Smarter and faster laser cutting tool production - cvd diamond tungsten carbide insert for cutting tool

 2024-06-30 20:54:46

Manufacturers continue to feel the pressure to reduce costs, increase efficiencies and meet their sustainability strategies. As the industry evolves to keep pace with these priorities, there are opportunities within metalworking processes to use less resources with advanced lubricants and technical expertise. Agenda: An overview of metalworking lubrication Evolutions in metalworking lubrication Experience on the shop floor Key takeaways

These cleats have more spikes than any of our picks, and they’re longer too. They should keep you steady when you have nothing underfoot but loads of snow or pure ice. However, they aren’t suited to pavement or even rounded or uneven rocks.

After testing 19 traction devices on water-slicked ice, hard-packed snow, and slippery hills on wintry city sidewalks and forested trails, we’ve identified the Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip cleats as the best for occasional suburban and city walking. We also have picks for regular use in more serious terrain.

Against carbide, the company reports productivity improvement on the order of a factor of 10 in milling hard steel, aerospace heat-resistant superalloys, compacted graphite iron and various hard alloys that are now finding use in production parts made through additive manufacturing processes such as laser powder bed fusion.

Effective team collaboration is a critical component of success in today’s manufacturing world. With cloud-based technologies that make it easy for team members to brainstorm and problem solve remotely from various locations, design-to-manufacturing processes can become faster and more efficient. This webinar will demonstrate how fully integrated CAM software can be utilized with 3DExperience SolidWorks in a seamless work environment to accelerate product development. Agenda: See how HCL CAMWorks can be used as an add-in for all SolidWorks applications working with the cloud-based 3DExperience platform Learn how fully integrated CAD/CAM saves significant amounts of time during the design to manufacturing process Gain a new understanding of how software can connect users worldwide to accelerate product development Watch a demonstration of team collaboration using platform tools in the CAD/CAM software environment

Pairing a shoulder mill with a five-axis machine has cut costs and cycle times for one of TTI Machine’s parts, enabling it to support a niche racing community.

Though the 10 spikes are made from a material much harder than stainless steel, they are short, so when you walk off that ice and onto dry pavement you won’t severely damage the ground or your spikes.

We’re continuing to test the Black Diamond Distance Spikes while backpacking across lingering mountain snow fields in the summer, as well as the updated Katoohla NANOspikes during the 2024 winter season.

New U.S.-based event announced in 2021 finally debuts next year: focuses on complete additive manufacturing value chain. More at formnextchicago.com.

Formnext Chicago is an industrial additive manufacturing expo taking place April 8-10, 2025 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Formnext Chicago is the second in a series of Formnext events in the U.S. being produced by Mesago Messe Frankfurt, AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, and Gardner Business Media (our publisher).

The MB45 series is designed to deliver the low cutting force benefits of positive inserts and the fracture resistance of negative inserts.

Yet even at a lower speed than is typical of a ceramic milling tool, the company says its testing in materials such as the aerospace alloy Inconel 718 still shows better metal removal rates and tool life than existing ceramic round tooling. This, too, is because of the freedom of toughness. The lower speed can be matched to a feed rate about 3.5 times that of what existing ceramic end mills accommodate. The result is an inch-per-tooth (chip load) feed rate equivalent to that at which the shop might be accustomed to programming carbide, yet at a much higher spindle speed than would be appropriate for a carbide tool.

Ceratizit USA announces it has appointed Carlos Garza as its business development leader for the oil and gas industry sector.

Did you know that the show was postponed for WWII? Or that McCormick Place was expanded in the ’70s just to accommodate IMTS? A fascinating look at the show’s history from 1927 to today.

Those traction beads are small. Those angled points aren’t very big, so if conditions get really extreme—say, smooth, “plastic” ice with a slick of water on top—you should consider investing in something more aggressive, such as our also-great pick for runners.

Moving from cut tapping to form tapping for a notable application cut tooling costs at Siemens Energy and increased tool life a hundredfold.

In the latest episode of our View From My Shop series, MMS Editor-in-Chief Brent Donaldson visited the JN Shapiro Watches headquarters and production facility where Founder Joshua Shapiro—a history teacher turned watchmaker—realized his dream of "making a watch from scratch and everything in it."

Tool-holder-spindle-machine combinations each have a unique dynamic response in the same way that each person has a unique fingerprint, which can be revealed using modal testing.

After trudging through snow and ice in 36 pairs of boots, we’ve chosen 11 that will keep you warm, dry, and stable all winter long.

Like other ceramics, this tool cuts dry and likes high cutting speeds. The crucial difference: The new phase-toughened solid-body tool performs well at cutting speeds that are low for ceramics, coupled with feed rate that is relatively high. The result is a solid ceramic round tool well suited to the capabilities of standard machining centers. All photos courtesy of Greenleaf.

