AMTonline: Targeting Technology

Targeting Technology - May 2012

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

- Request for support on NFPA 79 Electrical Standard

- MPETAC Chair changes hands

- Defense Manufacturing Conference - 2012

Disruptive Technologies: Additive Manufacturing

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

Over the past 36 years technology’s basic definition has not significantly changed. What has changed is the increasing number of applications that are now associated with “technology.” In fact, some of these new areas of application are so novel that such technologies have been described as disruptive to the current way of doing business; this time disruptive is a good thing!

New faces join Manufacturing Technology Department

Tue, 08 May 2012 00:00:00 EST

AMT’s Manufacturing Technology Department has a new focus and some new staff members. The department will begin providing greater insight into technologies that are being investigated or requested by end users relative to member areas of expertise. The department has also positioned itself to better assist in the area of software and application needs and support to members in the understanding and implementation of MTConnect®.

Targeting Technology - April 2012

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST

- Connecticut Innovations and U.S. DoC to host event

- Manufacturing Extension Partnerships

- Manufacturing Division at NDIA

Manufacturing Technology Forum – Exploring the Forefront of Industry Innovations

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST

Again, AMT’s Technology Issues Committee hosted an excellent forum in which new ideas and industry-led innovations inspired participants to consider new technologies and their impact on manufacturing applications.  

The Manufacturing Technology Forum is held every 2 years. This year’s event took place in Orlando, Fla., just prior to The MFG Meeting. The forum brought together a diverse group of technology users, technology providers, and researchers to share information and to think about the trends on the shop floor today and to consider what might be necessary in the future.

Standardized methodology is required to evaluate energy requirements

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:00:00 EST

AMT and others have realized that to improve the energy requirements and environmental impacts of manufacturing processes, a standardized methodology is required to evaluate energy consumption of machine tools. Recently, a research project headed by Systems Insights, Inc. (Berkeley, Calif.), an AMT member, and supported by a government DoD prime contractor and another group, has developed a Baseline Energy Consumption (BEC) metric as a standard measurement tool and methodology to measure the energy consumption of a machine tool.

Dr. David Dornfeld receives Advancing Manufacturing Award

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST

The Technology Issues Committee of AMT created the Charles F. Carter Jr., Advancing Manufacturing Award to honor academia’s contribution to the advancement of manufacturing, especially related to members of AMT. This award is bestowed upon an active faculty member teaching at an accredited U.S. university who is recognized as contributing to the advancement of the manufacturing industry.

Update on ISO/TC 39 /SC10 (machine tool safety standards) international standards activity

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST

The international standards subcommittee ISO/TC 39 (home of ISO machine tool engineering specifications) was formed a few years ago with the purpose of using a fast-track process to  develop existing European CEN safety standards into  ISO standards via ISO/TC 39 /SC10 committee work. To do this, SC 10 has created a structure that mirrors the CEN/TC 143 (the European equivalent to B11) structure and created seven working groups.

Targeting Technology - March 2012

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST

- ANSI B11 Accredited Standards Committee leadership change

- Plan ahead to attend NAMRC 40

- Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTACs)

- B11 Standards meetings

MTConnect Institute - March 2012

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST

- Adoption of Version 1.2

- Institute news

- DoD Army notification program

- Technical Advisory Group meeting

SBIR/STTR funding opportunities

Fri, 16 Mar 2012 00:00:00 EST

Future Solicitation Schedule

SBIR/STTR program finally reauthorized

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

For those AMT members that have followed this over the last 3 years and 14 continuing resolutions, the story has a happy ending. With the president’s signing of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012 (H.R. 1540), the SBIR/STTR program has finally been reauthorized for 6 years and now has a termination date of Sept. 30, 2017. 

