In aerospace and defense manufacturing, aerospace sheet metal fabrication plays a critical role in producing high-performance components that must operate reliably under extreme conditions. Aerospace sheet metal fabrication is a specialized manufacturing process used to form, cut, and assemble metal components for aircraft and defense applications where precision, strength, and compliance are non-negotiable. We spoke with Jared Graening, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Geater Machining and Manufacturing Co.

For engineers and sourcing professionals, understanding how this process works – from materials to methods to regulatory requirements – helps reduce risk, improve manufacturability, and ensure consistent part performance across production runs.

What Aerospace Sheet Metal Fabrication Involves

Aerospace sheet metal fabrication sits within the broader category of metal forming and assembly processes. It converts flat metal stock into complex, functional components through a sequence of controlled operations including cutting, forming, and joining.

Unlike general fabrication, aerospace applications demand tighter tolerances, stricter documentation, and repeatable outcomes across long production lifecycles. Even minor variation can impact structural integrity, weight, or system compatibility.

Materials Used in Aerospace Applications

Material selection is foundational to aerospace sheet metal fabrication. Common materials include:

·         Aluminum alloys (e.g., 2024, 7075) for high strength-to-weight performance

·         Titanium alloys (e.g., Ti-6Al-4V) for strength and heat resistance

·         Nickel-based superalloys (e.g., Inconel 718) for extreme temperature environments

Each material introduces unique forming characteristics and constraints. Aluminum may require compensation for springback, while titanium demands careful heat control during welding. Understanding these behaviors is essential to maintaining dimensional accuracy and long-term durability.

Core Fabrication Techniques

Precision outcomes rely on a combination of advanced fabrication techniques, including:

·         Laser cutting for high-accuracy profiles and minimal heat distortion

·         Press brake bending for controlled angles and repeatable forming

·         TIG welding for clean, high-integrity joints in thin-gauge materials

These processes are often supported by CNC-controlled equipment to ensure consistency across both prototypes and production volumes. Process sequencing and fixturing also play a major role in preventing distortion and maintaining tolerances.

Standards and Compliance Requirements

Aerospace sheet metal fabrication must align with rigorous quality frameworks and regulatory requirements. Common standards include:

·         AS9100 for aerospace quality management systems

·         ISO 9001:2015 for general manufacturing quality control

·         ITAR for handling defense-related components and data

Compliance requires more than certification – it demands full traceability of materials, documented processes, and validated inspection results. These controls ensure that every component meets both engineering specifications and regulatory expectations.

Typical Outputs and Applications

The outputs of aerospace sheet metal fabrication support a wide range of systems and assemblies. Common components include:

These parts must integrate seamlessly into larger assemblies, often alongside machined components and electronic systems. Dimensional accuracy and consistency are critical to avoiding downstream fitment issues.

Engineering Collaboration and Manufacturability

Early collaboration between design and fabrication teams improves outcomes across the board. By applying design-for-manufacturability (DFM) principles, teams can:

This approach reduces lead times, lowers costs, and improves overall product reliability.

Real-World Application

Geater Machining & Manufacturing Company, located in Independence, Iowa, demonstrates how disciplined processes and integrated fabrication capabilities support demanding aerospace requirements. By combining advanced equipment with structured quality systems, their team helps ensure that fabricated components meet tight tolerances, comply with industry standards, and perform reliably in mission-critical environments.

Closing Perspective

As aerospace systems continue to evolve, the importance of aerospace sheet metal fabrication will only increase. Understanding the materials, techniques, and compliance frameworks behind this process enables engineers and sourcing professionals to make better decisions – supporting performance, reliability, and long-term program success.

Author Bio

If you run a cannabis dispensary in Oregon, your video surveillance system is part of your license, not just part of your security. The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) uses your cameras to confirm you’re following the rules, investigate complaints, and, if needed, build a case for sanctions.

I’m Stephen Arndt, President of Cannabis Technology Partners, and I’ve seen two very different kinds of Oregon operators:

• Those who treat cameras as a one-time line item.
  
  
  
• Those who treat surveillance as part of their compliance strategy.
  
  
  

Only one of those groups sleeps well during an OLCC inspection.

