Machinery & Equipment Manufacturing

Talking Shop August 2009 column

The creation of a part program for a CNC machine tool usually starts with a part drawing or model that contains the part material, geometry and tolerances.

Who should perform spindle maintenance in machine shops?

Combination tooling, custom fixtures and creative solutions help Apex Precision thrive.

Understanding tool geometry and selecting the right tap for different workpiece materials can help take the anxiety out of tapping operations.

U.S. companies that adopt electromagnetic workholders heartily endorse the technology.

Machine tool users can access the information contained in a stability lobe diagram to greatly increase productivity.

Applying "off-the-shelf," standard milling tools to get the job done provides several benefits: the tools are readily available and usually from numerous suppliers, their prices are competitive and the results are predictable. Nonetheless, even with a multitude of standard tools available for nearly every milling application, parts manufacturers often require specials engineered for a specific application.

Because of the array of precision functions grinding machines perform, it's vital to properly maintain them to keep them operating at their peak in terms of accuracy and reliability. You can start by devising a maintenance program and sticking with it. This article provides tips on how to set up key parts of that program.

Because they produce chips at high operating temperatures, often with oil-based coolants present, machine tools can easily catch fire. However, if shops plan ahead for this possibility by installing fire suppression systems, they can avoid catastrophic damage to the machine and the shop itself.

Machine Technology column for June 2009 issue.

Getting the most from multitask machines requires knowing whether the parts a shop produces are appropriate for the technology, selecting and training the right employees and applying the correct tools.