March 2015 Issue

March 2015

Digital Edition

March Gear Supplement

Digital Edition

Cover Story

Wire EDM for Jet Engine “Fir Trees”

Advances in wire EDM (electrical discharge machining) technology have made it acceptable for machining critical aerospace parts. It may now become the preferred method for cutting turbine disc “fir trees,” a particularly demanding application that highlights the benefits of this machining process.

Features

Featured articles from the March 2015 issue of Modern Machine Shop

Five-Axis 24 Feb 2015

One Spindle Housing, Two Dedicated Spindle Motors

This technology combines two separate and dedicated spindle motors in a single spindle housing—one designed to perform high-torque roughing and the other designed for high-speed finishing.

Aerospace 26 Feb 2015

Will Additive Manufacturing Play a Major Role in Aircraft Production?

One answer: It already does. Lockheed Martin discusses the challenges and promise of producing parts through 3D printing.

Workholding 19 Feb 2015

Multi-Axis Workholding System Uses Three-Side Dovetail

The Get-A-Grip pedestal fixture for five-axis workholding uses a triangular clamping geometry for the matching workpiece and clamping dovetails.

Five-Axis 2 Mar 2015

March 2015 Product Spotlight Slideshow: Machining Centers

Click through this slideshow for HMCs, VMCs, multitasking centers and more.

Five-Axis 2 Mar 2015

The Tactical Merit of Five-Axis Machining

A job shop relying on homegrown talent to win aerospace and defense work expands its five-axis capabilities

Vertical Machining Centers 24 Feb 2015

Micromachining Evolution

Challenge Machine continues to add high-speed equipment for the increasing amount of micromachining work it is performing. Here are some lessons it has learned along the way, using tools as small as 0.001 inch in diameter.