This guide breaks down what the Oregon rules really say and how to translate them into a practical camera layout for dispensaries—so you don’t end up with a Category III violation over a blind spot you didn’t know you had.

What OLCC Actually Requires (in Plain English)

Important note on Oregon rules

OLCC security and video surveillance requirements are updated over time. This article is meant to help you think through camera strategy—it isn’t legal advice or a substitute for the rules themselves. Always confirm the latest regulations directly from the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission and review our live Cannabis Security Compliance by State overview before making final decisions.

Oregon’s surveillance rules live in four main sections of OAR Division 25:

• OAR 845-025-1430 – Video Surveillance Equipment
  
  
  
• OAR 845-025-1440 – Required Camera Coverage and Camera Placement
  
  
  
• OAR 845-025-1450 – Video Recording Requirements for Licensed Facilities
  
  
  
• OAR 845-025-1460 – Location and Maintenance of Surveillance Equipment
  
  
  

Here’s what that boils down to for a retail store.

1. Equipment & System Basics (1430)

Your dispensary must have a fully operational video surveillance system that includes:

• Digital or network video recorders (NVR/DVR)
  
  
  
• Cameras that meet the recording standards in 1450
  
  
  
• Monitors and archiving devices
  
  
  
• At least one monitor on site capable of viewing video
  
  
  
• A failure notification system that alerts an authorized rep within one hour if the system goes down
  
  
  
• Battery backup sufficient to record for at least one hour during a power outage
  
  
  

All non-mounted surveillance equipment and recordings must be stored in a locked, secure area (that ties into 1460).

2. Where You Must Have Cameras (1440)

OAR 845-025-1440 is the “where” rule. For a licensed premises, OLCC expects camera coverage of:

• All points of ingress and egress to and from the premises
  
  
  
• All limited access areas
  
  
  
• All consumer sales areas (your sales floor)
  
  
  
• All doors into or out of limited access areas
  
  
  
• The surveillance room or area
  
  
  
• Any other area OLCC believes is a public safety risk
  
  
  
• All places where marijuana waste is stored, destroyed, or rendered unusable
  
  
  

For a dispensary, this effectively means: if cannabis, cash, or waste is there—or you get in or out through there—OLCC expects to see it on camera.

3. How the Cameras Must Record (1450)

This is the heart of Oregon’s cannabis video standard. For all required areas, a licensee must have cameras that:

• Continuously record 24 hours a day
  
  
  
• Record at a minimum resolution of 1280×720 (720p)
  
  
  
• Record at 10 frames per second (fps) or better
  
  
  
• Can record in all lighting conditions, including in the absence of visible light
  
  
  
• Embed an accurate date/time stamp without obscuring what’s happening
  
  
  
• Keep at least 90 calendar days of surveillance recordings on-site (for any license issued or renewed after August 31, 2016)
  
  
  

OLCC also ties surveillance failures directly to violation categories:

• Maintaining less than 90 days but more than 30 days of footage can be treated as a Category III violation.
  
  
  
• Failing to have recordings during suspected diversion periods can escalate into Category I territory, which is where license revocation lives.
  
  
  

4. Where the Surveillance Gear Lives (1460)

The surveillance room or area must:

• Be located in a limited access area
  
  
  
• Be locked and secure
  
  
  
• Restrict access to the licensee, their reps, and authorized personnel only
  
  
  

And you must be able to demonstrate, on demand, that you can pull and export recordings for OLCC.

Designing an OLCC-Ready Dispensary Camera Layout

Even though the rules apply to all license types, let’s zoom in on retailers.

From what I’ve seen in Oregon, a typical, reasonably sized dispensary ends up with 15–25 cameras once you truly cover every required area:

• Entry, lobby, and waiting
  
  
  
• Sales floor and POS
  
  
  
• Inventory and storage
  
  
  
• Cash room or safe
  
  
  
• Back-of-house hallways and doors
  
  
  
• Waste and destruction area
  
  
  
• Surveillance room door
  
  
  

You don’t have to submit your camera count in the rule text—but you do have to show OLCC a premises map that includes all camera locations with unique identifiers.

Floor Plan Concepts That Work in Oregon

From both OLCC guidance and industry best practices, a few design patterns keep you out of trouble:

• Put vaults and safes away from exterior walls.
  
