Chris Koepfer Editor Emeritus

5 Jan 2004

Hope Or Optimism

It’s a nice summer Wednesday. Two families are separately planning picnic lunches at a nearby lake for the following Saturday.

23 Dec 2003

In-House Measurement For Bi-Rotary Heads

Generally the method required to verify a four-or five-axis, bi-rotary head machining center involves sophisticated laser interferometers and time consuming machine mapping to define and correct axis deviation from wear or other causes. For most shops, this calibration is done by an outside service.

23 Dec 2003

Get The Smell Out-Extend Coolant Life

In many metalworking shops, the useful life of coolant is cut short by offensive odors.

Grinding 15 Dec 2003

Grinding Carbide--A Niche Within A Niche

If one must pick a manufacturing specialty, grinding carbide might not be the first choice because it’s perceived to be very difficult. RPM Carbide Die, however, has worked the material for nearly 40 years and, as specializing seems increasingly to be the order of the day, this northern Ohio shop is in a good position to thrive.

15 Dec 2003

Multitasking For Micro-Finishing

Micro-finishing or superfinishing is traditionally a specialized secondary operation. In the shop, it follows grinding or hard turning as a last surface preparation operation. In many cases, the combination of hard turning and micro-finishing can effectively eliminate grinding.

1 Dec 2003

Where's The Wonder?

This December marks the 100th anniversary of powered flight. For a family vacation a few years ago, we rented a house at Nags Head, a spit of beach on North Carolina’s outer banks, just a few mileposts south of Kitty Hawk.

15 Nov 2003

Carbide Worm Screw System Improves Rotary Table Life

Mounted in a horizontal or vertical plane, rotary tables can be used to add fourth and fifth axis capability to conventional three-axis CNC machining centers. This rotary table manufacturer has developed an actuation mechanism that, according to the company, significantly increases the useful life of its rotary tables.

Vertical Machining Centers 1 Nov 2003

Speeding To Success

Using a company-wide mantra of faster, faster, faster, some innovative processing techniques and a rationalized deployment of personnel, this Detroit mold maker is snatching success from the jaws of competition.

1 Nov 2003

Making It Work

Most of us spend more of our waking hours with co-workers than with our respective families. Finding a mix of people who can work and “live” together at work is a challenge for most businesses.

Cutting Tools 15 Sep 2003

Rolling Threads Has Advantages

With macros and canned cycles resident in the CNC on most contemporary turning centers, single point turning of OD threads can seem like almost a default process decision. However, for numerous applications, OD thread rolling has inherent advantages as an alternative to cutting threads.

15 Sep 2003

Taking The "Magic" Out Of Grinding

This grinding machine builder has introduced a new CNC surface and profile grinder to help shops bridge the machinists' skills gap.

1 Sep 2003

A Tale Of Two Cars

In July, a record run came to an end. Conceived in the 1920s, designed in the 1930s and manufactured continuously since the 1940s, the original VW Beetle is no longer being made.