Hardware

Moxa Nport Driver v3 Release Notes

March 8, 2019

Moxa Nport Driver Release Notes Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 10, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019 …

Plastic Manufacturing

The Plastic Manufacturing Industry

February 21, 2019

Moldmaking is a rewarding area in our industry to work within. Plastic manufacturing touches many facets of our daily lives. Just ask those who work in the field! “Moldmaking and …

A CNC machine and a pallet jack accompanied by various industry icons in a hexagonal pattern.

Manufacturing Management

February 14, 2019

According to SME’s ToolingU Manufacturing Management Supervisor Essentials Course, just because you’re a manager doesn’t automatically make you a leader. Leaders cope with change and complexity. Have you taken the …

A front view of a Fanuc CNC controller, which is being monitored with machine monitoring software.

Fanuc CNC Automation Resources

February 12, 2019

Manufacturers with Fanuc CNC machines have specific needs. Especially when it comes to the subject of shop floor automation. Here are some quick resources: Can you do machine monitoring with …

An upper view of a shop floor with various CNC machines in view and several employees hard at work. There is an overlaid silhouette of someone at a desktop computer with the SFA logo on it.

Need An “Automate CNC Machines” Game Plan?

February 7, 2019

Planning to automate CNC machines or other manufacturing equipment? Here are three steps before starting: First, Create a Healthy Technology Relationship: “These tools have been developed not for nefarious reasons, …

A USB Connect Portable being held while being used to configure a Haas CNC, a USB Connect Pendant mounted to the side of a CNC controller, a USB Connect Pendant mounted above the screen of a CNC machine controller, and a USB Connect pendant mounted to a front panel of a CNC machine.

How to do USB to RS232 Transfers

February 6, 2019

Modernizing your manufacturing equipment is easier and more affordable than you may otherwise assume. Operators love USB to RS232 transfers of machine programs for many reasons. This CNC upgrade hardware …

SFA's logo next to a large blue gear with a rotational arrow, which sits behind a clip art factory building. The background is textured with a circuit board pattern.

RS232 to Ethernet

February 4, 2019

Operators with legacy CNC machines experience RS232 communication limitations. Because of this, they want to know if RS232 to USB or RS232 to Ethernet upgrades possible and affordable. You can …

A CNC tech on the shop floor working with a Haas VF4 VOP-D CNC machine with automated data collection and revision control.

CNC Automation for 2019

January 28, 2019

What are your CNC automation plans for this new year? If you are drawing a blank, never fear – here are three quick ideas! 1 – CNC Data Collection – …

A green USB drive with the word "Tax" on it sits on top of a pile of tax payment checks.

Manufacturing Tax Benefits 2019

January 21, 2019

The 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) brought about many changes that have set the pace for 2019. There are important manufacturing tax questions we are asking ourselves or …

A close up shot of the screen of a Doosan controller, showing the G-code produced by CAD CAM software.

CAD CAM Software Resources

December 4, 2018

CAD CAM software is a powerful shop floor tool. There is a long-term problem most users don’t consider. What happens to the programs that the software produces? “CAD CAM makes …

IIoT Manufacturing

What is IIoT?

November 28, 2018

What is IIoT? Here are the basics about the Industrial Internet of Things. IIoT and Industry 4.0 are very similar topics. Both topics, however, are widely accepted as a key part …

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Lean Manufacturing Newsletter

November 19, 2018

The November/December 2018 SFA email blast was a lean manufacturing newsletter. It was sent to subscribers November 19th, 2018. Lean Manufacturing for 2019 Heard of it? Thinking about it? Make …