Author

James Harvey

James A. Harvey is a machinist and moldmaker who has worked in shops across the U.S. for nearly 40 years. Harvey’s Shop Operations column for Cutting Tool Engineering magazine is adapted from information in his book “CNC Trade Secrets: A Guide to CNC Machine Shop Practices,” published by Industrial Press Inc., South Norwalk, Conn. The publisher can be reached by calling (888) 528-7852 or visiting www.industrialpress.com. By indicating the code CTE20OFF when ordering, CTE readers will receive a 20 percent discount off the book’s list price of $29.95.    

Shop Operations Columnist
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Articles April 1, 2016 James Harvey
Getting a grip
There are numerous advantages to rigidly holding a workpiece: feed rates can be increased and cutting times reduced, cutters last longer and impart finer surface finishes, and more-accurate parts are produced. At trade shows where vendors offer demonstrations, you rarely see flimsy, difficult-to-hold parts being machined. In the real world, however, such parts are common. Holding parts for secondary operations, such as drilling holes on an edge, can also be challenging.
Articles February 1, 2016 James Harvey
Avoiding machine crashes
Everyone crashes, I was once told. It's likely true. However, not all crashes are created equal. There are fender benders that just break small tools, and then there are head-on collisions that ruin much more—including your day. CNC machine crashes are relatively easy to avoid. They often occur during setup and debugging. If you can recognize high-risk situations, you'll be in a better position to avoid them.
Articles January 1, 2016 James Harvey
Plan ahead
Presented here are more tips and tricks for proper planning when CNC machining. One of the first and simplest things to look for when performing operations that involve vises is the length of the contact area between the part and the vise jaws.
Articles December 1, 2015 James Harvey
Beyond the educated guess
Planning is critical when operating CNC machines. When I began machining, CNCs were just coming into mainstream use. The first shops I worked in had only conventional (manual) machines. It wasn't until the mid-1980s that I started to notice the incredible versatility of CNC machines. The complex contours and shapes the machines could generate made many jobs much easier. The use of templates to file and sweep in surfaces was rapidly becoming a thing of the past.
Articles October 1, 2015 James Harvey
Intro to CNC trade secrets
The end of manual machining isn't near. There are certain tasks you can do with conventional machines that CNC machines are just not good at, such as "blending," reports the October Shop Operations column in Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.
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