April 2002 Issue

April 2002

Empowering The Programmer

A project aimed at making military aircraft parts faster shows just how much productivity gain can come from automating the programmer's repetitive tasks.

Features

Featured articles from the April 2002 issue of Modern Machine Shop

Automotive 15 Apr 2002

Taking Cost Saving Seriously

At this tier-one automotive supplier, cutting costs and improving productivity are everyone's jobs.

CAD/CAM 15 Apr 2002

Setting The Stage For Production

This software is an external verification/optimization tool that provides faithful representations of first-run machining processes. This affords the opportunity to rectify machining conflicts before the first chip flies.

CAD/CAM 15 Apr 2002

The Right Start For A Fine Finish

Developers of CAM software have introduced many programming features for the initial removal of excess stock prior to finishing operations. By preparing the workpiece surface for more effective finishing, these roughing routines often determine how efficiently a CNC machining center can perform.

CAD/CAM 1 Apr 2002

CAM at a Crossroads

In the world of metalworking, the CAM part of CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) generally means software for programming CNC machine tools. Currently, most of the advances and innovations in CAM software are coming from the smaller software companies devoted to this application.

Grinding 15 Apr 2002

When Does Hard Turn/Grind Make Sense?

Combining different operations on a single machine tool platform is an attractive and increasingly popular idea. It is in practice, however, not always a plug and play substitution. Optimizing distinct metalcutting operations into a single cycle takes planning and a good understanding of the pluses and minuses of each.

CAD/CAM 15 Apr 2002

CAD Product Takes A New Direction

This CAD software is the first commercial application based on the GeMS++ object-oriented database and memory management tools developed by Honeywell in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy.