino HMC is the only real<br />
choice for the production<br />
parts that matter most.<br />
It’s the speed you need to<br />
handle the jobs that matter.<br />
The Makino a51nx and a61nx.<br />
makino.com<br />
Your local distributor for MN, NE,<br />
IA, SD, ND and western WI is:<br />
© 2012 Makino<br />
Productivity Inc.<br />
15150 25th Avenue North<br />
Plymouth, MN 55447<br />
763.476.8600<br />
www.productivity.com
<strong>MTConnect</strong>:<br />
by Dave Edstrom<br />
<strong>Different</strong> <strong>Devices</strong>, <strong>Common</strong> <strong>Connection</strong><br />
In 2008, Paul Warndorf,<br />
vice president of manufacturing<br />
technology for the Association for<br />
Manufacturing Technology (AMT),<br />
wrote an introductory article for<br />
Precision Manufacturing on the<br />
topic of <strong>MTConnect</strong>. A great deal<br />
has happened since then. A wide<br />
range of organizations has invested<br />
in <strong>MTConnect</strong>, from small shops up<br />
to the U.S. Department of Defense.<br />
More importantly, members of the<br />
Minnesota Precision Manufacturing<br />
Association (MPMA) can change their<br />
shop or plant productivity radically by<br />
embracing <strong>MTConnect</strong>.<br />
The beginning of <strong>MTConnect</strong> goes<br />
back to late 2006, when AMT held its<br />
annual meeting in Lake Las Vegas. This<br />
is where <strong>MTConnect</strong> was born—an<br />
open and royalty-free standard with<br />
the potential to dramatically change<br />
manufacturing around the globe.<br />
In preparation for the annual<br />
meeting, I worked with Dr. David<br />
Patterson of the University of California-<br />
Berkeley. Patterson and I worked closely<br />
together on our back-to-back keynotes<br />
for the meeting and it was there that<br />
AMT decided to fund <strong>MTConnect</strong>.<br />
What Exactly is <strong>MTConnect</strong>?<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> is an open standard<br />
that converts the many different<br />
proprietary manufacturing equipment<br />
data formats into the common<br />
language of the Internet, which<br />
all applications speak. Think of<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> as a standard using<br />
proven Internet protocols that are the<br />
“rules of the road” on how information<br />
will be shared. <strong>MTConnect</strong> is<br />
the Manufacturing Technology<br />
<strong>Connection</strong> between manufacturing<br />
equipment and applications.<br />
Another way to think of <strong>MTConnect</strong><br />
is like a “bluetooth for manufacturing<br />
equipment.” Bluetooth works when two<br />
different devices support it, such as your<br />
cellphone and your car, or your computer<br />
and other peripherals. <strong>MTConnect</strong><br />
works when both the manufacturing<br />
equipment and the software applications<br />
support <strong>MTConnect</strong>.<br />
To clarify, <strong>MTConnect</strong> is not an<br />
application, such as Microsoft Excel, but<br />
it is how a machine tool would speak to<br />
a shop floor monitoring program. This<br />
program might be running a PC or Mac<br />
on the shop floor, on your iPhone or the<br />
PC in your office. In other words, now<br />
you can see what is happening on your<br />
shop floor anywhere, anytime on an<br />
Internet-enabled device.<br />
Shop floor monitoring is the first<br />
obvious type of application that has<br />
become <strong>MTConnect</strong>-enabled. Some<br />
popular examples of information that<br />
could be analyzed through monitoring<br />
include OEE, asset utilization, diagnostics,<br />
and machine health. If you are a shop<br />
owner, a plant manager, or anyone in<br />
manufacturing who manages productivity<br />
and profitability, the first questions you<br />
should be asking are: How can monitoring<br />
our shop floor improve our business; and<br />
why is it important that <strong>MTConnect</strong> is<br />
the standard that is chosen to connect our<br />
shop floor to our applications?<br />
When considering shop floor<br />
monitoring, it is important to remember<br />
John Turner’s Five Laws of Manufacturing:<br />
1. We measure what goes into<br />
production and what comes out;<br />
we have little data on what really<br />
happens on the production floor.<br />
2. If anyone says “I know exactly what<br />
is happening on my plant floor” –<br />
don’t believe them.<br />
3. We don’t gather data because it’s<br />
hard, and someone has to look at it.<br />
4. No one solution or set of data<br />
works for everyone.<br />
5. If you don’t have an avid champion,<br />
save your time and money.<br />
How you Get the Data<br />
When you decide to monitor your<br />
shop floor, remember this: How you get<br />
the data matters. Choose a standard that<br />
provides the widest selection of solutions<br />
and provides the greatest flexibility as<br />
your needs change. <strong>MTConnect</strong> is a<br />
standard that provides the most widely<br />
adopted manufacturing data standard in<br />
the industry. It currently is used in more<br />
than 14 monitoring applications with<br />
more coming.<br />
If you are attending IMTS<br />
2012, please stop by the Emerging<br />
Technology Center. We will be showing<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong>-enabled applications in<br />
the following categories:<br />
<br />
Efficiency: Understanding Hidden<br />
Cost<br />
<br />
Utilization: Discovering Untapped<br />
Capacity<br />
<br />
Sustainability: Minimizing<br />
Negative Environmental Impacts<br />
<br />
Managing Your Plant Anywhere,<br />
Anytime (mobile devices)<br />
The Technology Behind<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong><br />
In order to better appreciate<br />
how <strong>MTConnect</strong> works, we need to<br />
dive down just a little bit into the<br />
technology. Everyone is familiar with<br />
the concept of a Web site such as<br />
mpma.com. If you type that address<br />
into your browser, information shows<br />
up on your screen. Information<br />
22 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
FEATURE STORY<br />
Remember, <strong>MTConnect</strong> is not an application. <strong>MTConnect</strong> is a<br />
standard that connects manufacturing equipment to applications.<br />
shows up on your browser because<br />
the MPMA has a web server that<br />
answers your requests and sends<br />
information back to your browser.<br />
The two primary technologies that<br />
make all this work are http, which is<br />
how your browser communicates with<br />
MPMA’s web server, and XML, which<br />
is the actual language passed to your<br />
browser that represents the data being<br />
displayed. <strong>MTConnect</strong> basically works<br />
the same way.<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> puts a very efficient<br />
and secure web server in front of<br />
manufacturing equipment.<br />
Agent.<strong>MTConnect</strong>.org, a machine<br />
tool simulator running on the<br />
Internet, provides information<br />
about the machine tool’s physical<br />
components and what data (alarms,<br />
spindle speed, feed rate, etc.) can be<br />
retrieved.<br />
One of <strong>MTConnect</strong>’s key design<br />
aspects is that, when information comes<br />
back to the application, it includes a<br />
reference to a dictionary that specifically<br />
defines the physical components and<br />
the data items. The beauty of this<br />
approach is that all software speaks<br />
http and XML, so it is very easy for<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong>- enabled applications<br />
to speak to your manufacturing<br />
equipment. A good example of this is<br />
using a spreadsheet to get information<br />
