Articles

Articles • September 13, 2017 • Michael C. Anderson

Aerospace supplier lives up to challenges

Visioneering Inc. employees stay ready to adapt to change as the Auburn Hills, Mich., aerospace supplier opens a new facility and adopts a new way to apply coolant.

Articles • September 12, 2017 • Kip Hanson

Alternatives to steep tapers

Today's machine tool users have more spindle choices than just the steep-taper designs developed 40 years ago.n

Articles • September 11, 2017 • Michael Deren

Machinist’s Corner: Show customers you care

How do you treat your a customer who received an order and has a problem with it? Maybe you shipped the wrong part or made a part according to an old revision. How do you handle the situation and appease the customer?

Articles • September 8, 2017 • Kip Hanson

Get With the Program: Controlling the shop floor

Thinking of purchasing shop floor control software but don't know where to start? You might want to start by brushing up on the relevant jargon.

Articles • September 7, 2017 • William Leventon

Machine Technology: No-hands tool changing

When CNC milling machines were conceived some in the metalworking industry asked why a computer couldn't also manage tool changes. That question was the impetus behind the development of the automatic toolchanger.

Articles • September 6, 2017 • Kip Hanson

Taking measures to improve metrology

Many — if not most — shops encourage employees to purchase their own measurement tools. Some even help by "financing" these purchases, allowing machinists to pay them off in small increments. And what machinist doesn't want his or her "own stuff" with which to do the job? But does allowing machinists to use their own measuring tools actually make sense?

Articles • September 5, 2017

Three steps to optimizing machining

To profitably machine high-quality parts, many manufacturers follow a similar path, beginning with tool selection and application and then solving any problems that arise in a reactive way. However, research suggests that manufacturers should examine the entire machining process before cutting begins, focusing on eliminating rejected parts and unforeseen downtime.

Articles • September 1, 2017 • Michael C. Anderson

No-cost thread mill program generators

Numerous toolmakers provide free programs that will automatically generate G code for a specific thread milling application. The programs vary in sophistication and in whether they are online-only or downloadable, but all are useful tools. Among the suppliers of these apps are Scientific Cutting Tools Inc., Simi Valley, Calif.; Guhring Inc., Brookfield, Wis.; and Kennametal Inc., Pittsburgh.

Articles • August 31, 2017

How to keep from scrapping parts

Scrap happens. By scrap, I mean parts that are out of tolerance and, therefore, useless. Unlike other by-products of the manufacturing process, such as chips, shavings and drops, you generate scrap only through mistakes. nnSo the challenge of reducing scrap comes down to preventing mistakes.

Articles • August 30, 2017 • Alan Richter

High-pressure coolant breaks the vapor barrier

What would cause parts manufacturers not to want to extend tool life, increase speeds and feeds, enhance chip evacuation to avoid recutting, impart finer surface finishes and eliminate pecking when deep-hole drilling? Apparently, ignorance in the marketplace.

Articles • August 29, 2017 • Harry G. Sachsel

Swarf is telling you something

Swarf, which is the result of particles being removed when grinding hard or difficult-to-machine materials, tells a story.

Articles • August 28, 2017 • Keith Jennings

Manager’s Desk: Shop owner deals with theft

Keith Jennings, who writes the Manager's Desk column for Cutting Tool Engineering, never experienced being sad and mad at the same time until recently, according to his September column. The cause? A trusted employee who wasn't so trustworthy.