September 1995 Issue
September 1995
Features
Featured articles from the September 1995 issue of Modern Machine Shop
On A CNC Turning Center, One Answer Might Be 'Y'
A fourth axis, in this case a 'Y' axis, is said to come close to transforming this machining center into an almost universal metalcutting machine tool.
Read MoreLaser Offers High Production For Low Volumes
"Laser technology," says Mr. Brownhill, "is the bridge across the 50 to 500 piece lot size gap. Shops can make money on these volumes, using a laser". And, it's toward this segment of the sheet metal fabrication market that Amada has pointed its high speed Pulsar laser machine.
Read MoreBeyond Swiss Precision
This medical-industry job shop has staked its reputation on superior process expertise with multi-axis--and multifunction--CNC Swiss-style turning centers. The ability to cut small and complex parts completely in a single setup provides huge benefits to the shop and its customers.
Read MoreAn Incremental Approach To Generative NC
This Air Force production facility is automating NC programming to dramatically reduce the time required to model and manufacture emergency replacement parts. Their "virtual factory" approach models part and process concurrently.
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Anti-Electrolysis Developments In Wire EDM
Originally, wire EDM had two things going against it. It was slow, and often it left an undesirable surface finish. In the last few years, wire EDM builders have fixed the speed problem. Now they're well on their way to fixing the surface finish problem.
Read MoreBringing Short Run Turning To Bar Machines
Fast job changes on a bar-fed CNC lathe is just wishful thinking if it takes forever to change over the bar feeder. Swiss-Tech Inc., a Delavan, Wisconsin screw machine shop that specializes in Swiss-type parts, was mindful of that fact when it purchased its Star CNC bar machine.
Read MoreWhy Y-Axis For Turn/Mill Machines?
Live tooling on turning centers greatly expands multiple processing capability. With the addition of Y-axis, turning and machining process integration takes a significant step further. Here's how the technology works.
Read MoreScope Maker Sights-In Turning Process
Working toward goals of improved efficiency and quality, this Oregon rifle scope maker looked holistically at their manufacturing operation and matched appropriate processes and technology to each operation. Some improvements arevery simple, and some are quite sophisticated.
Read MoreMoving CAM To The Shop Floor
Conventional wisdom has it that CAD/CAM is something that happens in an office somewhere--indeed anywhere other than the shop floor. The notion of operators generating complex 3D tool path right there in the shop is simply not embraced by very many companies, and certainly not die and mold shops that must deal with themost challenging geometry on a daily basis.
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