Targeting Technology - February 2012

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

- MPETAC meetings for 2012

- Patent fees

- Manufacturing Technology Forum will highlight innovation

- Future 2012 B11 Standards Meetings

MTConnect news

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:00:00 EST

- Adoption of Version 1.2

- Membership news

- DoD Army notification program

The Defense Manufacturing Conference is the place to learn about manufacturing for the DoD

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The Defense Manufacturing Conference (DMC) is an annual Conference that is hosted each year by either the Army, Navy, or Air Force ManTech (Manufacturing Technology) Program offices in a rotating sequence.

Targeting Technology - January 2012

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

- So you want to sell to the DoD

- MTConnect

New Year’s resolution? Begin the “write” way

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Make this the year that you submit a proposal to the federal government. There are several sources of funding available to AMT member companies or for those that wish to team with another company.

Strategies to mitigate targeted cyber intrusions

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

In October, SANS held the 2011 National Cybersecurity Innovation Conference. There were many interesting presentations about mitigating targeted attacks and securing cloud and mobile computing.

Targeting Technology - December 2011

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

- DoD TechMatch

- MTConnect

- B11 Meetings

American Precision Museum holds 12th Annual Model Engineering Show

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

For the 12th consecutive year the American Precision Museum (Windsor, Vt.) played host to some of the best model machinists in the northeastern United States and Canada. These machinists and hobbyists present some of the best examples of model engineering and every year the show attracts new enthusiasts who have a real love for machining and model making.

SBIR funding opportunities - December 2011

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Department of Defense (DoD) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 2012.1 Solicitation will begin accepting proposals Dec. 12 (www.dodsbir.net).  The solicitation closes on Jan. 11, 2012, at 6:00 a.m.

Targeting Technology - November 2011

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

– Defense Manufacturing Conference

– In-state resources provide assistance to AMT members

MTConnect® Institute has released “Getting Started with MTConnect – Connectivity Guide”

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 00:00:00 EST

The MTConnect Institute has recently released a new document entitled Getting Started with MTConnect - Connectivity Guide.

Targeting Technology - October 2011

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

- Functional Safety / Control System SURVEY

- Upcoming 2012 DoD SBIR/STTR Funding Opportunities

- NAMRC 39

- Future B11 Standards Meetings

Mastering precise manufacturing processes for critical parts

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

When it comes to manufacturing, few industries involve higher demands, stricter safety standards and tougher-to-machine materials than aerospace and automotive. In these industries, subpar surface quality or part integrity can mean life or death — and are simply unacceptable.

National SBIR/STTR Fall Conference to be held in New Orleans

Wed, 12 Oct 2011 00:00:00 EST

The main goal of the National SBIR/STTR Conference to be held in New Orleans, La., Nov. 6-9, is to assist companies in learning about the SBIR/STTR program and what it takes to win some of the more than $2 billion in U.S. government R&D investments.

Targeting Technology - September 2011

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

- Make your voice heard on export controls

- “Specially Designed” – not there yet

- B11 Meetings

MTConnect®Institute

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 00:00:00 EST

The MTConnect® Institute has sent Version 1.2 of the standard to the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for a required 90-day review period wherein the TAG members have a final opportunity to comment on the standard and also determine if it violates any copyright or patents they may hold.

Targeting Technology - August 2011

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

- Centralized Contractor Registration

- Upcoming SBIR/STTR funding opportunities

- Future B11 standards meetings

MTConnect® activity update - August 2011

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

The MTConnect® Institute has completed updating the draft of Version 1.2 of the MTConnect standard. There are now four parts to the standard with the introduction of a new Part 4 entitled “Assets.”

AMT Technology Issues Committee organizes the next Technology Forum

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

The AMT Technology Issues Committee (TIC) met last month at The Gleason Works in Rochester, N.Y., to discuss progress on their various projects. A key subject reviewed was the next AMT Manufacturing Technology Forum which will take place March 7 - 8, 2012, prior to The MFG Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

GTAB gets together at Caterpillar Tractor

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

The AMT Global Technology Advisory Board (GTAB) met recently at the Caterpillar Technical Center in Mossville, Ill. The Advisory Board is a group of executives representing users of AMT member products.

