Magazines

Magazines • September 1, 2010

September 2010

Machining P/M steels for auto parts is tough, but answers abound. PLUS: 5 shops use different lights-out machining strategies, but all are focused on creating stable processes Advancements in marking technology lead to lower integration costs and more benefits for the end user The real cost of a cutting tool Designing machine tools for cutting...

Magazines • August 1, 2010

August 2010

CTE’s 2010 Salary Survey looks at the wages for metalworking positions since the 2008 survey, and how benefit packages have changed. PLUS: Vacuum workholding is catching on in new and different applications Like the parts they thread, taps for oil and gas parts can be complicated Shops have many choices when texturing—rather than smoothing—part surfaces...

Magazines • July 1, 2010

July 2010

Several alternatives to mechanical drilling make sense when the application is right. PLUS: However you define them, extended-reach toolholders are indispensible in certain applications A new concept of calculating the required machining power when milling Advances in machine tool controls and software drive better maintenance methods When drilling, controlling runout is critical to maximize tool...

Magazines • June 1, 2010

June 2010

Superabrasive tools can be applied to efficiently machine carbon fiber-reinforced plastics. PLUS: The development of large diamond wheels for machining large parts Texas shop’s waterjet cutting capabilities help protect U.S. soldiers Appropriate scenarios for applying a reamer when finishing holes Using the design of experiments process for QC on the shop floor.

Magazines • May 1, 2010

May 2010

Pristine fi nishes are pivotal for safe and eff ective orthopedic implants. PLUS: Minimize vibration—and trouble—when deep-hole boring Advanced vertical machining centers provide enhanced performance and value Insert geometries for effectively turning high-temperature superalloys Is your shop like a clean room? It could be.

Magazines • April 1, 2010

April 2010

Teamwork and advanced manufacturing software help moldmakers compete in a tough global market. PLUS: Robotic deburring Laser-based broken-tool detection systems can be key for shops’ automated operations A multifaceted tool kit to help negotiate the many complexities of Swiss-style turning Zero-point workpiece clamping systems can slash changeover and setup costs.

Magazines • March 1, 2010

March 2010

Custom cutting tools tackle complex aerospace applications. PLUS: Applications, accuracy issues and infrastructure requirements for large-envelope machine tools A review of tools for fi nishing intersecting holes Tool sharpening: in-house vs. outsourcing A multifaceted, rational approach to machine tool selection.

Magazines • February 1, 2010

February 2010

Machining components for solar power generation systems is a renewable source of business. PLUS: Integrated automation of turning centers prove key to meeting production schedules and profit goals Strategies for grinding stainless steel medical instruments CAD/CAM solutions for increasing the efficiency of multiaxis machining Using an independent laboratory to scientifically test coolants provides the impartial...

Magazines • January 1, 2010

January 2010

Using multitask machines to finish hardened workpieces can boost accuracy and cut cycle time. PLUS: Milling plastics is just easy enough to be difficult Solid-carbide drills penetrate the gundrill deep-hole market Sophisticated indexable-tool repair calls for automated equipment School programs and competitive events help young machinists hone talents.

Magazines • December 1, 2009

December 2009

A growing number of shops are shelving their taps and opting to thread mill heat-treated steel. PLUS: Cermet-tipped circular saw blades are eating into carbide’s market share Evolving tool and cutter grinder software boosts toolmakers’ and machine shops’ production of advanced cutting tools Close-ups of the grinding process via an electron microscope Our year-end recap...

Magazines • October 1, 2009

October 2009

Implementing new technologies helps military parts manufacturing stay on the cutting edge. PLUS: Engineered coating combinations control heat and keep chips flying when dry-drilling Wire EDM gains ground as the go-to technology for prototyping parts with intricate geometries and those made of hard materials On-machine probing can reduce setup time, boost productivity and minimize costs...

Magazines • September 1, 2009

September 2009

Machining large, compacted graphite iron castings for diesel engine components is rife with challenges—but using the right tools and techniques can help. PLUS: Lights-out production can put a shine on the bottom line of even low-volume, multiple-part operations As coolant costs climb, it’s more important than ever to know how to properly evaluate fluid products,...