It's not just for prototyping; additive, or rapid, manufacturing can be a cost-effective way of producing parts, especially when used for mass customization of parts and for low-volume runs of smaller, complex, net- and near net-shape parts.
There are five tool tips for moldmakers for speeding up production and aiding in highly repeatable, precision machining. Included are deep-hole drills to avoid pecking, high-feed cutters, tools for reducing EDMing, high-precision cutters and PCBN cutting tools.
With through-tool minimum-quantity lubrication, machine shops may be able to decrease coolant costs and increase productivity and part quality. But, they have to invest in equipment and tooling to achieve those results.
Ensuring accurate measurement of parts with ever tighter tolerances. As part tolerances continue to tighten across the board, accurately and consistently measuring them becomes more of a challenge.
What manufacturers should do to become suppliers of aerospace parts. Making aerospace parts can be lucrative, especially while the industry is experiencing record-setting growth, but manufacturers need to be prepared before quoting those jobs.
