Scrape to the point
Whether done manually or with a powered device, scraping guide ways is critical to machine tool performance.
Author
Kip Hanson
Kip Hanson is a contributing editor for Cutting Tool Engineering magazine. Contact him by phone at (520) 548-7328 or via e-mail at [email protected].
Contributing Editor
Phone: 520-548-7328
Shot peening offers cost-effective way to make stronger metal products
Medieval soldiers did it to strengthen their armor, Civil War engineers did it to improve gun and cannon barrels, railroad men did it to locomotive axles before they rolled into the untamed West and Henry Ford did it to enhance parts bound for his new invention, the assembly line. More recently, aircraft manufacturers began doing it to virtually every square inch of their metal wares before sending them skyward. What shared action connects these warriors, inventors and manufacturers? The cold working of metal workpieces.
Stick with it
Let's say you want to machine your initials on your favorite Hummel figurine or cut the likeness of the school mascot on your daughter's Little League helmet. How are you going to grip them? A conventional way to grip fragile, difficult-to-hold workpieces is to encapsulate them in some sort of potting compound, a time-consuming and wasteful process.
Set to go
Offline presetting maximizes machine availability, reduces scrap.
Crib Sheet
Tool management systems prevent mistakes and boost the bottom line.
Booster Beam
Laser-assisted machining helps manufacturers cut hard materials.
Smart saws
Bandsaws turn high-tech with advanced control and cloud-based intelligence.
Holding challenging parts
Some workpieces, like those that are oddly shaped, large or delicate, can be a real pain in the neck. What's the best way to securely grab a hold of them?
Water wardens
How shops can help keep groundwater clean and be green in other ways.
Managing chips doesn’t have to be hard work
Chips ahoy: Move, shred or pack them -- moving chips doesn't have to be hard work.
Productivity-boosting boring heads
Boring heads that improve productivity.
CAM it up
Software developers raise the bar with improved toolpaths, integration and simulation.