Manufacturing Jobs

Sharpening a lathe tool is a matter of following the edges that already exist on the tool. By making sure you cool the tool when it gets too hot, you can easily sharpen it on a bench grinder or...

Repolishing an old knife blade can add beauty and restore value. Old knives sometimes develop corrosion, rust spots and pits where bacteria can collect. A clean, polished blade requires less force...

To cut parts correctly and accurately, it is essential to begin with a perfectly flat surface. By using a dial indicator to tram your vise, table and spindle head, you can better assure that your...

Whether you're trying to measure a gap or you're trying to create a certain gap space, feeler gauges, also called thickness guages, can be the perfect tool for both machinists and mechanics. By...

In order to save money in a machine shop environment, it is wise to re-sharpen drills with a grinder when they become dull. By understanding how a drill works, you can create a new edge on any...

Maintaining a lathe machine is a matter of diligence and attention to detail. By making sure that all of the inner workings of the machine are lubricated and all surfaces are kept clean, you can...

A production worker is a blue collar professional found within manufacturing environments. Assembling products either manually or with the use of special tools and equipment, these individuals are...

Carbide end mills often do not come with flats machined on the shank to use in CNC tool holders. By using a diamond wheel and a bench or manual grinder, you can make your own flat for the screw...

If you have seen mounds of dirt stacked up at a construction site, then you have seen fill dirt. It is one of the cheapest but most essential elements to any major construction project.

Over time, the teeth of a band saw become dull or a different blade is needed to cut the material that you are using. Installing a band saw blade is easy as long as you follow the guides and made...

Using a manual lathe takes concentration as well as a keen sense of operation regarding the tooling and the direction the material must spin in for proper cutting. Depending on the orientation of...

A Bridgeport Milling Machine is a belt-driven manual mill that is capable of cutting many different types of material. As they are built to withstand many years of metal shop abuse, they require...

A computer numerical control (CNC) mill is capable of cutting and drilling many different types of material including steel, aluminum, wood and plastic. An CNC mill operator is in charge of making...

Using a metal band saw is the best way to cut metal. The blades are specifically made to cut steel and have many teeth positioned in a way that will result in a clean cut. Using the correct blade...

There are many ways to measure parts in a machining environment, including calipers, micrometers and indicators. By calibrating them often to ensure accurate readings, you can compare finished...

Whether you are cleaning a standard lathe, a mini lathe or a CNC lathe, it is imperative to hit a few spots that can change the dynamic of the cutting process. By keeping the jaws and ways clean,...

Selling end mills to a machine shop is a process that involves asking many questions about their current products and assessing their needs. Shops want to cut down on costs, so end mills that last...

Use an end mill for cutting metals and other materials in different ways. Not only can you rough out material to make parts, but also you can also use them for drilling and making surfaces perfect...

Whether you are a new machinist or one who has much experience, it is important to follow very strict procedures in many areas when working in a metal shop environment. By following these...

Mitutoyo calipers are precision measuring devices that need to be calibrated once in a while to give the user an accurate measurement. By cleaning them of any debris, you can assure that they can...

There are four very accurate ways to measure parts or any objects with a digital caliper. Because they are so easy to read, you are better off using a digital version when you have parts upside...

Vernier calipers are an inexpensive way to measure parts and other objects to get accurate, quick readings. By knowing the many ways that a vernier caliper may be used to measure, you can get...

To have parts that are within the specifications of the print, it is imperative that the vise you use in a computer numerical control (CNC) machine be perfectly straight. If there are metal chips...

An aluminum welder is a manual laborer who, with the use of special equipment, permanently joins aluminum parts together. This duty may be performed to create a product, such as a car, or in...

In order to program a CNC lathe, you must have a blueprint of the part to be created. Once you have studied the blueprint, you can program the correct cutting tools to make the part by programming...

Metal buffers work in a manufacturing and industrial environment using specialized equipment to prepare and finish pieces that will be assembled and used for vehicles, machines, furnishings and more.

Whether you are operating a manual or a CNC lathe, there are steps that you must follow to maintain accuracy and assure the safety of yourself and your your machine. As machining can be dangerous,...

Welder fitters are workers who use metal materials commonly found in manufacturing activities such as shipbuilding. Workers may be hired for small projects or large projects such as bridge...

A manual machinist uses hand tools to create metal products. One of the most skilled professions within the industrial sector, job prospects for machinists are expected remain plentifull, despite...

Whether you are cutting hard steel or aluminum, there are choices when it comes to picking the correct end mill for the job. By using the correct end mill for the application, you can rough and...

Heat treating knife blades is often a mystery to the beginner. Metallurgy is not magic, however. A good spring temper is the result of knowledge and practice. Different types of steel have...

Just because an end mill becomes dull doesn't mean you have to scrap it or buy a new one. You can regrind an end mill to be sharp again using a special fixture that allows you to grind the relief...

Whether you are interested in cutting metals such as steel and aluminum, or just wood and plastic, it is always advisable to use a roughing end mill for large amounts of material. By running a...

Alloys are a product of metallurgy that dates back to ancient times, when metal-crafters labored to create metal materials harder than their natural characteristics. This early work became the...

Plastics are available in two main types: thermoplastics and thermosets. Thermoplastics are meltable, but thermosets are not. The difference is in how their polymers are formed. Polymers, or...

Draw knives have become rare and expensive. It is worth your time as a smithy to make this woodworking tool as a stock item on your sale table as well as for your own use. Draw knives are valuable...

Whether you are tapping steel or a soft metal such as aluminum, you can use a Bridgeport manual mill for your tapping needs. By applying liberal amounts of tapping fluid, you can prevent the heat...

Running a metal lathe is more than just cutting metal on the spindle. You must not overlook maintenance tasks that streamline your workflow and keep your lathe in good working order. By keeping...

Using a computer numerical control (CNC) router to cut wood is a great way to make parts and final products quickly with consistency. Since a CNC router will perform the same program over and over...

Using a slotting saw, also known as a slitting saw, can be a tricky operation, because there are many small teeth on each blade. By making sure that your speeds and feeds are correct before making...

Toys, drills, power tools, hair dryers, clothes dryers and hundreds of other devices that we use on a daily basis require electric motors. Electric motor engineers design these components.

Making sure the vise that holds the plate is straight, you can drill holes in heavy metal plates with the correct drills and the use of a center drill to prevent drill "walk." Drills can be...

A materials coordinator is chiefly responsible for the acquisition and inventory management of materials required for companies to resell or use for their own production. Materials coordinators...

Mechanical drafters are responsible for drawings showing the assembly of machinery and mechanical devices in detail. They indicate dimensions, fastening methods and other requirements required for...

In order to machine metal, wood or plastic accurately in a manual mill such as a Bridgeport, it is essential to accurately set your zero point. This way, you can use the micrometer wheels to place...

A broken endmill can truly put a halt to work and can be very difficult to remove. As the tapping of holes is often something that is done at the end of the manufacturing process, it is often...

Whether you need to countersink a hole in wood, steel or plastic, you can use a countersink drill bit to get the job done quickly and easily. By running the RPM's very low, you can get a great...

Metal spinning is a manufacturing method that is used to convert metal circles or cylinders into axially symmetric components. Examples of metal-spun items include lamps, candlesticks, brass...

Old knives can become rusty and dull, lose their edge, chip or become scratched. Restoring them to their original state takes time, patience and effort.

Wrought iron is a misunderstood term. Modern wrought iron is made from 1018 mild steel rather than the low-to-no-carbon iron of the past, due to cost. "Wrought" means worked by hand. The methods...