Predator DNC

A collage featuring a screenshot of DNC software and an above view of a shop floor with numerous CNC machines. At the bottom is clip art of an employee on a computer with the SFA logo.

What is DNC CNC Software?

February 5, 2019

Our article on DNC software functions and benefits was published by MoldMaking Technology recently. “A company’s programs are their livelihood on the shop floor. They make the parts that keep a business …

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 …

A shot of the side of a metal cutting machine, showing the leftover metal chippings and debris.

Lean Production

October 18, 2018

What is lean production? One can view it as an alternative term for lean manufacturing, but we wanted to take a deeper look. “Lean production is centered on determining what …

A shot of a shop floor employee holding a smartphone up as if taking a picture of the shop floor in front of them. The phone is running machine monitoring software, which is one way to make lean manufacturing as effective as possible.

Lean Manufacturing

October 10, 2018

Lean manufacturing is a hot topic these days. It’s more than a buzzword, though. It’s becoming a necessity. “Lean manufacturing is a system of techniques and activities for running a …

Shop Floor Automations-Newsletter

Fall 2018 Newsletter

October 9, 2018

The following is an archived copy of our Fall 2018 newsletter. Decisions to make for Q4 Fall has begun, and before you know it, Winter will be here. Then, surprise, …

A machinist working with a CNC machine without having to leave his station thanks to CNC Remote Request.

CNC Remote Request

August 22, 2018

As American manufacturing grows, efficient machining is key. SFA is often asked about secure and quick CNC to PC communication. Here, we take a look at CNC remote request procedures. …

CNC Revision Control

CNC Revision Control

August 2, 2018

CNC Revision Control is overlooked on the shop floor. Raw material and time are wasted when old programs run at machines. “Revision control is the management of modifications done to …

A Wireless Connect device accompanied by floating shots of 3 various CNC machines and the wi-fi symbol.

The Benefits of a Wireless Shop Floor

July 11, 2018

Manufacturing technology changes each day. Companies want more innovative ways to increase productivity through machine automation. A wireless shop floor is one avenue to pursue. Customers who have issues with …

SFA Legacy Blogs

Legacy Blog – Edition XV

June 26, 2018

In this Legacy Blog, Shop Floor Automations thanks these digital publications for sharing our recent news about DNC software, machine monitoring, hardware, and more: Manufacturing Tomorrow posted a piece we wrote …

cnc control

Funny CNC Control Photos

April 23, 2018

Everyone works differently on the shop floor. Some machinists use sticky notes, or custom stickers on machines, other use full sheets of paper to leave notes, and there are others …

Three clip art machines side by side with accompanying text that explains that machines can cause jobs to be late due to bad OEE and communication.

Machinists Are Not The Problem

December 26, 2017

When working production on a manufacturing shop floor, productivity issues happen. Nothing is perfect – this includes your employees and equipment. Some leaders may automatically assume that machinists are to …

A computer monitor, an iPhone, an Android phone, and a tablet all running machine monitoring software.

Software for Less MFG Stress in 2018

December 22, 2017

Unplanned downtime and the impact on production are common aggravation factors in manufacturing jobs. New manufacturing software on your shop floor in 2018 could help with this stress. Machines go …