Bits & Bytes - American technology and the NASA Space Shuttle program

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 00:00:00 EST

We here at Bits & Bytes would like to extend our appreciation to American manufacturing and technology, without which the NASA Space Shuttle program could not have existed.

ISO-initiated standardization effort for environmental evaluation of machine tools

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

Based on a proposal from Japan in 2010, the ISO TC39 (Machine tools) committee established a new working group, ISO/TC39/WG12, to develop a series of standards related to environmental evaluation of machine tools. This effort coincides with the new efforts in the United States related to sustainable manufacturing, such as the Sustainable Manufacturing program at NIST; Sustainable Aerospace Manufacturing Initiative (SAMI) of the Air Force Manufacturing Technology; Energy Monitoring for Defense Readiness and Availability (EMDRA) effort by System Insights; as well as research activities conducted by the Laboratory for Manufacturing and Sustainability (LMAS) at the University of California, Berkeley.

Updated web browsers have enhanced privacy settings - Bits & Bytes July 2011

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

You may have noticed the release of updates to the most popular web browsers in mid-March. IE 9, Firefox 4 and Chrome 10 all promise a speedier browsing experience with enhanced privacy settings. The big push for all of these browsers is to allow the users to block or opt-out of tracking cookies easily instead of having to install a myriad of plug-ins or configure intricate settings.

SBIR advice: listen, learn, and leverage

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

A small business that applies for SBIR/STTR funds should view the solicitation topic author or sponsoring Acquisition Program as their client.

Targeting Technology - July 2011

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

- Defense Manufacturing Conference call for abstracts

- Defense University Research Instrumentation Program proposed budgets for next year

MTConnect® activity update - July 2011

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

- New Technical Advisory Group Members

- June TAG Meeting

- MC2 - MTConnect Manufacturing Conference

American Precision Museum exhibit project wins National Endowment for the Humanities grant

Mon, 11 Jul 2011 00:00:00 EST

Shaping America: Machines and Machinists at Work, a new permanent exhibition at the museum, will open May 2014, thanks to a 3-year grant of $340,000 from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The exhibit will showcase the museum’s unparalleled collection of historic precision machine tools and tell how the historic armory that today houses the museum served as an incubator for the machine tool industry.

Targeting Technology - June 2011

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

- Export reforms - deep-hole-drilling machines

- SBIR – why should I care?

- SBIR - funding opportunities

- B11 standards meetings

MTConnect® activity update - June 2011

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

- New Technical Advisory Group members

- June TAG Meeting

- [MC]2 MTConnect: Connecting Manufacturing Conference

- MTConnect Standard – Version 1.2

TIC Views - Sustainability and machine design

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

Sustainability initiatives are one of the biggest trends in the machine tool industry today. OEM machine builders promote it, customers demand it, and yet much of the subject of sustainability is misunderstood.

Is it time to consider online backup? - Bits & Bytes - June 2011

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 00:00:00 EST

Computer backups – something everyone should do, but we often forget or put it off until later. With all of the cloud computing service options, it is easier than ever to safeguard your data from disaster. There are many cloud options available: the free 5 GB of storage available to Amazon users as Amazon Cloud Drive, the 25 GB of free storage in Windows Live Sky Drive, and/or many paid services like Carbonite and Mozy. A number of them can perform automatic backups to save time and effort.

Targeting Technology - May 2011

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

– Doug Woods to give keynote address at Manufacturing Innovations 2011

– SBIR/STTR National Conference

– Future 2011 B11 Standards Meetings

MTConnect® activity update - May 2011

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

– New Technical Advisory Group members

– Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting

– [MC]2 MTConnect: Connecting Manufacturing Conference

– MTConnect standard – Version 1.2

Collaborating in the cloud

Fri, 06 May 2011 00:00:00 EST

Companies of all sizes are taking advantage of cloud collaboration tools. From assigning tasks, to internal wikis and intranets, to full-blown project management, there is an option waiting for you on the web.

