General Shop Equipment & Supplies

Machinist's Corner column as published in the July 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

Manager's Desk column as published in the July 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

Tooling Review as published in the July 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

Shop Operations column as published in the July 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

When selecting toolholders for endmills, a sidelock holder or an ER collet may be the best choice, with alternatives offering a new twist.

In order that tools always arrive on time at the machine, TDM Systems GmbH has developed the "TDM Machine Tool Manager."

Carpenter Technology Corp. announced that it has launched an Android version of MetalMass, its popular free smart phone app that debuted in November 2011 for iPhone/iPad.

Presented as an online supplement to Cutting Tool Engineering's July 2012 report on high-speed milling, the following video from the RobbJack Corp., Lincoln, Calif., demonstrate a variety of high-speed milling operations.

The CTE staff offers a workholding product review.

END USER: Mercury Marine, (920) 929-5000, www.mercurymarine.com. CHALLENGE: To increase productivity when machining driveshafts and propeller shafts. SOLUTION: A lathe with a hob assembly. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Okuma America Corp., (704) 588-7000, www.okuma.com

END USER: Fox Valley Metrology Ltd., (920) 426-5894, www.foxvalleymetrology.com. CHALLENGE: Providing faster service when repairing hand-held instruments. SOLUTION: A honing tool that allows repairing measurement instruments at a customer's site. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Brush Research Manufacturing Co. Inc., (323) 261-2193, www.brushresearch.com.

As a follow-up to my April column, here are additional tips for enhancing the operation of a manual lathe.