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Real-time measurements during metalcutting can offer significant insight into machine tool performance. The parameters to be measured include position, velocity and acceleration of the axes; cutting force; sound; temperature; and acoustic emission,…
A pump on a waterjet machine generates the high-pressure water needed for cutting by taking low-pressure water into a cylinder, compressing the water with a plunger and then pushing the high-pressure water…
Thermal compensation of a coordinate measuring machine's principle structural components and the part being measured helps ensure measuring accuracy over an extended temperature range when the CMM is installed outside of a…
One fond memory from my long-ago youth was playing Rock'Em, Sock'Em Robots with my next-door neighbor. My parents wouldn't get me the game, for reasons I forget, but my friend Ronnie, who…
As someone who visits job shops and manufacturers almost daily, I know why some are thriving, while others struggle. The ones that are thriving have invested and continue to invest in equipment,…
All metals are not created equal. Therefore, neither are the machine tools for cutting them. Parts for extreme aerospace applications, such as in engines, landing gear and flap tracks, must be made…
The process of displacing metal instead of cutting it is called many things. But whether they call it form tapping, cold form tapping, thread forming, cold roll forming, roll forming, thread rolling,…
The U.S. economy appears to be on the mend. In January, the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation gave a tentative thumbs up to sustained business expansion through the first half of…
The spark gap is the physical distance the electric current has to jump off the wire to burn the workpiece when wire EDMing. Controlling the spark gap is critical to achieving required…
Like most machine tool builders, Mori Seiki Co. Ltd. is focused on making its machines more energy efficient. In addition, the company is focused on making the factories that make those machines…
A collection of machine tool products compiled by the editors of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2013-03-15 CTE source:…
Tim St. Martin knew there had to be a better way of fixturing parts on his company's 5-axis machine tools. "We'd visited some of our suppliers and saw how they were holding…
High-performance cutting tools can provide increased efficiency and productivity, but they can also be a drain on tooling budgets. Cost-justifying these tools often requires regrinding and reconditioning them when they are worn…
Continuing and concluding the theme of my previous two columns, this month's installment provides additional tips for enhancing the operation of a manual milling machine. Imported from the CTE archive to seed…
Prevent sealed bearings from overheating in a live tooling head. A live tooling head with coolant-fed bearings. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2013-02-15…
Enhance PCD cutting tool design while decreasing processing times. SOLUTION: A 6-axis rotary erosion machine. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2013-02-15 CTE source:…
Provide centerless grinding machines that can produce parts with continually tightening size and surface finish requirements. Customized coolant filtration equipment. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published…
Over the past few months, I've experienced an increasing number of friends, acquaintances and even referred strangers hitting me up for jobs. Most ask about employment opportunities for their kids, dad, brother…
Milling sounds range from loud to quiet, and experienced machinists often use those sounds to judge what is occurring in the cutting zone. It is difficult to position a sensor such as…
A model-based design and verification method for reducing the time to build complex vehicles and aircraft. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2013-02-15 CTE…
A machine vision system for inspecting cutting tool wear. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2013-02-15 CTE source: https://ctemag.com/articles/eye-wear/ Legacy path: /articles/eye-wear
When I read about The Brookings Institution's proposal to develop 20 U.S. manufacturing universities, my first thought was "what will the mascots be for the football teams?" Purdue already has the time-honored…
Drilling cross-holes in some parts is no big deal. These are often simple parts, such as aluminum valve bodies, where the holes aren't too deep and meet on-center, and the customer can…
X-ray scanning a part with internal features is useful because it creates 2-D images of those features in a nondestructive manner. Industrial computed-tomography, or industrial CT scanning, which is based on X-ray…
Imagine a gear milling method where the toolpath -- not the tool shape -- determines gear characteristics such as diametral pitch or pressure angle. A new concept, involute milling, provides that functionality…