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Some false concepts around automation

Automation, it seems that word causes many to shudder when spoken. Much of that tends to come from bad information or bad experiences. The video below is what pops in my head when people hear automation and react. So what are some of the things that ...

Taming round tube finishing.

We often get asked about tube finishing here. Tube is one of the materials that seems to be in every shop but no one notices. Some tasks with tube can be super simple and others can be a real pain in the butt. So to keep it short lets look at ...

Automating weld processing

One of the many labor intensive and problematic operations is dealing with welds. I want to talk a bit about what you can do to remove much of the stress from these operations. I cant cover every single aspect or give every detail here but I want to ...

Common automation mistake you can avoid.

So you looked into automation and are going to take the next step. You get some offers and talk to folks and now you need to make a choice. You have two quotes you like and the only real difference is one of them is "turn key" where the other is ...

Thats how we have always done it

One of the common things I hear is "That is how we do it" and more so at older companies. While established processes can be good to hold on to firmly for quality there are some cases where its less helpful. We all have things in our day to day ...

Need an easy way to finish round tube?

With so many facilities working with round tube, it seems that giving a little information on how to finish round tube would be helpful. There are all manner of ways people have come up with but there are safe and easy processes you may not know ...

Busting a myth in metal finishing

One of the myths that gets passed around all the time is on the chopping block today. I am surprised by the number of people that still hold on to this myth so I want to share some information. The myth surrounds bur removal from sheet metal parts. ...

So, you want to save some money.

When you look at machinery of any kind cost is always a factor. So how do you save money when you are looking at machinery? I would say its more about not wasting money versus saving money. There is a difference and I will try and explain my ...

How do you know what machine you need?

One of the sticking points you will likely run into is how do you know what you need? Finishing is what we know so we are going to stay on that branch of machines here. Many of the general concepts will apply to all manner of machine but finishing ...

The mighty stroke sander.

The stroke sander is one of the machines that some may not have ever even seen before. Then there are some that will have seen one in the past but were not sure what it was for. Lets dip into what a stroke sander is and what its for. I will just ...

So how do they do that?

One of the benefits of working with so many companies all over the globe is you get to see a lot. I have met some amazing folks and seen so many factories I could write a book. Some of those parts and machines are below. It may be you wondered how ...

How to identify the actual need.

Many times companies will ask about a machine they saw online and want to know some basic information. They get that basic information and head down the path of finding some version of that machine. They might look for a larger or smaller version or ...

When to let a machine go

There comes a point in every machines life where you have to look at letting it go. In some cases this can be clear and in others it can be a bit more hidden from view. When you find yourself spending 10% or more of the machines purchase price on ...

Staff and training.

One of the big issues that seems to come up more often is about training. Many have sat in a meeting or been speaking to management about automation when the training topic comes up. This tends to be a brick wall many hit and just do not know what ...

So, you need to automate polishing?

Polishing, you love it and hate it at the same time just like everyone else. I still think brushed finish exists due a person somewhere getting fed up while polishing and giving up, "That's good enough my arm hurts" is what I bet was said. The ...

Tube finishing basics

With the abundance of products incorporating tube, it's essential to provide information on how to finish it. There are numerous ways to achieve the desired results, ranging from manual processes to entry-level automation and beyond. In this post, ...

Some times you need a slegehammer.

One thing I learned early on in machinery was to look to the future. Many times folks will look at a situation with blinders on. The issue here is they miss the larger picture and only see the topic right in front of them. If you focus on just the ...

Is the old way better?

I seems like when I ask someone why they do a task a given way the answer is very often "its how we have always done it". My next question is why? It is very rare anyone can answer that question and I end up with "Well Bill showed me this way". Then ...

Doing more with less?

As is the case in every market and business costs are key. Doing more with less or getting as much as possible from the resources you have are always important things to look at. When manufacturing is the market in question it can mean many things. ...

Can you save experience?

Hello to everyone. I want to talk a little about an overlooked point but one that I think is very important. Labor is a common topic and one every person who owns or manages a company is aware of. No I am not here to pound on the labor topic in ...

Holding on to manufacturing work

One of the aspects I am able to see in fair detail is where manufacturing work is being done. While I will admit this more of a rant than anything else it is information none the less. A company makes a product of some type, this could be welded ...