  
  
• Keep public restrooms near the front, not next to storage or back-of-house.
  
  
  
• Separate public and limited access physically: secure doors, hallways, and controlled transitions.
  
  
  
• Use overlapping camera angles in any area where cannabis or cash is present.
  
  
  

Think of it as concentric rings:

1. Perimeter – doors, parking, exterior walls
   
   
   
2. Public interior – lobby, waiting, sales floor
   
   
   
3. Limited access – inventory, back hallways, staff areas
   
   
   
4. Core risk zones – vault, cash room, waste area, surveillance room
   
   
   

Your camera plan should tighten as you move toward the center.

Oregon Dispensary: Room-by-Room Camera Strategy

Here’s how I’d think about placement if we’re designing an Oregon retail shop from scratch.

Entrance, Lobby, and Check-In

Regulatory hook: ingress/egress + consumer sales areas.

• Door cam: Inside the main entrance, angled to capture faces and bodies as people come through.
  
  
  
• Reception cam: Over or behind the check-in desk, documenting ID verification and check-in steps.
  
  
  
• Lobby cam: Wide-angle covering seating, the path to the sales floor, and secondary doors.
  
  
  

This is where OLCC will often ask you to pull footage first—especially if there’s a complaint about sales to a minor or loitering.

Sales Floor / Consumer Sales Area

Regulatory hook: consumer sales area and any place where marijuana products are visible or handled.

• POS cameras: One dedicated camera per register, capturing:
  
  
  
• Cash drawer
  
  
  
• Budtender’s hands
  
  
  
• Customer’s face and hands
  
  
  
• Product transfer
  
  
  
• Overhead floor cams: Additional fixed cameras that show the entire sales floor—cases, displays, and lines.
  
  
  

If OLCC can’t tell what’s happening at the register—or can’t see cannabis moving from display to customer—that’s a problem.

Inventory & Storage (Limited Access)

Regulatory hook: limited access areas and areas where marijuana items are present.

• Door coverage: Camera aimed at the inventory room door, clearly capturing faces.
  
  
  
• Overhead coverage: Two or more cameras covering all shelving and storage racks with overlapping fields of view.
  
  
  
• Workstation coverage: Clear view of scales, packaging tables, and any spot where product is broken down, weighed, or labeled.
  
  
  

This is also where many internal-theft investigations start—footage here has to be crystal clear.

Cash Room and Safe

While “cash room” isn’t named directly, OLCC expects comprehensive coverage for high-risk areas and inside the premises, and these rooms often sit inside limited access.

• Door cam: Inside the door, capturing anyone entering or exiting.
  
  
  
• Counting cam: Over the main cash table, angled to show counting, bundling, and bagging.
  
  
  
• Safe cam: Camera directly facing the safe or vault door, capturing who opens it and what’s removed.
  
  
  

In a dispute over missing cash, OLCC, your insurer, and your own accounting team will all want to see this footage.

Waste Storage & Destruction

Regulatory hook: all areas where marijuana waste is stored, destroyed, or rendered unusable.

• Waste storage cam: Covers locked bins, cages, or waste drums.
  
  
  
• Destruction cam: Clearly records the rendering process (grinding, mixing, etc.) so OLCC can verify product is unusable.
  
  
  

This is one of the most overlooked camera locations I see—and an easy place for diversion if it’s not watched.

Back-of-House Hallways and Doors

Regulatory hook: ingress/egress and limited access transitions.

• Cameras covering:
  
  
  
• Staff entrance
  
  
  
• Hallways connecting sales, inventory, cash room, and the surveillance area
  
  
  
• Any door into or out of a limited access area
  
  
  

Think of these as the connective tissue—if someone is moving cannabis or cash, they’ll appear here.

Surveillance Room Door

Regulatory hook: location & maintenance of surveillance equipment.

• Camera on the exterior of the surveillance room door.
  
  
  
• Room itself locked and classified as a limited access area.
  
  
  

You don’t necessarily record inside the room, but OLCC wants to know who goes in and out where the NVR and camera controls live.

The OLCC Violation Traps We See Most Often

From OLCC rule text, bulletins, and settlement summaries, a few patterns keep showing up:

1. Retention Below 90 Days

• NVR configured to keep 60 or 75 days to “save space.”
  
