Bridging the Skills Gap: 600+ Attend Events

While today’s skills gap is painfully felt by all of us in the manufacturing industry, there’s one saving grace: technology that increases efficiency. On December 8-10, 2015, Okuma America hosted more than 600 customers, partners and distributors at its Manufacturing Excellence and Technology Showcase events, which highlighted emerging CNC machining technologies, with a special concentration on aerospace manufacturing. Attendees came from Canada, Mexico and from 28 states in the U.S. to learn about cryogenic machining, the Industrial Internet of Things, additive manufacturing and many other leading-edge technologies.

Top CNC Machining Experts Featured

The event included a wide array of learning sessions and featured machine demos from top CNC machining experts. Attendees learned how to apply emerging technologies, such as eco-friendly cryogenics from 5ME and additive manufacturing from RPM Innovations, to improve productivity and increase profitability. An overflow audience attended a session about the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which demonstrated how connectivity in the shop can reveal comprehensive real-time data that can be used to maximize productivity. Attendees also learned how Okuma’s open OSP control and OSP suite allow each user to customize the OSP experience to specifically address their unique manufacturing needs.

Technology Demonstrations

Demonstrations featured exotic material cutting – such as Inconel and titanium – as well as stainless steel and aluminum. The demos were relevant to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, construction/farming (heavy equipment), die/mold, firearms/munitions, medical, oil/energy , and general job shops. Members of Partners in THINC demonstrated how peripheral equipment such as tooling, gaging, workholding and automation can be integrated with Okuma technology to increase productivity.

Each demonstration gave attendees tips on how they can utilize breakthrough technologies to create a competitive advantage in their marketplace. Examples included:

• The benefits and effects of machining in a cryogenic state
• Using high-pressure coolant to save money and improve part quality
• How multitasking machines and specialty tooling can improve efficiency
• Achieving process improvements with proper tool path generation (software/tooling) and taking advantage of the newest developments in metal cutting and machine tool technologies
• Okuma App Store and OSP suite – Machine tool apps can significantly impact the effectiveness and efficiency of machine tools

Keynote speaker Robert Mudge, from RPM Innovations, discussed laser deposition technology (LDT) and how a work cell that combines additive and subtractive technologies has the potential to increase productivity and quality. Attendees were able to see more than 20 CNC machines cutting parts including a titanium engine case and a bladed rotor, stainless steel shaft and a turbine blade, and an aluminum rocker arm and bracket hinge.

2016 is an “IMTS year,” so we look forward to putting on another amazing display of CNC machining technology this September – see us at booth S-8500.

Photo Credit: Manufacturing News