Four-flute ceramic end mills are available in cutting diameters from 3/8 to 3/4 inch. Stability is a requirement for using the tools well. The flute design for minimizing vibration is thus an important part of the engineering.

FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.

Incremental mode can be more advantageous when programming sculptured surfaces or for certain hole-machining canned cycle applications.

Job shops are implementing automation and digitalization into workflows to eliminate set up time and increase repeatability in production.

There’s no storage sack. The ICEtrekkers are the only cleats that didn’t arrive with a storage sack. This may contribute to the affordable price, but some users may want a storage sack in order to contain any grit. (One advantage of not having a storage sack is that you are less likely to leave wet cleats in it long-term, which can cause rust.)

Zoller’s open house in Ann Arbor, Michigan, provided attendees with a glimpse of the connectivity and efficiency the company’s products offer to users.

Looking to automate your shop floor? The Automated Shop Conference (TASC) will connect shops with experts who can advise them through this transition.

AccuRounds has created synergy between culture and technology, driving a commitment to customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.

For backcountry hikers, the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra set offers the biggest and most plentiful spikes underfoot. The 18 stainless steel spikes are arranged at different angles to provide traction no matter which way your weight is distributed, so you’ll maintain grip walking both up and down hills. Those spikes are attached to six small metal plates, which also create traction.

FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.

Across a range of technical presentations aimed at small and mid-sized job shops, the first-ever Automated Shop Conference (TASC) offered insights into several automated technologies, implementation strategies, shopfloor training tips, and even the untapped power of automated coolant delivery.

Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).

In this episode of Made in the USA, several executives and senior staff at Hardinge give their first-person account of how they formulated the plan to shift the manufacturing of its milling and turning product lines from its Taiwan plant to its plant in Elmira, New York, the major challenges they encountered and the rewards that made it worth the effort.

Lee Wimmer invited us to tour his second-generation family-owned machine shop in Perkasie, PA. This video explores the production processes behind precision-machined parts for both Wimmer Custom Cycle and LS Wimmer Machine Co., and shows how ingenuity and determination are still at the heart of American manufacturing. Today, both companies are now managed by Wimmer’s three sons.

I’m a staff writer at Wirecutter covering outdoors and travel gear. I’ve hiked over 7,000 miles throughout every season in the Eastern Woodlands and the mountainous regions of the US west. I’verun and walked through three high-altitude Colorado winters on trails and roads, and I’m a backcountry skier who uses pointy footwear in the spring for extra grip on hard snow and ice.

Hardness and toughness together mean slow progress of tool wear. The edges of the 1/2-inch diameter ceramic end mill here show the wear after 72 minutes of milling for 64 cubic inches of material removal in 4150 steel with hardness of 52-55 HRC.

Are AMRs the next big trend in job shop automation? System 3R’s IMTS booth will emphasize both its specialty EDM tooling and its automation products, including an autonomous moving robot.

Learn more about the variety of technology and machinery Hwacheon Machinery America, Inc. is featuring at its IMTS 2024 booth.

The Xsytin 360’s SiAlON (a ceramic combining silicon, aluminum, oxygen and nitrogen) is a material about which James Greenleaf feels he can confidently say, “This is the strongest ceramic material on the market. We finally felt we had a ceramic good enough to offer a really effective round tool.”

In this webinar, industry-leading experts will demonstrate how additive manufacturing can revolutionize your operations and answer the question: Can you afford not to? From rapid prototyping to robust fixturing and specialized custom tooling, it’ll showcase the diverse applications that can drive your business forward in a time where cost and time saving can be crucial. Discover how to reduce costs, accelerate production cycles and achieve unparalleled design freedom through the strategic integration of 3D printing technology. Phillip’s panel of seasoned professionals will share real-world examples and practical insights to help you understand the potential of additive manufacturing. Learn how to overcome production challenges, improve product quality and gain a competitive advantage. It will explore the cost-benefit analysis of 3D printing — including material and labor savings — as well as the potential for increased revenue. Join this webinar to discover why additive manufacturing is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for success. Agenda: Prototyping example: quick-change prototype Custom tooling real-world example: press brake, tube bending die CMM fixturing and workholding example: CMM fixture and soft jaw

From quadruped robot dogs, to an in-booth putting green where you can test out a new golf putter, to a 3D-printed car and more, attendees enjoyed cutting-edge technology and innovations all week long. Take a look to see what (or who!) you might have missed this week!

Removable traction aids are meant to slip on and off your shoes as needed. They all have some sort of flexible harness that stretches to fit over your shoe and then contracts to hold the actual traction devices, which may be steel or aluminum spikes, coils, or chains, in place on the underside of your shoe.

