Machining

The creation of a part program for a CNC machine tool usually starts with a part drawing or model that contains the part material, geometry and tolerances.

Dear Doc: I grind small parts with intricate geometries. I'd like to get a handle on what kind of Ra values I'm generating and if the grinding process changes I'm making are improving or worsening the surface finish. I was told to purchase a profilometer. Is this the best route to go?

Combination tooling, custom fixtures and creative solutions help Apex Precision thrive.

Understanding tool geometry and selecting the right tap for different workpiece materials can help take the anxiety out of tapping operations.

Check out this brief video from Kennamental Inc. showing a side-by-side comparison of an HSS tap vs. a solid-carbide tap. The video accompanies CTE's August cover story on selecting the right tap for different workpiece materials. The split-screen video demonstrates the significant productivity advantage of the first solid carbide tap specifically engineered for tapping steels.

In today's market, a machine shop often has millions of dollars invested in machines. Typically, a hefty amount is also committed to payroll. For a shop to be profitable, these two assets must work together efficiently.

Eagle Machine Inc., in Abbotsford, B.C., frequently takes on challenging jobs, such as modifying a diving bell for deep-sea submarine rescues or designing and machining a set of solid aluminum wheels for an 800-mph land speed car based on an F-104 jet aircraft.

Unlike lathes, which have been around for thousands of years, milling machines are less than 200 years old. Because they require much more power than hand-driven lathes, the introduction of milling machines had to wait for the invention of industrial water and steam power.

Machine tool users can access the information contained in a stability lobe diagram to greatly increase productivity.

Our shop uses several tools to help us communicate easier and more effectively.

Applying "off-the-shelf," standard milling tools to get the job done provides several benefits: the tools are readily available and usually from numerous suppliers, their prices are competitive and the results are predictable. Nonetheless, even with a multitude of standard tools available for nearly every milling application, parts manufacturers often require specials engineered for a specific application.

Because of the array of precision functions grinding machines perform, it's vital to properly maintain them to keep them operating at their peak in terms of accuracy and reliability. You can start by devising a maintenance program and sticking with it. This article provides tips on how to set up key parts of that program.