with <strong>MTConnect</strong>. While you likely<br />
would not use a spreadsheet to monitor<br />
your shop floor, the point here is that<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> makes it very easy to get<br />
the data in a format other applications<br />
can easily use.<br />
The <strong>MTConnect</strong> Institute<br />
Companies, organizations,<br />
and even individuals can join the<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> Institute for free.<br />
Additionally, it is free to deploy the<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> protocol. <strong>MTConnect</strong> also<br />
adopts the open source philosophy,<br />
offering collaboration for multiple<br />
end users. We do this because we<br />
strongly believe a common protocol is<br />
the technology equivalent of a “rising<br />
tide lifting all ships.” In other words,<br />
everyone wins when manufacturing<br />
equipment can easily be connected.<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> Institute members<br />
may take the <strong>MTConnect</strong> protocol<br />
and bundle it with their software or<br />
manufacturing equipment. They are<br />
free to sell it or include it free with their<br />
software or systems.<br />
Today, only 4 to 5 percent of<br />
machine tools around the globe are<br />
monitored. <strong>MTConnect</strong> is changing<br />
that and impacting manufacturing in<br />
countless ways. You cannot manage<br />
what you cannot measure and<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> is making it very easy for<br />
shops and plants to get manufacturing<br />
equipment data—to better manage their<br />
business in an intelligent fashion.<br />
Many shops and plants that have<br />
embraced <strong>MTConnect</strong>. Joel Neidig,<br />
technology manager for ITAMCO, has<br />
made his shop <strong>MTConnect</strong>-enabled.<br />
Mr. Neidig has written a mobile<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> application that he gives<br />
away for both the iPhone and Android<br />
phone platforms. He and his company<br />
use this app so they can check their<br />
plant anywhere at any time. Others can<br />
take it and improve the app with the<br />
idea of sharing those improvements<br />
with all. This is a classic open source.<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> has improved productivity<br />
for ITAMCO because you cannot<br />
manage what you do not know. You<br />
know by monitoring your shop and<br />
taking action with that information.<br />
ARC Technology Group wrote an<br />
interesting article titled, “<strong>MTConnect</strong><br />
Standard for Machine Tools Drives<br />
Sustainable Manufacturing for US<br />
DoD.” As the author, Himanshu Shah,<br />
writes, “The Title 10 program has<br />
been taken on as a strategic initiative<br />
to further DoD activities and policies<br />
that promote the development and<br />
application of advanced technologies<br />
to manufacturing processes, tools, and<br />
equipment. While the program does not<br />
include specific metrics, it is intended to<br />
‘… improve the manufacturing quality,<br />
productivity, technology, and practices<br />
of businesses and workers providing<br />
goods and services to the DoD.’”<br />
Comments from those inside<br />
DoD have been made that, perhaps,<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> should be a standard for<br />
their department. That’s because open,<br />
royalty-free and open source technology<br />
already has been proven to help DoD<br />
become more productive (saving<br />
both time and money). Why should<br />
these lessons learned not be applied to<br />
manufacturing for DoD?<br />
Where is <strong>MTConnect</strong> Today<br />
in its History?<br />
We are in our third release with<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong>, with many exciting<br />
things taking place. We had our first<br />
ever [MC]2 <strong>MTConnect</strong>: Connecting<br />
Manufacturing Conference, which was<br />
a huge success. We have made 23 hours<br />
of videos available on a number of<br />
topics, including help for the first-time<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> user, end-user discussions<br />
on lessons learned, and how to write<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong>-enabled software. Be sure<br />
to visit <strong>MTConnect</strong>.org to learn more.<br />
At the <strong>MTConnect</strong> Institute our<br />
mantra is “<strong>MTConnect</strong> is <strong>Different</strong><br />
<strong>Devices</strong>, <strong>Common</strong> <strong>Connection</strong>.” As the<br />
president and chairman of the board<br />
for the <strong>MTConnect</strong> Institute, my final<br />
message is that <strong>MTConnect</strong> is REAL,<br />
it is a revolution in manufacturing, and<br />
you should investigate it today to help<br />
improve productivity in your shop.<br />
A great place to ask questions<br />
regarding shop floor monitoring and<br />
<strong>MTConnect</strong> is at the new<br />
http://<strong>MTConnect</strong>Forum.com.<br />
PM<br />
DAVE EDSTROM is president and chairman<br />
of the <strong>MTConnect</strong> Institute. He can be<br />
reached at davidallenedstrom@gmail.com.<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 23
BEST PRACTICES<br />
Best Practices: Environmentally Green<br />
METAL CRAFT MACHINE & ENGINEERING, INC.<br />
by Dustin Norton<br />
This series is meant to provide you with the opportunity to read how selected MPMA members handle and manage<br />
various best practices within their company, giving you insight and information as a resource for your business on several<br />
topics throughout the year.<br />
Since 1978, Metal Craft Machine<br />
& Engineering, Inc. has been striving<br />
to offer exceptional quality, service<br />
and innovation to all of its customers<br />
as a leading machine and engineering<br />
shop. In the early-1990s, Metal Craft<br />
switched its focus from general<br />
machining to the medical device<br />
and implant industry. This switch<br />
proved to be a smart move and today<br />
Metal Craft is a national leader in the<br />
medical device industry.<br />
In 2007, their 25,000-squarefoot<br />
shop in Elk River, Minn., was<br />
running low on space, so they<br />
began the planning process for a<br />
new 83,000-square-foot shop right<br />
across town. The shop, which opened<br />
in 2009, was created with quality,<br />
efficiency, and the environment in<br />
mind. Throughout the planning<br />
process top management and shop<br />
workers thought of ways Metal<br />
Craft could maintain its high quality<br />
standards, while being efficient,<br />
employee friendly, and good for<br />
the environment.<br />
Quality was the primary focus<br />
when designing the new production<br />
floor. Everything in the shop<br />
centers on quality, which is why the<br />
quality department is located in the<br />
middle of the production floor. This<br />
makes it easier to get to the quality<br />
department from all areas of the<br />
shop, improving the time and flow<br />
of products through the shop. The<br />
quality department also is right in<br />
line with the building’s offices and<br />
front doors, making it easy to reach<br />
when customers come to visit. To<br />
increase its visibility, the production<br />
floor is surrounded by windows,<br />
making the shop much brighter<br />
during the day. This was also the first<br />
step in making the shop more energy<br />
efficient. Lighting a production floor<br />
of this size would be a challenge and<br />
a costly expense. The windowed<br />
rotunda design brought in natural<br />
light, which allowed the shop to<br />
rely less on its energy efficient T5<br />
fluorescent light bulbs during the<br />
