Machining

The benefits of TiN and TiCN coatings are list in high-temperature applications such as the machining of exotic metals. TiAlN coatings, on the other hand, perform better at higher temperatures. This article describes the properties of TiAlN that make it the coating to use with high-temperature work.

Researchers studying the performance of diamond coatings have found a number of factors of the coating process that determine the ultimate success of the coating. This article looks at factors such as substrate preparation, stresses in the coating and substrate and the diamond coating's formation patterns.

Several factors influence the effectiveness of a drilling operation. This article looks at a number of them, including coolant delivery, speeds and feeds, and tool selection.

Drilling with a single- or double-tube system might be the most efficient way to drill deep holes in some applications. This article, which describes the tools and the process, says tubular drilling can pay for itself in higher productivity, thriftier manufacturing and tighter tolerances.

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.

Segmented grinding wheels can help in heavy stock-removal applications with large contact areas. This guide covers where grinding segments fit and what shops should watch.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.