Articles & Columns

Many workers — from newbies to experienced machinists — can benefit from CNC training.

Get with the Program column as published in the July 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

A shot peening process that removes distortion from thin ceramic parts.

Managing energy costs and improving energy performance requires an ongoing commitment.

I use resin- and metal-bond diamond wheels and used to manually stick them. Now our machine does it automatically and I don't have the “feel” to determine if the wheel is being stuck hard enough. Is there a way to know how fast I should stick?

A new method for producing gears on mill/turn machines

After being offstage for many years, U.S. manufacturing had better be ready for the limelight. Another large research study has found that, not surprisingly, manufacturing is big—and it matters.

Linear motion of machine tool axes is often achieved using screws and nuts.

The CTE editorial staff offers a machine tool product review.

An industry veteran examines the top 10 issues for maintaining and enhancing quality control in parts manufacturing.

My relationship with suppliers as of late can be summed up as, “no news is good news.” Even so, just as we like to receive gratitude and recognition from our customers, it's important to remember that our suppliers should be recognized and their value shouldn't be overlooked.

Ceramic parts help solve problems caused by metal and plastic implants.

END USER: Mainland Machine, (805) 543-7149, www.mainlandmachine.com. CHALLENGE: Increase spindle run times. SOLUTION: CAM system that enables efficient programming when machining with custom fixture plates. SOLUTION PROVIDER: DP Technology Corp., (805) 388-6000, www.dptechnology.com

Some holemaking technologies have eliminated the need for spot drills, but they're still useful when the ‘perfect' hole is required.

As a follow-up to my April column, here are additional tips for enhancing the operation of a manual lathe.

END USER: Fox Valley Metrology Ltd., (920) 426-5894, www.foxvalleymetrology.com. CHALLENGE: Providing faster service when repairing hand-held instruments. SOLUTION: A honing tool that allows repairing measurement instruments at a customer's site. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Brush Research Manufacturing Co. Inc., (323) 261-2193, www.brushresearch.com.

END USER: Mercury Marine, (920) 929-5000, www.mercurymarine.com. CHALLENGE: To increase productivity when machining driveshafts and propeller shafts. SOLUTION: A lathe with a hob assembly. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Okuma America Corp., (704) 588-7000, www.okuma.com

Understanding and controlling wheel truing and dressing forces when rotary plunge dressing.

When it comes to workholding, one size definitely does not fit all. For example, workholding setups for round parts have similarities to setups used for all other prismatic (nonround) parts, but the latter has unique challenges.

The CTE staff offers a workholding product review.