Articles

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The New Rules of Cutting Tools ⁠— Introduction

Cutting tool technology is evolving rapidly to respond to changing demands and more challenging workpiece materials. Shops today need to look at cutting tools differently. They need to look at cutting tool suppliers differently as well.

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Basics

How To Machine Composites, Part 1 -- Understanding Composites

Composites are replacing metal in certain applications. What does this mean for machining?

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The New Rules of Cutting Tools ⁠— Rule #1: Do More With Your Machine

The tooling has the potential to transform the process.

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The New Rules of Cutting Tools ⁠— Rule #2: Demand App Expertise

The support of a knowledgeable tool supplier should be part of what you purchase with the tool.

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Aerospace

How To Machine Composites, Part 2: The Cutting Tool, Workholding and Machine Tool

In carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), the material removal mechanism is shattering instead of shearing. This makes it different from other machining applications.

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The New Rules of Cutting Tools — Rule #3: Diamond Shouldn't Be Rare

Consider PCD or CBN wherever capacity is tight.

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Aerospace

How To Machine Composites, Part 3 -- Milling Composites

Diamond shines for this shop when it mills composites.

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The New Rules of Cutting Tools — Rule #4: Focus on the Biggest Expense

Labor and machine time are where the real costs occur. The tool cost is tiny compared to the savings it delivers in these areas.

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Aerospace

How To Machine Composites, Part 4 -- Drilling Composites

Achieving acceptable tool life and hole quality in a material such as CFRP demands a drill designed with composites in mind.

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Aerospace

Turning The Tough Stuff

One of this aerospace shop’s many specialties is producing ring-shaped parts that are thin-walled, complex, tightly toleranced and made of difficult-to-machine materials such as Inconel, titanium or high-temperature alloys. Turning jet engine parts doesn’t get much tougher than this.

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The New Rules of Cutting Tools — Rule #5: Consider the Cutting Tool at the Start

Are you specifying the right machine? You can’t know until you know what tools you will use.

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How To Machine Composites, Part 5 -- Waterjet Cutting

For trimming composite parts, this shop describes where it uses machining centers and where it uses waterjet.

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