Feature Article

Articles • September 1, 1997 • Brian Gedlinske

Coolant Care

By recycling used metalworking fluids, shops can realize considerable savings in fluid and disposal costs. This guide takes the reader through the fundamentals of fluid recycling and management. Excerpted from a manual on the subject, the piece covers both the care and cleaning of fluids and fluid-handling equipment.

Articles • August 1, 1997 • Bernard Nadel

Seats of Knowledge

In the lab, researchers are using artificial intelligence to turn CAD and CAM programs into systems that can think and make decisions. This article looks at several of these efforts and the capabilties of the systems that have been developed.

Articles • August 1, 1997 • Richard Horsfall

Amorphous Diamond Shapes Up

Amorphous diamond coatings can offer performance close to that of CVD diamond film at a fraction of the cost. This article describes the amorphous diamond coating process and the coating that is produced. A comparison to CVD diamond coatings is also presented.

Articles • August 1, 1997 • Phillip Craig

Behind the Carbide Curtain

Many end users would like to see carbide tool standards that would ensure consistent quality in tools from shipment to shipment or between manufacturers. Today's C and ISO designations do not provide this assurance, according to this article. The article looks at the problems that arise because of a lack of standards and the attempts being made to guarantee consistent quality in the shop.

Articles • August 1, 1997 • D. Fred Smith

Ball-Drive Superiority

This article makes the argument that ball-drive quick-change tapholders, which transfer torque through hardened-steel balls fitted into mating detents, are more reliable than tang-drive units. The technology behind ball-drive tapholders and the design's benefits are explained.

Articles • August 1, 1997 • David Doyle

Burning Brightly

The more sophisticated die-sinker EDMs on the market today possess enough intelligence to monitor cutting conditions and make necessary adjustments on the fly. This article describes the technology that drives these smart machines and the "fuzzy logic" they use to maintain an optimal spark.

Articles • August 1, 1997 • Mike Lynch

Use Your CNC Wisely

CNCs have the power to dramatically increase productivity, yet many shops fail to make use of their controllers' full potential. This article suggests ways that a shop can fine tune its CNCs to create controllers that are optimized for the type of work being performed. The tips include many CNC features, capabilities and options that users often overlook.

Articles • August 1, 1997 • Todd J. Schuett

Cutting-Edge Control

Modern control technology makes extremely fast milling speeds possible. But the top speed can only be as fast as the slowest link in the chain between controller and machine. This article looks at some of the bottlenecks that can prevent a mill from running at full speed.

Articles • June 1, 1997 • Werner Morach

Unattended Tool Grinding

A CNC tool grinder connected to an automated loading unit can be programmed to grind tools during a shop's off hours. This article discusses the planning and preparation that are necessary to set up an unattended run.

Articles • June 1, 1997 • Christina Dunlap

Help Wanted

This article describes the apprenticeship program and other activities that toolmaker Komet of America is pursuing to bring new people into the metalworking industry as machinists. The company has met with some success working with the Tooling & Manufacturing Association and a local high school.

Articles • June 1, 1997 • Alan Carius

Super Coatings for Superabrasives

While superabrasives in grinding wheels generally perform better than conventional abrasives, the grains also possess characteristics that can lead to unwanted chemical reactions during the wheel manufacturing process or premature pullout during use. This article discusses the ways a coating applied to the grains can reduce or prevent these undesirable side effects. .

Articles • June 1, 1997 • Michael Hitchiner

CBN Wheels in Peak Condition

CBN grinding wheels offer the promise of higher productivity and longer wheel life, but they must be carefully maintained with dressing routines that differ from routines for standard wheels. This article details the techniques and tools needed to perform CBN wheel dressing effectively and economically.