  
  
• Older systems set up before August 2016 never upgraded.
  
  
  

Under 845-025-1450, less than 90 days of recordings can be treated as a violation on its own—and if OLCC is investigating suspected diversion during the missing period, things escalate quickly.

2. Missing or Weak Coverage in Required Areas

• No camera on the back door or employee entrance.
  
  
  
• Inventory shelves or a corner of the sales floor not visible due to poor angles.
  
  
  
• Waste handling area not on camera.
  
  
  

Rule 1440 lets OLCC treat any area where cannabis or waste is present—and any ingress/egress—as required coverage. If they can’t see it, they can cite it.

3. System Failures Without Notification

• Cameras down or NVR offline for several days.
  
  
  
• No failure notification system, or alerts going to an unmonitored email.
  
  
  

1430 requires a system that notifies an authorized representative within one hour of a prolonged failure. If an inspector walks in during an outage you didn’t catch or report, you’re in violation.

4. Poor Video Quality or Lighting

• Cameras technically 720p, but mounted too high or aimed poorly.
  
  
  
• Bright windows behind subjects, making faces silhouettes.
  
  
  
• Dark inventory rooms where cameras can’t capture detail.
  
  
  

OLCC doesn’t just want a recording—they want a recording where activity and individuals are clearly identifiable.

5. Insecure Surveillance Room

• Surveillance gear stored in an unlocked office.
  
  
  
• Multiple employees with access who don’t need it.
  
  
  

Under 1460, the surveillance room/area must be in a limited access area and properly secured; failure here can be part of a broader pattern of security violations.

What That Means for Sanctions

Under OLCC’s sanction schedule, a Category III violation (where many surveillance problems live) typically starts around a 10-day license suspension or a civil penalty in the low-thousands of dollars for a first offense. Repeat violations escalate quickly, and if OLCC ties surveillance failures to diversion or serious public safety concerns, you can end up in Category II or Category I territory.

In other words, it’s far cheaper to get the system right than to settle a violation.

How Cannabis Technology Partners Helps Oregon Dispensaries

You shouldn’t have to be a walking OAR reference to run a good shop.

At Cannabis Technology Partners, we work with Oregon retailers to:

• Review your current camera map against OAR 845-025-1430, 1440, 1450, and 1460.
  
  
  
• Design or refine your layout so every required area is clearly covered.
  
  
  
• Size storage and recording settings to meet the 720p / 10 fps / 90-day standard with buffer.
  
  
  
• Lock down and document your surveillance room and access controls.
  
  
  
• Set up health monitoring and failure alerts so you catch problems before OLCC does.
  
  
  
• Integrate cameras with your POS and access control systems to turn surveillance into a real compliance and investigation tool.
  

Many Thanks to Stephen Arndt of Cannabis Technology Partners.

Cannabis Technology Partners is offering a quick surveillance health check for your Oregon dispensary or if you’re planning a new build-out and want to get it right the first time—we can walk your floor plan room by room and make sure your cameras work for both security and compliance. Contact them at: 360-450-3687 or email them at: info＠cannabistechnologypartners.com

Benefits of Using a Cattle Cake Feeder
By: Marcus Van Vekerix

Cattle owners are always looking for the most efficient and fastest way to feed their livestock, whether that is feeding in a pasture or a yard. It’s all about saving time (time is money!), yet accomplishing the task with minimal waste and manpower.

First off, what is a cattle cake feeder? Cattle cake feeders, also called cube feeders, supplement feeders, or range feeders, are feeders designed to dispense solid feed supplements - commonly referred to as "cake" or "cubes" - to livestock. People often think cake feeders are used just for cattle, however they also work well for feeding sheep, bison, horses, and even deer and elk in the case of wildlife management. Typically, a cake feeder is mounted on a truck, ATV, or UTV, making it easy for ranchers to efficiently distribute feed across pastures without manual handling.

Ranchers’ needs may differ, however the universal benefits for using a cattle cake feeder over other traditional feeding methods are:

 1. Efficiency and Time Savings: Mechanized feeders allow for rapid and uniform distribution of feed, significantly reducing the time and labor required compared to manual feeding. This efficiency is particularly beneficial for large-scale operations.