day. In addition, white walls and<br />
floors dramatically increased the<br />
brightness of the production floor,<br />
which created a noticeable change<br />
on the work environment.<br />
Since moving to the new<br />
shop, workers are more motivated<br />
and happy according to Rhonda<br />
Jorgenson, production floor manager<br />
at Metal Craft. In addition, she<br />
believes that it has led to better<br />
organization and cleanliness on the<br />
part of employees. With the shop<br />
being brighter, it has created the<br />
desire for workers to stay organized<br />
and keep their work stations clean<br />
and the shop looking pristine.<br />
These changes, along with the<br />
shop floor layout helped not only<br />
the quality of the products, but the<br />
flow throughout the shop. From<br />
the time a product enters the shop<br />
to when it leaves, it follows an easy<br />
flow through departments. Raw<br />
materials arrive at the west end of<br />
the shop; from there they go to their<br />
designated departments surrounding<br />
quality, and are shipped from the<br />
They maintained high industry<br />
standards and quality requirements;<br />
they built a shop designed for<br />
performance, while being as energy<br />
efficient as possible.<br />
east end of the building. This creates<br />
less confusion and congestion in the<br />
shop. The crew itself even has a flow<br />
as they enter for their day. Lockers<br />
and showers are located right by<br />
the employee entrance. From there<br />
they can enter the break room or<br />
go straight into the shop, which<br />
alleviates congestion during shift<br />
changes and breaks.<br />
With quality and efficiency<br />
covered, the next goal was to finish<br />
making the shop environmentally<br />
friendly. One of the biggest problems<br />
was the heat that was created due to<br />
the windows in the production floor.<br />
continued<br />
24 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
BEST PRACTICES<br />
To solve this, Metal Craft installed an<br />
energy efficient HVAC system which<br />
uses the shops duct work to push<br />
cool air from the floor up during<br />
the summer, as well as pull warm air<br />
down from the ceiling in the winter.<br />
This dramatically reduces heating and<br />
cooling costs throughout the year. In<br />
addition, Metal Craft was built with a<br />
white vinyl roof instead of a standard<br />
black roof. Founder of Metal Craft<br />
Jack Mowry said that it makes the<br />
roof about 55 degrees cooler than the<br />
temperature of a black roof.<br />
The production floor wasn’t the<br />
only area of the building with the<br />
environment in mind. The building<br />
was built with a reverse osmosis<br />
system, allowing employees to fill<br />
reusable water bottles instead of<br />
using disposable plastic bottles. The<br />
Being environmentally friendly is<br />
still as high a priority as serving their<br />
customers.<br />
carpet in the office also was selected<br />
with the environment in mind—30<br />
percent is recycled carpet and 100<br />
percent is recyclable in the future.<br />
Outside of the building, recycling<br />
and scraps are kept in dry storage to<br />
prevent runoff into the ground. They<br />
are kept in a dual door system so that<br />
the air temperature does not affect<br />
that of the production floor. Finally,<br />
a runoff pond was created behind<br />
the shop to allow rain water from the<br />
building to re-enter the water table.<br />
Metal Craft was able to create<br />
a new standard for production<br />
facilities. They maintained high<br />
industry standards and quality<br />
requirements; they built a shop<br />
designed for performance, while<br />
being as energy efficient as possible.<br />
Being environmentally friendly is<br />
still as high a priority as serving<br />
their customers. They have reduced<br />
cost and become energy-efficient all<br />
while serving their customers better<br />
every day.<br />
PM<br />
DUSTIN NORTON is the marketing/public<br />
relations intern for Metal Craft Machine<br />
& Engineering, Inc. He can be reached at<br />
drnorton@metal-craft.com.<br />
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September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 25
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26 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
MANUFACTURERS’ MARKETPLACE<br />
A few months ago we didn’t even know how to spell<br />
Positive Material Identification<br />
and now we’re selling it.<br />
Lucky for you our sales guys are quick learners. They’ve already become<br />
experts on PMI and Multilayer Plating Thickness Measurement systems<br />
from Oxford Instruments. And they’re ready to use their newfound knowledge<br />
to help you choose an Oxford system that works for you.<br />
PRODUCTIVITY QUALITY INC<br />
763.249.8130 . 800.772.0620 . www.gagesite.com<br />
Specialty Equipment Metrology Tools & Service<br />
Join MPMA<br />
ConneCt with industry. engage with eduCation.<br />
education<br />
government relations<br />
networking<br />
Publications / Communication /<br />
advertising<br />
Workforce development<br />
For more information on membership, education, publications and events<br />
please visit www.mpma.com<br />
to drive success in minnesota precision manufacturing<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 27
MEMBER DIRECTORY<br />
Lifetime Members<br />
Dr. James Bensen<br />
Bemidji State University<br />
(218) 755-2950<br />
mbensen@bemidjistate.edu<br />
Dave Yeager<br />
(320) 564-3937<br />
Dr. Fred Zimmerman<br />
(612) 867-8368<br />
zimco@visi.com<br />
A. Finkl & Sons Co.<br />
Bob Myers<br />
bobm@finkl.com<br />
(612) 724-8967<br />
A-1 Engineering<br />
Todd Craft<br />
M Page 1todd.craft@a1eng.com<br />
(763) 786-8710<br />
ABA Water Systems, Inc.<br />
Tim Weaver<br />
services@abawatersystems.com<br />
(800) 257-1271<br />
Abdo, Eick & Meyers, LLP<br />
Donald Kreye<br />
donald.kreye@aemcpas.com<br />
(952) 715-3026<br />
Abrasive Specialists, Inc.<br />
Jaime Olsen<br />
jaime.olsen@asimn.com<br />
(763) 571-4111<br />
Accu-Prompt, Inc.<br />
Scott Hoffmann<br />
shoffmann@accuprompt.com<br />
(763) 783-1020<br />
Aerospace Manufacturing Inc.<br />
Tom Heid<br />
theid@awi-ami.com<br />
(651) 379-9888<br />
AeroSystems Engineering<br />
Peter Maye<br />
peter.maye@aseholdings.com<br />
(651) 220-1339<br />
Aerotek<br />
Dylan Ballantine<br />
dballant@aerotek.com<br />
(651) 252-3349<br />
Agility Machine Tool, Inc.<br />
Brian Holcomb<br />
brian@agilitymachine.com<br />
(763) 792-8502<br />
Agrimson Tool Company, Inc.<br />
Gary Agrimson<br />
mailroom@agrimsontool.com<br />
(763) 566-3446<br />
Air Engineering & Supply, Inc.<br />
David Maurer<br />
dmaurer@airengr.com<br />
(612) 332-4181<br />
Aitkin Iron Works, Inc.<br />
Jeffrey Chatelle<br />
jwc@aiw.com<br />
(218) 927-2400<br />
Alexandria Technical &<br />
Community College<br />
Dr. Kevin Kopischke<br />
kevink@alextech.edu<br />
(888) 234-1313<br />
All Tech Machinery & Supply<br />
Jeff Johnson<br />
jeffj@atms.us.com<br />
(763) 370-4670<br />
Alliance Metrology, Inc.<br />
Bryn Hartwig<br />
brynhart@comcast.net<br />
(763) 493-0026<br />
American Machine &<br />
Gundrilling Co., Inc.<br />
Chuck Berg, Jr.<br />
chucksr@amgundrilling.com<br />
(763) 425-3830<br />
AmeriStar Manufacturing Inc<br />
Joe Bohrer<br />
joeb@ameristarmfg.com<br />
(507) 625-1515<br />
Anderson Automatics, Inc.<br />
Doug Anderson<br />
douga@andersonautomatics.com<br />
(763) 533-2206<br />
Anderson Dahlen Inc.<br />
Steve Head<br />
heas@andersondahlen.com<br />
(763) 852-4700<br />
Andrew Tool &<br />
Machining Company<br />
Bruce Hanson<br />
brucehanson@andrewtool.com<br />
(763) 559-0402<br />
Anoka Technical College<br />
Nick Graff<br />
