Articles

Vacuum chucks can be useful for holding parts that are thin, irregularly shaped, large and flat or easily marred. This article describes the components and machining required to build a vacuum chuck in-house. Accompanying Articles discuss the commercial units that are available and the use of router bits to reduce the lift on vacuum-chucked parts.

Open controls allow users to integrate commercially available hardware and software with machine tool CNCs. This article reviews how different CNC makers have designed systems that incorporate or connect with PC-based products to offer this level of flexibility. Accompanying Articles describe one shop's experience with open architecture and list the skills needed to operate these new systems.n

Small-diameter drills designed for drilling circuit boards can be used as a low-cost alternative for producing holes in other materials as well. Their fragility is the only drawback. This article describes these tools and the special handling they require. n

An organized toolcrib is necessary to ensure that tools will be available when needed. This article reviews the techniques and equipment different shops have used to keep track of their tools.

Toolmakers are constantly introducing advancements to improve the metalcutting process. This article examines trends in five key areas where toolmakers are concentrating their research and development efforts.nn

The latest generation to enter the workforce comes to the shop floor with a different set of skills and experiences than their predecessors. This article explores how these differences are forcing shop owners and supervisors to rethink their management strategies.nn

This article describes how one aerospace manufacturer boosted production capacity by partnering with a supplier, which began machining parts formerly made in-house. The article tells how the manufacturer shared its processes and manufacturing expertise with the supplier in order to ensure that quality and productivity were maintained.n

Spot drilling is a time-consuming process, but sometimes it is necessary to prevent drill walk. This article describes the reasons for spot drilling and the economic impact of adding the operation to a job. It also explains why a spot drill is a better choice for the operation than a center drill.

Tapping and thread milling can both produce internal threads in a variety of sizes, pitches and materials. This article discusses the factors that will dictate which process makes the most sense for a given job.nn

A machining research institute describes the testing method it developed to quantify and compare the performance of metalworking fluids. The test, which compares cutting forces generated when machining with a test fluid to a baseline fluid's performance, is simple enough for any shop to use.nnn

This article describes a self-contained micromachining center. The unit uses PC-based controls and a video system to machine small parts with precision, while giving the machinist a magnified view for setup and prototyping.

This article reviews the basics of coordinate systems and machine programming as a basis for presetting tools. The process for setting tool offsets is described with an explanation of the G-codes involved. In an accompanying article, the author tells how his company built its own presetter.