John Miller President
John Miller is the columnist behind the Modern Machine Shop Miller’s Edge column. He brings broad experience, and a pragmatic approach to metalcutting problems through his company Way Of The Mill. Way Of The Mill supports shops of all sizes through online content, and in-shop training and consulting.
When to Use 3+2 Versus Full Five-Axis for Finishing Operations
Consider the entire system — along with your goals — when deciding between a full five-axis or a 3+2 approach.
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How Additive Can Complement Subtractive Manufacturing
Think of additive and subtractive as complementary processes, rather than being in opposition.
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Prioritizing Workholding Density Versus Simplicity
Determining whether to use high-density fixtures or to simplify workholding requires a deeper look into the details of your parts and processes.
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Should You Add Linear Scales to Your Machine?
Knowing how scales will influence machine accuracy will help you decide if they’re worth the extra investment.
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Considerations for Machining Coolant Care
Coolant care can be simply managed if you know where to pay attention and which hazards to look out for.
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Tips for Fine-Tuning RPM
Thoughtful considerations will set you on a shortened path to the most optimized solution once cutter meets metal.
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Tips for Monitoring Spindle Loads and Cutting Stability
When it comes to utilizing the spindle’s power, there is a lot of headroom at the upper limits, provided it’s in short bursts. Be mindful of your time at these loads so you don’t stall out.
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5 Tool Setting Techniques
Each tool setting technique has merit, and it depends on where you are as a shop and the type of work you do, as cost and efficiency all come into play.
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3 Considerations for Revising Design for Manufacturing Efforts
When revising part designs, investigate the 3D CAD, the 2D drawing and the part’s functional requirements to determine which details should be tightened up.
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When to Refurbish and When to Buy New
The choice between buying a new machine or refurbishing the current one will become clear after a thorough assessment of the machine.
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4 Ways to Establish Machine Accuracy
Understanding all the things that contribute to a machine’s full potential accuracy will inform what to prioritize when fine-tuning the machine.
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How to Successfully Adopt Five-Axis Machining
While there are many changes to adopt when moving to five-axis, they all compliment the overall goal of better parts through less operations.
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