Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Articles • May 22, 2017 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Overview of parts deburring

All shops are concerned with burrs, a natural side effect of cutting. They are all looking for a single solution to prevent or remove burrs. Unfortunately, there is no panacea.

Articles • July 1, 2014 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Top finishers: Solutions for 10 of the most challenging deburring applications

Part complexity combined with difficult material properties make deburring a challenge for many part manufacturers.

Articles • July 1, 2013 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Smoothing edges

Four deburring methods for mass finishing microparts.

Articles • August 1, 2009 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Hit it again, harder

When finishing parts, shops may want to hit them with their best shot. Shot peening can produce longer part life.

Articles • June 1, 2009 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Surface Strategy

Parts that meet drawing dimensions can still end up as scrap if they lack surface integrity.

Articles • April 1, 2009 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Burr tabs

The cost of burrs in manufacturing are surprisingly high. Tracking and reducing costs or--better yet--minimizing burr formation can improve productivity.

Articles • March 1, 2009 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Hole in Three

Ballizing, lapping with wire and brushing are three simple and economical hole finishing techniques that yield impressive results.

Articles • July 1, 2008 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Drag Race

Drag finishing—fixturing parts and dragging them through abrasive media—can prevent part-to-part contact, achieve tight edge tolerances, impart fine finishes and be used on parts with a number of characteristics: delicate, high value, complex geometries and multiple contours.

Articles • June 1, 2008 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

(Non) Risky Business

Thinking about and managing the risks of operating a job shop and machining parts is a straightforward process when using tools such as risk matrices and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis.

Articles • April 1, 2008 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Alluring Deburring

Magnetic abrasive finishing can deburr and create highly polished, smooth surface finishes. It can also remove microcracks, recast metal, metallurgical phase changes, visible scratches and damaging residual stresses.

Articles • September 1, 2007 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Cool Quality

Ways to control temperature effects to improve part quality.

Articles • December 1, 2006 • Dr. LaRoux K. Gillespie

Burr Down

Machinists can reduce or prevent burrs in the metalcutting process.