It balances durability with traction. These cleats are equipped with 14 stainless steel spikes, each one 8 mm (5/16 inch) long—a sweet spot for stability and grip on mixed surfaces. The individual spikes don’t bite as effectively as the longer spikes of our backcountry pick, the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra, and the stainless steel won’t be as durable on dry paved surfaces as the tungsten carbide tips on the Kahtoola NANOspikes. Rather, they shine when the off-pavement trail conditions vary, as is common in many hiking and running trail systems.

As with most models we tried, each Diamond Grip is attached to a rubber harness that slips on over the outside of your shoe, so these cleats should work with any shoe you have, and you can remove them at the door before you enter a house or store.

The STABILicers walking cleat has several thousand positive reviews on Amazon at this writing, but in our tests we slipped and fell several times. Though this design has a ton of spikes (24 on each cleat), they’re clustered close together, lifting you off the ice rather than stabilizing you on it. The spikes are also rounded and don’t have nearly the bite of a carbide tip or a sharp steel spike.

Despite the name, the Trail Crampon Ultra is not a pair of actual crampons, which are rigid devices that mountaineers use to traverse hard or vertical ice. Instead, this Hillsound design is the most hardcore underfoot gripper you can get without going full crampon, attached with a heavy-duty rubber harness that fits over shoes or boots. These are definitely for backcountry use in the winter, when you’re facing deep snow or slick ice, and not for city streets or dry, rocky trails.

User-friendly inspection software for CNC machining centers is shown monitoring measurements between and after machining while performing SPC based on recorded measurement values.

Misapplication of these important CNC features will result in wasted time, wasted or duplicated effort and/or wasted material.

Entrepreneur Scott Colosimo found early success in China producing parts for his Cleveland-based motorcycle company in the mid-2000s. This is the story of how IP theft issues overwhelmed the business, prompting Colosimo and his team to start over from scratch — and move production back to the United States.

Working closely with customers and making careful investments has enabled this Wisconsin machine shop to tackle difficult jobs with tight deadlines as a core part of its business.

These cleats have more spikes—and more aggressive spikes—than others we tested. The steel spikes are the most important part of this pair’s appeal—especially in situations where a slip or fall could potentially send you sliding right off a mountain or cliff. The design has 12 spikes, each half an inch (13 mm) long, under the forefoot and another six spikes under the heel (three of those are half-inch spikes, and three measure about two-thirds of an inch—or roughly 17 mm—each). The spike plates are arranged in multidirectional clusters that offer traction against sliding in any direction on ice, hard-packed snow, and even some types of mud. They’re secured by steel chains that pass under the midfoot for extra traction and stability.

Pairing automation with air-driven motors that push cutting tool speeds up to 65,000 RPM with no duty cycle can dramatically improve throughput and improve finishing.

Attend TASC, The Automated Shop Conference, in Novi, Mich on Oct. 11, 2023 for a comprehensive look into how to use automation to transform your machine shop.

The Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip Traction Device is our favorite all-around traction aid for most slippery surfaces, including hard-packed snow and textured ice.

In circles where underfoot traction devices are used all the time, you’ll find a lot of folks who have a dedication to their personal favorites. On top of that, different usage scenarios and weather conditions mean that many of the competing models we refer to below might still merit your consideration.

AccuRounds has created synergy between culture and technology, driving a commitment to customer satisfaction and continuous improvement.

This style feels more comfortable on top of your foot, creating no pressure points, especially if you’re wearing running shoes, or anything with a thin upper. It also helps center the cleat on your foot for a more secure fit.

Take a look inside James Engineering, a high-end CNC Deburring OEM that became a job shop when they decided to produce their own parts in-house.

What sets the cleats apart the most from the competition is the nylon cloth upper that acts as a cover for the top of your foot. It makes centering the cleat over your shoe easier than when using the full elastomer harness that you see on most cleats—including our top pick, the Yaktrax ICEtrekkers. There is a downside: The nylon doesn’t stretch as much as an elastomer harness would, so it may not fit very bulky boots.

New tech center is serving as a cutting-edge showroom and a technological hub for advanced machining applications.

It uses the most comfortable harness. Most of our picks rely on an elastomer (or rubber) toe cover to help keep the cleat on your foot. The Distance Spike instead uses a soft, mildly stretchy nylon/polyester-blend fabric with a rubber overlay—it looks almost like you’re wearing no-show socks in front. (The heel cup is a more typical thermoplastic elastomer.)

It was a solution realizing greater toughness that drove Greenleaf’s first big breakthrough with ceramic tools, decades ago. The company introduced ceramic tooling in 1973, manufactured thanks to hot pressing technology that was proprietary at the time. But in 1985, the company proved and went to market with its method for adding reinforcing crystals grown in long, thin strands — known as whisker reinforcement — within the microstructure of the hard turning tools made this way.

