Articles
Turn, Mill And Laser-Harden In One Setup
A new turn-mill platform combines turning and four-axis milling with integral laser hardening and laser welding in one workpiece setup. This enables shops to bring often-outsourced laser treatment in-house to reduce lead times.
Read MoreThe Case For Synthetic Diamonds In Wheel Dressing Tools
Synthetic-diamond dressing tools are often a superior alternative to natural-diamond dressing tools for conditioning a grinding wheel. The reason is the consistency that the synthetic-diamond tools bring to the process. That is a key point in the case for synthetic diamond dressing tools made by William D. Ja
Read MoreGetting Centered With Centerless
A job shop that specializes in cylindrical grinding is shifting more of its work from ID/OD grinders to centerless grinders. In understanding the rationale behind this move, other shops can determine where centerless makes the most sense.
Read MoreSimulation Software Enables "Lights-Out" Five-Axis Machining
Hall & Stavert has been manufacturing marine hardware for more than 65 years. The company incorporated Vericut machine-simulation software to verify NC programs and shorten turnaround time. Developed by CGTech, the solids-based software system interactively simulates the material-removal process of an NC program. The software depicts three- to five-axis milling/drilling and wire EDM operations as well as multi-axis turning and mill/turn machining.
Read MoreLean Manufacturing For The Job Shop
Lean practices are not just for predictable production. Here are the common-sense ways this low-volume job shop has implemented a leaner process.
Read MoreBeat The Heat With High-Pressure Coolant
In lieu of traditional flooding measures, multitasking machine operators can use high-pressure coolant strategically to improve chip control and tooling life while enhancing overall productivity.
Read MoreUSB Reader Inputs CNC Programs From A Flash Drive
USB flash memory devices (also called flash drives or data sticks) are a convenient way to move files from a laptop to a desktop PC, from a camera to a PC and so on. They can also be handy for storing and moving part programs for CNC machines on the shop floor.
Read MoreEMO 2007--A Bright Reflection Of The Times
EMO 2007, a major machine tool show held in Hannover, Germany, in September, will not be remembered for the new technology introduced at this show, although it was not without its noticeable highlights. Rather, it will be remembered as the show with a record number of attendees generating record numbers of sales leads and purchase agreements. This surely reflects the strong economic growth in the major industrial markets around the globe.
Read MoreConsider L:D When Choosing A Lathe For Small Parts
Should shops always defer to Swiss-type lathes to process small, long and often complex parts? Not necessarily. As a general rule, a Swiss-type is most appropriate for machining workpieces with L:D ratios of 4 to 1 or greater. Parts with lower L:D ratios may be machined economically on turn-mills.
Read MoreIn It For The Long Haul
Curt Reed uses advanced grinding techniques in the pursuit of short-run, sub-micron work that other shops can’t perform or won’t attempt. His shop’s commitment to its customers is reflected in the high level of equipment sophistication and applied grinding acumen.
Read MoreThinking About Shopfloor Interoperability-And Making It Happen
The significance of “plug-and-produce” integration for machine shops and manufacturing plants becomes clear from the perspective of an ERP software developer.
Read MoreAdaptive Machining For Turbine Blade Repair
Real-time-responding CNC brings new possibilities to difficult machining applications.
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