Machining

Swiss Smarts

03/27/2017

Author:

The April 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine includes an occasional column on Swiss-Style Machining that addresses training options for new and experienced machinists.

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Shop Ingenuity: Keep the Spindle Turning

A South Carolina shop purchased extra pallets to cut down on changeover time and ensure that it keeps the spindle turning as much as possible.

Shop Profile: MTU America implements lean initiatives

MTU America, Graniteville, S.C., which machines parts for large diesel engines, shares a glimpse into the shop's machining operations and lean manufacturing initiatives in this brief shop profile video report filmed by Cutting Tool Engineering Editor Alan Richter.

See also the cover story in the April 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine, "MTU America: Machining parts for large diesel engines."

The CNC Chef: Chip Thinning | Episode 2

Well-intentioned conservatism can actually be very bad for tool life, according to the second episode of The CNC Chef, a new monthly video series from Cutting Tool Engineering and Bob Warfield from CNCCookbook. While the first episode focused on the risk of tool rubbing by turning down the feedrate too much, the second episode cautions against cutting back cut width or stepover too much, which causes chip thinning.

Shop Operations: Odds and ends

03/06/2017

Author:

James Harvey

James Harvey, Cutting Tool Engineering's Shop Operations columnist, offers some miscellaneous tips and and unusual methods of machining that worked for him—and may help other metalworkers.

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As available jobs increase, manufacturers get that old school spirit

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that hiring in December 2016 was at a four-month high, while the number of manufacturing hires tied that of November for its best monthly performance since 2010. Separately, the BLS said that manufacturing companies created 5,000 new jobs in January for a second straight month of growth. That’s good news for those who remember the dark days of the Great Recession—but for employers who have more work to be done than workers to do it, it’s a headache. One solution has been to reach that next generation early—while they’re finishing high shool.

Reaping the benefits of lights-out machining

02/24/2017

Author:

Holly B. Martin

At the National Tooling and Machining Association Plant Managers Roundtable, held Feb. 8 in Phoenix, Jeff Estes, director of Partners in THINC at Okuma America Corp., Charlotte, N.C., discussed the advantages and challenges of shop-floor automation.

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The CNC Chef: Tackling tool rubbing | Episode 1

In the debut episode of The CNC Chef, Bob Warfield from CNCCookbook.com cautions against slowing down your feed rate to avoid tool rubbing. A new monthly video series from Cutting Tool Engineering, The CNC Chef will address a variety of machining challenges in the coming months, including:

Look Ahead: Calibration celebration

02/14/2017

Author:

Michael C. Anderson

Calibrating a multiple-axis machining center is one of those time-consuming but necessary tasks that parts makers have to accept. The task has gotten easier in past years, however, and has just gotten easier yet.

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A mountain (bike) of chips

01/31/2017

Author:

Alan Richter

END USER: North Bucks Machining Ltd., +1908-611-669, www.northbucksmachining.co.uk. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Open Mind Technologies USA Inc., (888) 516-1232, www.openmind-tech.com. CHALLENGE: Efficiently rough-machine a mountain bike frame from a solid piece of aluminum stock. SOLUTION: A CAM software’s high-performance roughing module.

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