March 2007 Issue

March 2007

Machining And Racing

A visit to an automotive racing trade show revealed how some machining technologies are being applied to the production of hard core racing components.

Features

Featured articles from the March 2007 issue of Modern Machine Shop

16 Mar 2007

Accessing Hidden Capacity in Medical Device Manufacturing

(MMS Online Exclusive) Data collection is an essential step in process improvement, allowing engineers to determine root causes and to ensure processes remained fixed permanently. The CNC machine tool is capable of capturing and communicating the status of operations and can be incorporated into a comprehensive automated data collection and analysis infrastructure that allows assigned resources to focus on implementing the best process improvements.

Workforce Development 1 Mar 2007

Decoding (Not Interpreting) GD&T

A suite of online applications aims to help all of the personnel involved with a part to read and apply GD&T information accurately.

Workforce Development 1 Mar 2007

Always In The Learning Mode

Finding what works is both a guiding principle and a driving force for this machine tool builder.

Laser & Waterjet 9 Mar 2007

The Laser’s Role In Micromachining Metals

A new laser technology combines the high machining accuracy and throughput required for precision, industrial micromachining work.

Inspection and Measurement 1 Mar 2007

Inspection With X-Ray Vision

Could detecting and quantifying the internal flaws of complex parts be as easy as operating a microwave oven? Kevin Legacy, manager of computed tomography (CT) and engineering at Carl Zeiss IMT Corporation, thinks so. He compares the manufacturer's Actis line of industrial CT systems to the one-button operation of the kitchen appliance.

Die/Mold 5 Mar 2007

Molds In Miniature

A shop that makes tooling for metal injection molding (MIM) relies on a machining center designed specifically for micro-scale work.

Inspection and Measurement 1 Mar 2007

Big Inspection With Little Difficulty

A portable laser tracker let this shop increase not only its machining range, but also the range of its services to customers.

Laser & Waterjet 1 Mar 2007

Compliant Machining Of Composite Wings

Bell Helicopter created a systematic, scripted process to machine composite wing skins and structural components for the V-22 Osprey vertical takeoff aircraft. Custom software ensures there is no deviation from the script.

Inspection and Measurement 1 Mar 2007

Relieving Bottlenecks At The Measurement Station

Throughput is as much an issue in measurement as it is in machining. Likewise, multipart setups can improve measurement throughput in much the same way they contribute to machining throughput. A special part fixture used in conjunction with an automated contour and surface-roughness measuring system allows four workpieces to be checked one after the other, with no operator intervention.