Fryer Machine Systems Inc. presents its TC Series of CNC machining centers for high-performance cutting, accuracy, reliability and ease of use.

The inexpensive Frabill Ice Creeper cleats have 10 tungsten-carbide spikes for traction on paved surfaces and ice fishing. We felt some plastic pieces under our foot when wearing them with trail runners on flat hard surfaces. We also prefer more heel grip than the Ice Creepers provide, but for the price, they might be worth checking out for infrequent use.

Heidenhain and Acu-Rite Solutions are offering several hands-on experiences at their booth this year, as well as internal components that reduce energy use.

That’s really important, because if you live somewhere wintry, taking out the trash on an icy Tuesday night should not be a harrowing experience. (However, if you regularly traverse superslick ice, you might consider our upgrade pick.)

If the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultras are out of stock: Consider Kahtoola’s MICROspikes, which have reached near cult status in Alaska thanks to their combination of large spikes connected by sturdy chains and a very lightweight, stretchy harness. We would feel secure hiking in them anywhere, and they came in a marginal second to the Hillsounds. However, the MICROspikes have fewer actual spikes (12 total, compared with the Hillsound set’s 18), and the spikes aren’t arranged in aggressive, multidirectional clusters.

The traction on this lightweight pair is provided by 10 small spikes tipped with tungsten carbide. This very hard material digs into the black ice and mixed snow that can make winter asphalt treacherous. The small spikes aren’t great for more rugged terrain, though.

It’s the easiest to put on and remove. The nylon pull tab on the heel of the cleat, paired with the soft fabric toe cap, makes these the easiest cleats to put on and remove out of all of the cleats we tested. While I was using the cleats to cross snow fields on a backpacking trip in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, my hiking partner asked, “How are you getting your cleats on and off so fast?!”

In test cutting, the performance and promise of the new round tools have been seen not principally in the high speeds these tools are able to achieve, but instead — stay with me on this — important improvement has been found at the low speeds at which these tools cut well. Ceramic tools are generally run at very high speeds (and run dry) because the ceramics’ thermal coefficient makes the tools so heat-resistant. The tools even have minimum cutting speed thresholds for optimal performance. However, the new, tougher ceramic tools do not need the intensity typical of ceramics. The optimal speed range for the new solid ceramic end mills begin at 1,300 sfm, low compared to other ceramic cutters. For a 1/2-inch end mill, that is about 10,000 rpm. In short, the needed speed is accessible to a broad range of machine tools used by a broad range of shops.

For venturing out for more miles and onto mixed trail surfaces like snow, ice, dry rocks, and even some minor use on paved surfaces, we recommend the Black Diamond Distance Spike Traction Device.

Join Mahr for an informative webinar to discover the latest advancements in precision measurement, designed to elevate your quality assurance processes and unlock peak productivity. It'll explore cutting-edge technologies — such as modern height gages and contour measuring systems — along with their applications, benefits and technical capabilities. Discover the power of height gages: Learn how intuitive and sophisticated height gages can revolutionize your measurement processes, enabling quick and accurate results in inspection and production areas. Explore the practical functions and ease of use that make height gages an ideal solution for manufacturers seeking high-performance and reliable measuring technology. Examine sample applications and industries where height gages excel, such as qualifying first parts, inspecting incoming parts and measuring series of parts in industries like aerospace, automotive and medical. Unlock efficient contour measurement: An introduction to the latest contour measuring technologies that enable fast, simple and comprehensive contour measurement in the production environment. Discover how these innovative solutions ensure reliable measurements, saving time and increasing efficiency while measuring a wide range of workpieces. Learn how to streamline your contour measuring process with speed and simplicity, achieving fast and precise measurements with incredible versatility. Register now and discover how to unlock peak productivity with new innovations in precision measurement. Agenda: Insights into the latest precision measurement technologies and their applications Understanding of how to improve quality assurance processes and increase productivity Knowledge of how to select the right measurement solutions for your specific needs Tips on how to optimize your measurement processes for maximum efficiency

We decided to test 19 pairs of ice cleats after sorting through traction devices widely available online and in gear stores, looking for positive user reviews. Here are our testing criteria:

Weldon Solutions is demonstrating three grinders at IMTS 2024. Though they differ in size and use case, all feature the company’s hallmark customizations.

Thoughtful considerations will set you on a shortened path to the most optimized solution once cutter meets metal.

So far, Made in the USA has looked into system-wide effects of broken supply chains, automation, skilled workforce issues and our perception of manufacturing jobs — examining each topic through a prism of individual experiences. For this final episode for Season 1, let’s look at one more system-wide question and bring it back to personal perspectives: Is there today a new dawn, a new moment for American manufacturing?