2. Reduced Feed Waste: By dispensing controlled portions directly to the feeding area, cake feeders minimize spillage and prevent feed from being trampled, leading to cost savings.

3. Improved Animal Health and Safety: Feeding from a vehicle-mounted feeder reduces the risk of injury to both livestock and ranchers by preventing crowding and aggressive behavior during feeding times.

4. Versatility: Many cake feeders are designed to handle various feed types, including pellets, grains, and whole cottonseed, accommodating different dietary needs.

 If you’re convinced that a cattle cake feeder will benefit your operation, now your decision is where to buy and what kind. There are a number of reputable brands to consider, but to gain further insight I spoke to Joel Schelling, a seasoned cattleman and sales manager with Herd-Boss Feeders.

 Schelling offered the following advice, “When picking a cattle cake feeder, you should consider how much cake or cubes you need to feed based on the size of your operation. If you have several hundred head of cattle, you don’t want to stop to refill the feeder multiple times. Frequent refills are frustrating and will cost you valuable time.” Other factors to think about are the type of vehicle that will be used for feeding (tractor, truck, or ATV/UTV), how easy it is to use the feeder, overall durability, and accessories that will make feeding easier. For instance, Herd-Boss offers add-ons like a scale kit, wireless remote, extension kit, and a trailer, which are all important.

 Schelling went on to say, “Herd-Boss Feeders have a simple, user-friendly design that doesn’t require overhead bin storage, you can load them with a front-end loader, and replacement parts are common and easy to find. These are all important considerations.”

 Investing in a high-quality cattle cake feeder, like Herd-Boss, can enhance the efficiency of your feeding operation, promote better livestock health, and reduce overall feed costs. Look for a feeder with a chain conveyor, which excels over screw conveyors in their ability to handle a wider range of materials and a higher load capacity - and they’re sturdier and require minimal maintenance!

When choosing a feeder or any type of equipment, just be sure to assess your needs and do your research to ensure you pick the most suitable brand and model for your operation.

Many Thanks to Marcus and Herdboss for this article. You may contact them via the information below:

Herd-Boss Feeders | Web: herdbossfeeders.com | Email: sales@herdbossfeeders.com | Phone: 712.476.2677

Five Things to Consider Before Buying a Beam Saw

Manufacturers need solutions when cutting large items like wood, metals, and plastics. Beam Saws come to the rescue when long, deep cross cuts are needed.  

Have you ever considered how a Beam Saw can benefit your business?

Listed below are essential points to consider before buying a Beam Saw: 

The type of Beam Saw you need. 

There are two main types of Beam Saws: portable and stationary. Portable Beam Saws are smaller and lighter, making them easier to move around. Stationary Beam Saws are larger and more powerful, making them better suited for heavy-duty cutting.

Original Saw Company specializes in manufacturing stationary beam saws. Beam Saws are highly effective when cutting logs, trusses, curtain wall, aluminum windows and doors, aluminum extrusions, metal decking, awnings, and metal roofing.

The size of the Beam Saw. 

Beam saws come in various sizes, from small tabletop models to large industrial machines. The size of the Beam Saw needed will depend on the size of the material being cut. Industrial Beam Saws manufactured by Original Saw Company make crosscuts from 60"-64" and feature a depth of cut of 4 3/8" - 8".

The power of the Beam Saw.

The power of a Beam Saw is measured in horsepower.

The more horsepower a Beam Saw has, the more powerful it will be. If you will be cutting thick beams, you will need a Beam Saw with more horsepower. Always check the power requirements of your building before purchasing a Beam Saw.

Original Saw Company's Beam Saws have two horsepower options. Choose from a 5 horsepower/single phase model or a 7.5 horsepower/3 phase model.  

The features of the Beam Saw. 

Beam Saws have additional optional features, such as dust collection, electronic powered cross feed, a pneumatic clamping system, saw measuring systems, and saw extension tables. These features can make the Beam Saw more versatile, easier to use, and customized for your cutting application.

Your budget. 

Beam saws can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Determining the return on investment is important when choosing a Beam Saw.

