Tips for turning parts on manual lathes, part 1
Shop Operations columnist Tom Lipton offers tips for enhancing the operation of a manual lathe in the April 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine. Imported from the CTE archive to seed…
General Manufacturing Discussion
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Defining workholding setups: Drilling Performance
Workholding involves much more than slapping a part in a vise or chuck and pushing the cycle-start button, according to the Workholding column in the April 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering…
Dynamic absorbers reduce vibration: General Industry Coverage
The Machine Technology column from the April 2012 edition of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine examines how machine tool vibration often causes problems when machining. Chatter, a self-excited vibration, can lead to poor…
Cutting noncut time: General Industry Coverage
The Look Ahead column for April 2012 sheds light on technology that reduces noncut time by optimizing B-axis rotation. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on…
Binderless diamond: Turning Performance
Look Ahead column for April 2012 looks at binderless nano-polycrystalline diamond cutting tools Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2012-04-15 CTE source: https://ctemag.com/articles/binderless-diamond/ Legacy…
Is manufacturing overrated?: Industry Trends & Analysis
It's getting to be a broken record. February was another up month for U.S. manufacturing as output increased 0.4 percent. Output rose 0.7 percent in January after jumping 1.5 percent in December—the…
Shocking finish: Medical Manufacturing
Aluminum parts that are anodized using electrical energy or chromate conversion coated can offer wear and corrosion resistance, among other benefits. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally…
Determining burn depth: General Industry Coverage
Estimating burn depth is tricky. It depends on the thermal conductivity and specific heat capacity of the workpiece material, the maximum surface temperature reached and, most importantly, the time the wheel is…
Leveraging peer relationships: People & Companies
As we climb out of the winter grind, we've all had our share of weighty issues to manage. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE:…
Part makers get a better angle for multiple-axis work
Say your machine shop just received an order for 316 stainless fuel-injector nozzles requiring angled holes to be drilled on the workpiece face. Or perhaps your best medical customer needs miniature blood-pump…
Minimum molding
Manufacturing molds used to produce plastic parts with features that can be too small to be seen with the naked eye or measured with standard devices is challenging. That's why moldmakers that…
Choosing coated-abrasive flap discs: General Industry Coverage
When choosing among coated-abrasive flap discs to remove metal and finish parts, grit size is just the beginning. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE:…
Raising the Bar
Bar feeders, once known as slow and inefficient 'rattle tubes,' are now high-speed, automated units. Imported from the CTE archive to seed discussion on MFGAxis. Originally published on CTE: 2012-03-15 CTE source:…
Plunge Milling Improves Metal Removal in Deep Machining
Significant progress in metalworking productivity most often results from the combined efforts of toolmakers, machine tool builders and software developers. Plunge, or Z-axis, milling is a good example. Imported from the CTE…
Pumping Up Production: Drilling Performance
As the U.S. strives to become less dependent on foreign energy sources, energy producers are increasingly employing hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," to drill shale deposits and extract natural gas and some oil.…
Race to the Finish: General Industry Coverage
Where there are drilled holes, there are burrs. The only question is how large the burrs will be, according to Dave Lopes, vice president of sales and marketing for Cogsdill Tool Products…
Building Growth: Medical Manufacturing
Dynomax Inc. is taking self sufficiency to a new level. For example, while machine tool builders often use their machines to produce parts for making other machines, Dynomax stands out by building…
Diverse gear making: General Industry Coverage
As demand for vehicle transmissions and other systems requiring quieter, more compact and lighter gear mechanisms increases, gear manufacturers seek to continually boost productivity while lowering costs. Imported from the CTE archive…
Soft machine
Robust and stiff often come to mind when considering the characteristics that make for a productive milling machine. However, Juanjo Zulaika, a researcher at the applied-research center Tecnalia Research & Innovation, thought…
Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill!: Drilling Performance
States near the Marcellus Shale, a huge natural gas formation centered in Pennsylvania, are feverishly pursuing a $4 billion ethane "cracker" to be built by Royal Dutch Shell. The cracker will process…
Measuring machine productivity
Many large corporations are well versed in total productive maintenance, but smaller companies are probably not. To learn more about the concept, I attended a 1-day seminar about TPM at a local…
To float or not to float
At my shop and others I've been in contact with, cash flow and timely payment have become issues that require greater scrutiny. If that's the case at your shop, dealing with them…
Retrofit revitalization: Turning Performance
END USER: Helac Corp., (800) 327-2589, www.helac.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce maintenance and programming time on a large vertical turning center. SOLUTION: Retrofit the VTC with a new CNC and AC digital-axis servodrives and…
In-depth reliability: Drilling Performance
END USER: Machine Tech CNC, (780) 461-0890. CHALLENGE: Accurately bore 14 diameters deep and deeper. SOLUTION: Carbide-reinforced boring bars with built-in vibration damping. SOLUTION PROVER: Sandvik Coromant Co., (800) SANDVIK, www.sandvik.coromant.com/us Imported…
Working in a coal mine
END USER: Cincinnati Mine Machinery Co., (513) 728-4040, www.cinmine.com. CHALLENGE: Improve throughput and maintain higher part-quality consistency. SOLUTION: A machining cell with 24 pallets and two horizontal machining centers. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Makino…