Five-Axis

Holemaking 15 Nov 1998

It's A Machine Tool Robot

This machine has a dual identity. It looks like an industrial robot. In some applications, such as assembly, it is. However, put a spindle and cutting tool on the end of this five-axis machine and it becomes a machining and drilling center. The inherent stiffness of the machine's tripod design makes it accurate enough to machine aerospace and automotive applications.

Workholding 1 Mar 1998

Dispelling Small Machine Shop Myths

Many job shops start in a garage with a used mill and a manual lathe. The owners of this Utah job shop took a different tack. Along the way to a very successful business, they've debunked a bunch of myths commonly held about job shops.

Five-Axis 15 Feb 1998

The Flow Through CAM

The route from CAD to CAM to CNC can meet blockage both upstream and downstream from the programmer. However, this shop cleared away most of the obstacles to efficient electronic transfer just by updating its CAM system. The results include a new level of efficiency and new capabilities for a 10-year-old machine.

High-Speed Machining 1 Nov 1997

Mapping Your Way To Five-Axis Machining

The right route starts with the workpiece, but there are many other considerations.

Vertical Machining Centers 1 Oct 1997

Aerospace Contractor Makes Chips Really Fly

With the recent surge in commercial aircraft orders and the continuation of major defense programs, the demand on aerospace suppliers has never been greater. In some cases, lot sizes have become smaller, requiring suppliers to be more flexible. Here's how one manufacturer has thrived.

Five-Axis 1 Aug 1997

California Specialty Machine Shop Expands High Precision Reputation

Though this company may be small, it has developed a reputation for its high-precision machining of exotic materials, since 1955.

Five-Axis 16 Jul 1997

From Manufacturing Circle To Victory Circle

For some time now, this manufacturing company has focused on optimizing engine performance by making ports as efficient as practical so as to reduce turbulence and improve air flow.

Five-Axis 1 Jan 1996

Tool Considerations for High Speed Cutting

Fast CNC processing and high-pressure coolant contribute to removing metal at dramatic rates. But what should a shop know about cutting tools in high speed machining?

Five-Axis 1 Sep 1995

Five-Axis Machining -- Simply More Productive

Many shops associate five-axis machining with complexity. While the five-axis process can and does produce some amazingly complex workpieces, there are real advantages in applying it to less severe geometries. Here's how one midwestern job shop is using a two-machine, five-axis manufacturing cell to simplify part production.