Evan Jones Thorne

Articles • December 1, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

Tracing sinker EDMing back to its original spark

Electrical discharge machining (EDMing) goes by many names—burning, spark machining, spark eroding, vaporizing—but they all refer to variations on the same process: removing material by running an electric current between an electrode and a negatively charged workpiece material submerged in a dielectric fluid. At least in the case of sinker EDMing, that's pretty much all there is to it.

Articles • October 1, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

Engineer-Speak

Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing defines part geometry—and you should already know that.

Articles • September 1, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

Net-Working with specialty subscription websites

Specialty subscription websites bring together job shops and manufacturers looking to sub out work.

Articles • August 5, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

One PVD coating technique with certain advantages

Most PVD coaters use cathodic-arc evaporation, in which an electric arc vaporizes the coating material from a cathode. The vaporized material condenses on the tool, resulting in a wear-resistant coating imbued with whatever qualities the coater is looking to impart to the tool. But there's another, less-common physical-vapor-deposition method called high-power impulse magnetron sputtering, or HIPIMS, that combines the advantages of high ionization from cathodic-arc techniques with the superior adhesion of magnetron sputtering.

Articles • July 1, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

A Simple Diagnosis

It's not the most glamorous piece of equipment by any means, but the ball bar is a diagnostic tool used, in some form, to benchmark the performance of virtually every machine tool sold, according to Harold Schoch, vice president of technology and sales for Konecranes, Erlanger, Ky.

Articles • June 1, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

Airing differences

Around for more than 100 years, air gaging is a mature technology that still has a place in modern shops.

Articles • May 1, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

Manufacturers learn to invest in training

Every parts manufacturer, regardless of size, has some sort of training program, and programs are nearly as varied as the companies themselves. Whether it's something as simple as handing out a pamphlet about company policy or as involved as an apprenticeship program, it's just a given: Where there are employees, there is training. However, while some companies regard it as a necessary evil, others have found that investing in this universal necessity yields substantial benefits—and, in the long run, actually saves money.

Articles • April 1, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

Pallet changers help VMCs hold their own in production environments

Vertical machining centers are machine shop mainstays, owing in no small part to their versatility, small footprint and relatively low cost. However, in high-volume environments, they tend to lag behind their horizontal counterparts. Fortunately, a pallet system provides a fairly simple fix.

News • April 1, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

Rise of the robots

One constant fear in regard to automation is that it will make human workers obsolete. Citing a 2013 University of Oxford study, University of Cincinnati Assistant Professor of Economics Michael Jones wrote that almost half of those employed in the U.S. are at risk of being replaced by automation over the next 10 to 20 years, with transportation, logistics and administration as the most vulnerable occupations.

Articles • March 1, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

Testing, testing …

How often should a metalworking fluid be tested? It depends. Metalworking fluid is used in most machine shops, because it aids in evacuating chips and cooling and lubricating the tool/workpiece interface. To optimize fluid performance, it must be maintained, which is done by testing a fluid for performance and chemistry.

Articles • February 1, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

Overcoming five common challenges when turning

While it's nearly impossible to quantify the most common challenges or most important considerations when turning, experts agree that the five aspects of turning discussed below should be considered. It's important to note that each factor has the potential to impact the others. So, instead of looking at each issue individually, it's recommended machinists take a holistic best-practices approach to turning.

Articles • February 1, 2016 • Evan Jones Thorne

Aluminum can be hard to drill, despite its easy rep

When drilling, perhaps no variable is as important as the workpiece material. It dictates drill geometry and substrate, tool coating, coolant application, and speeds and feeds. While known for its relative softness and ductility, misconceptions abound among those who regularly drill aluminum.