ngraff@anokatech.edu<br />
(763) 576-4700<br />
Anoka-Ramsey<br />
Community College<br />
Allan Callander<br />
allan.callander@anokaramsey.edu<br />
(763) 433-1225<br />
Applied Products, Inc.<br />
Brian Carlson<br />
mpmainfo@appliedproducts.com<br />
(952) 912-2403<br />
Applied Vacuum Technology, Inc.<br />
Dan Korolchuk<br />
dkorolchuk@appliedvacuum.com<br />
(952) 442-7005<br />
APT CNC Inc.<br />
Brian Mayo<br />
brianmayo@aptcnc.com<br />
(507) 931-5425<br />
Arrow Cryogenics, Inc.<br />
Curt Salo<br />
curt@arrowcryogenics.com<br />
(763) 780-3367<br />
Associated Bank<br />
Paul Poncin<br />
paul.poncin@associatedbank.com<br />
(651) 307-0579<br />
Atscott Manufacturing<br />
Company, Inc.<br />
John Norris<br />
info@atscott.com<br />
(320) 629-2501<br />
Automated<br />
Randy Squier<br />
rsquier@automatedextrusion.com<br />
(763) 576-6946<br />
Baillie Sales & Engineering, Inc.<br />
Stephanie Miller<br />
steph@bailliesales.com<br />
(952) 546-2960<br />
Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP<br />
Mark Kiecker<br />
mark.kiecker@bakertilly.com<br />
(612) 876-4776<br />
BankCherokee<br />
Roger Hamilton<br />
rhamilton@bankcherokee.com<br />
(651) 291-6263<br />
Barry & Sewall Industrial Supply<br />
Steve Olson<br />
steveo@barrysewall.com<br />
(612) 331-6170<br />
Batten Tool & Machine, Inc.<br />
Dan Batten<br />
dan@battentool.com<br />
(952) 942-9198<br />
Beaver Machine<br />
Jay Groth<br />
beavshack@beavermachine.com<br />
(763) 535-2204<br />
Benny Machine Company<br />
Jeffrey Benny<br />
bennymachine@aol.com<br />
(763) 444-5508<br />
Benson-Orth General Contractors<br />
Luke Fellows<br />
lukef@benson-orth.com<br />
(612) 919-4427<br />
Bermo Inc.<br />
Nancy Hartman<br />
nancy.hartman@bermo.com<br />
(763) 786-7676<br />
Bizal Manufacturing Co.<br />
Mike Bizal, Jr.<br />
bizalmfg@bizalmfg.com<br />
(763) 571-4030<br />
Black Line Group<br />
Scott Schmidt<br />
scott@blacklinegrp.com<br />
(763) 550-0111<br />
D.I. Resin<br />
for your EDM –<br />
You get the best<br />
buy with ABA.<br />
Send your used<br />
D.I. resin to ABA,<br />
and we’ll clean it,<br />
regenerate it, and return it ready for more<br />
EDM use. That’s any resin and any volume –<br />
bagged, bottled, or bulk. We dispose of the<br />
regulated waste, and you save money.<br />
For the dealer closest to you,<br />
visit www.abawatersystems.com<br />
or call 800-257-1271.<br />
ABA Water Systems, Inc.<br />
226 West Broadway<br />
Plainview, MN 55964<br />
Fax: (507) 534-4178<br />
28 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
MEMBER DIRECTORY<br />
Blanski Peter Kronlage & Zoch, P.A.<br />
Gary Turnquist, CPA<br />
gturnquist@bpkz.com<br />
(763) 546-6211<br />
Bodycote Thermal Processing<br />
Bob Manhatton<br />
robert.manhatton@bodycote.com<br />
(952) 944-5500<br />
Boring Machine Corporation<br />
Tom Chacon<br />
tomchacon@bormac.com<br />
(763) 786-0100<br />
Boulay, Heutmaker,<br />
Zibell & Co. PLLP<br />
Matt Crane<br />
mcrane@bhz.com<br />
(952) 841-3051<br />
Branch Manufacturing<br />
Company, Inc.<br />
Delmer Fairbanks<br />
delmerf@branchmfg.com<br />
(651) 674-4441<br />
Bremer Bank/St. Paul<br />
Scott Johnson<br />
sajohnson@bremer.com<br />
(651) 726-6006<br />
Brenk Brothers, Inc.<br />
Jeff Brenk<br />
jeff@brenkbrothers.com<br />
(763) 784-5621<br />
Briggs and Morgan, P.A.<br />
Joe Roach<br />
jroach@briggs.com<br />
(612) 977-8400<br />
BTD Tooling Division<br />
Craig Rix<br />
crix@ptdmn.com<br />
(952) 469-2423<br />
CAB Construction<br />
Doug Mulder<br />
doug@cabconstruction.com<br />
(507) 625-2233<br />
Carley Foundry, Inc.<br />
Kevin Stensrud<br />
kevin.stensrud@carleyfoundry.com<br />
(763) 205-8933<br />
Carlson Advisors, LLP<br />
Melvin Enger<br />
menger@carlson-advisors.com<br />
(763) 535-8150<br />
Cass Screw Machine<br />
Products Company<br />
Steve Wise<br />
steve@csmp.com<br />
(763) 535-0501<br />
C-Axis Inc.<br />
Jeff Haley<br />
jeff@c-axis.com<br />
(763) 478-8982<br />
Center National Bank<br />
Pat Farrington<br />
pfarrington@cngmn.com<br />
(763) 225-8883<br />
Challenge Machine &<br />
Manufacturing Inc.<br />
Carrie Betland<br />
carrieb@challengemachine.com<br />
(763) 231-8400<br />
Checker Machine, Inc.<br />
Steve Lipinski<br />
slipinski@checkermachine.com<br />
(763) 544-5000<br />
Cheetah Precision, Inc.<br />
Manfred Niedernhoefer<br />
cheetah@cheetahprecision.com<br />
(651) 633-4566<br />
Chuck’s Grinding, Inc.<br />
Mike Reuter<br />
mike@chucksgrinding.com<br />
(952) 361-4308<br />
Cities Advanced Machinery<br />
Harry Youtsos<br />
harry@cam-cnc.com<br />
(952) 944-6060<br />
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP<br />
Samantha Metcalf<br />
smetcalf@larsonallen.com<br />
(612) 376-4821<br />
Clinton Aluminum &<br />
Stainless Steel<br />
Scott Mattson<br />
smattson@clintalum.com<br />
(800) 826-3370<br />
Columbia Gear Corp.<br />
Mike Hipsher<br />
mhipsher@columbiagear.com<br />
(320) 356-7301<br />
Columbia Precision Machine Corp.<br />
Gilbert Baldwin<br />
gbaldwin@columbiapmc.com<br />
(952) 890-1003<br />
Comet Tool, Inc.<br />
Jim Freitag<br />
jim.freitag@comettoolinc.com<br />
(952) 935-3798<br />
Command Tooling Systems LLC<br />
Bahti Hanedar<br />
bhanedar@commandtool.com<br />
(763) 576-6910<br />
Concept Machine Tool Sales, Inc.<br />
Craig Conlon<br />
sales@conceptmachine.com<br />
(763) 559-1975<br />
Construction Results Corporation<br />
Mark Snyder<br />
mark.snyder@constructionresults.com<br />
(763) 559-1100<br />
Continental Engr. & Mfg., Inc.<br />
Eric Andersen<br />
eric@cem-web.com<br />
(952) 448-4771<br />
Corchran, Inc<br />
Tom Westphal<br />
twestphal@corchran.com<br />
(507) 833-0229<br />
CorTrust Bank<br />
Tim Swanson<br />
tswanson@cortrustbank.com<br />
(651) 289-5000<br />
Craft, Pattern & Mold<br />
Anthony Cremers<br />
tcremers@craftpattern.com<br />
(763) 479-1969<br />
CRTechnical<br />
Tom Wolden<br />
tomwolden@crtechnical.com<br />
(763) 560-6015<br />
Custom Cutter Grinding Corp.<br />
Kermit Bode<br />
info@customcuttergrinding.com<br />
(763) 441-7744<br />
Dahlquist Machine Inc.<br />
Jeff Dahlquist<br />
jdahlquist@dahlquistmachine.com<br />
(763) 755-7575<br />
Datum-A-Industries, Inc.<br />
Eric Geyen<br />
info@datum-manifolds.com<br />
(763) 479-1133<br />
David Olson Sales Co., Inc.<br />
Scott Olson<br />
slo@davidolsonsales.com<br />
(612) 722-9523<br />
Deco Tool Supply Co.<br />
Kevin Corrigan<br />
kcorrigan@decotool.com<br />
(763) 537-7762<br />
Diamond Lake Tool, Inc.<br />
Larry Foss<br />
DLT@diamondlaketool.com<br />
(763) 441-3411<br />
Diamond Tool & Engineering, Inc.<br />
Kent Smith<br />
ksmith@eot.com<br />
(218) 924-4024<br />
Die Technology, Inc.<br />
Dale Skoog<br />
dskoog@dietechnology.com<br />
(763) 424-9677<br />
Digital Tool & Automation<br />
Dave Ackland<br />
dackland@digital-tool.com<br />
(763) 421-0400<br />
DMS Corporation<br />
Derek Nichols<br />
derek@mpi-dms.com<br />
(651) 452-1017<br />
Dream !t Do !t<br />
Statewide Tour of Manufacturing<br />
October 21-27, 2012<br />
Calling all manufacturers in Minnesota,<br />
you are invited and encouraged to open<br />
your facility to the public during the week of<br />
October 21-27, 2012.<br />
FinD OuT MOre @<br />
www.tourofmanufacturingmn.com<br />
THE FUTURE OF MINNESOTA MANUFACTURING<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 29
MEMBER DIRECTORY<br />
Domaille Engineering LLC<br />
Don Hickerson<br />
dhickerson@domailleengineering.com<br />
(507) 281-0275<br />
Dotson Iron Castings<br />
Jean Bye<br />
jbye@dotson.com<br />
(507) 345-5018<br />
Douglas Finishing<br />
Jeff Powers<br />
jeff.powers@douglasfinishing.com<br />
(320) 762-6235<br />
DS & B Certified Public Accountants,<br />
Consultants & Advisors<br />
Paul Simons<br />
psimons@dsb-cpa.com<br />
(612) 359-0572<br />
Duncan Company<br />
