MMS Blog
Buying a VMC: Considering Toolchanger, Coolant Delivery and Chip Removal
Among characteristics like structure and spindle quality, here are a few factors to consider when buying a vertical machining center.
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Old Machines Are Also Automation Candidates: 40-Year-Old Machine Adapted into Unattended System
Integrating an automatic positioner with a formerly manual jig borer brings increased efficiency to secondary operations.
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Making Mountains out of Mold Steel—Literally
When graphite molds wouldn’t cut it for a manufacturer of hand-blown drinking glasses, this shop machined more durable stainless steel molds to create the famous mountainous shapes that emerge from the bottom of its customer’s nifty drinkware.
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Machining and Fabrication Teams are Different—Here Is How to Manage Them
The leaders of a company providing both job-shop-type machining and fabrication of custom structures describe how they respect both of these teams and how they bring them both together. ISO certification has proven to be one valuable factor.
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A New Turning Process Enables Cutting “In Reverse”
A methodology for cutting in both directions on a CNC lathe promises to make turning a much more productive operation in certain applications. New types of inserts driven by new CAM tool paths are key enablers of this development, but implementing the whole multifaceted system as a system is essential.
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All-Directional Turning Cuts Cycle Times 50%
Sandvik Coromant’s PrimeTurning process allows turning and facing in all directions, delivering dramatic increases in high volume production. Cycle time reductions of 50% or more can be achieved.
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Tool Management System Eliminates Information Silos
Wagstaff Inc.'s tooling information wasn't digitally traceable or searchable. TDM Systems' Tool Life Cycle Management system reduced lost time and money for the shop.
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Manufacturing Speed for Drag Boats
Advanced Design Technologies LLC's subcontracted work led to quality issues among other problems. Vero Software's Surfcam 2017 R1 increased overall efficiency and quality.
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A Stitch in Time—A New Core Retention Function for Wire EDM
When running a wire EDM such as the FANUC RoboCut C800iB, an automatic routine in the CNC program adds a "stitch" at a few strategically placed locations around the periphery of the core. By holding the cores in place until the entire job is finished, multi-workpiece cutting processes are able to run in an extended, unmanned mode.
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Hot Temperatures (and Technologies) at Eastec 2017
Eastec’s peculiar Massachusetts venue offered the chance to sample a broad variety of advanced manufacturing technologies. Here is a slideshow and some impressions from the trade show.
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Cutting Edge Control Speeds Cross-Hole Deburring
As opposed to springs or other mechanical means of driving tool inserts into hole intersections, leveraging pneumatic or hydraulic pressure provides a means of process control beyond feed and speed adjustments.
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Contingent Staffing for the Machining Job Shop
Hiring additional staff is an option to increase capacity, but if the fluctuation in demand is unpredictable and of short duration, you can quickly end up with excess capacity and a fixed expense that is too large for a lower level of business.
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