Spiked, rotating beads underfoot make the Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond Grip cleats the most versatile traction option we found, as they can reasonably navigate a lot of mixed non-technical terrain.

A set of donated boring bars that can be used in a 1954 boring head will enable volunteer machinists to recreate a pair of binoculars for the USS Pampanito.

These lightweight, compact cleats are versatile and stable enough to go from icy trail to rocks to dry asphalt. They cost about twice as much as our top pick, though, and their steel spikes may be too aggressive for around-town use.

When Puneet and Neelam Neotia moved from India to the United States several years ago, they brought with them a family background in manufacturing and CNC machining. Now the couple is working to get their startup machine shop off the ground, sourcing new customers and getting the word out about their shop in Clarksville, Indiana. The couple — proud to publicize their "Made in the USA" parts — is leveraging family connections and manufacturing capabilities back in India, but not in the way that some people assume.

The Automated Shop Conference (TASC) will give shops of all sizes and production volumes key insights and practical guidance on how to implement automation.

Each tool setting technique has merit, and it depends on where you are as a shop and the type of work you do, as cost and efficiency all come into play.

That productivity improvement does need the right setup. The Xsytin 360 milling tools making use of the phase-toughened ceramic are not a replacement for carbide; we have been speaking of toughness, and carbide is still the tougher material. The ceramic end mills capable of lower speeds still need effective process controls against shocks to the tool — controls that include rigid fixturing; short overhang in the tool setup; a shrink-fit, press-fit or hydraulic toolholder for low runout; and a tool path ensuring continuous cutting by maintaining a consistent chip thickness. Indeed, the tool’s flute design is part of this formula and another important part of the engineering of the tool. This flute aids stability through a geometry that has been refined to minimize vibration. Also needed in the application of the tool: a way to clear chips from the path of the cut without coolant, because this ceramic, like earlier ceramic tools, does far better running dry.

The Yaktrax Pro traction aid uses steel coils wrapped around the part of the rubber harness that sits underneath the sole of your foot. We found that these cleats worked well on semi-hard snow and on soft or rough ice. However, they still slipped easily on hard ice with even the slightest hint of an incline or decline.

Kahtoola released this new version of the NANOspikes in the fall of 2023; it performed just as well as the previous version during our testing that winter. (You may still be able to find the previous version in stores and online; there were some slight design changes, but it also has tungsten carbide spikes.)

Now, ceramic cutting tool maker Greenleaf says innovations in the toughness of ceramics within the last five years offer the potential to dramatically expand the applicability of ceramic tools in milling. The company recently launched its “Xsytin 360” line of solid-body four-flute ceramic end mills, after two years of development. According to James Greenleaf, the third-generation owner of the company, these tools are “the most extensively tested product we have ever introduced.” And that testing continues, because a ceramic tool with greater toughness is a tool that potentially has promise within machining sectors and applications not typically associated with ceramics, involving shops that have not turned to ceramic tooling before.

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The Walter Turn toolholder features rake-face cooling to help break and control chips, and double flank-face cooling directly at the cutting edge to extend tool life.

Though most frequently used for diameter measurements, an air plug and platen can be readily configured to measure perpendicularity.

JD Machine, 2024’s Top Shops Honoree in Human Resources, embodies its “Education for Life” core value with a robust apprenticeship program and significant continuous improvement efforts.

When it comes to utilizing the spindle’s power, there is a lot of headroom at the upper limits, provided it’s in short bursts. Be mindful of your time at these loads so you don’t stall out.

The other potential weak point for any ice cleat is the stretchy harness that holds the spikes onto your foot. Although it’s rare, these harnesses can and do break, especially if you’ve been using ice grippers that are sized too small for your shoes or boots, so it’s a good idea to periodically examine the harnesses for rips, tears, and other visible wear. If you see any, it’s time to either return the ice grippers for warranty service or replace them.

They’re light enough for running. You can run in our top pick, and a trail runner may want the additional grip of a more aggressive traction aid. But if you’re sticking to paved surfaces and would prefer to wear the same shoes you always run in, these spikes are lighter than the chains and steel spikes found on backcountry traction devices.

Structured light scanning is used to create a digital twin of a manufactured part, but we must understand the measurement reproducibility to best use the data.

If you need to brave the frigid winter weather, we’ve got picks that will keep you covered from head to toe.

Chiron Group combines the best of both worlds at IMTS 2024, featuring live demonstrations of their Micro5 and Mill 2000 machines, alongside a cutting-edge virtual showroom. This innovative approach allows visitors to explore Chiron’s full product lineup without the logistical challenges of transporting large equipment.

