Software & Digital Solutions

Articles • April 1, 1998 • Christoph Zoller

From Presetting to Tool Management

This article explains how state-of-the-art tool presetting-and-measuring machines can reduce a shop's tool setup time while increasing precision. The article also describes how the additional functions of these high-end units can turn them into sophisticated tool-management systems.

Articles • August 1, 1997 • Todd J. Schuett

Cutting-Edge Control

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.

Articles • August 1, 1997 • Bernard Nadel

Seats of Knowledge

In the lab, researchers are using artificial intelligence to turn CAD and CAM programs into systems that can think and make decisions. This article looks at several of these efforts and the capabilties of the systems that have been developed.

Articles • August 1, 1996 • Richard McCarthy

Presetters Produce Profit

There are a variety of presetters on the market. All reduce machine downtime by allowing shops to set up tools offline. This article discusses the different presetter types and the impact that these differences will have on the instrument's price and functionality.

Articles • December 1, 1995 • Michael Smith

For Good Measure

Software-based video tool inspection systems can read tool geometries much more precisely than other measurement systems. This article looks at the technology behind these systems and explains how this technology detects and measures tool edges and angles.