Chris Koepfer Editor Emeritus

15 Jul 1999

Doing More With More

From its founding 50 years ago, this Portland, Oregon, screw machine job shop has held fast to a philosophy of diversification. The theme carries across its equipment selections, processing decisions, personnel selection and customer base. It's an interesting example of successful application of multi-processing equipment by a multi-dimensional company.

1 Jul 1999

Will We Always Have Paris?

EMO Paris is fini. It was a good show from most accounts.

Grinding 1 Jun 1999

A Little Sizzle With That Steak

I was recently a guest of Studer Grinder Company at its manufacturing headquarters in Thun, Switzerland. Every couple of years, Studer invites its sales force and some selected customers and guests to see what's new with Studer grinders.

Workholding 15 May 1999

Flexibility Is A Vise

The ubiquitous table vise is more than a fixture in metalworking shops. It's a necessity. Like the machine tools they attach to, metalworking vises have had their share of technical advances aimed at extending the flexibility of these popular workholders.

1 May 1999

Always Nice To Hear From You

In this column in March I told the true story about the poor guy who worked in the mayor's office in Washington, D. C.

Toolholders 15 Apr 1999

Widening Range Of Grooving Tools

Traditionally, a grooving tool grooves, a facing tool faces and, of course, special tools do special cuts. Improved insert manufacturing technology and toolholder design is changing this tradition, allowing specialized tooling to be used more generically in a wider variety of metalcutting applications.

Cutting Tools 15 Apr 1999

Successful Application Of Ceramic Inserts

Applying ceramic inserts is not a simple substitution of one cutting tool material for another. There are significant process considerations that shops should examine carefully in order to realize performance and tool life expectations from ceramic inserts. Here's a look at some of the ways they are used.

1 Apr 1999

NAFTA Is Five. Will It See Ten?

NAFTA—the North American Free Trade Agreement—recently turned five years old. The big idea behind NAFTA was to create an economic free trade zone in North America among Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Vertical Machining Centers 15 Mar 1999

Consider Closing The Loop

Looking for a way to reduce process variability, speed setup, simplify your operation? Automatic measurement and machine compensation (Closed Loop Machining) may be something to consider. Here's a shop where it's making a difference.

1 Mar 1999

Sticks And Stones...

By now, most of us have heard about the man who lost his political job after using the word niggardly in a private staff meeting. It appears that one staff member took offense at the word.

5 Feb 1999

Parking Space Meets Cyberspace

In most cases, when a small shop needs cutting tools, abrasive belts or other consumed items, someone gets into a car and drives to the store to get them. For many small machine shops, leaving the floor is time consuming and therefore expensive.

Laser & Waterjet 15 Jan 1999

Not Your Typical Job Shop

This family-owned job shop has developed an integrated fabrication and machine shop in order to satisfy customers' changing needs. In doing so it has become an example that other shops might want to imitate.