Tariffs. Political divisions. A chronic skilled labor shortage. With all that's going on today, no one can predict what’s next for manufacturing. Even so, there are several ongoing machining trends helping to shape the future for CNC machine shops, whatever they make. And going forward, the most successful ones will be those that followed the Boy [...]
It's that time of year again. Happy holidays, and here’s wishing you a productive 2025. Assuming your year-end CAPEX budget allows, it might be time to invest in a new CNC lathe or machining center. Of course, any time’s a good time to buy a modern machine tool. Doing so will increase productivity and part quality [...]
After years of equipment breakdowns, this shop owner decided he’d rather make parts than repair tired machine tools. He’s never been happier. Dean Kauffman makes rollers. He makes them by the thousands. Big rollers, small rollers, all used by steel mills to make the round, square, and rectangular bar stock that other manufacturers then turn into [...]
In a recent article about CNC Toolholders, we compared traditional “steep taper” milling machine toolholders to their dual-contact HSK and Big Plus alternatives. This time, we'll explore the CNC turning equivalent, a.k.a. quick-change toolholders. As their name suggests, these aftermarket devices make swapping out a broken drill or worn turning tool fast and easy. The result [...]
Thinking about changing out your CNC toolholders? Big decision. Most machining centers today come standard with a CAT or BT-style spindle interface, and for the lion’s share of milling operations, these do the job quite nicely. But sometimes, an alternative to traditional “steep taper” CNC toolholders is in order. Source: nextgentooling.com Choose the Right [...]
The rigger just called. Your first CNC lathe or machining center will arrive this Friday. You unpacked the toolholders last week. The workholding is ready. You’ve lined up the first few jobs. The big question now? What approach will you take on CNC programming? Will you buy a CAM system and sit through a training class or two? Or will [...]
High-speed machining was once a niche technology, known only to aerospace shops making large airframe components. No more. High-speed machining (HSM) use is now widespread. So are its counterparts high-feed (HFM) and high-efficiency (HEM) machining. All are now common in shops of all sizes and specialties. That said, shops wishing to pursue a more productive path [...]
Anyone who's watched an expensive carbide drill go up in smoke knows the importance of cutting fluids. And yet, the challenge is getting these fluids where they're needed most: in the work zone. That's where through-spindle coolant comes in. A common option on some brands of CNC machining center, "coolant-thru" increases tool life, productivity, and part [...]
Let’s pretend you just bought a KVR-series machining center from Kent USA. Furthermore, your shop cuts tons of aluminum, so you opted for the 20,000 rpm high-speed spindle option. Great idea. What’s not so great is overlooking the need for toolholder balancing at these speeds. That’s because an unbalanced toolholder will not only shorten tool life, it might just [...]
The pallet changer has long been associated with high volume work on horizontal machining centers (HMCs). However, that paradigm is beginning to shift. Automakers and prototype shops alike find that machines such as Kent CNC’s KMH Auto Pallet HMC enjoy OEE levels (overall equipment effectiveness) much higher than those who swap parts by hand. Four-sided machining is possible, [...]
