It’s safe to say that machine tools are pretty important. They play a vital role in producing, forming, and shaping a variety of materials — anything from furniture legs, musical instruments, and candlesticks to gun barrels.
Machining services have helped to improve and advance society for hundreds of years. In fact, the bow lathe is recognized as the first machine tool ever created, believed to be made by the Ancient Egyptians.
Industrial machine parts are used in machine tool services for shaping and machining metal and other hard materials.
American Machinist reports that U.S. sales of machine tools dropped for the month of August by 10.2%. The sales figures represented the second consecutive month of decline for sales of everything from lathes to arc welding equipment, coming in at only $285.92 million for August.
Have you been putting off essential maintenance for your machine tools?
A quality new hydraulic shear will set you back upwards of $8,000. Even the most affordable punch press machines will cost you more than $1,300, while the latest lathe models can cost $15,000 and up.
The very first and most primitive machine tools were handcrafted as early as 1200 BC. Since then, a lot of things have changed, but the physics principles behind the tools found in machine shops remain entirely the same.
The most recent numbers for U.S. machine tool orders are in, according to American Machinist, and it appears things are steady but not outstanding.
The cost of rebuilding tools is already staggering, but to add on top of that the cost and hassle of transporting them to a machine shop? It can make you want to forget about ever owning the tools in the first place.
Machines have been the backbone of industry for over a century, and despite recent advances in technology, it’s safe to say that humans will depend on machines for centuries to come.