Columns

Should You Gage to Part or Part to Gage?

There are many questions to ask when deciding what gage to choose for an application, but whether to bring the gage to the part or the part to the gage is one of the most fundamental. And the decision is influenced by a host of factors.

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CNC Tech Talks

Different Company Types Have Different CNC Needs

A company’s CNC needs can vary depending on what it produces.

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The Dirt on Gaging—It’s All Around

The common gage is always in contact with dirt. Accurate air gaging requires proper tooling maintenance and air supply vigilance.

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Look Like a Leader

What distinguishes the best-performing shops? Here are my impressions.

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CNC Tech Talks

Add Intelligence to a Tool-Changing Custom Macro

Knowing what is accessible from within a custom macro can help you decide whether you need a more-intelligent tool-change command.

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Losing Accuracy One Micron at a Time

Most gages on the shop floor provide a specified level of accuracy in conditions for which they were designed. However, it’s critical to think about gaging requirements before putting instruments in tight-tolerance production environments, and possibly having them not meet expectations.

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Two Cases of Gage-Improvement Failure

The call is a common one: When tolerances are tight, better gages are needed to improve the measurement process. However, what might seem like a simple fix can sometimes lead to unforeseen issues.

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Leave the Average Productivity Behind

Official measures of U.S. manufacturing productivity are overstated. Productivity at the extremes is the real story.

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CNC Tech Talks

Stabilizing a CNC Machining Process

Process stability problems often can be attributed to the appropriateness of workholding devices and cutting tools.

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The Case for the Perpendicular Indicator

In most cases, a standard or dial indicator is adequate for gaging requirements. However, sometimes the normal orientation of a standard indicator does not work for a particular application. In this situation, a perpendicular indicator might be the better choice.

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No Lie, Love Will Win

The pitches on behalf of manufacturing careers are often short-sighted.

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CNC Tech Talks

Stabilizing a Machining Process: the Human Factor

The process by which a workpiece is machined is of paramount importance.

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