jbardsley8

When a machining operation isn't producing the results you expect, it's easy to focus on the cutting tool, feeds and speeds, or machine parameters. But sometimes, the problem starts before the cutting tool ever touches the material. Workholding plays a major role in machining accuracy, surface finish, tool life, and overall productivity. Even with the right tooling and cutting parameters, a poorly secured workpiece can create problems throughout the entire operation. For machinists dealing...

When a CNC operation isn’t running the way it should, feeds and speeds or the cutting tool itself are often the first things we look at. But sometimes the problem isn’t how the chip is being made. It’s what happens to the chip after it’s made. Poor chip evacuation can lead to chips being recut, excessive heat, premature tool wear, poor surface finishes, and even tool failure. For machinists trying to improve consistency and get more life from their tooling, chip control is an important part...

In Part 1 of our end mill series, we covered how material, flute count, geometry, and coating can help determine which end mill is right for an application. But selecting the tool is only part of the equation. How you set up and run that end mill can have just as much impact on tool life, surface finish, and cost per part. Keep Tool Length in Check It can be tempting to choose a longer end mill simply because it provides more reach. But longer isn’t always better. As tool length and...