Josh Ralph<br />
jralph@duncanco.com<br />
(612) 331-1776<br />
Dunwoody College of Technology<br />
E. J. Daigle<br />
edaigle@dunwoody.edu<br />
(612) 381-8172<br />
Duo-Tec Tool Company<br />
Dale Hanken<br />
dhanken@duotectool.com<br />
(763) 425-5005<br />
Dynamic Group<br />
Peter McGillivray<br />
pmcgill@thedynamicgroup.net<br />
(763) 780-4430<br />
Eagle Tool & Design Co.<br />
Ole Christensen<br />
ochristensen@eagletoolinc.com<br />
(763) 784-7400<br />
Elk River Machine Company<br />
Todd McChesney<br />
tmcchesney@ermc.com<br />
(763) 441-1581<br />
Ellison Technologies<br />
Craig St. John<br />
cstjohn@ellisontechnologies.com<br />
(763) 545-9699 X101<br />
Emerson Network Power<br />
Connectivity Solution<br />
Jeff Norell<br />
jeff.norell@emerson.com<br />
(507) 833-6685<br />
Engineered Finishing Corp.<br />
Danforth Messerly<br />
dmesserly@engfinish.com<br />
(763) 785-9278<br />
Enterprise Minnesota<br />
Lynn Shelton<br />
lynn.shelton@enterpriseminnesota.org<br />
(612) 373-2900<br />
Epicor Software Corporation<br />
Christine Hansen<br />
chansen@epicor.com<br />
(952) 417-5161<br />
Erickson Metals of MN, Inc.<br />
Luke Harned<br />
lharned@ericksonmetalsmn.com<br />
(763) 785-2340<br />
Excelsior Tool Company, Inc.<br />
Gary Lostetter<br />
etc1gl@frontiernet.net<br />
(763) 479-3355<br />
Fab Pipe, Inc.<br />
Ted Muntz<br />
tmuntz@fabpipe.com<br />
(763) 428-2259<br />
Fastenal Manufacturing<br />
Tim Borkowski<br />
tborkows@fastenal.com<br />
(507) 453-8000<br />
Federated Insurance<br />
Kyle Julseth<br />
kcjulseth@fedins.com<br />
(608) 239-1696<br />
Fidelity Bank<br />
Steve Logterman<br />
steve@fidelitybankmn.com<br />
(952) 830-7293<br />
Fireaway Inc.<br />
Anthony Gee<br />
agee@statx.com<br />
(952) 935-9745<br />
Fluid Management Incorporated<br />
Roger Novitzki<br />
roger@coolantrecycle.com<br />
(612) 378-2580<br />
Foreman & Airhart, Ltd<br />
Mark Foreman<br />
mforeman@foremanairhart.com<br />
(952) 948-1844<br />
Fox Valley Metrology<br />
Steve Schaefgen<br />
steve@foxvalleymetrology.com<br />
(920) 410-1547<br />
Fraisa USA, Inc.<br />
Mathieu Tapp<br />
mtapp@fraisausa.com<br />
(651) 636-8488<br />
Froehling Anderson<br />
Rick Wiethorn<br />
rwiethorn@fa-cpa.com<br />
(952) 979-3100<br />
Glenn Metalcraft, Inc.<br />
Joseph Glenn<br />
jglenn@gmc-mn.com<br />
(763) 389-5355<br />
Graco Inc.<br />
Heather Bittle<br />
hbittle@graco.com<br />
(612) 623-6431<br />
Granger Machine, Inc.<br />
Mike Parker<br />
mike@grangermachine.com<br />
(763) 444-3725<br />
Haberman Machine, Inc.<br />
Scott Ness<br />
scottn@habermanmachine.com<br />
(651) 777-4511<br />
Hales Machine Tool, Inc.<br />
Dan Hales<br />
dhales@halesmachinetool.com<br />
(763) 553-1711<br />
Hamre Designs LLC<br />
Paul Hamre<br />
paul@hamredesigns.com<br />
(651) 261-4673<br />
Hard Chrome, Inc.<br />
Dick Walters<br />
hardchromeinc@questoffice.net<br />
(612) 788-9451<br />
Hegman Machine Tool, Inc.<br />
Ralph Hegman<br />
rhegman@hegmanmachine.com<br />
(763) 424-5622<br />
Hennepin Technical College<br />
Cherie Rollings<br />
cherie.rollings@hennepintech.edu<br />
(763) 488-2731<br />
HEXIS<br />
Andrew Skoog<br />
andrew@hexpedite.com<br />
(612) 804-1143<br />
Hibbing Fabricators, Inc.<br />
Wayne Larson<br />
waynel@hibfab.com<br />
(218) 262-5575<br />
HLB Tautges Redpath, Ltd<br />
Megan Johnson<br />
mjohnson@hlbtr.com<br />
(651) 426-7000<br />
Hoff Online Auctions<br />
Dennis Hoff<br />
dennis.hoff@hoffonlineauctions.com<br />
(612) 234-8006<br />
Houck Machine Company<br />
Steve Kingdon<br />
skingdon@houckmachine.com<br />
(763) 566-3792<br />
Huot Manufacturing Company<br />
John Huot<br />
j.huot@huot.com<br />
(651) 646-1869<br />
Hutchinson Manufacturing, Inc.<br />
Tom Daggett<br />
tdaggett@hutchmfg.com<br />
(320) 587-4653<br />
ICA Corporation<br />
Steve Hoaglund<br />
steveh@icacorp.com<br />
(763) 428-2800<br />
Ideal Aerosmith Inc.<br />
Jodi Stittsworth<br />
jstitts@idealaero.com<br />
(701) 757-3414<br />
ToolScootTM<br />
Accessories<br />
for security, convenience and safety<br />
CNC Tool Safety Covers<br />
Reduce operator injuries<br />
while protecting your investment<br />
in expensive tooling.<br />
Toolholder Vises<br />
Put a vise where it’s<br />
handy; bolts right<br />
onto your ToolScoot!<br />
Doors for ToolScoot<br />
Provide security and<br />
protect your valuable<br />
toolholders from flying chips.<br />
It’s Our Business<br />
to Protect Yours ®<br />
www.federatedinsurance.com<br />
ToolScoot Drawer<br />
Lockable drawer provides ample space for<br />
whatever you want to keep handy and secure.<br />
Federated Mutual Insurance Company<br />
Federated Service Insurance Company*<br />
Federated Life Insurance Company<br />
Home Office: 121 East Park Square<br />
Owatonna, Minnesota 55060<br />
Phone: (507) 455-5200 • www.federatedinsurance.com<br />
*Federated Service Company is not licensed in the states of NH, NJ, RI, and VT.<br />
800.832.3838 • huotmfg@huot.com<br />
30 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
MEMBER DIRECTORY<br />
IFS-Industrial Fabrication<br />
Services, Inc.<br />
Matt Doherty<br />
mattifs@hickorytech.net<br />
(507) 726-6000<br />
Industrial Tool, Inc.<br />
Rick Ahlstrom<br />
rahlstrom@industrial-tool.com<br />
(763) 533-7244<br />
Industrial Waste Services, Inc.<br />
Mike Antolik<br />
mike@industrialwasteservices.biz<br />
(952) 474-2628<br />
Ingersoll Rand Minneapolis<br />
Dan Shreve<br />
dshreve@irco.com<br />
(612) 522-7000<br />
International Precision<br />
Machining, Inc.<br />
Daniel Meyer<br />
dmeyer@ipminc.com<br />
(320) 656-1241<br />
ISC Machine, LLC<br />
Lou Cowart<br />
l.cowart@isccompanies.com<br />
(763) 559-0033<br />
ITW Heartland<br />
Brian Baustian<br />
brian.baustian@itwheartland.com<br />
(320) 762-0138<br />
J. & J. Machine, Inc.<br />
John Lenz<br />
sales@jandjmachine.com<br />
(763) 421-0114<br />
J. B. Testing, Inc.<br />
Jeff Boisvert<br />
jbtesting@jbtesting.com<br />
(763) 795-9690<br />
Jet Edge, Inc.<br />
Nancy Lauseng<br />
nancyl@jetedge.com<br />
(763) 497-8700<br />
JIT Manufacturing, Inc.<br />
Gene Wehner<br />
gwehner@jitmfgmn.com<br />
(763) 425-7995<br />
Jonaco Machine LLC<br />
Rick Green<br />
rgreen@jonaco.com<br />
(952) 448-5544<br />
Jones Metal Products Inc<br />
Sarah Richards<br />
srichards@jonesmetalproducts.com<br />
(507) 951-0665<br />
K & G Manufacturing Co.<br />
Shawn Veith<br />
sveith@kgmfg.com<br />
(507) 334-5501<br />
Kato Engineering Inc.<br />
Thomas Novak<br />
tom.novak@emerson.com<br />
(507) 345-2750<br />
KayHarris Real Estate Consultants<br />
Kay Harris, CCIM<br />
kay@kayharrisre.com<br />
(952) 915-4444<br />
Kellogg & Associates<br />
Van Kellogg<br />
van@kelloggandassociates.com<br />
(763) 757-5164<br />
Kendeco Tool Crib<br />
Bob Miller<br />
bobm@kendeco.com<br />
(320) 253-1020<br />
KleinBank<br />
Dan Reeves<br />
d.reeves@kleinbank.com<br />
(763) 383-4707<br />
Kurt Manufacturing Company Inc.<br />
Steve Carlsen<br />
stevec@kurt.com<br />
(763) 572-4550<br />
La Machine Shop, Inc.<br />
Joe LaBonne<br />
joe@lamachineshop.com<br />
(763) 434-6108<br />
Lake Air Metal Stamping LLC<br />
Brad Severson<br />
bseverson@lakeairmetals.com<br />
(763) 546-0994<br />
Lake Engineering, Inc.<br />
Steve Magnuson<br />
stevem@lakeengineering.com<br />
(952) 473-5485 X119<br />
Lake Superior College<br />
Max Udovich<br />
m.udovich@lsc.edu<br />
(218) 733-7631<br />
Lakeland Tool & Engineering, Inc.<br />
Marty Sweerin<br />
betty@lte.biz<br />
(763) 422-8866<br />
LaMott Enterprises, Inc.<br />
Steve LaMott<br />
steve@lamottenterprises.com<br />
(763) 781-0001<br />
Larkin Hoffman Daly<br />
& Lindgren Ltd.<br />
Mark Geier<br />
mgeier@larkinhoffman.com<br />
(952) 835-3800<br />
Lion Engineering Plastics, Inc.<br />
Scott King<br />
sking@lionep.com<br />
