The cutting force when turning is a resultant force that combines tangential, feed and radial force components. These force components can be measured with a three-component force dynamometer. Metalcutting professionals consider Kistler dynamometers the most accurate.

The Shop Technology column in the July 2014 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine covers the importance of understanding cutting equations to gain production efficiency.

The Machine Technology column in the December 2014 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering discusses the essentials of tapered spindle connections.

Shop Operations columnist Tom Lipton addresses flame straightening corrections in the May 2015 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

A Seattle shop reaps the benefits of constant chip load machining, according to the October Get With The Program column in Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

When drilling, perhaps no variable is as important as the workpiece material. It dictates drill geometry and substrate, tool coating, coolant application, and speeds and feeds. While known for its relative softness and ductility, misconceptions abound among those who regularly drill aluminum. 

American National Standard ANSI B212.4-2002 covers the identification system for indexable-type inserts for both single-point and multiple-point cutting tools. It was published on October 29, 2002.

Dr. Scott Smith, who writes the Machine Technology column for Cutting Tool Engineering magazine, covers some practical steps to improve accuracy and reduce scrap.

Thread milling may seem exotic, but any shop can do it.

Shop Operations columnist Tom Lipton shares a few tricks for cutting threads on a manual lathe.

Some holemaking technologies have eliminated the need for spot drills, but they're still useful when the ‘perfect' hole is required.

Machine Technology columnist Dr. Scott Smith discusses the constraints related to the selection of machining parameters in the May 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.

The tangential cutting force and the cutting speed allow you to calculate the required machining power for an operation.

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

Appropriate scenarios for applying a reamer when finishing holes.

Before CNC lathes, single-point threading was a pain in the neck. Fast reflexes were needed to engage an engine lathe’s lead-screw dial at precisely the right time and disengage it before crashing into the shoulder. Around the time of the U.S. Bicentennial celebration, tape-operated lathes made all of this headache obsolete. No more fooling with clumsy gearboxes or levers. You simply programmed where you wanted the tool to go and the machine control took care of the rest.

Burrs present a hazard to those who handle parts during and after the manufacturing process. The deburring method can have a major impact on cycle time, cost, quality and customer satisfaction.

Throughout the sometimes-contentious world of machining, the debate rages about whether to apply flood coolant or cut dry. As in many areas of machining, the choice is not easy and requires careful and informed consideration. To further complicate the decision, minimum-quantity lubrication (MQL) can be a successful compromise that provides an efficient and effective answer to the troublesome question. 

For those “making chips” every day, centerless grinding may seem mysterious, but it’s a fairly straightforward process. This article will discuss how it works, where and when it should be used, and offer advice on how to apply this well-established technology. 

On many work parts, the outside diameter (OD) needs to be highly accurate. Tight tolerances are required for OD size, roundness, high and low frequency lobe patterns and taper. Thrufeed centerless OD grinding can achieve precise part quality at an economical processing cost. 

“Pressure” and “flow” are common terms when discussing air compressors, but the relationship between the two is often misunderstood.

The vast majority of threaded holes require some type of chamfer or countersink, which makes it one of the most common machining operations, and, more to the point, one that usually can be improved.

Abrasive stones commonly found in machine shops are fine for run-of-the-mill deburring and abrading, but absolutely not suitable for precision stoning. For that, you need a pair of carefully prepared, precision-ground flat stones.

Traditional tap/drill charts recommend drill diameters for each size of tapped hole. But, according to this article, these recommendations are based on the size holes that were typically produced by less-accurate tools and processes used in the past. This article suggests guidelines for producing holes that will, in turn, produce correctly sized tapped holes.

Tapping holes 1 1/2 times the tap diameter or deeper requires greater care than other tap operations. This article discusses the chip evacuation problems that can make deep-hole tapping a challenge and the tap geometries and flute designs that can tap these holes successfully.

Technology has not removed the need to master calculations.

What is takes to turn the hardest metals.

Every machinist hates breaking taps. It’s a real pain to extract a broken tap without damaging the part. But there are ways to reduce the number of broken taps shops have to deal with.

How to case-harden steel inexpensively and quickly using an acetylene torch.

Experience is the best teacher.

Learn why The Grinding Doc is a fan of downfeeding on the workpiece and the meaning of an old adage.