Articles & Columns

The pros and cons of marking parts with laser, micropercussion and scribing technologies.

In my October column, I explained how the design of manual milling machines could be improved. This month, I share some tips for enhancing the operation of a manual mill.

Holding a few tenths tolerance on a piece of 60-HRC steel was once the domain of expensive grinding equipment. Today, it's no big deal.

Many reasons are given, including the bad image of manufacturing, lack of training in high schools and competition from other economic sectors. All of these reasons seem plausible. But now comes a study by The Boston Consulting Group, a management consulting firm, that seems to throw cold water on the idea of a serious skills gap. According to the authors, the skills gap in U.S. manufacturing is more limited than many believe. The study is part of BCG’s ongoing “Made in America, Again” study, which examines the changing economics of manufacturing.

A second item in the Look Ahead section of the October 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine covers an automatic, scalable component-testing system that combines acoustic and functional testing.

The October 2012 Get With The Program column focuses on improving 5-axis machining by combining post-processors and verification software.

How many times does a project break down just from trying achieve perfection? Machinist's Corner columnist Michael Deren urges readers not to let perfect trump better.

Effectively reaming nickel-base alloys requires a slow and steady approach.

This Look Ahead item features a CNC gear honing machine that uses a honing wheel with external teeth and reduces the number of process stages.

There's no doubt that the U.S. manufacturing boom has created jobs. The question is, are they for humans or robots?

The debut Shop Technology column focuses on limiting toolcrib items and vendors to boost productivity.

New tools help parts makers design for manufacturability, which reduces machining costs and improves part quality.

Manager's Desk columnist Keith Jennings discusses the balance between face time with employees and time management.

A metalworking products review, as published in the October 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

END USER: Whirlpool Corp., (269) 923-5000, www.whirlpool.com. CHALLENGE: Eliminate damage to toolchanger arms on vertical machining centers when replacing a step tool that exceeded the weight capacity. SOLUTION: A lighter, module-style, combination cutting tool. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Mapal Inc., (810) 364-8020, www.mapal.us.

In his October 2012 Machine Technology column, Dr. Scott Smith, professor at the William States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, outlines the reasons stable milling zones appear the way they do.

Auto parts manufacturer Mann+Hummel reaps the benefits of optical scanning.

END USER: K-Fab Inc., (408) 727-5311, www.k-fabinc.com. CHALLENGE: Increase spindle utilization for a vertical machining center while reducing labor requirements. SOLUTION: A nonrobotic automation system for VMCs. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Simons Design Innovation, (408) 398-3296, www.simonsdesigninnovation.com

Shop Operations columnist Tom Lipton offers some suggestions for improving the design of manual milling machines in the October 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

END USER: LMC Industries Inc., (636) 282-8080, www.lmcindustries.com. CHALLENGE: Heat treat tooling components in-house to reduce costs and turnaround times. SOLUTION: A dual-chamber heat-treatment furnace. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Lucifer Furnaces Inc., (800) 378-0095, www.luciferfurnances.com