Articles & Columns

CTE Editor Alan Richter covers a cognitive factory that "thinks" for itself in his April 2011 Look Ahead column.

With a substantial portion of the U.S. manufacturing base in earthquake-prone California, we would be wise to study how Japan orchestrates this recovery, suggests CTE Editorial Director Alan Rooks in his April 2011 Lead Angle editorial.

Manager's Desk columnist Keith Jennings looks at how to manage dramatic shop events in the April 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Lead Angle is the editorial opinion for Cutting Tool Engineering. The editorial this month examines the myth that the U.S. doesn't manufacture anything anymore.

Comparison between calculating cutting time when facing at a constant cutting speed vs. a constant rpm.

END USER: Weir Minerals North America, (608) 221-2261, www.weirminerals.com. CHALLENGE: Streamline workholding and machining of 12', 5,000-lb. cast iron pump housings. SOLUTION: Dedicated fixtures that cut setup and machining cycle time while improving operator safety. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Advanced Machine & Engineering Co., (800) 225-4263, www.ame.com

Manager's Desk column from March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering considers whether experienced or low-wage workers make the most economic sense.

Machinist's Corner column from the March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering tackles the essentials of part fixturing.

Get With The Program column for the March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering looks at software that can handle material problems as they arise.

Hunting Energy Services not only machines oil and gas drilling components—it assembles and repairs the tools that do the work.

END USER: The Boeing Co., www.boeing.com. CHALLENGE: Boost productivity and reduce setup time when machining carbon fiber-reinforced plastic aircraft components. SOLUTION: Abrasive waterjet cutting technology and flexible workholding. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Flow International Corp., (800) 446-FLOW, www.flowwaterjet.com

Manufacturing parts for the nuclear energy industry, which is growing globally, is expected to expand in the U.S. as well. Three shops explain their strategies to capitalize on the growing market.

END USER: Behlen Industries LP, (204) 728-1188, www.behlen.ca. CHALLENGE: Reduce maintenance requirements for a plasma cutting machine that the builder no longer services or supports and achieve a more precise kerf angle when cutting steel plates. SOLUTION: A new plasma/oxy-fuel cutting machine equipped with integrated cutting solutions. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Hypertherm Inc., (800) 643-0030, www.hypertherm.com; Linde Canada Ltd., (888) 256-7359, www.lindecanada.com

New technology opens up new applications for small HMCs.

Machining a clean, straight and in-tolerance hole through a part is not the only requirement for many holemaking applications. In many cases, hole entrances and exits are also critical to part functionality.

The Shop Operations column from the March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering covers the steps necessary to effectively supply compressed air in a metalworking shop.

The Machine Technology column from the March 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering eyes importance of establishing a warning track for a machine tool's stability limit.

END USER: Sonic Industries Div., Sargent Aerospace & Defense Group, (310) 532-8382, www.sargentaerospace.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce cycle times while holding critical dimensional and finish tolerances. SOLUTION: Automated honing machine with superabrasive tools. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Sunnen Products Co., (800) 325-3670, www.sunnen.com

END USER: HITCO Carbon Composites Inc., (800) 421-5444, www.hitco.com. CHALLENGE: Increase productivity when machining composite parts. SOLUTION: A 5-axis machine tool optimized for the process. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Bertsche Engineering Corp., (847) 537-8757, www.bertsche.com

Strategies for grinding HVOF-coated aerospace parts.