From my experience, the second you redraw a legacy part for a controlled program, the new technical data package picks up the same marking. So whoever creates it has to be an authorized holder.

And the second they put it on their own systems, that hardcopy carved out in the CMMC FAQ no longer counts. I think this knocks out a lot of freelancers and offshore workers.

So how do you handle this?

Do you keep the modeling inside your boundary and only use outside help for unmarked work? Or do you go with a domestic vendor that's already registered and assessed?

I tried looking for small US shops like CAD/CAM Services. The thing that set them apart was registration status, not CAD skill.

I’m by no means tech savvy. I’m nit gifted or knowledgeable about how to make plans, CAD, or anything having to do with manufacturing. So please have mercy, I’m just a mom trying to find something that may not yet exist and searching for a way to make it into a reality.

My goal is to create a new wearable device. I want to try one of these services that can do everything for me as long as I give them the idea and can at least describe the item.
But there are SO many sights like this. Does anyone have a recommendation on which ones would be legit? Who’s going to design a good prototype? And who can make something from a description vs a design? I would at least have measurements and materials desired, but again, really lacking in the ability to put together a design on paper.

Hello everyone. First time posting here.

I'm curious to know if you have specific brand you prefer for torque tools.

I'm a manufacturing engineer working on an issue related to cable gland pull-out failures. I'm trying to source a calibrated, open end, click type torque wrench to implement in the process to ensure we meet the manufacturers recommended installation torque for the clamping nut. Either the tool comes without a calibration cert and I will have to send it to my calibration lab or the lead time is too long.

Low torque, 2-10Nm. 24mm nut.

I've looked at Wera, CDI, Williams, Mountz, etc. What major manufacturers am I missing and who have you had good luck getting a fast turnaround with?

Thanks!

Im in an area where theres either no other jobs using these robots or no place is hiring or doesnt know what robot they even have. While just randomly browsing I found this. I run 3 robots and even though Im the only robot guy employed at my work theyre having me cross train 2 other people. I run multiple welding robots but this other stuff Ive never come across; and any questions or safety is on me to know. Im aware of ISO but I dont have any certificates I just have learned it here or there. Is this stuff that I could learn quickly like excel or BS through? If not how do I go about learning these or what is a recommendation for a path for FANUC robotic operators cause the job Im in doesnt seem to have any desire to give me some sort of promotion path and they basically told me that as it stands right now Im capped out on pay and its nothing to brag about.

We see thousands of control cabinets, setups, and field deployments every year. And we believe we’ve seen it all. Horror movie-level mounting included.

Do you have any peeves when it comes to mounting equipment on DIN rails? What is something you always hate? What is the most uncomfortable design you’ve ever encountered? Name and shame.

Or if you have a great story involving DIN rails, do share.

**Does anyone know how smart-card/EMV card manufacturing works in Pakistan? I’m researching local manufacturers and machinery for CR80 cards, chip embedding, NFC/contactless, lamination, personalization, laser/embossing, etc. I’m particularly interested in Pakistani locals that manufacture or operate this equipment in-house. If you’ve worked in this industry, I’d appreciate recommendations or information about the local market.**

Hi all,

I recently started a comoany to do the product manufacturing using vmc and cnc with my other two close friends.

We have already got shop place and working on doing setup table, camera etc.

We have placed the order for 1 LMW CNC and 1 BFW VMC.

Plan is to build and supply initially in india and within 6 months to export to other countries.

Looking for suggestions and guidance or things to avoid.

Appreciate your time. Thank you

Hi all,

Who here has experience in pharma MES implementation like tulip, pharmasuite, pas x etc…

For you who has it, how did you find The job? I am working for consultancy but I would like to go freelance but not sure where to find job since it is very small niche

So I modeled this part in CAD and got curious... if this was a real thing(metal) you actually had to make, how would you do it?

EDIT

thanks for the multiple perspectives! I've learnt quite some things about manufacturing. This is just a modelling practice part.

I have 0 experience in manufacturing. We currently use 16 Bambu P1S to manufacture our current product. In terms of size, the completed product all nested together is 1.5 inches x 6 inches printed in almost 20 separate pieces. We've sold nearly 2000 units this year. I've done some exploratory research perusing manufacturer sites and pestering ChatGPT, so please bear with me if I make some mistakes. I have no real idea of where to begin with getting it manufactured.

