Articles

Articles • March 1, 2011

The Hole Edge

Machining a clean, straight and in-tolerance hole through a part is not the only requirement for many holemaking applications. In many cases, hole entrances and exits are also critical to part functionality.

Articles • March 1, 2011 • Alan Richter

Power Surge

Manufacturing parts for the nuclear energy industry, which is growing globally, is expected to expand in the U.S. as well. Three shops explain their strategies to capitalize on the growing market.

Articles • March 1, 2011

Hunting for Reliability

Hunting Energy Services not only machines oil and gas drilling components—it assembles and repairs the tools that do the work.

Articles • March 1, 2011

Small But Mighty

New technology opens up new applications for small HMCs.

Articles • March 1, 2011 • Edmund Isakov, Ph.D.

Cutting Time for Facing

Comparison between calculating cutting time when facing at a constant cutting speed vs. a constant rpm.

Articles • March 1, 2011

Know how to hold ’em

END USER: The Boeing Co., www.boeing.com. CHALLENGE: Boost productivity and reduce setup time when machining carbon fiber-reinforced plastic aircraft components. SOLUTION: Abrasive waterjet cutting technology and flexible workholding. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Flow International Corp., (800) 446-FLOW, www.flowwaterjet.com

Articles • March 1, 2011

Right tool for the job

END USER: Behlen Industries LP, (204) 728-1188, www.behlen.ca. CHALLENGE: Reduce maintenance requirements for a plasma cutting machine that the builder no longer services or supports and achieve a more precise kerf angle when cutting steel plates. SOLUTION: A new plasma/oxy-fuel cutting machine equipped with integrated cutting solutions. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Hypertherm Inc., (800) 643-0030, www.hypertherm.com; Linde Canada Ltd., (888) 256-7359, www.lindecanada.com

Articles • March 1, 2011

Dedicated fixtures simplify pump housing machining

END USER: Weir Minerals North America, (608) 221-2261, www.weirminerals.com. CHALLENGE: Streamline workholding and machining of 12', 5,000-lb. cast iron pump housings. SOLUTION: Dedicated fixtures that cut setup and machining cycle time while improving operator safety. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Advanced Machine & Engineering Co., (800) 225-4263, www.ame.com

Articles • March 1, 2011 • Keith Jennings

Experienced vs. cheap workers

Manager's Desk column from March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering considers whether experienced or low-wage workers make the most economic sense.

Articles • March 1, 2011 • Michael Deren

Fixturing 101

Machinist's Corner column from the March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering tackles the essentials of part fixturing.

Articles • March 1, 2011

Warning track for stability limit

The Machine Technology column from the March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering eyes importance of establishing a warning track for a machine tool's stability limit.

Articles • March 1, 2011

Handling material problems as they arise

Get With The Program column for the March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering looks at software that can handle material problems as they arise.