Roy W. Hardy

Frank Altmayer writes that an understanding of stress, hydrogen effects, and their roles in metal finishing can go a long way toward becoming a successful troubleshooter in this FinishingAndCoating.com article at https://lnkd.in/gcq93Bsh . "Anytime a metal is deformed, internal stresses are created," Frank says. "In most cases, the higher the alloying elements in the metal, the higher the internal stress will be." A good primer on what causes stress and hydrogen effects that cause a finishing issue, and how to avoid it. #finishingandcoating #finishing #coating #surfacefinishing

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🔩 New Training Opportunity for Metal Manufacturers: Geometric Dimensioning & Tolerancing (GD&T) 🔧 Precision matters—and understanding GD&T can make all the difference in ensuring quality, reducing scrap, and improving communication across your engineering and production teams. Minnesota State Community and Technical College WDS is now offering a 16-hour GD&T course based on the latest 2018 ASME Y14.5 Standards, delivered onsite in a flexible format to fit your team's schedule: ✔️ 4 sessions x 4 hours each (on your preferred day/time) ✔️ Interactive instruction + hands-on exercises ✔️ Includes GD&T workbook ✔️ Casio calculators provided for in-class math application This training is perfect for machinists, engineers, inspectors, and anyone who reads or creates technical drawings. 📌 Topics include: • GD&T Symbols & Rules • All 14 Geometric Controls • Feature Control Frames • Datums & Material Boundaries • Tolerance Zones & Inspection Concepts … and much more. Bring this high-impact training directly to your facility—designed to elevate your team’s skill set and confidence with GD&T. 📞 Let’s connect - Amy.Hochgraber@Minnesota.edu or 218-849-0811

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It was interesting to read about a newly graduated engineer faced with a real-world #manufacturing issue. Dominick Fortuna, president of Volkmann USA, recently shared some insights on #pneumaticconveyingsystems design and problem solving with Powder & Bulk Solids.

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What’s the best method for removing cured paint from coating line fixtures—burn-off, blasting, or chemical removal? In the July issue of Products Finishing, Brandon Lloyd from Atotech an MKS Brand breaks down the advantages of chemical stripping and why it may be the most efficient and effective choice for many coating operations. Here are 3 quick takeaways: 👉 Cleaner Fixtures = Better Coatings - chemical removal eliminates residue that can impact coating quality and adhesion. 👉 Lower Cost & Environmental Impact - less energy use and safer waste disposal than thermal or mechanical methods. 👉 Gentler on Equipment - Modern chemistries reduce damage to racks and carriers, extending their life. To learn more if chemical removal is the right fit for your finishing line, click on the link in the comments below 👇 #PaintFinishing #CoatingLineEfficiency #SurfacePreparation

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"This well-engineered process allows Waupaca Foundry to reuse its sand more than 30 times before it becomes non-viable." Recycling is nothing new in metal casting. From the sand using Simpson Pro-Claim systems, to the metal. Iron brake rotors and ductile iron structural parts are made of nearly 100% recycled iron, depending on the product requirements. Innovations will allow more products to be produced of another process by-product. What's the next use of foundry sand? #Simpson #Waupaca #metalcasting #innovation https://lnkd.in/gJvjvfXH

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Ryerson and Olympic Steel have announced their intent to merge. What will this mean for metal fabrication? The immediate implications won't be obvious, but the move reflects a broader trend of consolidation throughout the metal manufacturing value chain. This in turn could affect how custom and contract metal fabricators shape their business. No business can be everything to everyone--a fact that applies both to service centers and their metal fabrication customers. https://lnkd.in/eY2fHGY7

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I often hear from customers how hard it’s becoming to find skilled machinists, it’s a serious challenge felt across the industry. Competence in metal cutting is becoming one of the most critical – and scarce – skills in manufacturing today. Even as the sector becomes more advanced, with digital tools and automation, the need for skilled people remains constant. Access to learning opportunities is essential, both to upskill current workers and to bring new talent into the industry. That’s why I’m so proud that Sandvik Coromant has developed a comprehensive, free online machining course, open to anyone, anywhere. Covering everything from turning and milling to toolholding and machining economics, it’s a practical way to build or refresh core skills. In a world where talent is our greatest asset, expanding access to high-quality education is one of the best investments we can make. https://lnkd.in/dmYRMj9j 

