Turning center is precise to a 'tee'
Bring outsourced parts in-house that were being milled and machine them on a CNC lathe. A 6-axis turning center equipped with a bar feeder. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion…
General Manufacturing Discussion
Recent discussions
Smarter online marketing: People & Companies
Keith Jennings, our Manager's Desk columnist, this month responds to readers asking for tips to increase sales, and, yes, his answer emphasizes the need for a Web presence and social media. Imported…
Vibrations indicate bearing damage: General Industry Coverage
Many machine tool spindles are supported in the housing by rolling-element bearings. Cutting forces, spindle unbalance and spindle preload impose cyclic loads on the bearing's balls and races. Over time, the cyclic…
Tool warming
A through-spindle and through-tool laser-assisted milling process. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2014-02-15 CTE source: https://ctemag.com/articles/tool-warming/ Legacy path: /articles/tool-warming
Dust not in the wind
A PCD drill with an internal extraction system for removing workpiece dust when drilling carbon- and glass-fiber composites. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE:…
Good morning AM: Design & Engineering
Is it morning in America -- and the world -- for additive manufacturing? That's looking more and more likely. While AM, also known as 3D printing, is well-established as a process for…
HMC transformations: 5-Axis Machining
By their very nature, horizontal machining centers are among the best friends a shop can have if it hopes to remain agile and competitive in this brave new world of low-volume, high-complexity…
Soaring aerospace parts: General Industry Coverage
With a global commercial aircraft order backlog recently valued at $920 billion, jetliner and jet-engine builders are placing volumes of part orders not seen for many years -- if ever. Imported from…
Supersonic grinding
High-speed grinding can provide great gains when grinding outside diameters. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2014-02-15 CTE source: https://ctemag.com/articles/supersonic-grinding/ Legacy path: /articles/supersonic-grinding
Kings of the mountain
With a focus on machining large parts in multifunctional mill/turn machines, QualTech Industries quickly attracted customers after opening 4 years ago in Kings Mountain, N.C. Imported from the CTE archive to seed…
Hydro power: Drilling Performance
While hydraulic toolholders are said to have limited applications, their high gripping force and simple operation help them secure a place in machine shops. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion…
Abusive grinding
A shop seeks insight from our Ask the Grinding Doc columnist, Dr. Jeffrey Badger, regarding the premature fatigue failure of pistons that seem fine when they go out the door. Could grinding…
The basics of good tool management
Anyone who works in or around a machine shop knows that high-performance cutting tools are expensive. If the process of acquiring and using these tools is not managed properly, tool expenses can…
Programming a CNC lathe: General Industry Coverage
A typical CNC lathe program is quite short compared to some of the mammoth CAM-generated programs for milling machines. Here are some tips and tricks to programming a CNC lathe. Imported from…
Collet chucks keep the show going
Run at high machining parameters without chatter when demonstrating machine tools. A precision collet chuck. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2014-01-15 CTE source:…
Partnering to effectively grind microdrills
Effectively produce M-42 and M-2 HSS microdrills. A 5-axis tool and cutter grinder coupled with CBN wheels. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2014-01-15…
Time for a change in inspection gear
Speed up and simplify inspection of watch movements. An image dimension measurement system. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2014-01-15 CTE source: https://ctemag.com/articles/time-change-inspection-gear/ Legacy…
Up-front payment is required: People & Companies
Manager's Desk Columnist Keith Jennings reflects on the ups and downs of the previous 12 months, with a nod to the "classroom of reality," which he says continues to educate him and…
Wonderful world of manufacturing: Turning Performance
Having been in manufacturing as long as I have, writes Machinist's Corner Columnist Michael Deren, "you might think I've grown tired of the daily grind. On the contrary, I usually can't wait…
Counteracting gravity: General Industry Coverage
The vertical linear axes on machine tools are fundamentally different than those that operate parallel to the ground. This is because the actuators on the vertical axes have to overcome the effects…
Crystal persuasion: General Industry Coverage
A CVD tool coating with unidirectional crystal orientation. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2014-01-15 CTE source: https://ctemag.com/articles/crystal-persuasion/ Legacy path: /articles/crystal-persuasion
Up, up and away: Turning Performance
An intelligent manufacturing application. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2014-01-15 CTE source: https://ctemag.com/articles/and-away/ Legacy path: /articles/and-away
Stereotyping the stereotypes: Workforce Development & Training
Any conversation about training and skills development in the metalworking industry tends to stir up emotions. Pretty soon, people are complaining about the same three things over and over: "Our manufacturing plants…
Shredding paper from the shop floor
The digital revolution has impacted everyone. As is typical with a disruptive technology, expected cost savings drive initial adoption. But, over time, far greater impact is achieved once the new technology is…
Joint Forces: Drilling Performance
Combination cutting tools for holemaking applications save a significant amount of time when the application is right. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2014-01-15…