Each tool setting technique has merit, and it depends on where you are as a shop and the type of work you do, as cost and efficiency all come into play.

They meld to ice patches and bite into hard snow, and because the beads rotate, they even shed softer snow before it can build up underfoot. The spikes are not as aggressive as those on a traction device built specifically for hiking in the wilderness, so they’re also easier to use on pavement.

Mastercam 2025 incorporates big advancements and small — all based on customer feedback and the company’s commitment to keeping its signature product best in class.

Q-Mark has built its metrology business by providing what customers need, when they want it. This goes for its IMTS booth, too, with free drinks alongside custom technology.

The cloth isn’t very stretchy. One potential downside of the fabric toe cover is that the overlay part that shapes its edges won’t stretch as much as a thermoplastic elastomer, possibly limiting what type of footwear you can use. The cleats may not fit over the most burly hiking boots, especially if you’re on the cusp of the biggest sizes. However, I had no problem fitting a size XL pair over my size-12 Danner Mountain Light boots, and we’ve seen no reviewers complaining about an imprecise fit. Despite offering only four sizes—our other picks all offer five—Black Diamond claims the largest size range. Still, we’d recommend trying them on over your own boots before committing.

Though most frequently used for diameter measurements, an air plug and platen can be readily configured to measure perpendicularity.

The Black Diamond Access cleats are the same as the Black Diamond Distance Spike cleats, apart from having a more traditional full-elastomer harness rather than a cloth upper. The Access style performs much like the Distance Spike but without the comfortable fit of the cloth.

However, within the many shops able to achieve this level of stability and control, this tool is now a competitor to carbide in a way that ceramic round tools have not been before. The level of toughness resulting from the phase toughening has brought us to this point of change: In facing their challenges with hard metals, many shops will now consider ceramic milling tools that have never used tooling made of this material before.

Rob Guiao, Chris Hall and Bassanio Peters will demonstrate relatable situations to equip you with data to improve predictability, future-proof operations and maximize ROI. Agenda: Explore the importance of data in decision-making, especially for facility upgrades or new projects Learn how comprehensive solutions for manufacturing and construction projects can improve predictability and ROI See real demonstrations of machine integrations, facility layouts and automations to ensure proper throughput and integration

The harness is less elastic than on some models. The rubber harness isn’t quite as stretchy as some we’ve seen on other traction aids, but that also translates to a tough, secure fit, as long as you have the correct size to fit your footwear. Like most of our picks, these come in five sizes.

SSP’s commitment to adopting the latest machining technology benefits not only the business, but its employees as well.

Walter USA has acquired PDQ Workholding, intending to strengthen its offering of workholding products and develop future cutting tool sales.

New tech center is serving as a cutting-edge showroom and a technological hub for advanced machining applications.

The STABILicers Hike XP uses nine hardened screws on the bottom of the cleat for traction (five under the forefoot, four under the heel), along with fairly aggressive chevron treads running down the length of the midfoot. In our tests, it offered great traction on hard snow and textured ice, but it also had a tendency to slip a little before gripping on sheer ice.

A staple of slapstick humor, the act of slipping and falling is a lot less funny when it happens to you—and the risk goes up in winter.

Trey French is a writer focused on outdoor gear. He has tested thermoses and ice cleats everywhere from hot deserts to frigid mountaintops.

The Hillsound FreeSteps6’s spikes are slightly shorter than those on our backcountry pick, the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra set. But because this design doesn’t offer more cross-over ability to walk on pavement, we think it makes more sense to buy the model that will give you the most traction in the terrain it was made for. The same goes for the Hillsound Trail Crampon (no “Ultra”), yet another nearly identical device for backcountry travel.

Thoughtful considerations will set you on a shortened path to the most optimized solution once cutter meets metal.

The company also applied ceramic inserts to milling, albeit on larger-diameter tools. But now, the latest major advance in ceramic toughness has led the company to introduce smaller-diameter solid tools as well as inserted ballnose tools. This latest toughness advance is not because of the addition of a different reinforcing mechanism, but rather because of a proprietary phase toughening process that leads to greater control over the formation of the ceramic material, including the formation of the whiskers. As the company explains, phase toughening of the material delivers a stronger material substrate as well as more predictive performance in applications where other cutting tool ceramics are prone to failure. The material made this way still favors hardness over toughness, but now within a combination that not only provides for the requirements of smaller-diameter tools, but also lands nearer to the needs of general machining and to the performance capabilities of more mainstream machining centers.

If you prefer running on trails to running on pavement, even in winter: Try the Kahtoola EXOspikes, which have longer carbide spikes than our top pick and two more of them, so they’re good for rougher, but not the most technical, terrain. However, they’re also an ounce heavier than the company’s NANOspikes, which we recommend above for runners who stick to pavement.

