Derek Korn Editor-in-Chief
Contact
Thread Milling On A Tiny Scale
Machining internal threads in difficult materials is challenging, especially when hole diameters are small. Thread milling offers advantages for these applications that are important to consider.
Watch
A Vise Designed With CNC Machines In Mind
A sliding, locking mechanism allows users to quickly push this vise鈥檚 moveable jaw close to the workpiece before tightening the wrench. This minimizes the number of wrench turns to secure the part and allows users to quickly clamp parts of various sizes.
Read More
The High-Pressure Vise: An Alternative To Cheating
High-pressure vises are able to safely generate a significant amount of clamping force without machine operators resorting to using hammers or 鈥渃heater bars.鈥
Read More
Probing Beyond Prismatic
This manufacturer has used on-machine probing to help automate setups and maintain process control for聽prismatic parts聽produced on VMCs for years. The metrology products maker recently implemented probing strategies that let it achieve similar results on its聽turn-mills and Swiss-types. The smaller, more economical batch sizes these machines now produce are聽better aligned with聽true production requirements.
Read More
Rigidity Required When Grinding Challenging Materials
Effective聽centerless grinding of聽hard materials requires a machine that is capable of damping process vibration at high wheel speeds and providing the rigidity to withstand very high cutting forces.
Read More
Spindle Repair Simplified
This machine tool manufacturer's modular spindle design allows聽spindle repairs due to impact or contamination to be performed quick and easy.
Read More
A Few Eclectic Tips
Shop visits allow us to learn about innovative tricks and creative techniques machinists have developed to meet challenges and solve problems. Here are a few cool ones that stand out in my mind.
Read More
Vision System Brings On-Machine Measurement To Ram EDM
Vision technology tailored to ram EDM allows shops to measure a part as it remains fixtured on a spark-erosion machine.
Read MoreISO Certification—Is It Worth It?
The ISO-certified shops I recently contacted all say the cost and effort to become certified were well worth it. Consider the feedback and suggestions they provide if you鈥檙e thinking about becoming certified.
Read More
Compact Gaging System Allows In-Process Inspection On Small Grinding Machines
This new gaging system聽not only is compact enough to install on small grinding machines, but also can measure a part鈥檚 OD, ID and length to sub-micron accuracy.
Read More
A Role For Rotary Erosion
A cutting tool manufacturer uses multitasking equipment that combines electrical-discharge grinding and conventional grinding to speed the production of diamond tools.
Read More
Laser Edge Preparation Improves Diamond Tool Performance
A cutting tool manufacturer uses seven-axis laser machining聽to create contoured, 3D chipbreaker geometries for its聽diamond-tipped inserts and tools.
Read More