Articles & Columns

A high-ionization technology that enables enhanced customization of tool coatings.

Getting a grip on bench work.

Since the dawn of CNC milling, machinists have been trying to squeeze more parts onto the table and position them quicker. That’s because to a machinist, it’s all about reducing setup time and cranking out more parts per hour.

'Lightweighting' vehicles through the use of magnesium parts can improve vehicle mileage and impact resistance, among other benefits.

High-speed machining requires hybrid spindle bearings.

Special glasses are not required, but other considerations apply in 3-D abrasive waterjet machining.

Observations of a retired shop owner can help improve your shop.

END USER: Houston Precision Process LLC, (713) 856-0510. CHALLENGE: Efficiently saw aerospace-grade materials while minimizing material waste. SOLUTION: Oscillating bandsaw technology. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Simonds International Corp., (978) 424-0100, www.simondsinternational.com

New grinding software makes tool design easier.

Pointe Precision creates opportunity with new machines and skilled employees.

Tapping medical parts requires unique considerations not required in general-purpose machining.

Document jobs to reduce setup time when they repeat.

CTE Editorial Director Alan Rooks laments the long and winding road to economic recovery in this Lead Angle editorial in the September 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Cutting Tool Engineering Editor Alan Richter mentions a new augmented reality system that offers on-site technicians assistance from a distance in his Look Ahead column for the August 2011 issue.

Horizontal boring mills are behemoth in size and flexibility.

Controlling foam when applying high-pressure coolant requires trade-offs to achieve effective metalcutting.

Many manufacturers apply finishes such as black oxide, metal plating, adhesives and sealants to their parts. One key question is whether to apply those finishes in-house or outsource the operation. For many shops, the decision is based on part volume, cost of capital and practical considerations.

END USER: Three Sigma Manufacturing Inc., (253) 395-1125, www.threesigma.net. CHALLENGE: Improve cycle times and prevent catastrophic failure when drilling a hole in a complex aerospace part. SOLUTION: A replaceable-tip drill that reduced cycle times and provided progressive failure indicators. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Allied Machine & Engineering Corp., (800) 321-5537, www.alliedmachine.com

Cutting Tool Engineering Editor Alan Richter includes a grinding machine that enables a PCD- or PCBN-tipped cutting tool to be processed in one setup for his August 2011 Look Ahead column.

Grooving hardened steel parts with PCBN cutting tools.