Machining

Articles • February 16, 2018 • Alan Richter

View from Earth will do just fine, thank you

While placing a telescope outside the distortion of Earth's atmosphere may seem like the best way to study the cosmos, CTE Editor Alan Richter holds a different view after the Giant Magellan Telescope Organization Corp. reached out to explain how it's working with Boeing Research & Technology on an Earth-bound telescope that will minimize distortion from the atmosphere.

Products • February 15, 2018

FlexArm GH-18-1 Tapping Arm

FlexArm Inc. introduces a mobile tapping package which yields mobility, productivity and efficiency by allowing operators to tap holes offline while the machining center works on the next part. This comprehensive package includes the FlexArm GH-18-1 tapping arm with a tap capacity of #6 to 5/8", a reach from 17"-72", variable speed from 100-420 rpm, 360-degree movement, and a semiautomatic tap lubricator.

Products • February 15, 2018

hyperMILL 2018.1 CAM Software

OPEN MIND Technologies AG has introduced hyperMILL 2018.1, a new version of its advanced, comprehensive CAM software. hyperMILL 2018.1 has a range of new features and enhancements including greater blending capabilities, 3D-optimized roughing, global fitting, rotational abilities for CAD electrode applications and virtual machining simulation.

Products • February 13, 2018

Mastercam 2019 Public Beta

Mastercam 2019 Public Beta is now open to all currently maintained Mastercam customers. Shops all over the world, from small job shops to Fortune 100, get a chance to test-drive Mastercam 2019 before it is released and provide valuable feedback to help shape the final product. Participants in the Public Beta get an early look at dozens of powerful new tools for simple to complex jobs.

Videos • February 12, 2018

Episode 87: Matching coolant velocity to wheel velocity

How do you know your coolant velocity? The Grinding Doc says the best — and perhaps most accurate — way to determine coolant exit velocity is with the Ol' Bucket & Stopwatch Technique. It'll take five minutes and tell you how close you are to wheel speed.

Articles • February 9, 2018 • Jeffrey A. Badger, Ph.D.

Wheel tests on the fly

A shop writes to the Grinding Doc: There's lots of discussion at my company about the best diamond fluting wheel for grinding tungsten carbide. Is there a quick test to determine which wheel is best?

Products • February 9, 2018

‘FightMax’ Endmill Series

With the "FightMax" mill series, the tool manufacturer Inovatools is sending a winner into the ring for machining steel materials. The tool specialists have once again hit the bull's eye with the new VHM-HPC roughing/finishing milling cutter "FightMax" INOX. n

News • February 8, 2018 • Alan Richter

A growing market for colossal components

As product miniaturization continues, micromachining continues to make inroads into the manufacturing industry, and CTE will once again provide a special section about micromachining in our May issue. At the other end, I've noticed more developments in large-part machining, and, coincidentally, our April issue will include a focus on that topic.

Articles • February 8, 2018 • Kip Hanson

Inverting the spindle on a vertical turret lathe can make a great lathe even better

Vertical turning lathes have a significant drawback: the chips fall onto the workpiece where they are subject to recutting. By inverting the spindle, chip problems are virtually eliminated.

Videos • February 6, 2018

Design for manufacturing and assembly

The 12th episode of the CNC Chef, a video series produced by Cutting Tool Engineering in collaboration with Bob Warfield of the CNC Cookbook, gives some long overdue attention to Design for Manufacturing and Assembly.

Articles • February 5, 2018 • James Harvey

A few unorthodox machining tips

Shop Operations Columnist James Harvey shares a few unorthodox machining methods that have worked for him.

Products • February 5, 2018

Turret-Adapted Clamping Units

As machine tools become increasingly complex and the need to produce parts in less time grows, CNC lathe owners and managers must look to the latest technologies if they're to improve shop floor efficiency. Isn't it ironic then that one of the most productive of these solutions is far from new—in fact, it's been a champion in the war on machine tool downtime for nearly three decades. It's called KMTM Quick Change Tooling, and whether it's an old friend, a complete stranger, or an acquaintance you met briefly and discounted, it's time to take a long hard look at what it can do for your bottom line.