Articles

A comparison of three threadmaking options.

Solid-state LED lighting in machine tools allows for increased visibility, reduced downtime and lower power consumption.

Laser-assisted machining helps manufacturers cut hard materials.

A machinist who is cylindrical-grinding threads into hardened steel using multiple-rib, vitrified-bond, aluminum-oxide wheels is experiencing breakdown of the thread root, and turned to the Grinding Doc for help.

Metalworking is becoming increasingly specialized, with manufacturers of lathes and grinders offering a variety of capacities, bed lengths and other options. This promises the user the ability to create custom machining solutions to "meet any production need." While this is true to a point, standard options have their limits, and truly customized machines cost more and have extended delivery times.

After spending many years in manufacturing facilities, I have discovered that the number of ways to perform a task is as varied as the people working there. Facility and machine tool maintenance is no different. Each organization has a unique approach.

Shafts and tubes are straightened using the same flame straightening techniques used for plates. An easy way to straighten a shaft is in V-blocks or, better yet, mounted between centers in a lathe using piped coolant.

Reduce the time to rough bore bearing pockets. Twin roughing heads.

Reduce workload on Swiss-style and mill/turn machines. A machine tool that bridges the gap between Swiss-style and multitask machines.

After visiting a few fellow shop owners, Manager's Desk Columnist Keith Jennings found that generating extra cash was a frequent topic of interest -- particularly with the fickle state of the market and governments being desperate to extract additional revenue through taxes and fees.

Quest for cutting tool knowledge leads Machinist's Corner Columnist Michael Deren to attend cutting tool seminars provided by Sumitomo Electric Carbide Manufacturing Inc., New Berlin, Wis.

An aluminum-magnesium-scandium powder for additive manufacturing that exhibits the specific strength of titanium and the positive properties of aluminum.