March 2012
Articles in this issue
Raising the Bar
Bar feeders, once known as slow and inefficient 'rattle tubes,' are now high-speed, automated units.
Plunge Milling Improves Metal Removal in Deep Machining
Significant progress in metalworking productivity most often results from the combined efforts of toolmakers, machine tool builders and software developers. Pl…
Pumping Up Production
As the U.S. strives to become less dependent on foreign energy sources, energy producers are increasingly employing hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," to dri…
Race to the Finish
Where there are drilled holes, there are burrs. The only question is how large the burrs will be, according to Dave Lopes, vice president of sales and marketin…
Building Growth
Dynomax Inc. is taking self sufficiency to a new level. For example, while machine tool builders often use their machines to produce parts for making other mac…
Diverse gear making
As demand for vehicle transmissions and other systems requiring quieter, more compact and lighter gear mechanisms increases, gear manufacturers seek to continu…
Soft machine
Robust and stiff often come to mind when considering the characteristics that make for a productive milling machine. However, Juanjo Zulaika, a researcher at t…
Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill!
States near the Marcellus Shale, a huge natural gas formation centered in Pennsylvania, are feverishly pursuing a $4 billion ethane "cracker" to be built by Ro…
Measuring machine productivity
Many large corporations are well versed in total productive maintenance, but smaller companies are probably not. To learn more about the concept, I attended a …
To float or not to float
At my shop and others I've been in contact with, cash flow and timely payment have become issues that require greater scrutiny. If that's the case at your shop…
Retrofit revitalization
END USER: Helac Corp., (800) 327-2589, www.helac.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce maintenance and programming time on a large vertical turning center. SOLUTION: Retrofit…
In-depth reliability
END USER: Machine Tech CNC, (780) 461-0890. CHALLENGE: Accurately bore 14 diameters deep and deeper. SOLUTION: Carbide-reinforced boring bars with built-in vib…
Working in a coal mine
END USER: Cincinnati Mine Machinery Co., (513) 728-4040, www.cinmine.com. CHALLENGE: Improve throughput and maintain higher part-quality consistency. SOLUTION:…
Software simplifies linear drive selection
Get with the Program: CNC systems, metrology equipment and other types of machinery often require a linear motion component. This may be because of a need to m…
Solving a one-time problem
Part Time: While some shops shy away from difficult projects, others welcome them. According to Bob Perkins, president of PDS (Precision Defense Services) Indu…
Primer on the king of machines
Shop Operations: The manual lathe is the cornerstone of any machine shop because almost all shop workers find themselves working on one when they start. The ma…
Machine bed support key to accuracy
Machine Technology column: A machine tool bed serves several important functions. It supports the machine's moving elements and supports them in geometric rela…
Zeroing out Swiss
When turning 2mm-dia. and smaller parts on a Swiss-style machine, it only makes sense that the radius on the tool should be equally tiny. After all, you can't …