MTDCNC Podcast - Manufacturing Technology

On this week's episode of the MTD Podcast, Paul is joined by Gio and Colin again. They talk about modern workholding solutions and whether workholding is overlooked when purchasing new machine tool technology...

In this week's podcast Paul, Gio and Colin discuss EDM and all the processes used in a modern machine shop. We talk EDM wire cut, sinking and drilling. A meaningful, educational and enjoyable listen.

In episode 9 of our MTD podcast, we discuss the positives outcomes from Brexit with Sanjay Vallabh, Managing Director of Vallabh Associates Ltd discussing methods which other European countries have used to get the best trade deal with Europe while remaining unchaperoned.

Using his extensive experience working with banks and specialising in international finance, Sanjay is familiar with supporting businesses with their international requirements. He has worked with small business all the way to tier 1 companies, and in this episode, he explains different deals which countries such as Switzerland and Norway have created with the European Union when it comes to trading.

Sanjay explains to Paul and Colin that from a negotiation point of view the U.K must keep the “No Deal” offer on the table, as removing it would be catastrophic for negotiations and would give more control to the E.U. He explains that although there will be a disturbance in how goods are imported or exported, but it will not be as hectic as many are making out. 

Listen to the full podcast here and let us know your thoughts in the comment section!

The links mentioned within the show are below: -https://www.gov.uk/guidance/grants-for-businesses-that-complete-customs-declarations  https://euexitbusiness.campaign.gov.uk

To visit Vallabh Associates’ website, please visit http://www.ballabhassociateslimited.com 

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In this edition of the MTD CNC Podcast, the team engage in some banter and discuss sliding head lathes. Paul, Joe and Colin record the first podcast of 2019 at the studio, discussing their purposes, why engineers should invest in them and also why engineers already are investing in them.

But first, Paul, Colin and Joe get rid of the elephant in the room by shedding some light on MTD’s defeat at the hands of SECO for the Tooling Cup last week. While Paul claims that his managerial skills were not to blame for the defeat, Colin and Joe simplified it as "Bad."

The team also discuss the differences between sliding head technology and how it has evolved, and fixed head turning. Colin claimed that compared to where they used to be, the intricacy of the machines, milling and sub-spindles of speed and technology alongside active chip breaking, are creating components at a much quicker rate and creating a competitive market with lights-out work, helping UK companies such as APEX win work from abroad performing at a much more efficient speed, and consistency.

Comparing Colin to a human version of a lights-out machine, Paul and Joe concluded that it does not take twenty minutes to set him up, just a simple rev and go; that breaks down a lot with an ability to insert 3 inches!

Covering serious turning topics in this podcast alongside light-hearted banter, make sure to have a listen and to subscribe for regular updates!

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What a week we've endured so far in the Brexit conundrum! The Prime Minister just suffered the biggest loss in Parliament in political history in what the British public are calling the worst time in modern politics.

To ensure that manufacturers are well equipped with both possible outcomes from our divorce with the EU, we caught up with Peter Wilding, the man who literally "invented" the word 'Brexit', a term he calls a "sad word" which was first coined when he wrote it in an article whilst campaigning for more British Influence within Europe.

He's the author of "What Next?: Britain's Future in Europe" and a solicitor specialising in European Law.If there was anyone you should listen to when it comes to advice on Brexit, Peter Wilding is your man.

We caught up with Peter this morning and asked him for his advice for manufacturing firms post-Brexit and he even offered our audience free telephone consultations via FBC Manby Bowdler, the firm where he now works as their 'Brexit Specialist'.

On today’s episode, the team sit down with Clinton and Chris from Autodesk to discuss the current and future trends of CAM, and how it consolidates manufacturing; enabling engineers to prosper with the combined use of the technology.

Autodesk have been promoting the convergence of designer manufacturing for a number of years in an attempt to create a process in which the method of manufacturing parts influences the design of the parts. We discuss their Generative Design technology, revolving generatively designing to the component to lightweight, something which as of last week is available on 2D machining, a much larger market through a cloud-based system than can design in a matter of minutes!

Clinton and Chris also discuss with us other disruptive technologies which are helping with time and efficiency for their customers, so much so, that some customers are not ready to embrace them yet.

We discuss Autodesk’s subscription scheme, which creates an instant win which gives users the ability to subscribe to a product without the necessity to invest capital. The company also continue to add features to the subscription to entice customers into subscribing.

On this episode of the MTD Podcast, we are live from the Hurco Open house show in High Wycombe, discussing the event highlights for not only MTDCNC, but the overall main attractions at the exhibition. With the team finally recovered after a great Christmas party at the NEC on Saturday night, it was time to get back to business, and what better way than the final Open House event of the year at Hurco.

The talking points of the two-day exhibition were the technology displays and the tooling partners at the event with eleven machine tools on-show, all of which touched on the subject of automation.  Over the two days, MTD CNC had an opportunity to view live demonstrations of the new BX range, which was a favourite with attendees due to its alluring design and impressive spec!

We are joined by Hurco Managing Director David Waghorn, who after another successful Open House event reveals to Gio and Paul that his personal highlight is the new solid model import software, with customers coming in specifically to see it, especially those who know about conversational programming. The software gives the user data blocks straight from a an IGES file or a step file. David reveals the company’s plans to move into the distribution of 5-axis machines and so much more! 

Other great guests today including Matt from MicroLoc discussing the company’s MicroLoc Work Holding System, a versatile, expandable work holding system designed for 3 and 4axis machines, used by Hurco on their new range of machines due to its resourceful and practical designs.

We also sit down with James from Renishaw, whose products continue to play a pivotal role in Hurco’s stride towards automation and assisting with a stable working process while practising what they preach with using their own products during manufacturing.

OPEN MIND Managing Director, Adrian, suppliers of the popular HyperMill software which Hurco use on their equipment, who strive to create parts created right the first time, something which they built their company on and a great addition to Hurco machines. 

Martyn Page from Hydrafeed joins us to converse about the influence which open house events have on the company’s revenue and growth, and the importance of attending such shows to keep company profiles up, alongside the quick purchases that companies make at this time of year.

All this on today’s episode, comment and subscribe so you are first in line for industry insights!

On today’s episode, the MTD team records live from Mazak’s 'Mazak Live' event at their European headquarters in Worcester, after a long day of inspecting innovating machinery from Mazak and discussing personal highlights of the event and new equipment on display. The talk of the show was Mazak’s new HCN five-axis machine, which was not only mechanically advanced in the sense of having one the fastest jerk rates on the market with a power of 30,000rpm alongside 80kw, but also accompanied with a captivating visual design which Mazak said was customer inspired.

The trio also discussed the biggest changes and advancements at the Yamakazi show since last year, other powerful machinery present and Mazak’s unique marketing schemes which lead the to customer loyalty and involvement with the brand.

Today, Paul and Joe sit down with Stuart Whitehead. Founder of online manufacturing news outlet Jefferson Group, he shares with us the pivotal factors he followed in building a huge online presence in the engineering sector. As we discuss tips on growing social media pages, we also analyse key points such as the relevance of social media followers, the importance of engagement, how pivotal social media is to business growth and where platforms are headed in the future.

Today Paul, Gio and Joe talk about some hot manufacturing topics; Additive Manufacturing and its place within our market place and is it going to take over traditional machining of components? The Fourth Industrial Revolution / Industry 4.0 / IoT is it a myth or here to stay? We also talk about what we would do if we were to set up a CNC machining workshop.