Peter Zelinski Editor-in-Chief

Turning Machines 14 Dec 2006

Seeing More For CNC Multi-Spindles

Motor technology, machine design and software possibilities all improve the economies of these sophisticated high-volume machines.

Die/Mold 8 Dec 2006

Hard Milling With Tandem Toolholding

A combination of toolholding choices lets this die shop get the most performance from its small-diameter tools.

1 Dec 2006

Technology Makes People More Significant

The staff of this magazine struggles with something basic: what to call people who work directly with CNC machining technology. We tend to default to what the shop in question calls them.

Horizontal Machining Centers 8 Nov 2006

Lights-Out With A Lighter Commitment

For this integrated flexible pallet cell, the machines and the pallet system came from different suppliers. The shop is not locked into any supplier for adding machining centers later.

Turning Machines 8 Nov 2006

Rotational Motion Lets Turning Compete With Grinding

Rotational turning provides machined surfaces smooth enough to let turning compete with grinding and polishing.

Titanium Machining 2 Nov 2006

Virtual Machining In The Real World

Using software that models machining passes, a Cessna plant unlocks real capacity by finding better parameters for its existing NC programs.

1 Nov 2006

We Are The People; Companies Are Machines

Companies are not nice. No doubt many will readily agree.

Workforce Development 18 Oct 2006

A Subscription To Spindle Speeds

A peculiar characteristic of machine tools is that they can't be put to use until the user performs a critical final assembly step-installing the cutting tool in the machine.

Aerospace 11 Oct 2006

Everything Changes

Through a sweeping transition to high speed machining, a Maryland contract shop realizes its goal of same-day, "in by 9, out by 5" turnaround.

High-Speed Machining 9 Oct 2006

Cutting Tools For High Speed Milling Of Aluminum

Go with the flow—chip flow, that is. The uninterrupted flow of the soft aluminum chip determines the design of the end mills that Metlfab uses.

2 Oct 2006

High Speed Machining: The Next Decade

About 10 years ago, Modern Machine Shop published a special issue on high speed machining—the first of what would become a succession of special issues on this topic. Machining centers with higher spindle speeds were becoming broadly accessible then, and something seemed to be happening.

Aerospace 14 Sep 2006

Move The Program Instead Of The Part

A complex five-axis part with hard-to-reach datums is machined in two setups instead of eight, thanks to a process that rewrites the tool paths to match the part's position.