Tapping

TNC 640 Mill-Turn Control With Touch Technology

The TNC 640, HEIDENHAIN’s high-performance mill-turn control, is popular with users thanks to its workshop-oriented operational design. Now the TNC 640 is, and will only be, available with groundbreaking touch technology that supplements the TNC 640’s field-proven cycles and functions. It allows the user to operate the control screen with gestures, similar to smartphones or tablets.

Admitting my mistakes

I received an email from a reader letting me know that he disagreed with my recent article on tapping versus thread milling. In it, I stated, “There’s little chance of successfully thread milling metals much above 45 HRC. And if you’re going to try to tap them, be prepared to duck the flying shrapnel when the tap explodes!” We all make mistakes. So when Tom Fares, president of TNT Custom Equipment in Stow, Ohio, called me out on that section of the article, saying that he routinely taps holes in 45 HRC steel alloy and thread mills into “the low 60s,” I listened to what he had to say.

A tipping point for tapping

As discussed in the current issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine in the feature article “Specialization on tap,” material-specific taps continue to evolve. Sources anticipate increasing specialization of the materials used for taps across industries.

Limited-Edition H. Gerstner & Sons Tool Chest

WIDIA has announced a special collaboration with H. Gerstner & Sons to bring two shop originals together in a limited-edition H. Gerstner & Sons tool chest. H. Gerstner & Sons has been recognized for more than 100 years as the manufacturer of iconic tool chests designed to store journeyman’s tools and precision measuring tools.

Material-specific taps continue to evolve

05/17/2018

Author:

Greg Bartlett

A look back at the use and evolution of sintered powder metal and the PM process that results in a tool substrate that consists of finer, more consistent particles, and yields a stronger, longer-lasting cutting edge.

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Do you tap or thread-mill?

05/10/2018

Author:

Kip Hanson

For many in the machining community, tapping is the preferred method of threadmaking on a CNC machining center. Yet others contend that thread milling is better. Kip Hanson breaks down the long-running argument.

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M800 Control Technology

Mitsubishi Laser has added the new M800 control technology to its Advanced 800 Series eX-F fiber laser machine. The company says it has been working hard to perfect and offer the new technology for its popular fiber laser machine.

7 ways to avoid breaking taps

Bob Warfield of the CNC Cookbook offers seven tips for avoiding breaking taps in the 11th episode of the CNC Chef, a Cutting Tool Engineering video series produced in conjunction with the CNC Cookbook.

M800 EDM Control

The new M800 EDM control is now included in Mitsubishi wire EDMs to increase productivity and help keep track of production jobs. MC Machinery Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp., says it continues to invest in technologies to better serve its customers and make them more competitive.

Considerations when having taps resharpened

07/07/2017

Author:

Kip Hanson

Resharpening dull taps by hand is probably not a good idea when you could be making parts. Plus, a thorough reconditioning requires a grinder designed for grinding the actual tap form. So resharpening dull taps is one job best left to the experts.

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