Ask any polisher what the hardest part of his/her job is and most will tell you the same thing – stoning. It doesn’t have to be that way. Here is a simple technique that not only makes stoning easier and more enjoyable, but actually cuts 30 percent off the time it takes to do a [...]
Did you know that a resin adhesive (RA) stone could be the fastest stone of all and by fastest I mean having the greatest range of finishes that can be produced? […]
The first step in the mold development process—responding to a request for proposal (RFP)—requires moldmakers to import, diagnose and repair part geometry in order to assess its suitability for injection molding, develop estimates and produce a formal quote. Because moldmakers need to complete this step before even winning the business, […]
It is somewhat ironic that software companies are promoting closer integration when an increasing number of toolmakers are separating design and manufacture by putting responsibility for CAM onto the shop floor. This approach gives a number of potential advantages. […]
High-speed machining (HSM) is usually associated with high-speed spindles (15K to 40K rpm) and higher feedrates. It is also referred to as high velocity machining. They are one in the same, as both represent machining components in the most accurate and shortest cycle times. […]
Recent years have seen a number of articles on the benefits of closer integration of CAD and CAM. Of course, integrated CAD/CAM systems from a single company have been available since 1972. The new trend is for the integration of CAM systems into CAD software from a completely different developer. The decision for moldmakers is [...]
A better approach to CAM software development is to follow the logic that machinists themselves use when deciding how to machine a complex 5-axis part. Instead of fragmenting advanced 5-axis functionality, why not present programmers with a single programming process that is familiar and easy to understand? […]
Moldmakers were the first wave of manufacturers affected by the outsourcing trend that pushed manufacturing into China. But now we’re seeing that business is coming back . Culture and geography have helped provide a temporary stay for domestic moldmakers. But make no mistake, China and other offshore manufacturing industries will fix these problems, and they [...]
Examining the mold development process itself is equally important for determining how specific tools and development platforms can benefit a moldmaking operation. Such an assessment will reveal a fact that most moldmakers already know: […]
The challenge for moldmakers with multi-axis machines is to generate CNC programs that fully exploit the capabilities of these machines. The goal is to take full advantage of the additional axes of movement—whether on the table or in the tool head—in the most efficient manner while producing an outstanding surface finish. […]