Articles

Articles • April 3, 2018 • Jeffrey A. Badger, Ph.D.

Reducing hydroplaning forces while grinding

A shop asks CTE's Grinding Doc about taper that shows up when cylindrical-OD grinding. The shop seeks advice to mitigate the problem.

Articles • April 2, 2018 • Alan Richter

Shop credits growth to focus on machining large parts

OEMs and other manufacturers frequently require special machines for production and assembly purposes. About half of Coldwater Machine Co.'s business involves building those machines, but few off-the-shelf components are available. Therefore, Coldwater machines the components in-house at its 132,500-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility in Coldwater, Ohio. And, many of the parts are large.

Articles • March 29, 2018 • Keith Jennings

Show vendors some love

Finding ways to meet, interface with and show appreciation for customers and vendors can help any business. With Spring, and the hope of nicer weather upon us, CTE Manager's Desk columnist Keith Jennings is eager to leverage the season for promotional and "we appreciate you" events, such as luncheons and open houses.

Articles • March 28, 2018 • Christopher Tate

Effective training programs improve employees’ skills, morale

Many companies fail to recognize the benefit of having well-designed, effective training programs, despite a proven track record for improving the skills and morale of employees and increasing the flexibility and bottom line of a company.

Articles • March 27, 2018 • Amanda Rosenblatt

Your machinists are not the problem

When productivity decreases, some leaders assume that machinists are not adequately doing their jobs. After all, they directly operate the machines. Before jumping to this conclusion, however, ask if you are being fair to these skilled workers who are the backbone of the manufacturing industry.

Articles • March 26, 2018 • Robert Weinstein

Superfine-abrasive waterjetting

Water Jet Sweden recently introduced the FAWJ Micro Head package for shops that use the company's standard machines and want to make highly precise, narrow cuts that don't need to meet extremely tight tolerances.

Articles • March 23, 2018 • Robert Weinstein

Staying on the cutting edge

With its release of new tool bodies and inserts, Walter USA LLC significantly expands its cutter family for milling large threads, the T2711/T2712 system.

Articles • March 22, 2018 • Michael Deren

Shop implements system of safety tickets

What about the less obvious threats to worker safety? How do you take those elements into account? To address this concern, the shop where CTE's Machinist's Corner columnist works uses a system of unsafe acts or conditions tickets (UACTs).

Articles • March 21, 2018 • Alan Richter

A ‘liquid’ tool change

END USER: Backerworks Manufacturing LLC, (505) 342-2943, www.backerworks.com. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Axis Machine Services LLC, (505) 206-2726, www.axismachineservices.com; Houghton International Inc., (800) 666-4684, www.houghtonintl.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce the amount of coolant makeup and the sticky coolant film that forms on machine surfaces. SOLUTION: A soluble-oil metalworking fluid for multiple-metal machining and grinding.

Articles • March 20, 2018 • Russ Willcutt

Factors to consider before bringing abrasive waterjetting in-house

Before bringing abrasive waterjetting in-house, shops should know it is a deceptively simple process that demands a great deal of thought, effort and planning to ensure a reasonably quick return on investment and increase in operational productivity.

Articles • March 16, 2018 • Alan Richter

Advanced metalworking fluid filtration aids finer finish

As demand grows for finer surface finishes and tolerance specifications become tighter—and competition continues to intensify—parts manufacturers are adopting advanced fluid filtration technologies to achieve their machining and grinding goals.

Articles • March 15, 2018

Moldmakers tout benefits of aluminum molds for production

The use of aluminum molds for production molding applications is the "biggest trend I'm seeing in moldmaking," said a longtime manufacturer of cutting tools.