Machining

Articles • June 1, 1996 • Leonard Pukaite

The Hard Truth

The fundamentals of wheel dressing and truing are reviewed in this article, which covers the proper maintenance of a wide variety of wheel bonds and abrasive types. The article also discusses different truing techniques and their appropriateness for different uses.

Articles • June 1, 1996 • Trevor Howes

Creep-Feed Exam

Researchers at the Center for Grinding Research performed a series of creep-feed grinding tests to determine the causes of the heat damage and striations they observed. The tests involved grinding slots and vertical faces. This report discusses the dynamics behind these problems and suggests ways to avoid them.

Articles • April 1, 1996 • Christopher Wilkens

EDM Wire Covers All the Angles

With wire EDM, the properties of the wire will have a large impact on the performance of the operation as well as the ease of rethreading. This article discusses the properties that ensure a good spark and reliable performance even when cutting at an angle. Real-world examples are given of users who have improved their operations by changing the type of wire they were using.

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

A Spark of Intelligence

EDM cutting conditions change throughout the cutting process as the part thickness and the level of dielectric contamination fluctuates. This article describes an experimental setup that can monitor these fluctuations and adjust the EDM's settings to maintain an optimal spark.

Articles • April 1, 1996 • Lawrence Rhoades

Understanding EDMed Surfaces

EDMing removes material at such high temperatures that the process produces metallurgical changes in the material surrounding the cut. This article discusses the various surface effects and how they can be detected and measured. It also reviews the different methods for correcting or removing the surface flaws and roughness caused by EDMing.

Articles • March 1, 1996 • Thomas Benjamin

Indexed for Success

Indexable-insert drills offer several advantages for producing short holes. This article describes the drills' features, uses and benefits. Tips are provided to help select the optimal tool, insert and machine settings. A trouble-shooting chart is included.

Articles • March 1, 1996 • Brent Lindsey

Turn with the Right Tool

New plunge-and-turn tools make it possible to perform several tasks, such as grooving, turning, back turning and face grooving, with the same tool. This article discusses the design and use of these tools as well as the types of cutoff tools currently on the market. Recommendations for tool selection, speeds and feeds are given for various work materials.

Articles • February 1, 1996 • Christina Dunlap

Drills Inch Toward Metric

U.S. manufacturers are in a transition period, moving from inch to metric specifications. This article looks at the impact this change is having on the manufacturing and use of drills. The discussion also covers the advantages and disadvantages of going metric and the availability of metric drill sizes in the United States.

Articles • December 1, 1995 • Kimberly B. Pigeon

Grinding Holds Its Ground

This article makes the argument that grinding is still a useful and necessary process despite the advancements that have made the turning of hardened workpieces possible. The article discusses the precision and finish possible with grinding, and it compares the cost of grinding to other machining processes.

Articles • December 1, 1995 • Elliot Stern

Good Vibrations

Tunable tools can be adjusted to dampen vibration. However, shops must have the right equipment to tune them quickly and precisely. This article describes an instrument that can provide the necessary feedback. A system that uses a mill's vibration frequency to sense problems with the tool is also described.

Articles • October 1, 1995 • Norm Semple

Beyond the Ban

The EPA's ban on ozone-depleting chemicals had an impact on the formulation of metalworking fluids containing 1,1,1 trichloroethane. This article looks at the reasons for the ban and the industry's efforts to find replacement substances for the banned chemicals.

Articles • October 1, 1995 • Harvey Patterson

Strictly Boring

When machinists plan a boring operation, they must rely on general turning data. Typically, this data is developed from OD turning operations, not boring operations. This article provides cutting data and recommendations specifically for boring that take into account such unique problems as boring bar deflection and chips trapped inside the bore.