Here are some additional tips for buying a Beam Saw:

• Read reviews. Reading reviews from other users can be a great way to learn about the pros and cons of different saws.
• Do the research. A customer service representative at Original Saw Company can help you choose the right Beam Saw. Do an online search to compare various Beam Saw models. Look at videos that show Beam Saws in action.

Many thanks to Jennifer Eden, Marketing Director at Original Saw Company | https://originalsaw.com/

Transfer Tooling Benefits

ARE YOU....

• Interested in reshoring your plastics manufacturing?
• Searching for the right manufacturing partner to help your company facilitate a seamless plastic injection mold transfer?
• Looking to retool or rapidly add new capacity where needed?

Since 1972, Matrix Tool, Inc. has been a full-service strategic manufacturing partner supplying our customers with high-precision injection molds and molded products for high-precision industries, such as telecommunications, automotive, medical, electronics and more.  Matrix has successfully completed hundreds of transfer tooling projects in our company’s 50+ year history. We regularly help our customers to resolve high-maintenance tooling challenges and product quality issues while often finding ways to reduce costs.

Recently, a customer of ours was experiencing costly and time-consuming quality issues with their current molder. This former supplier was unable to resolve their manufacturing issues and to fulfill our customer’s orders in a timely manner. To avoid a crisis, the customer turned to Matrix for help. After transferring this challenging and complex injection mold to Matrix, our team of expert toolmakers and engineers were able to provide rapid results for this project.  We developed a sound plan, systematically addressed each issue, and delivered parts of the highest quality to our customer within weeks of the transfer to Matrix.

RESHORING TRENDS

More than 350,000 manufacturing jobs were reshored to the United States in 2022, which was 40% more than in 2021 according to the Reshoring Initiative. Some of the more recent factors influencing manufacturers to reshore their operations include: rising labor costs from overseas countries, tariffs placed on injection molds and/or steel components imported from China, increased shipping costs due to rising fuel prices, supply chain disruptions caused by ongoing events like the COVID-19 Pandemic, the war between Russia and Ukraine and more.

RESHORING BENEFITS

There can be many benefits for a company to consider reshoring to a full-service domestic manufacturing partner and supplier, especially during times of supply chain instability. For example, companies that have partnered with a domestic manufacturer and reshored production to the USA have experienced benefits such as greater control over their production process, improved product quality and efficiency, expanded manufacturing capabilities, faster response times and deliverables, increased innovation, personal customer service, and much more.

WHY MATRIX?

Matrix Tool excels at quickly diagnosing and resolving all forms of injection molding challenges and inefficiencies that you may be encountering. We have the technical expertise needed to help your company transition your molds in a seamless manner to ensure a quick and efficient return to production. Whether your company is looking to move production from an offshore country back to the USA to mitigate your supply chain risk, trying to replace an underperforming supplier, or for any other reason, Matrix Tool is confident in our expertise to help fulfill your injection molding and tooling needs.

It is important to remember tool transfers should not be overcomplicated and stressful, especially when thorough planning, communication, and collaboration occurs between the vested parties. This is especially true at Matrix thanks to our stand-alone mold conditioning department of plastics engineers, toolmakers and technicians who provide 24-hour tool evaluation, sampling, de-bug, repair and changeover services for our molding department. If your company is suffering from any of the common manufacturing issues below, please reach out to Matrix today to see how we may be able to help!

REASONS MANUFACTURERS TRANSFER TOOLING

• The immediate need to reshore production to the USA (increased freight costs, longer lead times, etc).
• Encountering an underperforming supplier within their own supply chain.
• Experiencing costly and time-consuming quality issues at a prior supplier.
• Lack of customer service and/or not being valued at prior supplier.
• Poor relationship with prior supplier due to minimal collaboration and support.
• The need to consolidate the supply chain.
• The need for retooling or rapidly adding new capacity to the existing tooling, or scaling of the business.

TRANSFER TOOLING STEPS AT MATRIX

• PLAN

• TRANSFER

• INSPECT

• DEBUG

• SAMPLE

• CUSTOMER APPROVAL

• ENTERS PRODUCTION

We would like to thank  Riley Lewis, Marketing Specialist at Matrix Tool for sharing the information about transfer tooling and hope it sheds light on the subject for our readers. For more information on the subject you can go to their website at the link below.

Matrix Tool, Inc. Website: https://matrixtoolinc.com