Wet vs Dry part 2

There were so many good questions sent my way on this topic I wanted to do a follow up. So what I am going to do is answer some of the questions here so more folks can have the same information. These are just some of the more common ones and please ...

Automation to cut costs?

When the topic of automation comes up cutting costs is always part of the conversation. More often than not people do not understand the full scope of what this means. "I need to cut costs what can automation do for me?" Labor tends to be the first ...

Automation training

I wanted to recount an experience I had very recently and what I learned from it. I found it a bit eye opening and was surprised by some aspects. It made me aware of something I had not considered and changed some of my perspectives. One of the ...

Automation to resolve problems?

There are many reasons to look into automation. The list of reasons can be endless but I want to touch on a few of the more common. My goal is to answer some of the questions many have but do not know who to ask or have faith they will get honest ...

Steps involved in automating finishing

What are the main issues or points that need addressed? These will not be in any set order of importance. There are items you need to have on the list so you can make things as smooth as possible. These are some of the key items and the why attached ...

Mirror Polishing

What do you need to know when it comes to automating mirror polishing? Mirror polishing is one of the tasks that is first on the list for automation. It is a hyper dirty job with a fair amount of personal safety issues. Getting someone to do hand ...

Automation can be simple

The key to making automation work is partnering with someone that will just be honest with you. Getting mixed up with someone who will just say yes to everything can be a death sentence for any project. There is no way it will be all flowers and ...

Setting up a weld removal cell

Some of the things to keep in mind. When setting up a weld removal cell there are some factors you need to keep in mind to have the greatest amount of success. This will just be a brief overview of some of the largest ones to watch out for and pay ...

Finishing and sanding tube or pipe

There are many ways to do just about everything and sanding tube is no different. There may be many ways but some are better than others. Some are safer than others and each has pros and cons. Looking at a few of the more common ways can provide a ...

Robotics in automation

Automation in many ways can be a great help but it causes fear and worry. Some fear that machines will take over all of the jobs and push workers out of the market. The reality is that machines only do what you tell them to. That means you need ...

Robotic project in progress

This time I wanted to give a bit of a glimpse into the earlier steps of a new robotic system coming together. If you have never gone through the process it can seem a bit of a challenge. I thought it might be helpful to see some of the earlier steps ...

New installation this week

As a change of pace I thought I would share an installation that started this week. I can not give any company details as they are a government contractor and need to keep things private. In general they are working with cast parts that are machined ...

Automated weld dressing

Just about every market can find benefit in process automation. From labor reduction to improving the total time in production there is value in the automation. For some it is the need to improve part to part consistency or just the basic ...

Do you need to finish tube?

One of the more common tasks I am asked about day to day is dealing with round tube. There is so much of it used in all manner of products its seems near every one has to deal with it in some way or to some extent. It can be a simple process or as ...

The very basics of polishing

Often when I am asked about polishing I find that there are some basics that folks are not aware of. As with all things every one will have their own way and I am no different. Some people will spend 5 years polishing pipe and find a way that works ...

What can you automate?

I often get the question of what can you automate. So I will give a few examples here of things you can as well as a few basic tips. Lets start with weld grinding. If you have people doing the welding then the weld will be a variable. This is a ...

Robots in fabricated kitchen products

Here we will look at an application where fabricated sinks, counters and other trim parts were finished with a robotic cell. The parts were long term items the company produces where a reduction in labor and an increase in volume were needed. Both ...

Lets talk about labor

When you start to look into automation be it a finishing application, welding or any number of other processes labor tends to be at the top of the list. There are some things you should keep in mind as you go through the process. Reducing labor can ...

Follow up on the enclosure project

I received many good questions on the robot working with enclosures. To that end I wanted to provide a little more information. First it was in fact $60,000 a month between scrap and rejected parts. Those are numbers that were given to me by the ...

Robotic application in finishing

From detailed sanding tasks to simple weld removal robotics have a place in finishing. We will take a look at an enclosure application and touch on some of the main points that the company was looking for and how we got there. As always I respect ...

Its question and answer time again.

I get a constant flow of questions and in an effort to spread the info to those who may be curious about the same I am going to share a few more here. Question: Can you sand and polish in the same machine? Answer: Yes but also no. Its a case more of ...

