Essential Tools When Cutting Aluminum

Every machinist has their refined arsenal of tools that they like to use. No matter what the job looks like, they will try to find a way to pick their favorite tools and make them fit into the program.

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Machining Hardened Steel with the Tormach 1100

Incorrect speeds and feeds are a surefire way to make terrible noises, break tools, and scrap parts. Initial attempts to machine this hardened ring gear made noises that would make any machinist shudder. Through experimentation, we optimized a recipe that is reliable, leaves a great surface finish, and provides good tool life.

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15 Random Machine Shop Tips

  • Use (but don’t overuse) McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is great for finding a part, making small orders, and even grabbing CAD models or drawings for hardware. Keep in mind however it can get expensive – if you’re buying in volume, spend the time to source your parts directly for a lower price.

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Tips for Machining Gummy Materials

This article originally appeared as an In the Loupe blogpost. Machinists face many problems and challenges when manufacturing gummy materials. These types of materials include low carbon steels, stainless steels, nickel alloys, titanium, copper, and metals with high chromium content.

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Climb Milling vs. Conventional Milling (Sneaky CNC Tricks)

What's Climb Milling vs. Conventional Milling (Down Milling vs. Up Milling)?
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Getting High-Quality Surface Finishes With the PCNC 440

This article is in reference to a previous article and class from Autodesk University related to surface finish.

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