Targeting Technology - April 2011

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

- Manufacturing Extension Partnership

- Machining assistance provided

- Defense Manufacturing Conference - 2011

- American Precision Museum

- Future B11 Standards Meetings

MTConnect® activity update - April 2011

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

The MTConnect® TAG met on March 23 in St. Petersburg, Fla., hosted by General Dynamics - OTS. The meeting, with over 50 attendees, reviewed the status of changes being proposed for Version 1.2 of the standard.

Bits & Bytes - March 2011

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

Ever wonder why you keep getting “Update Available” for your Adobe products even though it seems like you just processed an update a couple of days ago?

Targeting Technology - March 2011

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

- Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACS)

- Have AMT look for solicitation topics

- Plan ahead to attend NAMRC 39

- Future B11 standards meetings

MTConnect® activity update - March 2011

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

The MTConnect® Institute is in the process of conducting two studies and is asking for your help in these efforts.

Upcoming SBIR/STTR funding opportunities - March 2011

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

The Department of Defense (DoD) Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) 2011 Solicitation began accepting proposals Feb. 28. The solicitation closes on March 30 at 6:00 a.m. Below is a possible topic of interest to AMT members or their customers. There may be others, so please scan through the listings.

OMAX wins SBIR contract from NSF

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 00:00:00 EST

OMAX® Corp. has won another SBIR Phase II from the federal government. This time it is from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and is entitled “Development of Subminiature Abrasive-Waterjet Nozzles toward Micromachining.” Their effort proposes to develop micro abrasive-waterjet (µAWJ) technology for automated machining features between 50 to 100 microns.

Targeting Technology - February 2011

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

- Safety standards

- Patent fees

- MPETAC meetings for 2011

- B11 Standards meetings

MTConnect® activity update - February 2011

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

- New Technical Advisory Group members

- New Version of .NET Agent SDK

- MTConnect Education, Marketing and Evangelism Group

- Sensors Group

- Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting

National SBIR Conference theme will be growing innovation

Mon, 07 Feb 2011 00:00:00 EST

The next National SBIR/STTR Conference – Growing the Innovation Ecosystem – will be held on April 11-13, 2011, in Madison, Wis.

Targeting Technology - January 2011

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

The one single error that most companies and investigators make in the competition and proposal process is not asking for a debriefing. In all solicitations the government is required to provide a rationale to all non-selected submissions IF THEY ASK for one in a timely manner, usually within 5 days of receiving a denial notification.

 - Future 2011 B11 Standards Meetings

MTConnect® activity update - January 2011

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

 - New Technical Advisory Group members

 - Institute announcements

 - First annual MTConnect conference, planned for November 2011

 - Technical Advisory Group meeting is scheduled for March 22-23 in St. Petersburg, Fla.

 - New groups

Start off your new year “write” and submit a proposal

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

Although it is only January, the federal government has money to spend. There are several sources of funding available to AMT member companies or for those that wish to team with another company.

DMC 2010 was well attended

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:00:00 EST

This year’s Defense Manufacturing Conference (DMC 2010), held in Las Vegas, Nev., turned out to be one of the best attended Department of Defense (DoD) Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) events ever. There were more than a thousand in attendance with an exhibit area showcasing some 150 exhibitors.

Targeting Technology - December 2010

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

 - So you want to sell to Dod?

 - Received a government award? Tell us!

 - Eleventh Annual Model Engineering Show

 - B11 Meetings

MTConnect® activity update - December 2010

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

 - New Technical Advisory Group members

 - New implementers of MTConnect

 - The first annual MTConnect Conference

 - Technical Advisory Group meeting

Upcoming SBIR/STTR funding opportunities - December 2010

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST

The Department of Defense Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) 20011.1 Solicitation begins accepting proposals Dec. 13. The solicitation closes on Jan. 12, 2011, at 6:00 a.m.

