April 2004 Issue

April 2004

A Cool Deburring Technique

Ice blasting is a process that uses ice crystals as impact media to remove contaminants. It is popular in Europe for industrial cleaning work because it uses no detergents, solvents or abrasives.

Features

Featured articles from the April 2004 issue of Modern Machine Shop

Machining Centers 2 Apr 2004

Upgrading Machine Tools During A Market Uptick

These guidelines aim to help shops determine whether it is in their best interests to revive existing metalcutting equipment or to buy new machines.

CAD/CAM 2 Apr 2004

Slashing Programming Time For Similar Parts

There’s no reinventing the wheel for this shop! It saves machining programs in a knowledge base for use on future jobs.

CAD/CAM 2 Apr 2004

The Process Before The Program

CAM automation can change the very focus of the programmer’s attention. Reduced programming time is only one of the benefits.

21 Apr 2004

The Toolroom Lathe As An Alternative To CAM

The basic CNC lathe is not just for those who are new to NC. The ability to quickly program a job at the control can provide a quick alternative to programming off line.

micromachining 7 Apr 2004

New Lasers Are Mainstreaming Micro-Machining

Technical demands from the electronic, medical, aerospace and other industries are pushing the boundaries of micro-machining to smaller and more precise tolerances. The application of laser technology is pacing the demands from industry for smaller geometries and increasingly tighter specifications.

Workforce Development 2 Apr 2004

Setup Reduction Is Central to Lean Manufacturing

This shop cut average setup time nearly in half. Now small batches can move quickly through the production process, making the company more responsive to customer needs than ever before.