Basics

Basics 15 Jun 2003

Dressing Well: The Key To Grinding Quality

Because the nature of the interface between wheel and workpiece largely defines grinding quality and efficiency, it's essential to maintain optimum conditions within this critical zone. Therein lies the key to sustaining grinding as a competitive process.

Basics 1 May 2003

Reducing Program Execution Time

How much cutting motion time is in your program? If you’re interested in reducing program execution time, it is helpful to determine how much of the program’s execution time is related to cutting motions (G01, G02, G03 and so on) and how much is related to non-cutting motions including rapid motions, tool changes and miscellaneous functions. Wouldn’t it be nice if all of program execution time is cutting motion time? This is not possible—but unless you know how much of a program’s execution is made up of non-cutting motion time, you’ll never consider improving it.

Basics 15 Feb 2003

When Two Spindles Are Better Than One

Machining centers with multiple spindles offer a compromise between flexibility and productivity. Different machine designs use the multiple spindles in different ways.

Milling Tools 15 Dec 2002

Manufacturer Learns How To Use Cutting Tools More Effectively

In today's competitive climate, cutting tool manufacturers have to do more than just produce tools--they have to help customers use those tools effectively.

CAD/CAM 15 Nov 2002

Getting To Know Knowledge-Based Machining

The term refers to different levels of automation that CAM software developers are building into their NC programming software.

Basics 15 Oct 2002

Getting To Know Grob

With some familiar names in the machine tool building business fading away recently through mergers, acquisitions, or shutdowns, it may be interesting to learn of an unfamiliar or little known machine tool builder.

Basics 1 Sep 2002

Back To Basics With The Simple Two-Bin Reorder System

We certainly have managed to make many things overly complicated during recent years. For example, we have invested great sums of money in complex computer systems designed to tell us when to order parts.

Basics 5 Aug 2002

Transferring Your Business When There Is No Clear Leader

Say your business is owned by multiple owners—for example, two or more brothers and/or sisters; or cousins; or aunts/uncles; or two or more unrelated (by blood or marriage) owners; or any combination of the foregoing. Assume the business has prospered, and so have the owners.

Vertical Machining Centers 15 Jun 2002

Yet Another VMC—Why Not?

With so many vertical machining centers on the market, why would a major machine tool builder introduce yet another entry into this highly competitive environment? The only logical answer can be that this builder believes no one else is producing a machine that compellingly fills an existing need.

Holemaking 15 Jun 2002

Non-Traditional Methods For Making Small Holes

Consider these alternatives when conventional drilling can't do the job.