Articles & Columns

CAM software is often priced in the vicinity of a lower-end motorcycle or compact car—sometimes a luxury car. Michael Deren, who writes the Machinist's Corner column for Cutting Tool Engineering magazine, addresses some alternatives to avert the expense in his July 2011 column.

In his Manager's Desk column for the July 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine, Keith Jennings discusses the benefits of conducting an internal quality assurance audit.

END USER: U.S. Alloy Die Corp., (216) 749-9700, www.usalloydie.com. CHALLENGE: Improve productivity when drilling H-13 tool steel extrusion dies. SOLUTION: Carbide drills that eliminated pecking and more than doubled throughput. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: OSG Tap & Die Inc., (630) 790-1400, www.osgtool.com; Shop Supply & Tool Co. Inc., (440) 951-4700, www.shopsupply.net.

Advances in machine tool technology, tooling and software facilitate high-productivity milling strategies.

A nanocomposite coating that significantly extends tool life.

For his July 2011 Shop Operations column, Tom Lipton suggests that safety is a situational awareness issue as opposed to a matter of equipment.

END USER: Tech NH Inc., (603) 424-4404, www.technh.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce polishing time when producing hardened steel molds. SOLUTION: Long-reach, small-diameter endmills for hard milling. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Harvey Tool Co. LLC, (800) 645-5609, www.harveytool.com; Industrial Tool Supply, (888) 200-8887, www.itslowell.com.

Improved holemaking efficiency drives powertrain machining throughput.

For the July 2011 Get With The Program column, Cutting Tool Engineering turned to Okuma America Corp. to address remote control for machine diagnostics.

The Machine Technology column in the July 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine takes a look at how the precise control of axis position works.

Cutting Tool Engineering Editorial Director Alan Rooks examines Germany's manufacturing model in his July Lead Angle commentary.

Improving productivity when changing out cutting tools.

Advanced machine technology requires advanced training options.

Equipment and media options for cleaning automotive parts.

END USER: Single Source Inc., (574) 656-3400, www.singlesourceinc.us. CHALLENGE: Reduce programming and setup times when producing increasingly complex parts. SOLUTION: A combination of CAD/CAM software and mill/turn machines. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: DMG/Mori Seiki USA Inc., (877) 275-6674, www.dmgmoriseikiusa.com; DP Technology Corp., (805) 388-6000, www.dptechnology.com; Ellison Technologies, (630) 393-8900, www.ellisontechnologies.com

Machining fiber-reinforced composite materials with fiber and other types of lasers can be an effective option.

END USER: Form Tool Technology Inc., (803) 788-3686, www.formtooltech.com. CHALLENGE: Polish flutes of drills and other round tools to enhance chip evacuation. SOLUTION: Diamond-abrasive polishing wheels. SOLUTION PROVIDER: 3M Abrasive Systems Div., (866) 279-1288, ext. 1258, www.3m.com

Part Time columnist Bill Kennedy visits a Minnesota job shop that makes "light" work of a challenging part in the June issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Composite toolholders and boring bars.