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The boost in productivity that the latest cutting tools provide enables manufacturers to reduce the amount fracking companies pay for parts. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally…
END USER: Northeast Tool & Manufacturing, (704) 882-1187, www.northeasttool.us. SOLUTION PROVIDER: MachineMetrics, (413) 341-5747, www.machinemetrics.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce the time and manual inspection required to measure productivity. SOLUTION: A machine monitoring system. Imported…
END USER: Lowercase, (212) 510-7621, www.lowercasenyc.com. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Axis Inc., (908) 429-0090, www.axisnewjersey.com; Robotiq, (888) 762-6847, www.robotiq.com; Universal Robots USA Inc., (844) 462-6268, www.universal-robots.com. CHALLENGE: Cost-effectively integrate automation into the production of…
Until a couple of years ago, the Food and Drug Administration required a unique identifier on each distinct assembly of a medical device in human- and machine-readable forms. That rule has changed.…
Trochoidal milling is a relatively new cutting strategy that involves the overlapping of circular toolpaths with linear movement. It is well-suited for difficult-to-machine materials and thin-walled components. Imported from the CTE archive…
An item in the Look Ahead department of the August 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine features large-volume, high-accuracy robots. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally…
Low-wattage lasers are faster, gentler and more eco-friendly than traditional parts-cleaning methods. So why aren't they more prevalent? Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE:…
Grinding is a thermally dominated process, meaning a high percentage of process heat initially enters the part before coolant quenches it. Unless the coolant is applied at the correct flow rate and…
Spindle bolts are made from difficult-to-machine, high-strength superalloys. They have very tight dimensional tolerances, which makes thread cutting a challenge. As a result of facing several thread-cutting problems during process development, we…
If you've ever watched a bar of red-hot metal emerge from the furnace at a rolling mill, you might wonder how that scaly chunk of material became the smooth, shiny and accurate…
The primary application for ultraprecision machining is optical-grade surfaces for injection molds, which are used to make contact lenses, LEDs for TVs and head-up displays in military aircraft and luxury cars. Imported…
Machining manifolds generates numerous burrs, and removing them is no simple task. Basin Precision Machining attempted a variety of deburring methods, including waterjet, kinetic energy and the thermal energy method (TEM). Imported…
In the August 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering, Ask the Grinding Doc Columnist Jeffrey Badger, Ph.D., fields questions about spotting wheel loading, white sticking for hardened steel loading, and what causes…
In the August 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering, Shop Operations Columnist Tom Lipton challenges readers to take a good look at the venerable 4-jaw independent lathe chuck. "Many machinists may have…
A milestone in the 3D printing revolution is the appearance of CNC metalcutting machine tools incorporating additive-manufacturing capabilities. Manufacturers of the hybrid additive/subtractive systems tout their advantages over conventional machine tools, but…
Much of 2016 and 2017 has been a stressful roller coaster ride for our shop and me and my family as we have fought through a difficult economy—the worst in 30 years.…
Since the time CTE Editor Alan Richter started covering manufacturing for CTE in 2000, industry professionals have frequently informed him that manufacturing jobs typically pay more than most other professions, such as…
Some machine tools are modified so much and so frequently it becomes a common practice. That's certainly the case with rotary transfer machines. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on…
G2 Technologies has developed a customizable, automated 3D inspection system in response to a customer's need to inspect small electronic connectors. This niche is very specific, but impacts aerospace, automotive and other…
The welDYNA laser scan head from SCANLAB America Inc. uses beam oscillation to improve both joining and cutting applications. Designed for multiple-kilowatt lasers of high beam quality, the scan head features a…
END USER: Mennie Machine Co., (815) 339-2226, www.mennies.com. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Engman-Taylor Co. Inc., (262) 255-9300, www.engman-taylor.com; Walter USA LLC, (800) 945-5554, www.walter-tools.com/us. CHALLENGE: Reduce cycle times, deburring, inconsistent tool life and varying…
END USER: Hansen Engineering Co., (310) 534-3870, www.hansenengineering.com. SOLUTION PROVIDER: JM Performance Products Inc., (800) 322-7750, www.jmperformanceproducts.com. CHALLENGE: Increase productivity and decrease machine downtime. SOLUTION: Install high-torque retention knobs in toolholders. Imported…
Sawing is one of the most common manufacturing processes in a machine shop. It is versatile, simple and reliable. Nonetheless, many young engineers and machinists are quite familiar with lasers and abrasive…
When it comes to selecting toolholders for drills, taps, endmills, shell mills and other round cutting tools, there is virtually an unlimited number of options. So how do you determine when a…
Every so often a job or part geometry comes along where it would be helpful to have a few extra inches in a machine's work envelope, or perhaps a little higher rpm…