Machine Tool Attachments & Accessories

Articles • January 1, 2001 • Michael Deren

CNC Lathe Options: What to Know Before Upgrading from Manual

A look at the various types of CNC lathes available to shops contemplating stepping up from a manual machine. The pros and cons of the following lathes are discussed: combination, cutoff, slant-bed, twin-spindle and turn/mill. The author also touches on available options.

Articles • December 1, 2000 • Walter Ammerman Jr.

A Tight Fit

Part I: The author discusses how to maintain and repair machine tool spindles and what causes spindles to run out of round. Common sources of out-of-round spindles include loose bearings and improperly ground spacers. In-machine spindle repair is also discussed. Part II: There are three common ways to repair tapered toolholders: regrinding, replacing damaged material and chrome-plating. The author discusses each, along with its price, and gives advice about choosing an option.

Articles • October 1, 2000 • Jody Romanowski

Can We Talk?

DNC can mean either Direct Numeric Control or Distributed Numeric Control. Either way, a DNC links a shop's computers and machine tools and saves times. A DNC eliminates manual transcription of NC data, the downtime caused by shop personnel having to make programming entries and transporting part programs between engineering and their machines.

Articles • August 1, 2000 • Scott Ashworth

The Three R’s: Retrofit, Rebuild and Remanufacture

Author explains the different ways to upgrade a used machine tool. He also discusses what users should expect from the company that performs the retrofit, rebuild or remanufacturing job and how long the job should take.

Articles • July 1, 2000 • Les Loncharich

Hands Free

Shop owners who operate multitask machines talk about the time and cost benefits of producing parts in a single chucking. They also discuss some of the problems they had when adopting the technology. Accompanying Articles focus on a multitask users group and machine that hard-turns and grinds.

Articles • April 1, 2000 • Dennis Esford

Added Dimensions

A rotary table allows a 3-axis vertical machining center to machine in the n4th and 5th axes. The author explains the different types of rotary tables nthat are available and discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Articles • October 1, 1999 • Michael Gugger

Lessons Learned

A project engineer recounts his experiences planning for, installing and setting up a new CNC vertical milling center. Among the issues he explores are the questions that must be answered before the machine arrives, selecting or designing tools and fixtures for the new machine and preparing workers for the change.

Articles • September 1, 1999 • Kip Hanson

Open Minded

Open controls allow users to integrate commercially available hardware and software with machine tool CNCs. This article reviews how different CNC makers have designed systems that incorporate or connect with PC-based products to offer this level of flexibility. Accompanying Articles describe one shop's experience with open architecture and list the skills needed to operate these new systems.n

Articles • September 1, 1998 • Mike Yates

Manual Mills Get CNC Makeovers

A manual milling machine can be retrofitted with a CNC system for about one-fourth the cost of a brand new CNC machine. This article discusses the pros and cons of retrofitting and provides guidance to determine when retrofitting is the most appropriate solution.

Articles • September 1, 1998 • Robert Eade

Opening the Door to Greater Control

This article charts the gradual move by CNC manufacturers from proprietary hardware-based machine controllers to open, software-based systems. The article also reviews recently developed controllers that represent steps in the direction of totally open controls.

Articles • June 1, 1998 • Martin Eastman

All Together Now

This article looks at the close partnership forged between a toolmaker and a machine tool manufacturer. The alliance requires the two to share detailed information about proposed products as well as the customers each is working with. Such cooperation has made it possible to develop several new products and processes.

Articles • April 1, 1998 • Martin Eastman

Balancing on the Fly

With the introduction of high-speed milling, tool balancing has become increasingly important. This article describes a system that can balance tools while they are mounted in the machine tool's spindle and rotating.