If you operate a machine shop, then you know just how much wear and tear end mills experience. CNC machining is an incredible advancement in the field of manufacturing, but the milling cutters used in these milling machines are still subject to the heat caused by machining. If you want to keep your machines operating…
Milling and cutting tools are subject to incredible forces. Drill bits, end mills, spot drills, and other cutting tools usually found in milling machines all operate at high speeds. Moreover, due to the adoption of more aggressive tool paths, feed rates today put cutting tools to the test causing intense fatigue. This is especially true…
In our quest to widen profit margins and increase productivity, we often wonder if tool materials really make the impact they claim to bring with them. There are many things we can do to, for example, reduce cycle times, increase tool life, and make sure we end up with a taller pile of finished parts…
Machining is a difficult task, especially when it comes to your tools. Trying to push your end mills beyond their allowed speeds and feeds may save you time, but it will quickly wear out your milling cutters. When you need to acquire new end mills, this tool fatigue can cost you even more than the…
More than a decade ago, some outlets specialized in covering the world of machining and manufacturing started to notice how many tooling companies were adopting variable flutes as a way to improve productivity and reduce chatter. This has driven many machinists to delve a bit deeper into the matter and find out if variable flute…
Aluminum is one of my favorite materials to work with. It has the best properties of metals, without being so rough on your tools. I personally love how soft it is, and the nice, curly chips it produces when you go through it. Of course, aluminum has been the testing ground for a variety of…
