News &
resources.
About the trade, and the people who keep it going.
From a two-man die shop to 25,000 square feet
Arro started in 1952 as a two-man die shop in western New York. Here is how it grew, one milestone at a time, into a 25,000 square foot plant.
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Seven ways to design a stamped part that costs less
Practical design rules for stamped parts: hole sizes, edge and bend distances, bend radius, relief, tolerances and strip layout that keep costs down.
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Progressive die stamping, explained
How a progressive die turns a coil of metal into finished parts one stroke at a time, and when a simpler die is the better choice.
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Stamping, machining or laser cutting? How to choose
Laser cutting, machining and stamping can all make a good part. Here is how geometry, volume, tooling cost and lead time decide which one fits.
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What a tool and die apprenticeship looks like
What tool and die makers do, how a registered apprenticeship works in the US and New York, what you learn over about four years, and how to get started.
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What to send for a fast, accurate quote
The drawings, models, volumes and details that let a stamping shop quote your part quickly and accurately, and what happens after you send them.
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Wire EDM: how a wire cuts hardened steel
How wire EDM cuts hardened tool steel with sparks instead of force, why toolrooms depend on it, and where it falls short.
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Considering Careers: Tool & Die Maker Apprentice
Looking for a career path with little to no student debt, where you work with your hands and solve unique problems? Learn about the tool and die trade.
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Being a Tool & Die Apprentice
Randy talks about why he chose to apprentice as a tool and die maker, and the misconception that tool and die is a dying trade.
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TBN Careers: Tool & Die/Machinist Jobs
A look at a career working in the tool and die and machinist industry, with interviews of veterans and two apprentices.
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What is Tool and Die Making?
Tool and die makers are highly skilled crafters working in the manufacturing industries. Here is what the trade is about.
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A Day in the Life of a CNC Operator
What does it mean to be a CNC operator? A look at a typical day running CNC machines.
ReadLet's build it.
Drawings, models, a sample part or just an idea. Tell us what you need and our team will follow up with questions, options and a quote.