How Micromachining Patience Speeds Prototype Production
A molder of tiny, silicone components for the medical industry explains how a patient, conservative approach to micromachining enables it to deliver prototypes faster.
What Makes for an Effective, Production-Oriented VMC?
Extended VMC cycle times due to modest spindle performance and slow non-cutting functions can increase costs for high-volume applications. However, new VMC offerings can minimize cycle times while maximizing competitiveness for production work.
Otherworldly Precision
A contract shop produces critical parts for the Curiosity rover that will soon depart for Mars.
A Model Machine for Titanium
Researchers develop a machine tool that controls vibration to mill titanium more productively. The machine relies on guideway systems delivering stiffness that is literally infinite.
Transforming Industrial Robots into Precision Machine Tools
Robots fitted with an adaptive control system get real-time course corrections throughout the machining cycle.
Cycle Efficiency
Automated machining processes enable this maker of high-performance mountain bike parts to manufacture efficiently with minimal staff.
Automated Production on HMCs Requires Automated Gaging
An innovative approach to automated gaging helps deal with a fundamental challenge inherent to a flexible, multi-machine environment: Many machines with many operations multiply the chances for error.
Doosan Makes a Power Play
The South Korean builder is directing its focus toward rigid machine platforms capable of heavy cuts in tough materials.
Minimizing Turnaround Times for Big Parts
The key to success (and the primary challenge) for any job shop is minimizing turnaround time for non-repeating work. This Indiana shop shares some of its strategies for reducing lead times for the various large-scale jobs it encounters.
Make Maximum Use of the Magazine
This shop streamlined its selection of cutting tools to machine a number of parts on a pallet system. Cutting down on cutters delivered other benefits as well.
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