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Join our team of experts on July 16th at the fourth, all-day Last Tactical Mile [LTM] Additive Manufacturing for Metal Casting Seminar at Waukesha County Technical College in Pewaukee, WI. This seminar series is free of charge and ideal for government and OEM casting consumers require increased agility in the casting sector to enable operational availability of critical platforms. Additive manufacturing for metal casting offers reduced lead times, ability to cast complex parts and reduce scrap. Key Workshop Takeaways: You will understand how this technology facilitates more agile casting production for your organization and your supply chain  partners. Presenters will share best practices on current technology applications for tooling and toolingless approaches to mold design. Networking sessions will connect you with experts and early adopters who will broaden your team’s vision of how to leverage this advanced manufacturing approach to reduce lead times and produce challenging cast parts. Who should attend this training? Foundry technical staff and procurement professionals, OEM, Tier I/II casting consumers, government engineers, engineering and technical students.  Defense Acquisition Professionals earn 7 Continuous Learning Points (CLPs) for attending, contact Brittany Engel for details at bengel@ybi.org. Visit https://ybi.org for mor information. We are looking forward to seeing you! ---------------------------------------------------- Dr. Nate Bryant With over 12 years of experience in additive manufacturing, specializing in 3D sand printing, Nate brings technical expertise contextualized by direct operation of large-format 3D sand printers. He holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Manufacturing Engineering Technology from the University of Northern Iowa and recently achieved his doctorate degree in Education. His educational background blends technical skills with a passion for developing the next generation of the metal casting workforce. In this seminar series, he explores the critical aspects of machine parameter optimization and how they impact the physical characteristics of 3D printed sand molds and cores. Furthermore, he discusses the implications of Industry 4.0 and how 3D sand printing can serve as a gateway to the digital future of metal casting.

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Over the past week I’ve had several meaningful conversations with owners and industry contacts regarding CNC machining businesses in Indiana and surrounding states. The interest and engagement confirms what many of us already know, the small and mid-sized U.S. machining sector is entering a real transition cycle. We continue to evaluate profitable CNC machine shops in Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee for long term operational ownership. What we are not doing: • Running auctions • Flipping assets • Disrupting teams What we are focused on: • Stable transitions • Retaining skilled employees • Building on existing customer relationships • Investing in operational growth If you own a machining business and are considering your next chapter over the next 1 to 3 years, a confidential conversation can often clarify options before formal processes begin. If this resonates with someone in your network, please feel free to connect us.

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Our latest Ask the Metallurgist blog post is live. Gun Barrel Steel Guide: Key Characteristics and Leading Materials breaks down what matters most when selecting steel for gun barrels, from strength and machinability to heat and erosion resistance. We also compare common alloy and stainless steel options used in firearm manufacturing. Read the full guide here: https://lnkd.in/egRBKDsq

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2025 has been kind of a tumultuous year with a lot of changes. What does that mean for 2026? In this year-end episode of Next-Gen Metal Fab, Tim Heston chats with All Metals Fabricating’s Lance Thrailkill and OSH Cut CEO Caleb Chamberlain as they unpack a wildly unpredictable 2025 in metal fabrication and look ahead to 2026. 🎧 Take a listen: https://lnkd.in/gggWqsTk 🎙️ FMA Podcast Network: https://lnkd.in/gSjF8ynP

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‼️ The U.S. extracts critical minerals, then depends on other countries to make them usable. In this week's episode, brought to you by Veryable, host Matt Horine speaks with John Gardner, author of "Manufacture Local" and a longtime precision machining business owner, about how this came to be treated as normal, and what it reveals about how manufacturing is valued in the U.S. The conversation covers: ☑️ Manufacturing as a foundation of economic and political independence ☑️ How sustained production builds experience that cannot be recreated on demand ☑️ How offshoring reshaped what the U.S. is able to make at scale ☑️ Why policy, revenue models, and incentives matter more than slogans 🎧 Catch the full episode — available on: 👉 Apple: https://lnkd.in/gXe-y4hb 👉 Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gy7bkNWc 👉 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/giUN8Nuc 👉 Veryable Website: https://lnkd.in/gE9VD6CM #usmanufacturing #madeinamerica #reindustrialization #manufacturingleadership #nationalsecurity #supplychain

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Tim Heston is on top of what the Ryerson and Olympic Steel merger might mean for metal fabricators. Indeed, these are interesting times.

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A U.S. defense supplier thought their rare earth magnet supply was bulletproof. For years, their compression bonded neodymium magnets came from a long-time partner in China: good pricing, predictable lead times, no reason to change. Then April 4th happened. When China halted rare earth magnet exports, their production plan went from “on track” to “at risk” overnight. Programs with no room for delay suddenly had a single point of failure. They turned to “domestic” options. Most either couldn’t produce compression bonded NdFeB at scale, were still running Chinese powder, or weren’t as U.S.-based as they sounded. That’s when they found a solution in Magnet Applications based in DuBois, Pennsylvania. A fully domestic producer of compression bonded NdFeB magnets with: Zero reliance on China, no Chinese raw materials, no Chinese processing 100% U.S. supply chain; powder, pressing, magnetization, coating under one roof ITAR and DFARS compliance for defense and aerospace programs Proven track record with over 1 billion bonded neodymium magnets produced Today, that defense supplier has a stable, U.S.-controlled magnet source supporting critical BLDC motors, encoders, and sensor applications. If your defense or aerospace programs depend on bonded NdFeB magnets, now is the time to qualify a domestic supply — before the next export decision hits your production schedule. #SupplyChain #DefenseManufacturing #Aerospace #BondedNeodymium #USManufacturing #RareEarths #BLDC #MadeInUSA #Reshoring

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