VIDEO. Have you considered milling holes through helical ramping instead of drilling them? This brief animated video covers the high points, including tool diameter selection and the potential for savings.

VIDEO. On a ballnose end mill, the depth of cut determines the actual cutting diameter. This effect, along with the related concept of chip thinning, will influence the optimal choices of spindle speed and feed rate.

VIDEO. Even on a programmable machine, the ability to machine a complex profile with a single plunge can offer a variety of benefits, including both accuracy and speed.

See how this Delphos, Ohio, screw machine shop has saved considerable time by making its process on the shop floor more lean.

This manufacturer’s use of live-tool lathes overcomes labor cost in various ways. One of the latest sources of savings involves bringing another operation—hobbing—into these machines. INCLUDES VIDEO.

VIDEO. This footage illustrates shows how the toolholder taper is measured in a test designed to capture the retention knob’s effect on the shape of the toolholder taper.

Machining internal threads in difficult materials is challenging, especially when hole diameters are small. Thread milling offers advantages for these applications that are important to consider.

 Smooth finish comes from balanced cutting parameters, as this video explains.

 This footage on a small drilling machining also includes machining with full-size tools in the same cycle.

When milling with tiny tools, changing the length-to-diameter ratio can significantly change the cutting parameters it is possible to achieve.