Articles

Software for high-efficiency roughing makes moldmaking faster, more efficient.

Modular automation increases productivity and flexibility at a lower price point than custom solutions.

Small shop becomes a big aerospace manufacturer -- with a little help from its friends.

Every lathe and grinder operator has, at one time or another, struggled with workpieces that are out of round, tapered or have poor finish. The "quick fix" is typically replacing centers. The more involved fix requires replacing spindle bearings that appear to have failed prematurely. In either case, the problem goes away initially, only to reoccur a short time later.

After acquiring my first iPhone, I searched the Internet for apps to use in the shop. I found 70 hits for "machinist" or "machining" and 45 for "cutting tool." Conversely, there were 11,169 hits for movie apps and 37,616 for music apps.

A shop I once worked at had a beautiful cast iron welding table. It was 5' wide × 12' long and had started life as a surface plate for assembling diesel engines. The owner bought it at auction for $100. With a screen in the middle, two guys could work on it at once.

Accurately machine EDM electrodes used to produce micromolds for medical parts. A high-speed, high-precision, 3-axis micro milling machine.

Efficiently machine stainless steel parts without breaking endmills. 6-flute, solid-carbide endmills.

I strive to start each year on a positive note, but 2015 sure hasn't taken long to throw us our first challenging management scenario. It requires immediate oversight of rapidly changing economic conditions.

The cutting zone in a machine tool is dangerous. Hot chips and large quantities of coolant are often safety threats, but a tool rotating at a high speed is an even greater one.

Cast beryllium-aluminum parts.

Ceramic core material that improves jet engine fuel efficiency.