Peter Zelinski Editor-in-Chief

Basics 19 Mar 2004

When Little Things Mean A Lot

Measurement technology plays a role on machining centers used at high speeds.

1 Mar 2004

More Than Just The Machining

Boeing representatives describe what they are looking for when they evaluate a machining supplier.

1 Mar 2004

A story I heard recently may be apocryphal, but it illustrates an important point. A company that made bearings offered two different classes of product—a cheaper bearing with a certain limited performance rating, as well as a more expensive bearing that could be run harder or longer.

5 Feb 2004

Cleanliness Is An Asset

The company described in this month’s cover story has a second-floor meeting room with a window overlooking the shop floor. One characteristic of the shop is immediately clear from this perspective: The shop is clean.

Turning Machines 20 Jan 2004

The Knowledge System

This company sees knowledge to be a vital production resource. Capturing and sharing information are now routine functions on the shop floor. Here are lessons the company learned.

4 Jan 2004

Machining And Manufacturing

Is there an exodus of manufacturing? I can tell you what I’ve seen and heard. A number of shop owners have witnessed the international competition for machining work first-hand.

15 Dec 2003

Five Sides And One Zero: Shopfloor Programming For Five-Side Parts

A five-side machining program can be thought of as five different three-axis programs stitched together. Does that mean the task of programming a five-side job has to be five times as difficult, or five times as time-consuming?

Basics 12 Dec 2003

How to Choose the Right Tool for Milling Titanium

Milling titanium is different from other metals because of the risk of heat build-up. Thanks to the metal’s low thermal conductivity, overly aggressive milling may even pose a risk of combustion. With titanium, in other words, there may be more than one reason why the cutting speed can’t be increased. And yet the speed of production still can be increased.