Articles
A Tool Turret Tailored For The Task (Of Multitasking)
When Hardinge Inc. (Elmira, New York) designed its new "flagship" line of multitasking CNC turning centers, it paid particular attention to the turret tooling top plate.
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A Quick Look At PEEK Machining
The use of PEEK polymer for medical implant devices is on the rise. A supplier of this material offers cutting tool tips for shops that may soon add PEEK machining to their list of capabilities.
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From Out Of The Lab
Disruptive technology's purpose is to disrupt the way machining is done. This article includes some of the developments to come out of the Machining Technology Laboratory (MTL), an R&D initiative dedicated to finding innovations in metalworking processes.
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Understanding Absolute and Incremental Compensation
Learning to manipulate absolute and incremental CNC compensation can not only extend the life of a given machine but also ultimately result in improved manufacturing flexibility, accuracy, and quality.
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Achieving Lean Success - A Holistic Approach
In order to understand the opportunities for extending the lean philosophy across the entire enterprise, it is important to understand the guiding principles of lean and the elements that comprise a truly lean initiative. At its most basic, lean is a focus on greater operational efficiency, the elimination of waste throughout the organization, and continuous improvement.
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Energy Saving Factory Automation Equipment and the Environment
The application of energy efficient motor systems can greatly reduce the overall environmental impact and cost to operate this equipment. Advancements in electric motor design and the associated drive system in modern automation equipment can be extremely energy efficient. Much of the time the most energy efficient machine will also have the highest performance but there is normally an upfront cost associated with the performance and efficiency. That added cost related with selecting energy efficient equipment may be easily returned as lowered energy costs, high performance and reliability.
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Repetitive Part Cutting: Improve Productivity by Learning Path Error
Significant improvements in speed and accuracy are now possible by using a CNC system that can learn and correct for its path error. Expanding the functions of learning control past specialized machines into general machining is the next step in the evolution. Now learning functions can be applied to free profile machining, drilling and tapping. The benefits of applying learning control come from its ability to correct for path and synchronous error seen in repetitive cycles. Once learning is complete reduced cycle times and increased accuracy result.
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Workholding That Holds Off Chatter
Clamping fixtures can be part of the problem when chatter occurs in a high speed machining process. Researchers have now discovered that clamping fixtures can also be part of the solution. A supplier of integrated tooling systems has developed palletized workholding that uses a viscoelastic layer to absorb vibrational energy, thus reducing the tendency for a machining process to cause chatter. The benefits of this technology are improved surface finish, lower cutting forces and longer tool life.
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Unattended Machining Makes Oral Orthotics More Affordable
This shop makes the oral devices that helped the shop owner and members of his family. Unattended machining is the key to making this therapy more accessible.
Read MoreVacuum Workholding Method Fits New Machining Strategy
Increased demand for armor plating components led this shop to completely revamp its machining technique. Rather than machining individual workpieces, the shop produces multiple components nested in an aluminum plate. A custom vacuum workholding system plays a significant role in this new strategy.
Read MoreLet's Get Fired Up
Helldoom the Bloodslurper, a set of lower teeth, a finger ring shaped like a skull and a curvy appliance handle—these were some of the objects arrayed on the countertop as part of a display at a recent trade show. The odd assortment had three things in common, the most important being a powerful appeal to the imagination.
Read MoreApplying Creative Workholding Techniques
Not all parts can be fixtured by conventional workholding methods. Here are a few examples of ways that shops secure feisty workpieces for milling and turning operations.
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