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WIA Machine Tools: 50 Years of Innovation, Precision, and Manufacturing ProgressFor nearly 50 years, WIA Machine Tools has helped shape the future of precision manufacturing. From its beginnings in 1976 to its position today as a global CNC machine tool brand, WIA’s story is one of engineering discipline, continuous...

When manufacturers think about robotic automation, the first thought is often simple: make more parts.That is certainly part of the value. A robot can load and unload a machine consistently, run through breaks, and keep a spindle turning longer than a manual process alone. But the real business case for automation g...

Base Case: A $110,000 (all-in) machine tending system financed with 20% down at 7.0% generates approximately $20,865 of positive annual cash flow after debt service, based solely on a fully burdened labor rate of $26.78 per hour and a conservative 75% labor savings assumption. The initial $22,000 cash investment is ...

CNC Machine Tending Automation: Common Questions Machine Shops Should Ask Before Getting Started

GRINDERSAt Hillary Machinery, we pride ourselves on being a one-stop-shop for top quality GRINDERS equipment. Providing a wide range of comprehensive choices specially designed to meet your unique needs. We have a longstanding reputation in offering superior GRINDERS equipment that are renowned for their durability,...

A Swiss turning center is a type of CNC lathe that produces small, intricate parts with high precision. It's also known as a Swiss-style lathe or sliding headstock machine.

Perhaps the biggest mistake we see customers making when transitioning to CNC automation is going with an out-of-state or inexperienced supplier. We see this all the time, and we often get calls from companies needing service and support on the CNC automation systems they purchased from an out-of-state integrator o...

If you have a CNC with an automatic tool changer, hydraulic chuck, rotary table, or bar feeder, then you have already been investing in automating your processes to reduce labor and handling costs and increase productivity, efficiency and profitability.  CNC robotic machine tending is just another way of doing the s...

Horizontal bandsaws hold the workpiece stationary while the blade swings down through the cut. This configuration is used to cut long materials such as pipe or bar stock to length. Thus it is an important part of the facilities in most machine shops.

A turning center is a machine that performs precision machining operations, such as turning, multi-tasking, and sub-spindle capabilities. Turning centers are used to produce parts for a variety of industries, including aerospace, automotive, construction, and medical.

A machining center is a computer-controlled machine that can perform a variety of machining operations, such as drilling, milling, and boring. Machining centers are used in many industries, including automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing.

AUTOMATION & ROBOTICSWhen it comes to AUTOMATION & ROBOTICS equipment, Hillary Machinery stands out as a trusted name. Our extensive inventory showcases top brands such as HYUNDAI ROBOTICS, HANWHA ROBOTICS, MURATEC MURATA, FANUC ROBOTICS, HILLARY MACHINERY, and EasyRobotics. Whether you’re seeking cutting-edge robot...

"Tool Room CNC" refers to a CNC machine, typically a mill or lathe within a manufacturing facility, where specialized tools like jigs, fixtures, and dies are made, repaired, and stored; these machines are designed for high precision work, frequent tool changes, and often utilize conversational programming

A "gang style lathe" refers to a type of lathe machine that is designed to simultaneously use multiple cutting tools (often called "gangs") on a single workpiece, allowing for the machining of multiple features or profiles on a part in one operation, typically with very high precision and efficiency on CNC machines....

Vertical Turning Vs. Horizontal TurningVertical lathes offer advantages such as easier loading of heavy workpieces and better handling of large diameters, but they have distinct advantages for smaller diameters too.Vertical turning of smaller diameters offers advantages like easier loading and clamping of heavy work...

As of February 2025, the average hourly pay for a CNC operator in Texas was: $22.03/HrHowever using the Labor Cost Calculator, and after considering ALL the additional costs:Payroll taxes,Overtime,Health care,Bonuses,Sick days,Vacation days,Insurance,Benefits,Supplies, andTraining costs......it's more like:$25.34/Hr...

A vertical turning center (VTC) is a machine that combines a turning center and a vertical lathe. It has a spindle and chuck that are positioned vertically, which is different from a horizontal turning center.

A vertical machining center (VMC) is a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine that uses a spindle to cut workpieces from above. VMCs are a key part of modern manufacturing, and are used in many industries, including aerospace, automotive, and medical devices.

A cylindrical grinder is a machine that shapes the outside of an object with a central axis of rotation. They are used in manufacturing and metalworking to finish, refine, and shape cylindrical workpieces.

A toolroom mill is a compact milling machine used for precision machining in toolrooms, labs, and schools. Toolroom mills are designed to be space-saving and versatile, and are often used for prototyping, tool and die manufacturing, and small-scale production.

A toolroom lathe is optimized for lower production of a high mix of workpieces. Since they change machining jobs often, they are easier to program and changeover the set-up from job to job than a standard turning center.

A surface grinder is a machine tool used to provide precision ground surfaces, either to a critical size or for the surface finish. The typical precision of a surface grinder depends on the type and usage, however ±0.002 mm (±0.0001 in) should be achievable on most surface grinders.

In a nutshell, they consist of a rotating worktable with a grinding wheel mounted above. A magnetic chuck clamps the part (or many small parts) to the table, which spins beneath the grinding wheel in the opposite direction. This action makes for efficient high material removal.

Basic robotic machine tending automates simple steps such as loading raw materials into CNCs and unloading finished parts.

A robotic palletizer is a machine that uses a robotic arm to stack products onto pallets. They are used in manufacturing and packaging to automate the process of stacking and organizing products.

NC rotary tables and indexers are precision tools used to position workpieces at specific angles during CNC machining. They are also known as CNC indexing tables, 4th axis or 4th and 5th axis table

The defining characteristic of multi-axis lathes is their ability to move and control the cutting tool in multiple directions simultaneously. This simultaneous motion allows for intricate and complex machining operations in a single setup.

A horizontal machining center (HMC) is a machining center with its spindle in a horizontal orientation. This machining center design favors uninterrupted production work. One reason for this is that the horizontal orientation encourages chips to fall away, so they don't have to be cleared from the table.

A horizontal boring mill is a machine tool that machines, drills and bores holes, pockets and cavities in a horizontal direction, and there are three types including floor, table, and planer. Boring mills allow for extremely large parts to be easily machined and allows end-users to reach small cavities

A drill tap center is a machine that can drill, tap, and mill materials. They are designed to be compact and powerful, and can be used for a variety of applications, including working with metals, plastics, and printed circuit boards.