Articles

Articles • February 1, 2014 • Evan Jones Thorne

Hydro power

While hydraulic toolholders are said to have limited applications, their high gripping force and simple operation help them secure a place in machine shops.

Articles • February 1, 2014 • Alan Richter

Kings of the mountain

With a focus on machining large parts in multifunctional mill/turn machines, QualTech Industries quickly attracted customers after opening 4 years ago in Kings Mountain, N.C.

Articles • February 1, 2014 • Susan Woods

Supersonic grinding

High-speed grinding can provide great gains when grinding outside diameters.

Articles • February 1, 2014

Soaring aerospace parts

With a global commercial aircraft order backlog recently valued at $920 billion, jetliner and jet-engine builders are placing volumes of part orders not seen for many years -- if ever.

Articles • February 1, 2014 • Kip Hanson

HMC transformations

By their very nature, horizontal machining centers are among the best friends a shop can have if it hopes to remain agile and competitive in this brave new world of low-volume, high-complexity machining.

Articles • February 1, 2014

Good morning AM

Is it morning in America -- and the world -- for additive manufacturing? That's looking more and more likely. While AM, also known as 3D printing, is well-established as a process for making prototype parts, it's making serious inroads into production -- where the real money is.

Articles • February 1, 2014 • Alan Richter

Dust not in the wind

A PCD drill with an internal extraction system for removing workpiece dust when drilling carbon- and glass-fiber composites.

Articles • February 1, 2014 • Alan Richter

Tool warming

A through-spindle and through-tool laser-assisted milling process.

Articles • February 1, 2014 • Dr. Scott Smith

Vibrations indicate bearing damage

Many machine tool spindles are supported in the housing by rolling-element bearings. Cutting forces, spindle unbalance and spindle preload impose cyclic loads on the bearing's balls and races. Over time, the cyclic loading produces fatigue failure, damaging the surfaces of races and balls. This kind of damage causes vibration and noise, limits bearing life and eventually requires bearing replacement.

Articles • February 1, 2014 • Keith Jennings

Smarter online marketing

Keith Jennings, our Manager's Desk columnist, this month responds to readers asking for tips to increase sales, and, yes, his answer emphasizes the need for a Web presence and social media.

Articles • February 1, 2014 • Alan Richter

Turning center is precise to a ‘tee’

Bring outsourced parts in-house that were being milled and machine them on a CNC lathe. A 6-axis turning center equipped with a bar feeder.

Articles • February 1, 2014 • Alan Richter

Short-notice flexibility

Increase flexibility and repeatability when machining high-volume auto parts. A hydraulic stationary clamping system.