Eliminating chips, grit and grime is a surefire way to extend tool life and improve part quality, but proper tool maintenance goes much further than this.  When machinists are under pressure to get parts out the door, it’s understandable that they might seek to delay housekeeping ac

Metal 3D printing is not without its practical challenges and opportunities. Get a deeper understanding of where to expect snags—and how to deal with them. Plus, learn about emerging technology that could shift the market’s direction. The future has arrived in metal 3D printing—and

Here’s a look at how mobility and new software could improve efficiency and communication within your manufacturing company. Modern manufacturing is ripe with opportunities to use the latest mobile technologies and equipment, including intricate hardware and sophisticated software.

A variety of new workholding and toolholding systems are providing manufacturers with many options when it comes to metalworking. Here are new systems that can help improve both part quality and your bottom line. Anyone who has stood in front of a CNC machining center long enough re

Materials used in the medical industry, specifically orthopedic surgery, have come a long way. As the new materials are introduced in the industry, cutting tool innovations are made. Forty years ago, limited technology meant that a surgeon fixing a shattered tibia would line up the p

For more than 50 years, coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) have been improving measurement productivity and quality. The power of CMMs has made many complex inspection tasks seem almost trivial. With this much measurement capability, is it possible operators are taking their CMMs f

Metal cutting is an industry which has a wealth of knowledge when it comes to applications, materials and machining knowledge in several industries. However, rarely is there a product or methodology which contradicts common machining knowledge given its deep history. Introducing Prim

A recent upswing in aircraft orders together with rising passenger numbers indicates a recovery is in store for the aerospace industry. Will your shop be ready to capture the growth opportunities?

Reaching deep inside a workpiece to drill holes can be a real bear. You’ve tried taper length and aircraft drills, but even those made of solid carbide are apt to wander when hanging out of the chuck unsupported. Maybe you’ve combatted the problem with special extended-reach drill ho

How do you select the right abrasive for the job at hand? More than likely, it’s by trial and error. Learn how to select an appropriate abrasive for your application in this primer. Abrasives are an often overlooked yet critically important tool for any machine shop. Improper weld p

Miniature drills and end mills are often starved for spindle RPM, leading to poor surface finish, low productivity and broken cutting tools. Here are some options and recommendations to address this all-too-common problem.  How are “miniature” and “micromachining” defined?  There’s

There are many times when a machinist, while cutting a few parts or getting ready for an initial run, needs to check a few parts or a few critical features. Surfaces need to be spot checked, roundness or concentricity confirmed. Sometimes a hand gage will work, but with parts increas

In the 1980s the concept of data collection for process control took a major leap forward. This was about the time that a combination of electronic technology and economics allowed gaging to become digital. With a digital signal available, it became possible to transfer information v

Taking the general-purpose grinding wheel path is fast, easy and seemingly economical. It could also be the best way to become noncompetitive. Shops have several good reasons to use general-purpose cylindrical and centerless grinding wheels. Wheel replacement is time-consuming and r

If you’re a supplier to the aerospace or aviation industries, you’re likely familiar with the Trade Agreements Act (TAA). Here’s what you need to know. Doing business with the U.S. government can be challenging. There are requirements and rules to follow, and making an error can mea

SPC is an oft-overlooked and underappreciated tool for improving any manufacturing process. What is it? How is it used in today’s job shops to make a difference? Scrap. Rework. Downtime. These are the leading efficiency killers in most manufacturing operations. The question is, how

There is a lot to know about metalworking. When problems arise, what do you do? We talk to the specialists who average 20-plus years of experience to find out the best solutions to common metalworking and machining issues. What are the top metalworking challenges out there? We recen

Nickel and its alloy cousins are tough to cut, but nickel’s corrosion resistance and strength make it ideal for so many applications, including in aerospace and other key manufacturing industries. Get clear, concise advice on how to work with this vital material—and how to get the mo

Improving surface finish can be done by making adjustments to one or more of these points: operational parameters, wheel dressing, grit size, coolant delivery and machine condition. Precision CNC production grinding shines when parts require tight geometric tolerances and quality su

There are some excellent reasons to use 5-axis CNC machines, but to really reap the productivity benefits you’ll need the right tooling and techniques—some of which are under the radar. We talk to three industry experts for timesaving and productivity guidance. Whether your shop use