Machining

Articles • December 1, 1997 • William Sluhan

Itching for a Solution

This article reviews the causes of skin irritation suffered by some shop workers, with special attention paid to skin conditions that result from poorly maintained metalcutting fluids. The article also discusses the factors that can aggravate skin problems and suggests ways that workers can protect themselves from skin irritants.

Articles • December 1, 1997 • Nancy Narbut

Grinding With Segments

For applications that call for heavy stock removal and large areas of contact between the part and wheel, shops mount segmented grinding wheels in their vertical-spindle surface grinders. This article discusses the difference between grinding with segmented abrasives and grinding with standard wheels. Among the topics it covers are abrasive selection and performance testing.

Articles • October 1, 1997 • William Cleveland

Countersinking Aircraft Materials

This article traces the changes in countersink design and materials that have been made to satisfy the demands of the aerospace industry. The advantages and disadvantages of different types of modern countersinks are discussed.

Articles • October 1, 1997 • Brent Lindsey

On Boring’s Cutting Edge

Although machinists are using cermet and ceramic cutting tools for an increasing number of applications, they have been slow to adopt them for boring. This is beginning to change, however. This article describes some of the ways a boring operation can benefit from the use of these tools.

Articles • September 1, 1997 • David Miskinis

Know What You’re Tapping

Traditional tap/drill charts recommend drill diameters for each size of tapped hole. But, according to this article, these recommendations are based on the size holes that were typically produced by less-accurate tools and processes used in the past. This article suggests guidelines for producing holes that will, in turn, produce correctly sized tapped holes.

Articles • September 1, 1997 • Brian Gedlinske

Coolant Care

By recycling used metalworking fluids, shops can realize considerable savings in fluid and disposal costs. This guide takes the reader through the fundamentals of fluid recycling and management. Excerpted from a manual on the subject, the piece covers both the care and cleaning of fluids and fluid-handling equipment.

Articles • August 1, 1997 • David Doyle

Burning Brightly

The more sophisticated die-sinker EDMs on the market today possess enough intelligence to monitor cutting conditions and make necessary adjustments on the fly. This article describes the technology that drives these smart machines and the "fuzzy logic" they use to maintain an optimal spark.

Articles • August 1, 1997 • Todd J. Schuett

Cutting-Edge Control

Modern control technology makes extremely fast milling speeds possible. But the top speed can only be as fast as the slowest link in the chain between controller and machine. This article looks at some of the bottlenecks that can prevent a mill from running at full speed.

Articles • June 1, 1997 • Werner Morach

Unattended Tool Grinding

A CNC tool grinder connected to an automated loading unit can be programmed to grind tools during a shop's off hours. This article discusses the planning and preparation that are necessary to set up an unattended run.

Articles • June 1, 1997 • Christina Dunlap

Help Wanted

This article describes the apprenticeship program and other activities that toolmaker Komet of America is pursuing to bring new people into the metalworking industry as machinists. The company has met with some success working with the Tooling & Manufacturing Association and a local high school.

Articles • June 1, 1997 • Alan Carius

Super Coatings for Superabrasives

While superabrasives in grinding wheels generally perform better than conventional abrasives, the grains also possess characteristics that can lead to unwanted chemical reactions during the wheel manufacturing process or premature pullout during use. This article discusses the ways a coating applied to the grains can reduce or prevent these undesirable side effects. .

Articles • June 1, 1997 • Michael Hitchiner

CBN Wheels in Peak Condition

CBN grinding wheels offer the promise of higher productivity and longer wheel life, but they must be carefully maintained with dressing routines that differ from routines for standard wheels. This article details the techniques and tools needed to perform CBN wheel dressing effectively and economically.