Lets look at the hard topic...Money..

When you look at automation one of the issues that comes up is money. Its the case with every aspect of life in some way and you have to be ready for it. You find a system you like and it will do the job so you are a bit excited to see an end to ...

A case where automation made sense.

Having an example where automation made sense could be helpful. It may shed some light on what to look for and reasons to move to automate a process or part in general. I will have to limit the detail a bit to protect the parties involved and ...

Follow up on enclosure finishing.

I received so many really good questions I thought it may be helpful to share some with the answer to help others that may be faced with the same questions or problems. I am going to try and not go too deep and keep it easy to understand. Be aware ...

Robotics in enclosure finishing

Enclosure and sheet metal finishing has been one of the areas robots make sense. From blending the finish or grinding weld lines they are fast and flexible. One of the first issues you run in to when working with formed or fabricated parts is ...

How to go about a new project?

In some cases it comes down to "I don't know where to start" and that is what I want to touch on just a bit. Every case will have its own unique aspects but in a general sense the steps are much the same. Be aware of time. As a project comes to life ...

A CNC project to explain a bit more

I had a few good questions sent to me on the last entry so I am going to give a bit of detail on one application to better show the process. The project was for finishing air tanks and gas cylinders. The parts ranged from 14" tall to 49" tall with a ...

More automation questions and answers

I thought I would share some more of the questions I get and the answers to them. Keeping in mind each application is different some of the general ideas are universal. I welcome your questions so please feel free to ask any you have no matter how ...

Working with extrusions

Working with an extrusion is one of the things that seems easy but the devil is in the details. Its a product where the final finish can make or break its acceptance. In some cases it can be as difficult or more than mirror polishing. As you tend to ...

Robot vs CNC for finishing

A question I get often is robot vs CNC for finishing work. While there is not a clear yes or no type answer there are a few points that can help to guide the person faced with the question. For detailed parts a robot tends to be a better choice. The ...

Working with small parts

Small parts are one of the challenges most shops face at some point or every day in some cases. They can be tough to manage and tend eat up a lot of time while in some cases being dangerous. Most will try to send them through the old belt sander ...

Some of the most common questions.

I thought I would share some of the most common questions I get and the related answers. This will not be a deep dive by any means but rather a few of the most common. The first is more a statement than a question. I have a single belt sander so I ...

When to automate or how to improve retention?

Automating a finishing process is one of the more complicated things you can take on. When it comes to finishing the definitions tend to be more in the eye of the beholder. There is not one clear standard for finishes and in some cases the end user ...

Finishing tubes can be easy.

One of the tasks that tends to be problematic is the OD finishing of tube material. From hand finishing to placing tubes in a lathe there are all manner of ways people try to work with tubes. In reality there is a much more simple and fast way to do ...

Labor intensive tasks

Dealing with tasks that require a lot of labor or hand work is a way to improve processes and trim costs. This is not to say eliminate jobs but rather put the staff to tasks that better use their skill. Helping to make the people more efficient by ...

Finishing, deburing, graining whats the difference?

When you are looking at your parts or talking about them with others the terms tend to get used interchangeably but they mean different things. When you cut a part you end up with a bur with very few exceptions. The process of removing that bur ...

Guide to buying a deburring or edge rounding machine

Well here we go “the salesman” trying to pitch me his machine above the others, right? Well no, we want you to buy the machine that has the most impact for you and your business. You may not believe it but I have advised plenty of people that one of ...

More of the basics

After touching on the difference between polishing, graining and bur removal I wanted to give some information on how each is done. I do not intend to go too far but rather the basic how and why for each. As with all things there is often more than ...

Understanding the basics

Many times we all make assumptions based on our own knowledge. This can be a very deep conversation that gets into human nature and any number of other points. But I am noting that just because you know something is no indication others do. With ...

Getting the most from every machine dollar.

Choosing a machine can be complicated. From floor space issues to getting everyone up to speed and able to use it successfully. Then there are the details such as how much is it? And when can I have it on the floor. There are an untold number of ...

Murphy's law

I am no history expert by any means, it seems that Murphy's law is credited for better or worse to Capt Edward A Murphy. I always knew it as "What can go wrong will". I have no idea if that is where it started but unfortunately the statement seems ...

