Understanding Cutting Equations for Feeds and Speeds
Cutting equations connect speed, feed, diameter, and force so shops can estimate spindle demand and process behavior before they cut metal.
Editorial
Christopher Tate
Christopher Tate is the owner of Tate Engineering, a Natchez, Mississippi, firm that helps manufacturers solve efficiency problems. Tate, who earned master's degree in industrial technology from Mississippi State University, has 32 years of experience in the metalworking industry.
Contributing Editor
Email: chris23tate@gmail.com
Published content
Selecting the proper toolholder
The foundation of robust and successful CNC milling and drilling processes consists of numerous elements, including high-quality machine tools, sturdy work holders and high-performance cutting tools. Toolholders are another of the basic elements.
When to adopt a new technology
Determining the appropriate time to implement new technology.
Avoiding excessive cutting tool wear
The pressure to decrease costs and drive up profitability means getting every ounce of efficiency from machine tools and cutting tools. To this end, shops constantly strive to reduce cycle times and extend tool life. However, while pursuing these goals, it is easy to push tools past their useful life, allowing excessive wear and its corresponding problems to occur.
Justifying custom cutting tools
When possible, manufacturers should avoid applying custom cutting tools because they typically cost more than standard catalog items and can be used only for a single purpose. In addition, it is difficult to substitute other tools in place of a special when it is out of stock, and lead times for new custom tools can be long.
Building a capable manufacturing process
Shop Technology Columnist Christopher Tate discusses capability studies of the manufacturing process in the February 2014 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.
The basics of good tool management
Anyone who works in or around a machine shop knows that high-performance cutting tools are expensive. If the process of acquiring and using these tools is not managed properly, tool expenses can quickly and negatively impact the bottom line, whether you are operating a mom-and-pop shop or a major OEM.
Shop tools that are ‘oldies but goodies’
Christopher Tate, Cutting Tool Engineering's Shop Technology columnist, said he is surprised by the number of engineers and machinists who are not familiar with traditional machining tools and techniques. Many metalworking professionals seem to default to using only sophisticated technology for all aspects of machining without understanding or being able to use more traditional options.
Considerations when selecting a drill
I consider several factors when purchasing a drill and try to find the balance between price and performance that gives the best cost advantage while maintaining part quality and productivity, reports the Shop Technology columnist in the October 2013 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.
The power behind shop automation
Diminishing numbers of skilled tradesmen in the workforce and the need to reduce production costs have caused machine tool automation to proliferate during the past decade.
Adding value with single-piece part flow
Since the May issue, I have been writing about our combustion shop's migration from batch processing to single-piece flow, or machining one part at a time. Single-piece flow eliminates work in process. This is desirable because WIP hides part defects and increases lead times and inventory levels.
Setting up for single-piece flow
The Shop Technology column in the July 2013 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine continues to explore one shop's move from batch processing of machining jobs to a single-piece flow.
