6 MoldMaking Technology —— MARCH 2018
THIS MONTH ON
moldmakingtechnology.com
From the Editor
This year has been a bit reflective for me
so far as I look back on 20 years of cov-
ering the moldmaking industry. One of
the things that has come to light is the
topics. After two decades, the topics are
fairly consistent, but each iteration of key
topics becomes more and more advanced.
Then and Now
Christina M. Fuges
Editorial Director
VIDEO: Five-Axis Machining Giant Tackles Large
Machining Projects
Baker Industries installed an Emco Mecof PowerMill five-axis
machining center, which is the largest and most versatile milling
center in the Midwest region and the first of its kind to enter
the United States. Baker Industries installed this machine to
expand its capacity in servicing original equipment manufac-
turer and Tier 1 customers' largest machining projects.
short.moldmakingtechnology.com/baker
BLOG: MoldMaking
Technology Celebrates
20-Year Anniversary
Editorial Director Christina
Fuges notes the 20-year
anniversary of MoldMaking
Technology and the upcoming
coverage planned for 2018.
Founded in 1998, MoldMaking Technology remains committed to
everything moldmaking, from design to first shot. The MoldMaking
Technology team is honored to celebrate this milestone with
the industry and looks forward to many more years.
short.moldmakingtechnology.com/20mmt
SLIDESHOW: A Mix of
Machining Products
As NPE, Amerimold and IMTS
gear up, Managing Editor Karen
Cornelissen shares some of
the latest machining centers,
machining accessories and
innovations on the machining
market.
short.moldmakingtechnology.com/mixmachine
WEBINAR: The Key
to Optimal Machining
Productivity
In this webinar, Autodesk
demonstrates how moldmakers
can machine the most complex
cavities, cores and sliders that
require no manual polishing or re-work with exceptional levels
of precision and quality using the latest CAM solution.
short.moldmakingtechnology.com/autopower
Follow MMT on:
Follow @ MMT_ChristinaF
In 1998, we were covering:
• Network infrastructure
• Mold material selection
• Hot runners
• High-speed machining
• At-the-machine CAM
• ISO certification
• Polishing
• Hard skills training
• Welding
• Vertical machining centers
• EDM as the focus of an
entire issue
• Texturing
• Customer communication
• Mold spotting
• Mold heating
• Employee stock ownership plans
• Anticorrosion solutions
• CAM automation
• Rapid prototyping/tooling
Today, we are discussing:
• IoT and Industry 4.0
• Data management
• Aluminum molds
• Robots and cobots
• Lights-out production
• EDM automation and reduction
• Hot runner controllers
• Multi-tasking and hybrid machines
• Massive machine tools
• Modular and high-feed tooling
• Software automation
• Process simulation
• Laser welding
• Reduced polishing
• Better surface treatment
• Additive manufacturing
• Five-axis machining
• Local-level training
• ISO updates
• Supply chain management
• Workforce development
Some of the big advances in 20 years have been automation,
standardized mold components, more hot-runner usage, five-axis
machining becoming more common, fine-tuned inspection processes,
maintenance and repair becoming more than just an afterthought,
the use of 3D printing for conformal cooling inserts and an increased
interest in learning about plastics, plastic processing and molding.
Overall, I would say that the biggest gamechanger for moldmak-
ing over the past 20 years has been data. From mold design, 3D
printing, quoting, job scheduling, machining, automation, inspec-
tion, measurement and maintenance, data impacts products and
processes across the entire moldmaking operation. Data is king.
Now it is a question of learning what to do with all this data that is
available to gather and analyze.