Coming soon… A new IMTS+ video series sharing the stories connecting passions in technology/manufacturing to the personal passions of our community. Each episode will tell the story of a unique passion project, industry collaboration, friendship, opportunity in workforce and manufacturing, and the beauty and correlation of; music and manufacturing, design and manufacturing, pets and sustainability and manufacturing, and others to come.Episode 1Passion Project: The Harmony of Art & TechnologyArt and technology blended harmoniously in a collaboration between legendary music manufacturer C.F. Martin & Co. and manufacturing technology giants Mazak and Renishaw—resulting in an improved guitar fabrication process.Manufacturing MusicWhen the notes fit together just right, you are making music. When the parts fit together just right, you are manufacturing music. A unique collaboration brought legendary guitar manufacturer since 1833, Martin Guitar and two manufacturing giants, Mazak and Renishaw, together to automate and enhance an age-old process for building world-class guitars. Together, the companies created an innovative approach that blends the craftsmanship of instrument making with the precision of manufacturing. Their project highlights the harmony of art and technology. The PlayersWhen Lou Goffredo, the Engineering Services Manager at Martin Guitar, went to IMTS – The International Manufacturing Technology Show, he was seeking a solution to a long-standing challenge—the manual freizing process. A time consuming and labor-intensive endeavor, manual freizing involves cutting a channel around the perimeter of a guitar body to install decorative elements. Martin Guitar is dedicated to constantly improving the quality of both their instruments and processes. With the full support of third-generation chairman and CEO Chris Martin, Lou set out to find automation solutions.At IMTS, Goffredo met Bill Curtis, the applications engineering manager at Mazak, and Dan Skulan, the general manager of industrial metrology at Renishaw. They immediately connected. They were all proud to work for family-run or owned businesses and eager to work together.After months developing the ideal solution, Martin Guitar, Mazak, and Renishaw had a prototype and were ready for test cutting.After nearly two years on the floor, the process improvement created by Mazak, Renishaw, and Martin Guitar has proven itself. The proof is in the performance. Along with collaboration comes strong partnership, all three managers are quick to point out that; the success they achieved wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing work of the talented people on each of their teams. Whether you are learning chord progressions or programming a machine, there are many parallel skills required for both music and manufacturing. The art of making outstanding instruments blended perfectly with the technology capabilities of modern manufacturing in this partnership. This story is part of a new IMTS+ series “Passion Project,” highlighting the use of manufacturing to realize visions and supercharge pastimes. We’ll meet the people and companies who are turning their interests and passions into futuristic endeavors that will inspire and excite. This story is excerpted from Episode 1: The Harmony of Art & Technology (HART). The episode will premiere on IMTS+ on IMTS.com/PassionProjectHART late fall 2024/early 2025.
Coming soon... A new IMTS+ video series sharing the stories connecting passions in technology/manufacturing to the personal passions of our community.