Articles & Columns

Machinist's Corner column for the September 2010 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

Machine tool accessories can offer economical solutions to many tooling and machine setup issues. Used in combination with a machine that delivers the speed and features a shop needs, accessories can help improve productivity and reduce machine failures. This article examines the benefits of several key accessories, including spindle maintenance tools, toolholder maintenance tools, covers, indicator stands, chip fans, tool assembly devices and specialty workholding devices.

END USER: Neenah Foundry Co., (920) 725-7000, www.nfco.com. CHALLENGE: Increase productivity and worker safety when measuring castings on a coordinate measuring machine. SOLUTION: A system that enables a CMM operator to load and unload castings in fixtures with minimal lifting, bending or twisting and easily move parts into the CMM's measurement zone on plates supported by air. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Mod Tech Industries Inc., (715) 524-4510, www.modtechindustries.com

Shop Operations column for the September 2010 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

END USER: Cramer Engineering Corp., (951) 549-6557. CHALLENGE: Reduce oil mist and improve machining of aluminum automotive wheels and other components. SOLUTION: A semisynthetic metalworking fluid. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Chemetall, (800) 526-4473, www.chemetallamericas.com

Machine Technology column for the September 2010 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

Get with the Program column, Get with the program

END USER: Flint Tool & Die, General Motors Co., (313) 556-5000, www.gm.com. CHALLENGE: Verify machine tool accuracy when producing large automotive dies. SOLUTION: A PC-based verification system. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Inora Technologies Inc., (734) 302-7488, www.inora.com

Part Time column for the September 2010 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

What is the real cost of a cutting tool when it is applied? Carefully controlled tests provide the answer.

Advancements in marking technology can lead to lower integration costs and more benefits for the end user.

Five shops use different lights-out machining strategies, but all are focused on creating stable processes.

Machining P/M steels for powertrain parts is tough, but answers abound.

Manager's Desk column for the September 2010 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Designing machine tools for cutting titanium—especially 5553.

Ask the Grinding Doc column for the August 2010 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

Manager's Desk column for August 2010 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

END USER: Brinkman Machine Tools and Manufacturing Laboratory, Rochester Institute of Technology, (585) 475-6573, www.rit.edu/kgcoe/ise/brinkman. CHALLENGE: Teach engineering students to use new machining technology. SOLUTION: Integrated machining system, including tool management and tool presetting. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Okuma America Corp., (704) 588-7000, www.okuma.com; Kennametal Inc., (800) 446-7738, www.kennametal.com; Zoller Inc., (734) 332-4851, www.zoller-usa.com

Read CTE's 2010 Salary Survey to learn which metalworking positions are up and which ones are down in earnings since the 2008 survey, and how benefit packages have changed.

END USER: Western Forge & Flange Co., (800) 352-6433, www.western-forge.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce tooling costs when drilling forged materials. SOLUTION: TiAlN-coated drills with two square indexable inserts. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Komet of America Inc., (847) 923-8400, www.komet.com