Articles

Articles • October 4, 2017 • Kip Hanson

Reaching new heights

Measuring machined parts on a surface plate has long been a tedious job, one that requires mastery of dial indicators, a pocket calculator and an adjustable height gage that most in the industry refer to as a "Cadillac gage." But several metrology providers offer a more sophisticated way to quickly and accurately check hole diameters, the distance between part features, centerlines and more. The tool is called an electronic height gage, and it has made Cadillac gages about as popular as whitewall tires.

Articles • October 3, 2017

Three unexpected machine monitoring benefits

Like a broken record, decision-makers at parts manufacturers continually hear that monitoring machine tool utilization rates helps improve productivity. That's true, but the phonograph needle frequently skips over three other benefits of machine tool monitoring.

Articles • October 2, 2017 • Keith Jennings

Shop owners help fellow shop owner after hurricane

Keith Jennings, who writes the Manager's Desk column for Cutting Tool Engineering, shares his thanks for being able to work after surviving the epicenter of Hurricane Harvey in August.

Articles • September 29, 2017 • Alan Richter

Lead Angle: Don’t be scared to take five

CTE Editor Alan Richter highlights the 5-axis focus of the October 2017 issue.

Articles • September 28, 2017 • Kip Hanson

New approach to cutting heat-resistant superalloys

Machining Inconel 718 and similar heat-resistant superalloys (HRSAs) at cutting speeds normally reserved for aluminum is not only possible but becoming an accepted practice at some aerospace OEMs.

Articles • September 27, 2017 • Kip Hanson

Save time by setting tools offline with a presetter

The benefits of presetting are somewhat intangible; it takes a little digging to actually understand how much time is spent manually setting tools and what impact that has on shop throughput and profitability.

Articles • September 26, 2017

Autodesk: Constant cutting forces speed milling

Maintaining constant cutting forces provides a constant radial tool engagement throughout the entire cut, which eliminates spikes in the cutting forces. This approach allows the programmer to take a larger axial DOC while simultaneously maintaining a high feed rate and extending tool life.

Articles • September 25, 2017 • Greg Bartlett

Longtime precision-machining shop adds 3D printing

With its new EOS M 290 additive-manufacturing system, Indiana Technology and Manufacturing Cos. (ITAMCO) now 3D-prints medical devices. After obtaining the system in June, the company started shipping components in August.

Articles • September 22, 2017 • Michael C. Anderson

Look Ahead: Small advances in waterjet

Omax Corp. developed the MicroMax JetMachining Center with help from the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), which awarded the company a Small Business Innovation Research grant. The investment has paid off.

Articles • September 21, 2017 • Alan Richter

Productive Times: Sold on a cell

END USER: Niagara Gear Division of Gear Motions Inc., (716) 874-3131, www.gearmotions.com/locations/niagara-gear-division. CHALLENGE: Reduce lead times and enhance flexibility and control to meet customer delivery requirements. SOLUTION: A work cell with a vertical machining center, two turning centers, a saw and a parts-marking machine that the company set up after initially purchasing the VMC and then acquiring the rest of the equipment from a machine shop that closed.

Articles • September 19, 2017 • Phillip Canipe

Investing in streamlined plant operations boosts profit

Nowhere will you find more gold — i.e., profits — than by streamlining redundant or antiquated plant operations, according to Phillip Canipe, whose job it is to eliminate waste and redundancy at manufacturing plants.

Articles • September 15, 2017 • Christopher Tate

Shop credits timing for successful holemaking operations

At Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems Americas Inc., holemaking success is about timing—finding the best sequence in which to perform manufacturing operations.