Managing heat in spindle bearings
Getting a handle on heat in high-speed spindle bearings.
Magazine Column
Machine Technology
Measuring machine vibration
Measuring machine tool vibration with piezoelectric accelerometers.
Measuring machine errors with a ball bar
A telescoping ball bar is a simple, but useful device that provides a quick and inexpensive way to characterize machine tool errors.
Measuring performance in real time
Real-time measurements during metalcutting can offer significant insight into machine tool performance. The parameters to be measured include position, velocity and acceleration of the axes; cutting force; sound; temperature; and acoustic emission, which is not the same as sound, but rather a high-frequency, structure-borne vibration.
The science of milling sounds
Milling sounds range from loud to quiet, and experienced machinists <br />often use those sounds to judge what is occurring in the cutting zone. It is difficult to position a sensor such as an accelerometer or a displacement probe close to the cutting zone, and it is often a challenge to see the cutting zone, but the sounds are pervasive.
Isolating cutting operations
The accurate positioning of the cutting tool with respect to the workpiece partly controls the accuracy of a machined part.
Apparent mass of moving machine elements
The moving elements of a machine tool have mass. Forces from the actuators cause the masses to move and accelerate. As the speed of the machine tool motion increases, the ability of the actuators to cause acceleration becomes more important.
Reasons for stable milling zones
In his October 2012 Machine Technology column, Dr. Scott Smith, professor at the William States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, outlines the reasons stable milling zones appear the way they do.
Coefficient of linear thermal expansion
Dr. Scott Smith, who writes the Machine Technology column for Cutting Tool Engineering magazine, covers some practical steps to improve accuracy and reduce scrap.
Solutions for long-range linear motion
Machine Technology column as published in the July 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.
Linear motion via ballscrew drives
Linear motion of machine tool axes is often achieved using screws and nuts.
Spindle power and torque limitations
Machine Technology columnist Dr. Scott Smith discusses the constraints related to the selection of machining parameters in the May 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.