Articles & Columns

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 be the culprit for these pistons cracking after just 5 weeks?

Shop Technology Columnist Christopher Tate discusses capability studies of the manufacturing process in the February 2014 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

A PCD drill with an internal extraction system for removing workpiece dust when drilling carbon- and glass-fiber composites.

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 making prototype parts, it's making serious inroads into production -- where the real money is.

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 machining.

While hydraulic toolholders are said to have limited applications, their high gripping force and simple operation help them secure a place in machine shops.

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.

Boost productivity and extend tool life when cutting cast aluminum surgical light housings. A special PCD endmill with laser-machined cutting edges.

Shop Operations Columnist Tom Lipton offers additional tips for operating a CNC lathe in the February 2014 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Increase flexibility and repeatability when machining high-volume auto parts. A hydraulic stationary clamping system.

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.

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.

High-speed grinding can provide great gains when grinding outside diameters.

A through-spindle and through-tool laser-assisted milling process.

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.

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 loading produces fatigue failure, damaging the surfaces of races and balls. This kind of damage causes vibration and noise, limits bearing life and eventually requires bearing replacement.

Regardless of a live center's brand, its quality is acceptable or the center manufacturer wouldn't be in business. In addition, most center designers have kept pace with today's high-horsepower machines, aggressive machining parameters and high-pressure coolant applications to avoid limiting the accuracy and service life of a live center.

Run at high machining parameters without chatter when demonstrating machine tools. A precision collet chuck.

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 of gravity.

A CVD tool coating with unidirectional crystal orientation.