Look Ahead: Humanizing robotic movement
The Look Ahead column in the April 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine features a project to improve robot mobility as much as humanly possible. Imported from the CTE archive to…
General Manufacturing Discussion
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Look Ahead: Stiff competition: General Industry Coverage
The Look Ahead column in the April 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine features a portable 5-axis machine tool made from carbon composites. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion…
Productive Times: Brushing away chamfering
END USER: Zodiac Engineering, www.zodiaceng.com. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Brush Research Manufacturing Co. Inc., (323) 261-2193, www.brushresearch.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce programming and cycle time, and eliminate the need to regrind or replace chamfering tools when…
Grinding steel shafts puts shop in 'fowl' mood
A shop that cylindrically grinds steel shafts is having trouble keeping up with tighter and tighter surface-finish tolerances. Though the shop can hold the finish, roundness and size take a hit. So…
Choosing the right boring tool
Drilling, reaming and boring are the basic holemaking operations of machining. In simple terms, drilling creates a hole in a workpiece where there was no existing hole. Reaming and boring accurately enlarge…
Shop Operations: Workholder setup reduction
To reduce setup—as well as overhead costs—in a job-shop environment, first examine the workholding methods, according to the Shop Operations column in the April 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine. Imported…
Rapid prototyping on a CNC machine tool
Machine tool builders, tool suppliers and software developers now deliver technology that makes it possible for CNC operators to set up jobs in minutes rather than hours, and deliver parts in days…
The Knee Mill: Still Standing
The design of the knee mill goes back to 1936, when Rudolph Bannow's company produced a knee-and-column vertical mill with a rotating turret and sliding-ram head. The mill became known by the…
MTU America: Machining parts for large diesel engines
Shop Profile: MTU America machines parts for large diesel engines while helping fill the skills gap. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2017-04-15 CTE…
Swiss Smarts: Workforce Development & Training
The April 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine includes an occasional column on Swiss-Style Machining that addresses training options for new and experienced machinists. Imported from the CTE archive to seed…
Tabletop tool sharpeners
The April 2017 Machine Technology column in Cutting Tool Engineering magazine covers tabletop equipment for sharpening cutting tools. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE:…
Chicago-based innovation center to stoke manufacturing
On March 2, mHUB, a physical-product innovation center and microfactory, celebrated its official grand opening in Chicago. The center is designed to galvanize the area's manufacturing ecosystem by generating innovative ideas, attracting…
Workforce: Finders Keepers: People & Companies
Commit to a German-style, dual-training apprenticeship program so your shop can produce its own skilled workers, suggests the director of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest Inc. Imported from…
Cutting tool executive cautions manufacturers about 'Made in USA' label
U.S. toolmakers should "claim the origin of [their] products," he said during a speech at an industry event hosted by the grinding-machine and EDM builder Vollmer. Viaud-Murat pointed out, though, that manufacturers…
Look Ahead: AI robot finds its way
Omron Adept Technologies Inc.'s LD-series mobile robot can gather information about its surroundings and automatically generate a map with just one run through any given environment. Imported from the CTE archive to…
Look Ahead: Remotely interesting monitoring
One roadblock for parts makers to begin implementing Industrial Internet of Things technology is psychological: Implementation sounds like a big, time-consuming undertaking. It can be, of course. But a good way to…
Productive Times: Capacity relief: CMM Inspection
END USER: Greenlee Textron Inc., (815) 784-5127, www.greenlee.com. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Keyence Corp. of America, (888) 539-3623, www.keyence.com. CHALLENGE: Relieve capacity constraints on conventional coordinate measuring machines. SOLUTION: A portable 3D measurement system.…
6 tips for improving turning operations
There's plenty of good application advice available from cutting tool specialists and equipment providers. This article offers six best-practice tips you might not have heard of yet, ones that will help you…
Honing: What It Is, How It Works, and Key Applications in Precision Machining
Discover the precision and versatility of honing—a machining process ideal for finishing cylinders, correcting bore geometry, and enhancing gear performance. Learn how honing works, its benefits, and key applications in modern manufacturing.…
Proper fluid management, filtration keep sumps cleaner
According to those interviewed for this article, most shops wait far longer than they should to clean sumps because the job is such a hassle. Waiting too long, however, creates a host…
Hybrid machine tools for moldmakers
The advantages of combining additive manufacturing with finish-machining processes in a single setup are plentiful, from shorter cycle times to the ability to create complex, unlikely geometries. Because of the specific needs…
EDM focus turns to throughput, ease of use, automation
The major wire EDM builders are still in competition, of course, but on other playing fields. The latest developments in wire electrical discharge machining focus on throughput, ease of use and automation.…
Machinist's Corner: Talking safety
When was the last time someone sat your team down and talked about safety? Where I work, we sit down once or twice a year for safety sessions, according to Michael Deren,…
Shop Operations: Odds and ends
James Harvey, Cutting Tool Engineering's Shop Operations columnist, offers some miscellaneous tips and and unusual methods of machining that worked for him—and may help other metalworkers. Imported from the CTE archive to…
Get With The Program: Maximizing spindle time
CNC machine tools only generate revenue when they are producing good parts. The more good parts they make, the quicker the return on investment for machine tools. To maximize output, the total…