Kip Hanson

Articles • February 1, 2013 • Kip Hanson

Why so cross?

Drilling cross-holes in some parts is no big deal. These are often simple parts, such as aluminum valve bodies, where the holes aren't too deep and meet on-center, and the customer can live with a small burr at the intersection.

Articles • January 1, 2013 • Kip Hanson

Sort, Select, Start Up

Choosing a multitask machine from a bewildering array of options can be challenging, but the right one can be a shop game changer.

Articles • December 1, 2012 • Kip Hanson

Trending to turning

Holding a few tenths tolerance on a piece of 60-HRC steel was once the domain of expensive grinding equipment. Today, it's no big deal.

Articles • October 1, 2012 • Kip Hanson

Making it manufacturable

New tools help parts makers design for manufacturability, which reduces machining costs and improves part quality.

Articles • September 1, 2012 • Kip Hanson

Fueling improvements

Using continuous improvement to reach automotive fuel-economy goals.

Articles • July 1, 2012 • Kip Hanson

Train up

Many workers — from newbies to experienced machinists — can benefit from CNC training.

Articles • May 1, 2012 • Kip Hanson

Vertical challenge

Can vertical machining centers go toe-to-toe with horizontals on performance?

Articles • April 1, 2012 • Kip Hanson

Part makers get a better angle for multiple-axis work

Say your machine shop just received an order for 316 stainless fuel-injector nozzles requiring angled holes to be drilled on the workpiece face. Or perhaps your best medical customer needs miniature blood-pump impellers with complex 3-D blade geometries like those on a jet-engine turbine. How are you going to make them?

Articles • March 1, 2012 • Kip Hanson

Raising the Bar

Bar feeders, once known as slow and inefficient 'rattle tubes,' are now high-speed, automated units.

Articles • March 1, 2012 • Kip Hanson

Zeroing out Swiss

When turning 2mm-dia. and smaller parts on a Swiss-style machine, it only makes sense that the radius on the tool should be equally tiny. After all, you can't cut a 0.5mm bone screw with a TNMG-431 insert—the tool's nose radius is nearly as big as the part.

Articles • February 1, 2012 • Kip Hanson

Horizontal Autopilot

Manufacturers are using unattended horizontal machining cells to improve productivity and quality.

Articles • December 1, 2011 • Kip Hanson

Doing it the Hard Way

Thinking about taking the leap into milling hardened steels? Why would you? After all, if your shop has been successfully grinding, jig boring and EDMing hardened materials, why change?