So, here's something else to ponder if you're in the machining business (or its support like we all are). This was brought to Jeff's attention by Fanuc this week. The machine seems to be made up with two hexapods (dodecapod?) I would like to think that we can still find work in the decades to come, even if the traditional 1" end mill or ceramic lathe insert isn't involved. After all, a lathe has two axes, a machining center 3, and this machine has 12:

http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/9/4506510/fords-f3t-prototype-technology-print-car

VW Phaeton Factory in Dresden

Anyone who has spent a career in manufacturing facilities has to LOVE this one:

http://www.flixxy.com/high-tech-car-factory.htm

The Phaeton was not well received in the U.S.A., but is coming back in 2015. Nevertheless, what a facility.

I've had several discussions with people regarding the 3D printed titanium fighter jet part in my last post. We all agree that there are tooling marks on the part and that this seems too good to be true. Anyway, I was looking around for other users of 3D printed titanium parts. Here's a bike company in England that makes frame parts:

http://www.webpronews.com/this-company-3d-prints-bicycles-in-titanium-2013-05

It's all about strength and size. What do you all think?

Chinese 3D Printing for Aerospace

So, as you all know, we embraced 3D printing several years ago and invested heavily (for us) to get into the business of selling and supporting the machines. At that time, NO ONE was even thinking about printing on this scale. We found a real HO-HUM attitude by local machine shops and were eventually unsuccessful in selling enough machines to maintain our dealer territory. With this news however, I think 3D printing hits home. I think this is HUGE news, not only because of what is being printed, but because of WHO is leading the way:

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20130529-china-shows-off-world-largest-3d-printed-titanium-fighter-component.html

Huge ADI Purchase

These guys aren't regular customers, but this kind of activity HAS to trickle down to others in Southern California.

http://www.mmsonline.com/blog/post/aerospace-company-goes-all-in-for-titanium-machining

I saw this yesterday and thought of those operators who walk on slippery gantrys every day:

http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/the-400-difference

Fanuc Named Top Innovator

One of the things that encourages me to keep quoting Fanuc for our retrofits is the observation here that they have 600 engineers working on designs. In their heyday, MDSI had perhaps 10.

http://www.fanucfa.com/us-en/broker.jsp?uCon=4dc31aca-8c11-4318-e067-6b504c0394c7&uTem=5ef7107f-ee3a-6bea-1bcf-199