Compared to carbide end mills, the ceramic tool can realize both a much higher cutting speed and a much higher feed rate for a higher metal removal rate overall. Shown here are parameters for machining Inconel 718. Note the ceramic tool’s speed, which, while high, translates to only about 12,000 rpm.

FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.

Legacy Precision Molds takes us on a tour of their moldbuilding facility. They've recently implemented two automated 5-axis cells for metal and graphite machining that run lights out during nights and weekends.

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Thoughtful considerations will set you on a shortened path to the most optimized solution once cutter meets metal.

Instead of spikes, they rely on pavement-friendly “traction beads” strung on steel cables. Each of the 30 (or so) traction beads on each cleat has six angled points so that no matter how they’re oriented, you always have dozens of “toothed” surfaces pointing down at the ground. For almost any city use—including on smooth, level ice or on inclined ice that has some texture—the Diamond Grip cleats offer a great balance of traction, durability, and support. The rotating beads even shed softer snow before it can build up underfoot.

For day hiking, running on trails, and some minor use on asphalt, the Black Diamond Distance Spike Traction Device offers a more stable platform than the Yaktrax ICEtrekkers. The Distance Spike cleats cost more, but they have actual spikes instead of beads, plus a nylon pull tab on each heel that makes putting them on and removing them easier. Their steel spikes strike a balance of grip and stability that works well on mixed terrain, though they’re too much for everyday use on pavement.

If temperatures ever dip below freezing where you live, even for just a few nights, you’ve probably had to deal with slipping around on the ice like a cartoon character.

Automation is no longer a luxury in manufacturing today – it’s a necessity. The Automated Shop Conference (TASC) will connect job shops with experts who offer advice and considerations for this process.

Ever wonder what sets Top Shops apart from the competition? Dive into their award-winning practices and explore behind-the-scenes strategies for operational excellence.

She noted that after around three hours of wearing them with hiking boots, a pressure point over her toes became painful. This could be an issue of compatibility between the shoe upper and the cleat, but I also experienced a similar discomfort while wearing them with trail runners. While these cleats are excellent for in-town use, such as for running errands, we’d recommend our upgrade pick for longer outings on more varied terrain.

In the late 1800s, a new technology — Swiss-type machines — emerged to serve Switzerland’s growing watchmaking industry. Today, Swiss-machined parts are ubiquitous, and there’s a good reason for that: No other machining technology can produce tiny, complex components more efficiently or at higher quality.

ANCA CNC Machines is celebrating its 50th anniversary as a global producer of CNC tool and cutter grinders.

The choice between buying a new machine or refurbishing the current one will become clear after a thorough assessment of the machine.

Heidenhain and Acu-Rite Solutions are offering several hands-on experiences at their booth this year, as well as internal components that reduce energy use.

Working closely with customers and making careful investments has enabled this Wisconsin machine shop to tackle difficult jobs with tight deadlines as a core part of its business.

Due North produces several models of traction aids that are very similar, including the All Purpose model, the Everyday G3 pair, and the Everyday Pro set. The spikes on these, which protrude from the harness like a thin nail, had a tendency to break when we were walking on hard, bare surfaces.

4150 steel machining in action. The workpiece here is hardened to 54 HRC. The solid-body ceramic milling tool is 0.75 inch diameter. Cutting speed is 1,500 sfm. Feed rate is 0.001 ipt for a full-diameter slotting pass at 0.125 inch axial depth of cut, and 0.0024 ipt for a profiling passes at 0.125 inch axial depth of cut and 0.060 inch radial depth of cut.

Standards for surface finishes and profiles are not static; they change as technology changes or new processes come along that need to be considered.

The spikes are the best we tested on slick ice. This design has 10 metal spikes made of tungsten carbide, which is much harder than stainless steel. They bite into thin sheets of ice and those blotches of crunchy snow that just won’t melt. They also offer a lot more grip than a steel coil, which is the traction aid used on many other lightweight models such as the Yaktrax Pro Cleats. The spikes are short, though—less than a quarter of an inch (about 5.5 mm)—so when you walk off that ice and onto dry pavement, you don’t damage the ground or your traction device as much. The latest version, released in 2023, has plastic lugs underfoot (along with the tungsten carbide spikes), which are meant to improve traction on softer, snowier surfaces. We didn’t notice an advantage, but the lugs didn’t make the traction worse.

But slips and falls are no joke. As of 2022, they were the leading cause of non-fatal injuries for all age groups but one in the United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (And for that last age group—people aged 15 to 24 years—it was the second-leading cause.) Of course, your risk of slipping and falling is much higher when snow or ice covers the ground. A good traction aid can’t eliminate the risk of a slip or fall entirely, but it can do an awful lot to cut down on the risk.

