Fabrication & Cutting

Articles • March 1, 1998 • Tim Malone

Harder, Faster

The growing use of difficult-to-machine materials has driven the metalcutting industry to high-performance tools. This article reviews the trends that are behind most cutting tool research today, and it looks at the state-of-the art results of that research.

Articles • February 1, 1998 • Michael Weiner

Good News About Eta Phase

The presence of an eta phase between a coating and the substrate is generally considered harmful to coating adhesion. However, this article argues that when the formation of the eta phase is carefully controlled, it can actually enhance adhesion. The conditions that promote the formation of beneficial eta phase are explained.

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 • April 1, 1997 • John Pfeiffer

Consider the Source

This article discusses the various sources of machining information available, and the body of knowledge on which each type of source bases its recommendations. Emerging sources that make use of such innovative media as the Internet also are discussed.

Articles • March 1, 1997 • John Whalen

Grinding Your Teeth

CNC bandsaws are designed to run for long periods unattended. This is only possible if the blades used are reliable and long lasting. According to this article, bimetal blades with ground teeth fit the bill. The article describes how these blades are made and what makes them different from conventional blades with milled teeth.

Articles • February 1, 1997 • Richard Ward

AWJ Options

There are many good reasons a shop might choose to purchase an abrasive waterjet machine. However, as this article explains, many factors must be considered to determine if the investment makes economic sense. The article discusses how and when a shop can adopt AWJ profitably and it explores the possibility of achieving the same results more cost effectively by subcontracting the work to an AWJ specialty house.

Articles • February 1, 1997 • Don Graham

New Coatings Meet New Challenges

As the use of hard-to-machine work materials grows, the need for high-performance tool coatings increases. This article discusses developments in coatings that have increased their usability. Among the coatings discussed are medium-temperature CVD coatings and multilayer PVD coatings.

Articles • February 1, 1997 • Christina Dunlap

Should You Try Dry?

Cutting without metalworking fluid is looking increasingly attractive to U.S. shops hit with the high cost of fluid maintenance and disposal. This article discusses the benefits and drawbacks of dry machining and outlines the tools and equipment needed to machine successfully without the benefits of a coolant or lubricant.

Articles • September 1, 1996 • Joseph Halloran

Ceramics Get Tough

Improvements in cermet and ceramic inserts have made them a good choice for high-speed milling. This article describes how the compositions and designs of these newer inserts make them tough enough to withstand the punishment of a milling operation while maintaining the hardness that makes them wear-resistant.

Articles • September 1, 1996 • K.P. Rajurkar

Beyond Cool

Researchers tried bathing inserts in liquid nitrogen to keep them cool while cutting hard-to-machine materials. This article reports the results of this experiment. It shows how the use of cryogenic coolant can keep temperatures down and prolong tool life while machining titanium aluminum vanadium and reaction-bonded silicon nitride.

Articles • June 1, 1996 • Norman Rohr

Powder Particulars

This article describes the shapes and sizes of diamond particles produced through standard manufacturing processes. The uses for these different types of particles are also explained, with an emphasis on particles used in superfinishing powders and slurries.