Articles

Part Time column in October 2009 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Shop Operations column in October 2009 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Machine Technology column in October 2009 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

October 2009 Manager's Desk column

Productive Times report covering dedicated wheel truing, includes a brief video report about Myles Tool using the Rush Machinery Wheel Truer.

What does CAM software have to do with mowing your lawn? More than you might think. Consider this imaginary story in which a machine shop owner tackles that bane of suburban life.

There's more than one way to machine a part. The trick is to match the part's complexity and volume requirements with an optimal production process.

An array of milling tools is available, including endmills, facemills and plain mills. Typical milling applications include facing, filleting or edge cutting, profiling, slotting, pocketing and blind slotting.

In recent years, monolithic machined aluminum components have been replacing sheet metal assemblies throughout the aerospace industry. The monolithic structures are lighter, less expensive and stronger than their conventional sheet metal counterparts. Machining the components requires fewer special tools, fewer hand operations and less assembly time.

You can find out that times are tough by reading the newspaper but it really hits home when your company downsizes you. That was recently the case for me and about 30 others at the company I worked for.

Machinist's Corner September 2009 column

Understanding tool wear is the first step to extending tool life—which can be further enhanced with new coating technology.