Drilling, milling, EDMing, laser cutting, trepanning, punching; there are almost as many ways to make holes as there are holes to be made. Drilling, the most common holemaking method, itself includes many tool material and configuration options.
Abrasive waterjet cutting has grown along with the increased use of composites in airframes, and advanced techniques help make it a preferred technology.
Getting the most from multitask machines requires knowing whether the parts a shop produces are appropriate for the technology, selecting and training the right employees and applying the correct tools.
Despite economic turmoil, vertical machine tool builders are keeping their customers and themselves in the game with new technology, services and added value.
