Mike Lynch Founder and President

1 Jul 2007

Button-To-Button Time Vs. Total Production Run Time

CNC cycle time is defined as either elapsed time from a given event in one cycle to the same event in the next cycle or a job’s total production run-time divided by the number of good parts machined. With the first definition, the “event” is commonly the pressing of the cycle-start button.

Basics 14 Jun 2007

Understanding Argument Assignment Number Two

With custom macro B there are two different forms of argument assignment for the G65 command to call a custom macro. By far, the more popular is argument assignment number one.

Holemaking 1 May 2007

Dealing With A Spot Drill’s True Point Position

A spot drill has a 90-degree point angle, which makes it easy to calculate the depth of a hole to be spot-drilled. You simply divide the diameter of the spot-drilled hole.

2 Apr 2007

A Taper Thread Milling Custom Macro

Straight threads can be milled on machining centers using the helpful helical interpolation feature. This feature makes it easy to program the milling of straight threads with just a few commands per thread.

1 Mar 2007

How Helpful Are Your Process Drawings?

In many companies, CNC machinists do not work directly from workpiece drawings because those types of drawings show only the finished workpiece. Instead, a manufacturing engineer will create other drawings from which the shop personnel can work.

5 Feb 2007

Trial Machining On A Sliding Headstock Turning Center

In last month’s column I stated that one of the most common causes of wasted setup time is improper trial machining to make the first workpiece pass inspection. Trial machining involves taking each tool in the program and making it cut to size prior to going on to the next tool.

Basics 3 Jan 2007

Setup Reduction 101: Core Tasks Vs. Total Setup Time

When teaching setup reduction, one of the first principles I try to explain is related to what I call the “core tasks” required to make a setup. Core tasks are the physical tasks a setup person must perform in order to get the machine ready to run production.

1 Dec 2006

Proficiency Versus Aptitude—Which Do You Prefer?

When hiring new people to run CNC machines, most managers want it all. They want a person who has run the same machine they will be running for the company.

1 Nov 2006

Further Simplifying A Trial Machining Operation

In past columns, I’ve addressed how you can program trial machining operations. It seems obvious to me that if a setup person or operator can recognize a workpiece tolerance that is so tight that trial machining is required, then a programmer should be able to recognize it as well.

2 Oct 2006