2023 CONFERENCE PROGRAM

NORTHWEST MACHINE TOOL EXPO

Wednesday, May 10, 2023
8:40 AM - 9:40 AMSession 1: Metal 3D Printing Vs MachiningChirag Kapoor - Indicate Technologies, Inc. , Additive Manufacturing Specialist

The ability to produce complex metal parts easily and affordably without any tooling makes metal 3D printing very attractive. Join this presentation to learn specifically about how metal 3D printing compares to traditional CNC machining. A comparison of material properties, part economics, and throughput will all be discussed.

9:50 AM - 10:50 AMSession 2: Achieving Affordable Real-World Manufacturing Solutions Through Advanced TechnologyMark Harris - CNC Machine Services, Inc. , President

Innovations using advanced manufacturing play a critical role in being competitive in today’s global market. Discover emerging manufacturing technologies and automation ideas including robotics, A.I, and additive manufacturing. These technologies offer affordability, design freedom, streamlined production, and cost reduction. Gain ideas that can provide multiple benefits for your company. The future of manufacturing is today.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PMSession 3: A Practical Approach to Machining Best PracticesUrmaze Naterwalla - Oregon Manufacturing Innovation Center (OMIC) , Head of Research and Development

This presentation will discuss machining related best practices that are commonly not evident in classical education for the profession.  The technical and practical material covered is based on years of real-world experience in global manufacturing environments.  The session is a good launch platform for individuals who are looking to enhance their skills in machining, with of focus on relating fundamental concepts to advanced troubleshooting.  Shop leads and managers who want to set best-practices standards would also find significant explicit and implicit takeaways.  This seminar is directed to the needs of machine shop staff including operators, maintenance workers, NC programmers,  cutting tool specialists, shop leads, and manufacturing managers. Gain information that will help you relate the basic concepts of metal cutting with advanced machining solutions, with resultant benefits for your company. 

1:00 PM - 2:00 PMSession 4: R&D Tax Credit Rule Changes: Section 174 and the New IRS ProceduresRick Kleban - Sycamore Growth Group, LLC , President

In 2022, a change to the Section 174 tax code requires companies to amortize their research and experimentation (R&E) expenses over five years instead of immediately expensing them. Learn why engineering-focused companies are concerned that this could increase their tax liability as much as five times. While many accounting firms are advising companies to amortize all project expenses, our research shows this advice is incorrect. During this session the speaker will discuss these rule changes and the new IRS procedures. You will leave with a solid understanding of how your company can continue expensing project costs, as you always have, saving you money.

Thursday, May 11, 2023
8:40 AM - 9:40 AMSession 5: How to Begin a Digital Transformation Strategy with 3D Metrology TechnologyGriffen Gout - Capture 3D , Capture 3D

Non-contact metrology-grade 3D scanners quickly collect millions of XYZ coordinate points from a part's surface, resulting in a complete digital copy of the physical part. While this 3D measurement data makes it faster and easier to compare actual data against CAD data, especially when working with complex parts, there are many additional ways advanced 3D metrology technologies enable continuous improvement of manufactured parts within a manufacturing or machine shop environment. This presentation will describe how to apply 3D measurement data from an accurate 3D scanner to begin a successful digital transformation strategy that yields benefits such as reduced product development cycles and costs and an overall shorter time-to-market.

9:50 AM - 10:50 AMSession 6: End Mill Troubleshooting and Proper Setup – What You Need to KnowDon Grandt - Harvey Performance Company, LLC , National Aapplication Engineer

Premature tool failure when it comes to end mills can be avoided. Join us for a detailed seminar on how to identify when your tools are wearing, and how to combat it. The speaker will explore troubleshooting and proper setup techniques to get the most out of your tools.

11:00 AM - 12:00 PMSession 7: Ways to Cope With Labor Shortages in ManufacturingTami Trout - Oregon Manufacturing Extension Partnership (OMEP) , Principal Consultant

For some time, manufacturers have been challenged with a shortage of labor, both skilled and unskilled – demand is greater than availability. The speaker will discuss some of the options manufacturers have, including training – both in-house and outsourced – and flex schedules for workers. Also discussed will be the aspect of new technologies, and how this fits in with the current situation.

1:00 PM - 2:00 PMSession 8: CNC Machine Errors and CalibrationLarry Sarkinen - Sarkinen Calibrating, LLC , Sarkinen Calibrating, LLC

This presentation will examine common causes of CNC machine errors and how they can be corrected via calibration. Recognizing and correcting machine error before producing parts is much more efficient than adjusting for each new run of parts.