Cutting Down on Cutting Fluids?
While using a single cutting fluid to machine and grind all workpiece materials may not be economically feasible, many machine shops can reduce their number of metalworking fluids. Imported from the CTE…
General Manufacturing Discussion
Recent discussions
Rightsizing Machine Tools
Experts weigh in on how to buy smart—for today and tomorrow. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2008-09-01 CTE source: https://ctemag.com/articles/rightsizing-machine-tools/ Legacy path: /articles/rightsizing-machine-tools
Staying Sharp September 2008: People & Companies
Staying Sharp, Manager's Desk, Part Time, Machine Technology, Shop Operations, Get with the Program, Machinist's Corner Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2008-09-01 CTE…
Dollar Power: Supply Chain & Logistics
Read CTE's Fifth Biennial Salary Survey to learn which positions are earning more and how much more since the 2006 survey, which positions are earning less and how much less, and how…
The ABCs of Gen Y
Generation Y workers are a different bunch, and many may be reluctant to work in manufacturing. To recruit them, companies first must understand what makes Gen-Yers tick. Imported from the CTE archive…
Big Ideas for Workholding: General Industry Coverage
Holding large workpieces, especially heavy ones, requires parts manufacturers be more mindful of workholder and machine tool limits than they have to be with smaller workpieces. Also, shops may need to improvise…
New Grind: General Industry Coverage
Grinding round HSS cutting tools can be more efficient than milling them. Being able to dress new hybrid metal/polyimide-bond wheels on the grinder adds to the efficiency. Imported from the CTE archive…
Flex Time for Grinders: General Industry Coverage
Multifunction grinders, which include other machining operations, enable shops to complete parts in a single setup, among other benefits. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on…
New Tools Needed
New cutting tool materials are required for new generation airframes. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2008-08-01 CTE source: https://ctemag.com/articles/new-tools-needed/ Legacy path: /articles/new-tools-needed
Small Engines, Big Performance: Testing & Quality Assurance
Honing an engine's cylinder bores enhances their geometry, surface finish and dimensional accuracy, improving their fit and alignment with pistons and thereby increasing the engine's life and power density while decreasing its…
Staying Sharp August 2008: People & Companies
Staying Sharp, Manager's Desk, Back to Basics, Machine Technology, Part Time, Shop Operations, Ask the Grinding Doc Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2008-08-01…
Competently Cutting Composites: General Industry Coverage
Learn when to apply motorized, hand-held drills; fine-toothed, diamond-cut routers; compression routers and veined PCD tools to machine composite materials. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published…
Drag Race: General Industry Coverage
Drag finishing—fixturing parts and dragging them through abrasive media—can prevent part-to-part contact, achieve tight edge tolerances, impart fine finishes and be used on parts with a number of characteristics: delicate, high value,…
Striving for Consistency: Drilling Performance
Reliably drilling high-quality holes in ductile cast iron requires understanding the material's structure, avoiding problems such as core shifting, keeping machining temperatures down and other considerations. Imported from the CTE archive to…
Tiny Tech: Trade Shows & Events
A recap of some of the applied microsystem technology innovations presented at the Hannover Messe trade fair. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2008-07-01…
Kicking Out Bad Vibration: Design & Engineering
High-speed, vibration-free endmilling of aluminum workpieces requires cutting tools with certain features and requires certain types of toolholders. Also, it can be aided by cutting strategies. Imported from the CTE archive to…
Staying Sharp July 2008: People & Companies
Staying Sharp, Manager's Desk, Part Time, Machine Technology, Shop Operations, Get with the Program, Machinist's Corner Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2008-07-01 CTE…
Bantam Broaching: General Industry Coverage
Manufacturers use broaching to make small parts for medical and aerospace applications. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2008-06-01 CTE source: https://ctemag.com/articles/bantam-broaching/ Legacy path:…
Mitigating Mist: General Industry Coverage
There are several good ways to design and install a mist collection system. Choosing the right design depends on a shop's size and needs. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion…
(Non) Risky Business: People & Companies
Thinking about and managing the risks of operating a job shop and machining parts is a straightforward process when using tools such as risk matrices and Failure Mode and Effects Analysis. Imported…
PCD in the Fast Lane
Improving medium-grade PCD for high-speed milling, including interrupted milling of high-silicon aluminum. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2008-06-01 CTE source: https://ctemag.com/articles/pcd-fast-lane/ Legacy path:…
Calculated Grinding
Parts manufacturers can calculate the optimal parameters when grinding with superabrasive wheels to achieve high material-removal rates and more consistent results. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally…
Chopper Shop: General Industry Coverage
A small, Philadelphia-area shop is using a 55,000-psi, 2,000-mph abrasive waterjet to help grow its primary business: making parts for Boeing aircraft. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis.…
From Design to Part: Design & Engineering
It's not just for prototyping; additive, or rapid, manufacturing can be a cost-effective way of producing parts, especially when used for mass customization of parts and for low-volume runs of smaller, complex,…
Chips Happen: General Industry Coverage
When single-point boring, parts manufacturers can break and control the long chips from low-carbon steels by taking into account setup, cutting parameters, nose radii and insert shape and sharpness. Imported from the…