Basics

Basics 17 Jan 2005

Running EDM Economically

Many shops are taking a closer look at the cost of operating a machine tool. How much energy does it consume? Does it create excessive heat, making the shop air conditioning work harder? Does it stretch the life of cutting tools and consumables?

Basics 7 Jan 2005

Internet Service Leads Shop To Customers In Its Own Backyard

In some job shops, it's a daily preoccupation: how to find new customers to augment a current customer base, which may be declining because of increased competition from domestic and overseas shops. A screw machine shop in Nebraska found a way to address this dilemma by using a somewhat nontraditional approach to locating more markets.

Basics 3 Jan 2005

The Foundation Of Dimensional Measurement

When getting down to the basics with dimensional measurement, nothing is more basic than that big rock on the shop floor. Actually, the use of rock for the foundation of measurement is relatively new.

Basics 3 Jan 2005

Avoid Paying Estate Taxes

This column is about our book, "Tax Secrets of the Wealthy," that shows you how to finesse the estate tax. Jot down what you think you might be worth on the day you go to the big business in the sky.

Metalworking Fluids 13 Dec 2004

Understanding MQL

Minimum quantity lubricant can save money, improve tool life and improve the part finish. But it may involve changes to both the equipment and the processing strategy.

Automation 16 Nov 2004

Lathe Toolholders For Turning Away

Think 'unattended machining,' and the image in your mind is probably complex - that is, some machining process that relies on automation more than the typical machining process does. But does going unattended have to involve this complexity? Instead of requiring automation, allowing the operator to step away from the machine tool might just be a matter of addressing the sources of worry that keep that operator engaged.

Basics 1 Nov 2004

Create A Charitable Endowment Without Reducing Income Or Wealth

I often ask clients, "What is your charitable intent?" Most respond by saying it's not significant. But when I ask the same clients if they would be interested in learning how to use the tax law to enrich their families while giving to charity and saving taxes at the same time, the reply is usually positive.

Basics 16 Aug 2004

Top Ten Tips For Tooling Productivity

Here are 10 suggestions for improving the effectiveness of metalworking processes.

Basics 16 Aug 2004

Hard Turning Might Not Be As Hard As You Think

Turning hardened materials to grinding-like accuracies takes the right combination of part, machine and process parameters.

Basics 1 Jul 2004

Making 5S Stick In Your Shop

I am often asked for suggestions on how to make a 5S program (the sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain program for improving workplace organization) really work as opposed to becoming just another “program of the month. ” It’s an interesting question.