Web resources for information and a little fun

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST

We thought we would share some of our favorite web resources with you. For daily security updates, we check with the Internet Storm Center at SANS: isc.sans.edu. The ISC is a volunteer team that keeps an eye out for threats and vulnerabilities and will point to any resources available to help mitigate the issue. USCERT, www.us-cert.gov, also provides a listing of vulnerabilities and provides the information for technical and non-technical users.

Targeting Technology - November 2010

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST

– In-state resources provide assistance to AMT members

– Export controls – do you want a say in regulations?

MTConnect® activity update - November 2010

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST

– New Technical Advisory Group members

– Technical Advisory Group meeting

– DMC 2010

Defense Manufacturing Conference brings together variety of participants

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST

The Defense Manufacturing Conference (DMC) is our nation’s best and largest forum for technologists, engineers, managers, leaders and policy makers in the defense manufacturing industrial base. The 2010 DMC is hosted by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Missile Defense Agency. DMC 2010 will reflect a growing blend of tradition and change.

Online solutions provide staff training

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST

Frequent and effective staff training is important to the continued success of any organization. Training is often best when done away from the workplace but finding time to get out of the office for computer training is almost impossible these days. We have found that online training can take care of some of these needs by helping staff learn and stay current on the skills they need to be productive.

Targeting Technology - October 2010

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST

– Coalition on Manufacturing Technology Infrastructure meets

– Lion Precision receives NASA award

– Future standards meetings

MTConnect® activity update

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST

IMTS was a great success for everyone and particularly for MTConnect. The institute had almost 300 interested attendees and technology providers in the MTConnect booth asking questions about the standard and expressing interest in the institute.

SBIR National Conference and funding opportunities

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST

The main goal of the National SBIR/STTR Conference in Oklahoma City, Okla., is to learn about the SBIR/STTR program — how to apply for and what it takes to win some of the more than $2 billion in U.S. government R&D investments.

Targeting Technology - September 2010

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

- Get involved – they are your export controls

- ISO Standards in review

- Upcoming ANSI B11/Standards meetings

SBIR/STTR funding opportunities

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

This solicitation contains research topics from the Air Force, Army, Navy, DARPA, Missile Defense Agency (MDA), Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), and the Office of the Secretary of Defense. The DLA’s broad manufacturing topic applies to almost all AMT members. Additionally, the DoD has decided to issue two STTR solicitations each year. The STTR 2010-B solicitation is released as part of the DoD SBIR solicitation and has topics from the Air Force, Navy, OSD, and the MDA.

News from the MTConnect® Institute - September 2010

Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:00:00 EST

- New Technical Advisory Group members

- The Verifier is here

- I/Gear online blog

- First free app to debut at IMTS

- Technical Advisory Group meeting

Targeting Technology - August 2010

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

– Centralized Contractor Registration

– AMT's Global Technology Advisory Board (GTAB)

– Upcoming SBIR/STTR funding opportunities

– SkillsUSA Precision Machining Technology winners

News from the MTConnect® Institute - August 2010

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

– Membership in the TAG

– Status of MTConnect at IMTS

Have a BlackBerry? Leave the laptop at home

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 00:00:00 EST

Are you tired of taking your laptop along on a trip just to make a presentation? If you have a BlackBerry and access to a projector, you can make a Microsoft PowerPoint or PDF presentation using the BlackBerry Presenter.

Targeting Technology - July 2010

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

- Defense Manufacturing Conference call for abstracts

- MPETAC export control meeting

- Missile Defense Agency Industry Day

News from the MTConnect® Institute

Wed, 07 Jul 2010 00:00:00 EST

- IMTS 2010

- MTConnect Version 1.1.0

- Next MTCTAC meeting