If possible, standardize tools keeping them in the same position from one machine to the next and leaving two open “variable” spots in the tool changer. My first suggestion is standardizing tools.  This is mainly a concern in CNC shops since you are manually loading tools on your manu

1: Unique Patented Design and Geometry of DATRON Dental Milling Tools 2: Longevity and Precision of DATRON Dental Milling Tools DATRON’s design of the cutting surfaces for dental milling tools has allowed for a masterful blend of shapes and sizes that outperform many of today’s com

Push Your Program to the Limit with Balanced CNC Tools. Balanced CNC tools are a consideration when optimizing milling programs – particularly for roughing, finishing and deep milling in non-ferrous materials. If you use a DATRON or any other HSC machine, you may be familiar with our li

In the world of manufacturing, specifically machining of material, there is an art to proper CNC workholding. You may have the concept and design of a valuable product or part, the program skillfully complete with the optimum machine and material.  But if you do not have a means to ho

When it comes to CNC milling strategies for bulk material removal you may be asking the wrong question. As the account manager for industrial CNC sales in the Northeast USA, I routinely get asked, “What is the biggest tool you can put in a DATRON machine?” And while I always take time

Trying to decide what you want to do when you grow up?  Or maybe you are looking to change your career path?  It really doesn’t matter why you are here, I just hope that maybe I can convince you to consider a move into one of the most progressive and exciting industries out there

There are very few things that you can look at today that has not passed through a machine shop on some level. So, a machine shop career can be both interesting and rewarding. Just a few of the parts that may present themselves in the span of a machine shop career. Can you spot the F18 eje

“Optimize CNC Program” – it’s the instruction you hear in your head when you’ve finished a machining program. And it can be an arduous process that, if you’re like me, you slave over. Typically a bit too much, wasting a lot of time on changes that don’t add up to a substantial improvement. As

The mention of hard milling is usually enough to give the average machinist/programmer anxiety.  Well save your Xanax friends, because hard milling is not as scary as you think. Play There are many factors involved with successful hard milling and I am going to touch on them today.

When you get to work with a DATRON every day, you get to see some pretty cool things. There are so many cool things to observe, or be involved in, that you can become a little numb to just how cool these things are. So, every once in a while, it’s good to stop and look back at what you’ve bee

Let’s face it, some materials are just no fun. Inconel, hardened steels, ceramics. Everybody likes a material that will cut like a butter, and a typical dread is associated with stuff that doesn’t. So recently, we were presented with a material in the latter category. Milling laminated shims

Machine shop math is an important consideration for CNC programmers and machinists. One of the more common problems I have seen in my years in the machine shop is a general lack of readily available and handy information on machine shop math – specifically on feeds, speeds and related fo

There are as many opinions of high speed milling with small milling tools and their proper use in the manufacturing industry as there are nuts and bolts. The benefit of high speed milling is that it allows for lower cutting loads and chip rates producing better surface finishes.  In ou

Energy efficient CNC machines with smaller motors and drive electronics can save manufacturers thousands of dollars annually on operation costs. According to an International scorecard, Germany is #1 for energy efficiency, while the United States ranks 13th among 16 major economies — behin

As the President of DATRON Dynamics, I often get asked how DATRON AG (manufacturer of DATRON CNC Machines) got started. A company’s history or origin defines a company’s character and is key information when deciding to invest in their products. The short answer is DATRON fell into the machin

DATRON AG employee, Marc Reis, made a CNC guitar using a DATRON M8Cube high speed milling machine.  This CNC guitar is a Fender Stratocaster replica with body, neck, electronics pocketing, fret inlays and tuner through holes all milled on this high speed CNC milling machine made by

Combination Cutting Tool – DATRON Milling Thread Mill So, you’re cranking out parts on your machine at a steady rate. The orders are being filled and the boss is happy. Life is good. But, if you’re like me, you’re still agonizing over the seconds that could be saved. I’ve talked be

DATRON M8 versus DATRON M8Cube For over 10 years, DATRON has had a very successful history with installations of their M8 gantry-style machining systems. This revolutionary machine had an install base of nearly 1,000 machines and was responsible for making DATRON an industry leader in high

DC Graphics, founded in ’94 by Kevin Brandon, is run today by Eugene Prohaske, President, and Kristine Brandon, Vice President, and has a long history in the engraving industry. Eugene is a passionate engraver and has over 30 years of experience in the engraving for packaging industry. He ori

Absolute vs. Incremental Movement Absolute vs. Incremental Movement? These are two terms that you will hear or use in the machine shop, and there are many people who don’t really understand the difference.  When I am in a customer’s shop training them on their new machine, it’s a litt