Making the process better

My grandfather used to look at newer cars and say that they were too complicated. He was looking at the car as it would be in a few years when it would need repair. He was not afraid of the new technology but rather what problems it would bring ...

Loewer DiscMaster information

In an effort to to provide more and better information on the Loewer machines I will be putting together more video content. The hope is to provide a repository of information to help you with a machine you have or one you are looking to purchase. ...

Benefits of "finishing" parts

Everyone looks for ways to have their product stand apart or above their competitors. High end lasers that can churn out complex parts quickly tend to be popular. Lasers are far more common than they once were and not such a stand out currently. The ...

Saving money?

As is always the case looking for ways to save money often leads to looking at many different paths. It can be the time invested in a process to vendor supplies and services. One area to look at that often hides savings is finishing. If you are ...

Why is a bur a problem?

We all know the typical wide belt machine and how it works. That process has been the same for a long time and has just been accepted as the norm. Cutting metal creates a bur and that must be removed for a number of reasons. Having the fresh cut ...

Don't monkey around with finishing, do it once and do it right.

A fab shop can be a crazy place time to time or every day in some cases. You have a shop full of equipment and the staff to match. From your sales staff selling product to the people loading complete product on a truck everyone has a hand in the ...

Stroke Sander articulating mount makes 3D parts easy

All stroke sanders "should" have a flat table of some fashion to allow placement of parts or material being worked. The size and weight capacity tends to be where the conversation ends. With the better machines you may even have a twin belt setup to ...

KBM Stroke sander in stock

Due to the demand and lead time we rarely get a unit in stock. We have managed to get an extra unit with our current delivery. The KBM stroke sander is built in Germany and is the twin belt design. This allows you to grain and blend without changing ...

Wheel finishing

We have seen a large increase in demand for wheel finishing in the last year. From smaller custom wheel makers to large volume OEM caliber companies. There has been a general trend in some of the questions asked and in an effort to share the answers ...

Fabtech 2018 is in full swing

Fabtech is open and running currently in Atlanta. Its a little rainy but the people are coming to see the wide range of machines on display. We have machines on display and welcome every one to stop by. We have factory staff present from Germany and ...

Show season

It is that time of year where the weather is changing and the holidays are approaching. It is also the season for machine shows and a chance to see what is out there and ask questions. We will be at SEMA #48129 and the Fabtech show #B7711 and ...

Finishing as a value added service?

The general feeling when it comes to sheet metal finishing is that it is a necessary evil. Its the dirty process shoved in a dark corner that no one wants to deal with. The truth is that it can be and is a value added service. It is another ...

Quality of life

When looking at finishing or deburring there are many points to take into account. One of the points over looked many times is the fact you will have to live with a new machine for may years hopefully. What is it going to be like over the long term ...

Twin-Belt Grinding Machine (Stroke Sander)

This Twin Belt Grinding Machine, better known as a Stroke Sander, is built for the roughing and finishing on welded edges and corners, flat surfaces of steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, i.e. doors, frames, cabinets, housings, hoods, furniture ...

A unique look inside the Loewer 4TD-1000

Many times people are not sure what happens inside a finishing machine. Its a metal box you put parts inside and then some form of magic happens and abracadabra your parts come out. In an attempt to pull back the curtain a bit and give a peek inside ...

New & Improved Loewer Control Panel for Metal Finishing

Any business that wants to do well focuses on continuous product improvement, and AM Machinery Sales – and our partners at Loewer deburring machines – are no exception. That’s why we’ve upgraded the user interface to the Loewer DiscMaster line of ...

Operation Costs for Metal Finishing: Wide Belt vs. Disc Sanding

In this week’s blog post, we’re giving the floor to AM Machinery Sales President Tony McCue for another video blog on the cost savings that come from disc sanding. “The old way is an expensive way to build a piece of equipment,” Tony says in this ...

Here’s a Round-Up of Our Best Blogs!

The end of 2017 is here, and before we head into 2018 with new blog topics, we thought we’d look backwards. This was our blog’s first year, so we’re highlighting some of the posts that resonated the most with our readers. Here are the top three best ...

