Machinery & Equipment Manufacturing

A look at the collet--the 'other' workholding device. Even though collets' roots are firmly planted in the past, they remain an integral part of today's tooling designs.

Understanding parting-off operations.

A look at the various types of CNC lathes available to shops contemplating stepping up from a manual machine. The pros and cons of the following lathes are discussed: combination, cutoff, slant-bed, twin-spindle and turn/mill. The author also touches on available options.

A look at the different types of inserts used for single-point threading and how to figure feed rates for cutting threads on a CNC lathe. Also offers programming tips and recommendations for reducing tool wear.

An increasing number of shops are purchasing saws and bringing their cutoff operations in-house. This article discusses the benefits of such a move and explains the factors that must be considered before selecting a saw. Blade selection is also discussed.

Computer simulations of the cutting process can help tool designers predict the effects of tool-geometry changes. This article describes how one manufacturer is using the most recent advances in computer modeling to reduce the need for producing and testing prototype inserts. An accompanying article describes a commercially available simulation program.