(952) 641-6300<br />
Lion Precision<br />
Don Martin<br />
don@lionprecision.com<br />
(651) 484-6544<br />
Litin Paper Company<br />
John Hanson<br />
jhanson@litin.com<br />
(612) 607-5735<br />
Lou-Rich, Inc.<br />
Randy Eggum<br />
reggum@lou-rich.com<br />
(507) 377-5330<br />
Lubrication Technologies, Inc.<br />
Stacey Hey<br />
staceyhey@lubetech.com<br />
(651) 636-7990<br />
M. Vincent & Associates, Ltd.<br />
David Hannah<br />
david@vincentmetals.com<br />
(952) 884-7733<br />
Machine Tool Supply Corp.<br />
Troy Kerin<br />
troyk@machtool.com<br />
(651) 452-4400<br />
Mack Engineering Corp.<br />
Jackie Salisbury<br />
jackie.s@mackengineering.com<br />
(612) 721-2471<br />
Manufacturing Solutions of MN Inc.<br />
Jim Lemons<br />
jim.lemons@msmni.com<br />
(651) 294-7790<br />
Marr Valve Company,<br />
a Div. of Specialty Mfg.<br />
Chad Gregoire<br />
chad@marrvalve.com<br />
(320) 564-4279<br />
Martin Calibration Inc.<br />
Rick Brion<br />
rbrion@martincalibration.com<br />
(952) 882-1528<br />
Massman Automation Designs, LLC<br />
Chad Ferguson<br />
chad.ferguson@massmanllc.com<br />
(320) 554-3611<br />
Master Tool & Die, Inc.<br />
Tony Trabant<br />
tonyt@mastertoolinc.com<br />
(651) 454-2536<br />
Mate Precision Tooling<br />
Joe Schneider<br />
joe.schneider@mate.com<br />
(763) 421-0230<br />
Med-Tek, Inc.<br />
Randy Duffy<br />
randy@med-tekinc.com<br />
(612) 789-3527<br />
Meier Tool & Engineering, Inc.<br />
Tom Murphy<br />
tmurphy@meiertool.com<br />
(763) 427-6275<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 31
MEMBER DIRECTORY<br />
Metal Craft Machine &<br />
Engineering, Inc.<br />
Trisha Mowry<br />
trisha@metal-craft.com<br />
(763) 441-1855<br />
Metal Supermarkets<br />
Doug Knepper<br />
dknepper@metalsupermarkets.com<br />
(763) 315-4042<br />
MHTA-Minnesota High<br />
Tech Association<br />
Andrew Wittenborg<br />
952.230.4555<br />
info@mhta.org<br />
MICO, Inc.<br />
Kelly Hanson<br />
khanson@mico.com<br />
(507) 386-4058<br />
Micro Parts Inc.<br />
Robert Nichols<br />
robert@mpi-dms.com<br />
(651) 452-1017<br />
Micro-Matics LLC<br />
Rick Paulson<br />
rick@micro-matics.com<br />
(763) 780-2700<br />
Mid American Financial Group<br />
Clint Nelson<br />
cnelson1@minneapolis.nef.com<br />
(952) 258-5043<br />
Mid-Continent Engineering, Inc.<br />
Sanders Marvin<br />
sanders.marvin@mid-continent.com<br />
(612) 781-0260<br />
Midwest CAM Solutions, Inc.<br />
Matt Arnold<br />
matt@midwestcamsolutions.com<br />
(763) 560-6567<br />
Midwest Machine Tool Supply<br />
Doug Eliason<br />
doug@midwestmachinetool.com<br />
(763) 571-3550<br />
Midwest Steel Supply Company<br />
Brandon Walton<br />
bw@midweststeelsupply.com<br />
(612) 333-6868<br />
Millerbernd Laser<br />
Farid Currimbhoy<br />
fcurrimbhoy@millerbernd.com<br />
(612) 805-2474<br />
Milltronics CNC Machines<br />
Curt Stockinger<br />
cstockinger@milltronics.net<br />
(952) 442-1405<br />
MINNCOR Industries<br />
Brenda Chandler<br />
bchandler@minncor.com<br />
(651) 361-7500<br />
Minneapolis Community<br />
& Tech. College<br />
Kim Munson<br />
kim.munson@minneapolis.edu<br />
(612) 659-6093<br />
Minnesota Grinding, Inc.<br />
David Schranck<br />
david.schranck@minnesotagrinding.com<br />
(763) 535-4445<br />
MN DEED Office of Innovation<br />
& Strategic Alliances<br />
Connie Christenson<br />
connie.christenson@state.mn.us<br />
(218) 234-3052<br />
MN State College,<br />
Southeast Technical<br />
Ron Sellnau<br />
rsellnau@southeastmn.edu<br />
(507) 453-2700<br />
MN Technical Assistance<br />
Program, U of M<br />
Jeff Becker, CEM<br />
beck0254@umn.edu<br />
(612) 624-4633<br />
Modified Tool, Inc.<br />
John Kruse<br />
modifiedtool@emily.net<br />
(218) 763-6030<br />
Mold-Tech, Inc.<br />
Jon Lee<br />
jlee@mold-techinc.com<br />
(763) 497-7500<br />
MPS Technical<br />
Bianca Carr<br />
biancac@mpstechnical.com<br />
(651) 351-0605<br />
MRG Tool and Die Corp.<br />
Mike Gramse<br />
mgramse@toolanddie.net<br />
(507) 334-1847<br />
MultiSource Mfg LLC<br />
Lane Chandler<br />
lchandler@multisourcemfg.com<br />
(952) 456-5500<br />
Nanotech Machinery Solutions, Inc.<br />
Kevin Manion<br />
kevin@nanomach.us<br />
(763) 425-6266<br />
NETTwork Mfg. Inc.<br />
Aaron Netter<br />
aaron@nettworkmfg.com<br />
(320) 654-8352<br />
Network Medics, Inc.<br />
Kevin Calgren<br />
kevin@networkmedics.com<br />
(612) 643-3539<br />
New Ulm Precision Tool, Inc.<br />
Howard Blume<br />
hrblume@newulmtel.net<br />
(507) 233-2900<br />
Normandale Community College<br />
Nancy Louwagie<br />
nancy.louwagie@normandale.edu<br />
(952) 358-8738<br />
Northern Machine<br />
Ray Van Allen<br />
rvanallen@northernim.com<br />
(651) 778-3374<br />
Northland Screw Products, Inc.<br />
James Martinson<br />
james@northlandscrewproducts.com<br />
(763) 753-3628<br />
Northstar Aerospace<br />
John Eagleton<br />
jeagleton@northstaraerospace.com<br />
(218) 720-2920<br />
Northwest Machine Technologies<br />
Tony Bailey<br />
tbailey@nwmtec.com<br />
(763) 493-3660<br />
Northwest Swiss-Matic, LLC<br />
Wade Halseth<br />
whalseth@nwswissmatic.com<br />
(763) 544-4222<br />
Northwest Technical<br />
College - Bemidji<br />
Daniel Larson<br />
daniel.larson@ntcmn.edu<br />
(218) 333-6604<br />
NTM, Inc.<br />
Pat Mullins<br />
patm@ntminc.com<br />
(763) 780-1420<br />
Olympic Steel, Inc.<br />
Stephen Reyes<br />
sreyes@olysteel.com<br />
(763) 544-7100<br />
Omnitool, Inc.<br />
Walter Waffensmith<br />
walter@omnitool.com<br />
(763) 535-4240<br />
On Time Delivery Service, Inc.<br />
Tim Holtan<br />
tholtan@bontime.com<br />
(952) 884-4060<br />
Packnet Ltd.<br />
Mike Nyberg<br />
mnyberg@packnetltd.com<br />
(952) 944-9124<br />
Painted Feather Precision<br />
Steve Smith<br />
slsmithemail@comcast.net<br />
(763) 537-6466<br />
Pal’s Machining, Inc<br />
Loren Mifek<br />
loren@palsmachining.com<br />
(507) 451-9202<br />
Panther Precision Machine, Inc.<br />
Tom Olson<br />
tolson@pantherprecision.com<br />
(763) 586-9651<br />
Park Precision Machining Inc.<br />
Bob Tummel<br />
bob@parkprecision.com<br />
(763) 754-8273<br />
Parker Hannifin<br />
Carsa Spaude<br />
cspaude@parker.com<br />
(507) 233-2305<br />
Pequot Tool & Manufacturing, Inc.<br />
Michael Goerges<br />
mgoerges@pequottool.com<br />
(218) 568-8069<br />
Perfecseal Mankato<br />
Leigh Asleson<br />
lcasleson@bemis.com<br />
(507) 625-1131<br />
Perfection Grinding, Inc.<br />
Darell Stern<br />
perfgrin@aol.com<br />
(763) 571-1052<br />
Permac Industries<br />
Darlene Miller<br />
dmiller@permacindustries.com<br />
(952) 894-7231<br />
Pine Technical College<br />
Julie Dillenburg<br />
dillenburgj@pinetech.edu<br />
(320) 629-5112<br />
Plastics International<br />
Paul Carter<br />
paulc@plasticsintl.com<br />
(952) 934-2303<br />
Praxair Distribution, Inc.<br />
Mike Bonneville<br />
mike_bonneville@praxair.com<br />
(507) 387-7995<br />
Precise Products Corporation<br />
Darrell Freitag<br />
dfreitag@preciseproducts.com<br />
(612) 522-2141 x125<br />
Precision<br />
Jamie Durand<br />
jamie@precisionmn.com<br />
(763) 784-1704<br />
Precision Punch & Plastic, Co. Inc.<br />
Kevin Ryan<br />
kevinr@precisionpunch.com<br />
(952) 933-0993<br />
Precision Tool Technologies, Inc.<br />
Jim Goerges<br />
jim@precisiontooltech.com<br />
(320) 632-5320<br />
PRI Robotics<br />
Lynn Swanson<br />
lswanson@prirobotics.com<br />
(763) 450-4383<br />
Principal Financial Group<br />
Alyssa Kreutzfeldt<br />
kreutzfeldt.alyssa@principal.com<br />
(651) 287-5469<br />
Pro Fabrication, Inc.<br />
Letetia Klebel<br />
letetia.klebel@pro-fabrication.com<br />
(507) 243-3441<br />
Production Engineering Corp.<br />
Mike Albers<br />
mhalbers@pecorp.net<br />
(612) 788-9123<br />
Production Tool & Mfg, Inc.<br />
Mike Golden<br />
mikeg@protoolus.com<br />
(763) 559-5746<br />
