Machining

The October 2017 Machinist's Corner column explains the "eight wastes of lean," for which there is an acronym known as DOWNTIME: Defects, Overproduction, Waiting, Nonutilized talent, Transportation, Inventory, Motion and Extra processing.

Maintaining constant cutting forces provides a constant radial tool engagement throughout the entire cut, which eliminates spikes in the cutting forces. This approach allows the programmer to take a larger axial DOC while simultaneously maintaining a high feed rate and extending tool life.

With its new EOS M 290 additive-manufacturing system, Indiana Technology and Manufacturing Cos. (ITAMCO) now 3D-prints medical devices. After obtaining the system in June, the company started shipping components in August.

Machining Inconel 718 and similar heat-resistant superalloys (HRSAs) at cutting speeds normally reserved for aluminum is not only possible but becoming an accepted practice at some aerospace OEMs.

Keith Jennings, who writes the Manager's Desk column for Cutting Tool Engineering, shares his thanks for being able to work after surviving the epicenter of Hurricane Harvey in August.

CTE Editor Alan Richter highlights the 5-axis focus of the October 2017 issue.

Customers have been asking for a new carbide grade to machine titanium 6Al4V at higher cutting speeds compared to increasing feed rates or increasing depth of cuts in that result in increased cutting forces imposed on the workpiece, fixtures and machine spindles.

Vibration is a fact of life in almost every machining operation. Whether you're milling, drilling, turning, or grinding, vibration can result in chatter that can ruin a part. Fighting chatter has generally been a matter of adding more mass to the machine, but if you're clever about things, chatter reduction can be accomplished electronically, too.

Benz Inc., Hickory, N.C., which produces CNC tooling for the metal, wood and composites industries, named Brian Krin the Southeast regional sales manager for metal tooling.

UNITED GRINDING introduces the HELISET PLUS, a new manual measuring system from WALTER that contributes to the reduction of complex tool machining time by as much as 30 percent. Once integrated into tool production processes, the HELISET PLUS concurrently performs measurement operations previously done in separate tool preparation areas or within the machine that actually produces the tool.

New from Sumitomo Electric Carbide Inc., AC4010K and AC4015K series turning grades for cast iron feature recently developed technologies that result in a long and stable tool life. Consisting of a smooth cutting edge treatment, the AC4000K series' use of high adhesion technology drastically improves peeling resistance, according to the company.

Cutting tool manufacturer Walter USA LLC, Waukesha, Wis., appointed Dan Shelton managing director of the U.S.