December 2003 Issue

December 2003

This Shop Shines...And Sorts, Simplifies, Standardizes And Sustains

The 5S principles are proving to be a powerful prelude and prerequisite to lean manufacturing at this aerospace job shop.

Features

Featured articles from the December 2003 issue of Modern Machine Shop

23 Dec 2003

In-House Measurement For Bi-Rotary Heads

Generally the method required to verify a four-or five-axis, bi-rotary head machining center involves sophisticated laser interferometers and time consuming machine mapping to define and correct axis deviation from wear or other causes. For most shops, this calibration is done by an outside service.

Grinding 15 Dec 2003

Grinding Carbide--A Niche Within A Niche

If one must pick a manufacturing specialty, grinding carbide might not be the first choice because it’s perceived to be very difficult. RPM Carbide Die, however, has worked the material for nearly 40 years and, as specializing seems increasingly to be the order of the day, this northern Ohio shop is in a good position to thrive.

Basics 1 Dec 2003

How To Pay For That New Machine Tool

Innovative approaches to funding help shops and plants acquire the technology they need.

Milling Tools 12 Dec 2003

Tools For Profile And 3D Milling

Different tool shapes have different applications. Here is a look at form and function.

CAD/CAM 15 Dec 2003

Plugging Into Tombstone Productivity

Customized software helps this machine tool builder maximize the output of its horizontal machining centers.

15 Dec 2003

Bigger Cutters For Small Mills

This cutting tool manufacturer has developed a lighter, more compact face milling cutter that is available in 80-mm, 100-mm and 125-mm diameters for 30-taper machines.

Basics 12 Dec 2003

How to Choose the Right Tool for Milling Titanium

Milling titanium is different from other metals because of the risk of heat build-up. Thanks to the metal’s low thermal conductivity, overly aggressive milling may even pose a risk of combustion. With titanium, in other words, there may be more than one reason why the cutting speed can’t be increased. And yet the speed of production still can be increased.

1 Dec 2003

Optimizing The Grinding Process

R&D project aims to change grinding from an art to a science.

15 Dec 2003

Multitasking For Micro-Finishing

Micro-finishing or superfinishing is traditionally a specialized secondary operation. In the shop, it follows grinding or hard turning as a last surface preparation operation. In many cases, the combination of hard turning and micro-finishing can effectively eliminate grinding.