Productivity Inc<br />
Greg Buck<br />
gbuck@productivity.com<br />
(763) 476-8600<br />
Productivity Quality Inc /<br />
Advanced Inspection Services LLC<br />
Keith Summers<br />
keith.summers@pqi.net<br />
(763) 249-8130<br />
Professional Instruments<br />
Company, Inc.<br />
Paul Arneson<br />
parneson@airbearings.com<br />
(952) 933-1222<br />
ProtoTek Engineering, Inc.<br />
Brian Pascoe<br />
bpascoe@prototek-engineering.com<br />
(952) 361-5598 x12<br />
QDP Technologies, Inc.<br />
Troy Holien<br />
troy.holien@qdptech.com<br />
(763) 712-1626<br />
Qualitek Engineering<br />
& Manufacturing Inc.<br />
Michael Nepsund<br />
miken@qualitek-eng.com<br />
(763) 544-9507<br />
Quality & Service<br />
Machine Tool Company<br />
Bill Lidfors<br />
bill@qandsmachinetool.com<br />
(952) 935-8616<br />
Quality Machine of IA, Inc. MN Div.<br />
Tim Greene<br />
timg@qualitymachine.com<br />
(763) 560-3955<br />
Quazar Capital Corporation<br />
Bruce Behm<br />
bruceb@quazarcapital.com<br />
(763) 550-9000<br />
Radan - A Planit Company<br />
Doug Wood<br />
doug.wood@planitsolutions.com<br />
(651) 982-0100 x5502<br />
Regal Machine Inc.<br />
George Hendren<br />
ghendren@regalmachineinc.com<br />
(651) 408-8940<br />
Remmele Engineering, Inc.<br />
Al Germscheid<br />
al.germscheid@remmele.com<br />
(763) 263-2636<br />
Replenex Inc.<br />
Tom Folska<br />
tom.folska@replenex.com<br />
(952) 941-9150<br />
Retirement & 401(k)<br />
Plan Advisors, LLC<br />
Scott Leverenz<br />
scott@rpadvise.com<br />
(952) 544-3614<br />
Rev Zero, Inc.<br />
Bob Anderson<br />
robert.anderson@revzeroinc.com<br />
(952) 380-9966<br />
Riverside Manufacturing, Inc.<br />
Scott Robertson<br />
srob@riversidemnf.com<br />
(763) 274-2193<br />
RJ Ahmann Company<br />
Scott Benjamin<br />
sbenjamin@rja.com<br />
(952) 947-9785<br />
rms<br />
Lee Zachman<br />
lzachman@machine.com<br />
(763) 786-1520<br />
Roberts Automatic Products, Inc.<br />
Ted Roberts<br />
troberts@robertsautomatic.com<br />
(612) 384-3999<br />
Saint Paul Port Authority<br />
B. Kyle<br />
blk@sppa.com<br />
(651) 204-6241<br />
Schreifels & Associates, Inc.<br />
Bob Schmitz<br />
bob@schreifels.com<br />
(763) 569-4304<br />
SCHUNK, Inc.<br />
Matt Steele<br />
matt.steele@us.schunk.com<br />
(800) 772-4865<br />
Silvertip Associates, Inc.<br />
Dale Peterson<br />
silvertipassoc@aol.com<br />
(763) 717-0773<br />
Smith Foundry Company<br />
Jim Pint<br />
pint_jim@smithfoundry.com<br />
(612) 729-9395<br />
Sodick, Inc.<br />
Joel Manns<br />
jmanns@sodick.com<br />
(651) 319-7259<br />
South Central College<br />
Tom Kammer<br />
tom.kammer@southcentral.edu<br />
(507) 389-7336<br />
S-T Industries, Inc.<br />
Melanie Johnson<br />
mjohnson@stindustries.com<br />
(800) 326-2039<br />
St. Cloud Tech & Comm College<br />
Bruce Peterson<br />
bpeterson@sctcc.edu<br />
(320) 308-5000<br />
St. Marys University<br />
Paul Christensen<br />
prchris00@smumn.edu<br />
(612) 728-5100<br />
St. Paul College-A Comm.<br />
& Tech. College<br />
Dr. Gary Hertel<br />
gary.hertel@saintpaul.edu<br />
(651) 846-1600<br />
32 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
MEMBER DIRECTORY<br />
Stone Machinery, Inc.<br />
Tom Drazkowski<br />
info@stonemachinery.com<br />
(651) 778-8887<br />
T. Bryce & Associates Inc.<br />
Terry Bryce<br />
terryb@tbryce.com<br />
(763) 449-9900<br />
T.D. Wright, Inc.<br />
David McEachern<br />
sales@tdwinc.com<br />
(651) 227-1302<br />
Taylor Machine, Inc.<br />
Rick Taylor<br />
rtaylor@tmicnc.com<br />
(763) 786-5949<br />
TBEI / Crysteel Mfg<br />
Sandy Hanson<br />
shanson@tbei.com<br />
(507) 726-2728<br />
TC Clipper Company<br />
Mike Clipper<br />
mikec@tcclipper.com<br />
(952) 829-0545<br />
TEAM Industries<br />
Jim Russ<br />
jimruss@team-ind.com<br />
(218) 694-3550<br />
Technical Die-Casting, Inc.<br />
Randy Walters<br />
randyw@tech-die-casting.com<br />
(507) 689-2194<br />
Technology Reps<br />
Mike Neeley<br />
mikeneeley@comcast.net<br />
(651) 636-6966<br />
The QC Group<br />
Dan Medford<br />
dmedford@theqcgroup.com<br />
(952) 895-1150<br />
The Service Guys<br />
Chris Tarvestad<br />
chris@theserviceguys.net<br />
(763) 234-9810<br />
The Whittemore Co.<br />
Kurt Wasieleski<br />
kurt@whittemore-inc.com<br />
(651) 331-8984<br />
Thomas Engineering Company<br />
Tim Aberwald<br />
taberwald@thomasengineering.com<br />
(763) 533-1501<br />
Tooling Science, Inc.<br />
Brian Burley<br />
brian@tlscience.com<br />
(763) 425-6001<br />
Toolkraft, Inc.<br />
Roger Zbikowski<br />
rogerz@toolkraft.com<br />
(763) 571-7480<br />
Top Tool Company<br />
Duane Kari<br />
dakari@toptool.com<br />
(763) 786-0030<br />
Twin City EDM &<br />
Manufacturing, Inc.<br />
Steve Lindell<br />
slindell@twincityedm.com<br />
(763) 783-7808<br />
SAVE<br />
THE DATE<br />
MPMA ANNUAL MEETING<br />
October 25 | 5:30 - 9:00 pm<br />
Location:<br />
Marriott Minneapolis West<br />
9960 Wayzata Boulevard<br />
Minneapolis, MN 55426<br />
Keynote Speaker:<br />
Chancellor Steven J. Rosenstone, Minnesota<br />
State Colleges and Universities<br />
Look for more details online @<br />
www.mpma.com<br />
Twin City Gear Company<br />
Max Fenna<br />
tcgear@goldengate.net<br />
(763) 780-9780<br />
Twin City Honing, Inc.<br />
Larry Bopp<br />
boppld@yahoo.com<br />
(952) 894-1730<br />
Twin City Plating Company<br />
Roger Plath<br />
roger@twincityplating.com<br />
(612) 331-8895<br />
United Standards Lab, Inc.<br />
James Dolezal<br />
jim@unitedstandardslab.com<br />
(612) 823-2616<br />
Used Machinery Sales LLC<br />
Jack Mendenhall<br />
jack@cnctool.com<br />
(763) 441-5152<br />
Venture Bank<br />
John Fritz<br />
jfritz@venturebankonline.com<br />
(763) 398-3333<br />
Von Ruden Manufacturing, Inc.<br />
Brandon Anderson<br />
brandon@vonruden.com<br />
(763) 682-3122<br />
V-TEK, Inc.<br />
Andrea Nelson<br />
a.nelson@vtekusa.com<br />
(507) 387-2039<br />
W.P. & R.S. Mars Company<br />
Bob Mars<br />
rmars3@marssupply.com<br />
(952) 884-9388<br />
Weigh-Rite Scale Co., Inc.<br />
Jennifer Johnson<br />
info@scaleguy.com<br />
(715) 247-3364<br />
Western Spring Manufacturing<br />
Alex Altstatt<br />
alex@westernspring.com<br />
(651) 224-1721<br />
Wilson Tool International<br />
Brian Robinson<br />
brian.robinson@wilsontool.com<br />
(651) 286-6003<br />
Winegar, Inc.<br />
Tim Wenzel<br />
tim.wenzel@winegarinc.com<br />
(507) 835-3495<br />
Winnebago Manufacturing Co<br />
Robert Preston<br />
bagobob@bevcomm.net<br />
(507) 526-7456 X13<br />
WIPFLi LLP<br />
Greg Hirsch<br />
ghirsch@wipfli.com<br />
(952) 548-3362<br />
Workforce Solutions<br />
John O’Phelan<br />
john.ophelan@co.ramsey.mn.us<br />
(651) 779-5411<br />
ADVERTISERS’ INDEX<br />
Alumni<br />
Dick Clifford<br />
(763) 533-7201<br />
dmcliffords@comcast.net<br />
David Fiedler<br />
(763) 245-6771<br />
dc_fiedler@msn.com<br />
Josef Goerges<br />
(218) 562-4432<br />
Mark Hockley<br />
hockleymark@yahoo.com<br />
(612) 722-7347<br />
Ken Johnson<br />
(651) 633-1994<br />
Rich Pogue<br />
(612) 965-8604<br />
poguerich@gmail.com<br />
WSI Industries, Inc.<br />
Benjamin Rashleger<br />
brashleger@wsci.com<br />
(763) 295-9202<br />
Wyoming Machine, Inc.<br />
Lori Tapani<br />
ltapani@wyomingmachine.com<br />
(651) 462-4156<br />
Yeager Machine, Inc.<br />
Mike Yeager<br />
mike@yeagermachine.com<br />
(952) 467-2800<br />
A B A Water Systems, Inc. | www.abawatersystems.com.............................................28<br />
Arrow Cryogenics, Inc. | www.arrowcryogenics.com ...................................................26<br />
Blanski Peter Kronlage & Zoch, P.A | www.bpkz.com.................................................25<br />
Carley Foundry, Inc. | www.carleyfoundry.com............................................................28<br />
Duncan Company | www.duncanco.com.......................................................................26<br />
