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 […]
Today, there is a huge demand for threaded hole-making operations in subtractive manufacturing. This means that thousands of shops use either thread milling or tapping as their preferred cutting method. However, there are fundamental differences between them, and they must be taken into account when choosing the strategy that best […]
Every machinist and shop has its own way to machine its pieces. What I know to be slow or wasteful might be considered an efficient approach for the next guy. So, when giving advice about machining materials the best thing we can do is see what are the few takes […]
In many industries, custom components not only need to be accurately cut, but they also take up a lot of finishing work, be it for aesthetic or functional reasons. These tasks usually necessitate the use of square or ball-ended mills to create perfectly finished edges, valleys, or grooves. However, this […]
Adding threaded surfaces to a workpiece is one of the most common tasks we perform as machinists. Most shops used to perform this delicate process by means of taps and dies. While the method used to be considered efficient, new technologies have proven to yield better, more accurate, and faster […]
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 […]
Threading processes are essential when your operations require you to connect two or more metal components together. This is precisely the case when we are making parts and supplies whose goal is to safely transfer liquids or water. Proper threading that reduces the risk of leaks needs to follow strict […]
Aluminum alloys, unlike most other metallic alloys found in production environments, are incredibly light while still being extremely strong. As a result, aluminum is a very common building material for a variety of items. In CNC milling applications, unique material-specific cutting tools should be utilized when machining aluminum. Finding the […]
Carbide tools are not cheap. When compared to steel tools, many find it difficult to justify the price difference. However, the market has spoken: tool steels have lost their market share for at least two decades now. Now, it does not mean that a workshop is automatically widening its profit […]
When working with tougher materials, selecting the correct cutting tools for the job might be difficult. Roughing out a cavity in a hard piece of hardened steel can take a long time and cause significant tool fatigue. While many machinists begin with a rough mill, there are other options for […]