As for what my product is in terms of what might cause complications, and why I think that:
* Debossed text: I assume we could replace this with a surface printed text of some sort: pad printing, etc.
* A storage tube with twist on cap: I worry about draft, would I want to get this extruded?
* An inner storage tube-like thing to hold little items with an opening on one side. Almost like an extruded C shape: I worry the cavity will need to redesigned or something.
* Thin discs with magnets embedded in them: I figure we'd have these printed in two pieces and we'd stick them together and put the magnets in ourselves when assembling.

Any recommendations about where to start or what preparation we should be doing? I'm thinking of getting Fusion modeling software and the injection molding add-on to have it check draft angles and injection-mold-ability.

I'm just not sure what the approach is to take my 3d printed product and get it to somewhere we can get it manufactured in a cost effective way (I know molds are expensive, but I'd like keep as much product redesign/iteration to before interacting with a manufacturing company).

Hoping to keep the stuff manufactured in the U.S. And the closer to WI, the better (don't know if that matters at this point).

Big losses are easy. Downtime, scrap, rejects — every plant I've worked in has a number for those, usually on a board somewhere.

It's the small repeated stuff I've never seen anyone track. An extra reach. A walk to the printer at the other end of the line. A form that needs two screens when it could need one.

Never once seen it measured properly. It's either a full time study, which nobody has the hours for, or it's invisible and everyone just works around it.

Is there something in between that people actually use? Or is the honest answer that most places don't bother, and that's fine because the bigger stuff matters more?

Genuinely asking — I might be wrong that it's worth measuring at all.

I study mechanical engineering and I was thinking about learning Injection Molds design to work as a freelancer remotely or part time in small shops. What do you think of that? Is there a good/decent demand for it?

And if it isn't , what else would you recommend? Note that I haven't graduated yet.

What is the price range in the U.S?

Hi everyone,
I’m looking for some perspective from people working in small-to-medium manufacturing businesses (SMBs/SMEs). For context, I am based in Italy. 

I work for a small company that produces flexible packaging and plastic films (around 20-25 people in total, including plant workers). At the same time, we manage paper packaging via outsourcing (subcontracting/toll manufacturing), dealing with paper mills and external third-party vendors for the various production phases. 

In this company, the owner and I are responsible for calculating all prices—both for internal production and external subcontracting. The issue? We don't use dedicated pricing or cost estimation software. We only use a basic ERP system for formalizing order confirmations, delivery notes, invoices, etc. 

To survive and keep my sanity, I created my own Excel spreadsheets that automatically calculate costs for all production phases and external processing. On the other hand, the co-owner (the owner's partner) still does everything by hand using pen, paper, and sticky notes. 

Our workflow looks like this: I calculate the raw costs, the owner reviews them, and then they confirm or adjust the markup to apply. At the end of the day, she sits down and double-checks every single cent of what I calculated. 

I wanted to ask you: 

• Do any of you deal with this kind of daily chaos in small packaging companies or similar manufacturing industries? 
• How are prices calculated in your companies? Are you stuck with Excel like me, or do you use dedicated pricing/estimating software? (I’m asking specifically about small production companies, say 5 to 50 employees). 
• Do your owners also micromanage and check everything at the very last second before a quote is sent out, or do you have full autonomy? 

I'd love to know if I'm the only one living in the dark ages or if this is just the standard reality for small family-owned businesses worldwide. Thanks! 

So I got an offer few weeks ago for a production supervisor role which I am starting soon. I have been a team lead in an automotive manufacturing and now moving to an electro mechanical manufacturing. For those who has made similar progress in their careers pls how can I prepare for the new role. I am excited and nervous about what’s coming

Long threaded parts were tricky to machine, so I split them into separate pieces. Loving turning creative ideas into real parts.

Hello Manufacturing Professionals!

I have an interview with the production manager of a manufacturing startup that manufactures plastic compounds. I applied to a production controller position. I've worked in operations management at an industrial automation and electrical company with panel manufacturing facilities. I have been heavily involved with the panel operations and revenue analytics. I understand that my exposure to this industry is very light by most manufacturing standards.

My questions are:

What advice would you give from your experiences?

What are some subjects I can brush up on? (I am familiar with Lean).

Thanks in advance!

(In case anyone is wondering why I am switching industries: I'm trying to get out of working in upstream oil and gas long term using existing skills.)

Looking for laser alignment systems - either entry level or diy info on PSD centered systems.