Micromachining Powder Metal on a VMC
By refining its micromachining process for powder metal tool steels, this shop has reduced production costs, lead times and secondary bench work for complex tooling components.

Too Small To Touch
Hummingbird takes on machining work that is too small for most shops to handle. In fact, Hummingbird tries not to handle it either. To accurately machine the tiniest parts, this shop relies on processes that are as hands-off as possible.

Hybrid Vertical Machining Center

Graphite Machine

Silicon Powder Additives Proven Safe And Effective In EDM
As with any new EDM innovation, the effectiveness of various powder finish processes will be debated. Likewise, dual-tank systems will be compared to single-tank systems. Here's a viable answer to that debate.

Fine Wire Is Just Fine
As parts get smaller and smaller, using EDM wire as small as 0.001 inch in diameter to cut these workpieces becomes an attractive option—actually, the only option.

User Interface Helps Solve EDM Skills Crunch
Many shops would like to do more electrical discharge machining (EDMing) but don't have the skilled EDM operators to run the machines. Mitsubishi EDM (MC Machinery Systems, Inc. , Wood Dale, Illinois) recently introduced several new models, and the ones equipped with a new generation of control unit will appeal to shops in this situation.

Dynamic Duos
An EDM plus a robot makes a dynamic duo. A graphite mill plus a robot makes another. Put them all together in one shop and you have a radical new way to speed mold production.

Anti-Electrolysis Is Pro EDM
A new breed of power generators for wire EDMs has options for reducing, even eliminating, one of the unwanted side effects of this very versatile metalcutting process.

Electrode Mill Hits 36,000 RPM
Today's CNC EDMs burn cavities faster than ordinary milling machines can feed them with electrodes, and so the demand for high-speed graphite machining centers has opened up an opportunity that machine-tool builders have begun to fill.