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CNC Tips

CNC Tips

CNC Tip: Quick-Change Toolholders for CNC Lathes

By |2023-09-29T16:14:17-08:00September 29th, 2023|Categories: CNC Tips, CNC Turning Centers|

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 [...]

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CNC Toolholders: What’s the Best Choice for my Machining Center? And Why?

By |2023-09-05T20:44:18-08:00September 5th, 2023|Categories: CNC Tips, CNC Vertical Machining Centers|

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 [...]

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CNC Programming: Which Approach is Best—CAM Software, Manually, or Somewhere in Between?

By |2023-07-28T14:29:28-08:00July 28th, 2023|Categories: CNC Horizontal Machining Centers, CNC Tips, CNC Turning Centers, CNC Vertical Machining Centers|

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 [...]

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High-Speed Machining: What’s AICC and How Does it Work?

By |2023-06-11T07:53:42-08:00June 11th, 2023|Categories: CNC Horizontal Machining Centers, CNC Tips, CNC Turning Centers, CNC Vertical Machining Centers|

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 [...]

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Boost CNC Efficiency with Through-Spindle and High-Pressure Coolant

By |2023-04-24T18:04:21-08:00April 24th, 2023|Categories: CNC Horizontal Machining Centers, CNC Tips, CNC Turning Centers, CNC Vertical Machining Centers|

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 [...]

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Toolholder Balancing: What RPM, Which Tools, Why Bother?

By |2023-03-18T18:22:37-08:00March 18th, 2023|Categories: CNC Tips, CNC Vertical Machining Centers|

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 [...]

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Maximize Machining Center Output With a Pallet Changer

By |2023-01-09T17:43:28-08:00January 2nd, 2023|Categories: CNC Horizontal Machining Centers, CNC Tips|

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, [...]

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Quick-Change Tooling: Four Off-the-Shelf Solutions to Cut Downtime on CNC Machine Tools

By |2019-04-09T13:52:59-08:00April 9th, 2019|Categories: CNC Tips, CNC Turning Centers, CNC Vertical Machining Centers|

Quick-Change Tooling: Four Off-the-Shelf Solutions to Cut Downtime on CNC Machine Tools Spending a few hours or even an entire shift setting up a CNC machine tool was once considered no big deal. Not anymore. With job quantities dropping and shops under increased pressure to reduce costs, setup time is critical. Of all the continuous improvement [...]

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High-Speed Machining: Four Ways to Increase Productivity and Cut Costs

By |2019-03-26T10:47:59-08:00March 26th, 2019|Categories: CNC Tips, CNC Vertical Machining Centers|

High-Speed Machining: Four Ways to Increase Productivity and Cut Costs Hogging with a high-speed steel corncob cutter was once considered the best way to remove lots of material quickly. No longer. The techniques that work well on a manual knee mill have no place on CNC machining centers. Instead, machinists should apply lighter radial depths of [...]

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Machining Center Selection: Three Things to Know

By |2019-03-19T13:49:06-08:00March 19th, 2019|Categories: CNC Tips, CNC Vertical Machining Centers|

Machining Center Selection: Three Things to Know Let's face it: if you're shopping for a CNC machining center, there are a number of good choices out there. And just like picking out your next car or a vacation home, there’s a lot to consider before buying one. Kent CNC recognizes this. We encourage our customers to [...]

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