Engineered Finishing Corp. | www.engfinish.com................................................. 18-19<br />
Federated Insurance | www.federatedinsurance.com..............................................3, 30<br />
Haimer USA | www.haimer-usa.com..............................................................................25<br />
Hegman Machine Tool, Inc. | www.hegmanmachine.com..........................................14<br />
Huot Manufacturing Company | www.huot.com .......................................................30<br />
International Precision Machining, Inc. | www.ipminc.com......................................31<br />
Midwest CAM Solutions, Inc. | www.midwestcamsolutions.com......................................... 26<br />
Midwest Machine Tool Supply | www.midwestmachinetool.com...........................................6<br />
Federated Insurance | www.federatedinsurance.com..............................................3, 30<br />
MRG Tool and Die | www.mrgtoolanddie.com................................................................ 4<br />
NTM, Inc. | www.ntminc.com ........................................................................................27<br />
Plastics International | www.plasticsintl.com ................................................Back Cover<br />
Productivity Inc | www.productivity.com ...........................................................2, 21, 26<br />
Productivity Quality | www.pqi.net.............................................................................26<br />
ProtoTek Engineering, Inc. | www.prototek-engineering.com........................................26, 35<br />
Smith Foundry Company | www.smithfoundry.com.....................................................31<br />
The Service Guys | www.BandSawsRus.com........................................................... 16-17<br />
Yeager Machine, Inc. | www.yeagermachine.com ........................................................ 4<br />
September | October 2012 PRECISION MANUFACTURING | 33
METALING AFFAIRS<br />
Gone Fishing<br />
ARE ALL THE DETAILS IN ORDER?<br />
by Andrew Skoog<br />
Machining is in many ways like fishing.<br />
You can really learn how to catch fish, due<br />
to the amount of time spent on the water<br />
going after them. Try another species and<br />
you have to learn their behavior, habitat,<br />
and the bait to use. Machining, if you<br />
always cut the same material in the same<br />
machine with the same tools you will get<br />
very good at it. Change materials, and the<br />
rules change with it.<br />
I thought for this article, I would write<br />
on a few technical topics that seem to<br />
come up frequently.<br />
Radius Selection<br />
As we run into difficult alloys, there<br />
are a few things that remain the same<br />
when machining various operations.<br />
The radius on an insert is a key factor<br />
in boring. Selection of nose radius is<br />
dependent on depth of cut, along with the<br />
feed. It influences the surface finish, chip<br />
breaking and insert strength.<br />
When the ratio of the depth of cut<br />
to the radius size is small, the resultant<br />
cutting force is radial and is trying to<br />
push the insert away from the bore<br />
surface. When depth of cut is increased,<br />
the resultant cutting force is changed to<br />
axial force.<br />
<br />
As a general rule of thumb, the depth<br />
of cut should be about 75 to 100<br />
percent of the nose radius. Depths<br />
of cut smaller than 1/3 of the radius<br />
will result in stringy chips, deflection<br />
and/or chatter.<br />
<br />
Reduce the radius size when<br />
getting taper, for long reaches or to<br />
eliminate chatter.<br />
<br />
The generated surface finish will be<br />
directly influenced by the combination<br />
of nose radius and feed rate.<br />
Work Hardening<br />
Work hardening of materials is a<br />
condition that is caused when heat<br />
generated by the cutting tool transfers<br />
to the workpiece material. The process<br />
is similar to a heat treatment of the<br />
workpiece but on a lower scale.<br />
When a part work hardens during<br />
machining, its surface becomes a shiny<br />
glaze and appears slippery. When not<br />
recognized as work hardening, the<br />
tendency is to get defensive and reduce the<br />
feed—this magnifies the problem. Work<br />
hardening materials need sharp tools, light<br />
speeds, heavy feeds and high lubrication.<br />
How to avoid work hardening:<br />
<br />
Make sure the cutting tools are<br />
always sharp.<br />
<br />
Run at the recommended feeds<br />
and speeds.<br />
<br />
Use coolant-fed tools. (Lubricants<br />
should be mixed to the heavy side.)<br />
<br />
Use continuous feed, do not<br />
dwell tools.<br />
<br />
Avoid peck drilling.<br />
<br />
Built up edges on the cutting tool will<br />
cause intermittent work hardening.<br />
<br />
Broken taps may be the result of a<br />
work hardened hole.<br />
Maintained Coolant<br />
Many machine shop operators think<br />
of coolants as a necessary nuisance,<br />
something that blows chips off the part.<br />
In fact, the most important jobs for<br />
coolants are keeping the tool cool so it<br />
lasts longer, and lubricating the tool edge<br />
so that it makes a cleaner cut.<br />
When tool life suffers, operators<br />
start to look at switching cutters to find<br />
something that will give better results, when<br />
oftentimes, all they need to do is maintain<br />
their coolant concentration and levels.<br />
There are three basic types of<br />
coolants: soluble oil, semi synthetic<br />
(micro emulsion) and synthetic. When<br />
mixed, soluble oil is milky, semi synthetic<br />
is opaque, and synthetic is clear.<br />
Today’s coolants are a sophisticated<br />
mix of chemicals and additives that try to<br />
blend the best properties of oil into the<br />
best properties of water. Compounders<br />
who make these concentrates try to reach<br />
a balance of safety, rust inhibition, along<br />
with a tolerance of varied water types and<br />
the ability to work with many materials.<br />
There are three factors that are pushing<br />
shops to take a more serious look at<br />
coolants: increase in product cost, labor<br />
cost to maintain them and cost of disposal.<br />
It is possible to keep coolant<br />
working properly for years; you just<br />
need to understand how they work and<br />
why they go bad.<br />
Things you must do to maintain<br />
coolant, include keeping the sump<br />
full at all time, maintaining proper<br />
concentration, keeping chips out of the<br />
sump (they hold bacteria), and removing<br />
tramp oils (they feed bacteria).<br />
If your sump is smelly, the only way to<br />
have success with any future coolant is to<br />
properly clean the sump and the machine<br />
tool. Without doing this critical process,<br />
your refreshed coolant will go rancid<br />
prematurely. Properly cleaning the sump<br />
includes the following steps:<br />
1. Kill the bacteria/fungus—usually an<br />
additive to the existing coolant<br />
2. Pump out the old<br />
3. Remove the food source for<br />
bacteria—clean the sump and the<br />
machine with a mild detergent<br />
4. Rinse<br />
5. Recharge the sump with fresh<br />
coolant<br />
6. Bleed the lines<br />
7. Maintain<br />
Properly maintained coolant will give<br />
your shop a pleasant atmosphere, years of<br />
service and aid in consistent tool life and<br />
surface finish. In machining, with all the<br />
details in order … you are in the fish! PM<br />
ANDREW SKOOG is with<br />
Hexis in Minneapolis, Minn.<br />
He can be reached at<br />
Andrew@hexpedite.com.<br />
34 | PRECISION MANUFACTURING September | October 2012
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