Armed with a 40-foot-long, 40-ton cold-forming machine that’s long been out of production, this mold manufacturer can produce tubular insert IDs with ±0.0002-inch tolerances and a 4-micron surface finish without EDM or polishing.
A deliberately incremental approach helped this shop flatten a significant learning curve for collaborating on the postprocessor, easing setups and using cutting tools effectively.
Operating much like online dating sites, this new platform aims to connect job seekers and employers in industries ranging from manufacturing to construction.
Proper symmetry, expressed via the end mill’s diameter and radius tolerance, is critical to ensure smooth surface finishes during five-axis contouring operations.
Although round cutting inserts have a well-deserved reputation for efficiently roughing contoured geometry, they sometimes work best when they’re not perfectly round.
Particularly for long reach applications, a button insert with a serrated edge can provide greater stability, less heat-generating friction and better chip evacuation than one without.
The chance to work on something other than work can not only improve morale, but also lead to new ideas and new opportunities for improving the manufacturing process.
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander in this state, where established, European-style workforce development programs play a critical advisory role for brand new ones.
From processing strategies to shop culture to workforce development, spending two years with our sister publication exposed me to more than a few lessons that other manufacturers can probably leverage as well.