Low-Silicon Lowdown
Simplifying tapping operations on low-silicon aluminum.
Operation / Process
Threading & Tapping
Going Deep
Tips for deep-hole tapping in titanium and other aerospace-grade materials. Advice is provided by NIST and the International Titanium Association.
Tool Men
Establishing a good relationship with your cutting tool salesperson can benefit your operation. A good salesperson can help solve problems you don't have time to tackle and offer recommendations for machining difficult parts. The author also addresses what to do when a relationship sours.
From Maudsley to CNC: The Evolution of Thread Cutting
A look at the different types of inserts used for single-point threading and how to figure feed rates for cutting threads on a CNC lathe. Also offers programming tips and recommendations for reducing tool wear.
Thread Heads
Three companies that tap millions of holes annually offer advice for improving the tapping of steel and aluminum. Discussed is coolant application, equipment for tapping and determining speeds. There's also a sidebar on thread milling.
Freer Thinking
This article describes a self-contained micromachining center. The unit uses PC-based controls and a video system to machine small parts with precision, while giving the machinist a magnified view for setup and prototyping.
Internal Decision
Tapping and thread milling can both produce internal threads in a variety of sizes, pitches and materials. This article discusses the factors that will dictate which process makes the most sense for a given job.nn
Pipe Tapping
Taper pipe threading is unlike any other threading operation, and it may be one of the most difficult operations a machinist can be asked to perform. This article reviews the various types of taper threads and the tools and techniques needed to produce them.
Speed Tapping
Tap and tapholder manufacturers have introduced technology to speed up the inherently slow tapping process. This article reviews a number of innovations, including tension/compression holders for rigid tapping, self-reversing tapping heads and quick-change tapholders.
Purchasing Holds the Reins
This report of a Cutting Tool Engineering survey charts the shift in the way shops are purchasing tools. As the survey's findings indicate, an increasing number of tools are being bought directly from manufacturers and many shops are narrowing down the number of tool suppliers they do business with.
The Dry Cure for Coolant Ills
With safety and health precautions driving up the cost of using metalworking fluids, many shops are attempting to machine dry. This article looks at the reasons why a shop might want to eliminate coolants and the effects this decision will have on part quality and tool performance.
What Makes Diamond Coatings 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.