There is always something we can do to increase the efficiency of our machining shop. We can buy the latest 5-axis machines with improved spindles for better grip and speeds, or we can update the software suite for a more scientific approach when designing our toolpaths. However, one of the […]
With so many new machinists opening up shop competition has become fierce. The race for reaching the ever-shifting high-performance goalpost is being run in different fields, and drill bit manufacturers seem to be the ones setting the rules. The push for more productivity experienced during the last two decades in […]
When drilling into your piece, you want your bits to follow a perfectly straight route and keep your final product true to the print. Misaligned or crooked holes can render a piece useless, making you waste time and material. How do you give your drill bits a good fighting chance […]
A lot of people have moved into the machining industry lately. Especially with the appearance of more affordable CNC machines that allow anyone to craft custom parts right from their garage. However, many still render crudely finished products with sharp edges that make them quite dangerous depending on the intended […]
Threads are an essential part of all sorts of components and connectors. From the pipes that feed water into our homes to the machines that make building those homes possible, threaded surfaces literally hold everything together. The process of cutting threads has taken many different forms over the years. Thanks […]
When it comes to accuracy, milling machines are truly amazing tools. They are capable of performing extremely complex operations very quickly to shockingly tight margins of error. Sadly certain longer cutting tools like drill bits are not always the most accurate when using these machines. Luckily using spot drills to […]
If you are not already using TiAlN coated end mills, you might want to make the switch. End mills and other milling cutters have to tolerate extreme forces and temperatures, which can shorten their tool life. If you are not using coated tools, then you might not be getting the […]
Milling machines are amazing pieces of machinery for several reasons. Using specialized cutting tools, a computer guided milling machine can perform extremely complex jobs in a fraction of the time that it would take using other machines. One of the downsides to operating at high speeds is the fact that […]
When it comes to manufacturing materials, aluminum is a perfect option for many pieces. Aluminum alloys tend to offer an ideal balance between strength and weight, making them an obvious choice for many custom components. For machinists who want to work with aluminum, having the right tools is essential. When […]
Spot drills and center drills are part of any drilling and machining operation. One of the most important aspects of machining parts is to drive holes with laser precision accuracy. You know that a hole that is off by a tenth of a millimeter can render a part useless, and […]