AM Machinery featured in The Fabricator Magazine

Sheet metal cutting and punching technology has made significant leaps in the last 50 years. But why hasn’t traditional abrasive finishing equipment been a part of that revolution? That’s the question asked by AM Machinery Sales President Tony McCue ...

Introducing the Loewer Orbital Finishing Disc

In today’s blog post we’d like to talk about the new rotary orbital finishing disc system accessory head from Loewer. This new device allows users to do the work of a palm sander in situations where a palm sander would not be efficient. It creates a ...

AM Machinery Sales Welcomes New Executive Sales Director

Brandon Storie comes to AM Machinery Sales from an diverse background which includes a degree in Applied Physics (Engineering) from Eastern Nazarene College. He designed and built environmental remediation equipment at a bio-diesel plant, and ...

FABTECH 2017 is getting closer. Are you going? We are!

Are you planning to attend FABTECH 2017? If so, we invite you to stop by the AM Machinery booth! With over 30 years in the industry, the team at AM Machinery is committed to helping customers identify the right machine for a metal finishing process. ...

Why are wide belt grinding machines SUCH energy hogs?

Why do belt sanders use more energy than disc sanders? Read on to learn more. We’ve staked our claim to fame on our incredibly low operating costs, and in all of our cost of operation worksheets we discuss how much more expensive wide belt grinding ...

Video: Do Vacuum Tables Really Work?

This week, we’re turning things over to AM Machinery Sales President Tony McCue for another video blog post. In this clip, Tony asks the question “Do vacuum tables really work?” And in his opinion, they do not. They are too costly, he argues, and ...

A Simple Way to Change Conveyor Belts

For years, we’ve been telling people about a straightforward way to change conveyor belts. In this week’s blog post, we’ll talk about that solution: the hinged lace belt. But first, we should address some of the time-consuming, inefficient methods ...

Graining Vs. Buying Prefinished Metal

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been discussing how metal deburring machines from Loewer can help you reduce your cost of operation. In this week’s blog post, we’re going to discuss the cost of graining sheet metal vs. the cost of buying – and then ...

New Technology in Deburring Equipment

Once again, we’re going to turn things over to AM Machinery Sales President Tony McCue, who recently took time out of his schedule to talk about developments in deburring equipment technology. As Tony notes at the start of the video clip below, ...

Why use Loewer Deburring Machines

You probably know basic deburring machinery technology. We would like to point out a few things so you can appreciate how the old technology is still being used, but improved upon, to provide better edge quality as well as savings on your ...

Small Part Deburring Overview

In this week’s blog post, we’re going to turn things over to AM Machinery Sales President Tony McCue, who recently took the time to make this video on small part deburring. “In most cases, sheet metal shops will make fixtures to hold parts, and ...

Deburring Machines: Old School vs. New School

A lot of things can change in an industry over the course of 40 years, and the machinery and deburring field is no exception. When you compare the technology used in 1977 to what we work with today, it can seem like traveling from the stone age to ...

The Pros and Cons of Wet and Dry Deburring Machinery

It’s one of the more puzzling questions for people in our industry to answer: Which deburring machinery option is best for my application: wet or dry? In this week’s blog post, we’ll try to tackle this question by looking at some of the pros and ...

Choosing a Centerless or Planetary Grinding System for Tube Finishing

This is the fourth and final series of blog posts on tube finishing. Click on these links to read parts one, two and three. When comparing centerless and planetary grinding systems, remember this fundamental difference: With a centerless system, the ...

Planetary Tube Grinding - Finishing Bent or Out-of-Round Tubes

This is the third in a four-part series of blog posts dealing with tube grinding.Click here to read parts one and two. Planetary tube grinding machines do not spin the tubes during the process, which creates a safe operator environment and ...

Centerless Grinding Basics for Tube Finishing

This is the second in a four-part series of blog posts about tube finishing. Click here to read part one. In centerless grinding, a cylindrical part is supported by a work rest blade and rotated by a regulating, or feed, head. This is different from ...

Hands-off Tube Finishing

Today we're launching a series of blog posts about automated and semi-automated tube finishing solutions. This is the first of four parts. Tube finishing doesn't have to be a manual operation. Centerless grinding can efficiently finish straight ...