Articles & Columns

Hunting Energy Services not only machines oil and gas drilling components—it assembles and repairs the tools that do the work.

END USER: The Boeing Co., www.boeing.com. CHALLENGE: Boost productivity and reduce setup time when machining carbon fiber-reinforced plastic aircraft components. SOLUTION: Abrasive waterjet cutting technology and flexible workholding. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Flow International Corp., (800) 446-FLOW, www.flowwaterjet.com

Manufacturing parts for the nuclear energy industry, which is growing globally, is expected to expand in the U.S. as well. Three shops explain their strategies to capitalize on the growing market.

END USER: Behlen Industries LP, (204) 728-1188, www.behlen.ca. CHALLENGE: Reduce maintenance requirements for a plasma cutting machine that the builder no longer services or supports and achieve a more precise kerf angle when cutting steel plates. SOLUTION: A new plasma/oxy-fuel cutting machine equipped with integrated cutting solutions. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Hypertherm Inc., (800) 643-0030, www.hypertherm.com; Linde Canada Ltd., (888) 256-7359, www.lindecanada.com

New technology opens up new applications for small HMCs.

Machining a clean, straight and in-tolerance hole through a part is not the only requirement for many holemaking applications. In many cases, hole entrances and exits are also critical to part functionality.

The Shop Operations column from the March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering covers the steps necessary to effectively supply compressed air in a metalworking shop.

The Machine Technology column from the March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering eyes importance of establishing a warning track for a machine tool's stability limit.

END USER: Sonic Industries Div., Sargent Aerospace & Defense Group, (310) 532-8382, www.sargentaerospace.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce cycle times while holding critical dimensional and finish tolerances. SOLUTION: Automated honing machine with superabrasive tools. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Sunnen Products Co., (800) 325-3670, www.sunnen.com

END USER: HITCO Carbon Composites Inc., (800) 421-5444, www.hitco.com. CHALLENGE: Increase productivity when machining composite parts. SOLUTION: A 5-axis machine tool optimized for the process. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Bertsche Engineering Corp., (847) 537-8757, www.bertsche.com

Strategies for grinding HVOF-coated aerospace parts.

Part Time column for February 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering looks at a shop that machines tungsten-carbide wedding, engagement and personal rings.

Machine Technology column from the February 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine offers machining strategies for difficult-to-cut materials.

CAM and simulation software packages enable productive programming of multitasking machines—particularly as they become 'ultratasking' machines.

END USER: Bob's Design Engineering Inc., (503) 648-7418, https://www.bdeinc.com. CHALLENGE: Increase productivity when drilling holes more than 10 diameters deep. SOLUTION: Toolholding system that permits use of aggressive drilling parameters with through-coolant drills. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Advanced Tooling Co. Inc., (360) 450-9237; A&I Marketing Inc., (206) 972-5260, https://www.aim4u2.com; Rego-Fix Tool Corp., (800) 734-6349, https://www.rego-fix.com. :Walter USA LLC (800) 945-5554 https://www.walter-tools.com IS #303

When it comes to milling aerospace parts made from Ti5553, difficulty is in the eye of the beholder.

Grinding Doc column from the February 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine explains the 10 percent grinding rule and offers other grinding advice.

Manager's Desk column from the February 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine takes a look at various considerations when examining equipment acquisitions.

Turning a lathe vertical can be a productivity turn for the better—for large and small parts.

Shop Operations column from February 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine discusses the importance of comfortable workbenches and worktables.