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It’s our most packable pick. Removing some rubber also cuts down on the overall volume of the cleats. These came with the highest quality stuff sack out of all of the cleats that we tested, and it doesn’t require any magic to stuff the cleats inside either. (Wrestling with a stuff sack is never fun on a freezing day when your fingers are numb.)

(Memory lane: My first job in industry was in a machining laboratory where we evaluated cutting tool performance in aerospace alloys. I spent a lot of time looking at WG300 inserts’ cutting edges under a microscope.)

Like our backcountry pick, the Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra, the Unigear Snowgrip Crampon is not a true mountaineering crampon. It also has a similar harness, Velcro strap over the midfoot for extra security, and stainless steel spikes. In this case, there are 13 stainless steel spikes, five fewer than on the Hillsound, and each measures half an inch. The Hillsound harness felt appropriately stretchy, whereas the Snowgrip’s was almost too stretchy to inspire confidence while wearing a heavy pack or traversing steeper terrain.

Sunnen Products Co. is celebrating its 100th anniversary, highlighting the history of its line of honing and precision solutions.

You might also find this set sold as simply the Yaktrax Diamond Grip; they’re the same, so pick the cheaper one.

The latest episode “Made in the USA” podcast explores a company that uses collaborative robots, one of the key tools helping US machine shops and other manufacturers compete with lower cost countries by automating production.

The nylon pull tab is also easier to handle than the elastomer pull tabs common to most ice cleat harnesses—this reduces the chances of a fall simply by encouraging you to use the cleats more often.

Keep an eye on the two places where ice grippers can fail. The first is the actual spikes or studs; they can become blunt as you walk over patches of bare ground or pavement, and they can also break, fall out of the ice gripper, or both, depending on the construction.

Mitsui Seiki USA Inc. appoints Joseph Farkas as its director of sales West and Terry Ritterbush as its director of sales East.

These cleats offer an unusual traction design that can bite into ice and snow, but they still allow you to walk across asphalt without damaging the pavement or the traction device itself. They do struggle with the most polished ice, though.

Tool-holder-spindle-machine combinations each have a unique dynamic response in the same way that each person has a unique fingerprint, which can be revealed using modal testing.

Horn USA’s new booth concept is designed to enable attendees to (literally) get a better feel for its various tooling offerings.

That innovation multiplied the life of these ceramic tools by a factor of 10, and led to the company’s WG300 family of turning inserts.

Ever wonder what sets Top Shops apart from the competition? Dive into their award-winning practices and explore behind-the-scenes strategies for operational excellence.

Take a look inside James Engineering, a high-end CNC Deburring OEM that became a job shop when they decided to produce their own parts in-house.

Are AMRs the next big trend in job shop automation? System 3R’s IMTS booth will emphasize both its specialty EDM tooling and its automation products, including an autonomous moving robot.

When it comes to utilizing the spindle’s power, there is a lot of headroom at the upper limits, provided it’s in short bursts. Be mindful of your time at these loads so you don’t stall out.

I write about outdoor and travel gear. I test hiking socks, ice cleats, thermoses, and more things that make being outdoors more comfortable and fun.

When you need serious outdoor traction, the bigger and sturdier the spikes, the better. The Hillsound Trail Crampon Ultra set was tops in our testing for this category. (Despite the name, these cleats can’t be used as mountaineering crampons, which have larger, sharper steel spikes and a rigid frame for the extra stability, leverage, and durability needed to climb, say, Denali or K2.)

Traction devices don’t need much care and upkeep, but if you live in an area where road salt or chemicals are used for de-icing, be sure to rinse your cleats off and pat them dry after every use. Failing to do so may void the warranty.

They’re easy enough to put on and take off. Though the low-profile steel beads work well on a variety of surfaces, we still prefer to remove the ICEtrekkers when going into a store, say. Just grab the pull tab at the back of the harness to remove (or install) it; the pattern of the cleats creates a clear visual cue for which side is the front and which is the back.

Part of Major Tool’s 52,000 square-foot building expansion includes the installation of this new Waldrich Coburg Taurus 30 vertical machining center.

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Refined machines at EROWA are handling heavier loads, while its precision workholding enhances stability and rigidity.

When revising part designs, investigate the 3D CAD, the 2D drawing and the part’s functional requirements to determine which details should be tightened up.

One tester used a pair for four cold seasons. Despite being stored in a plastic bag after each use, which we advise against, her cleats have not broken or lost traction. (They did rust some.)

The Icetrax V5 Tungsten Ice Cleats feature nine replaceable tungsten carbide spikes fit for walking on hard icy surfaces. Icetrax includes a simple tool for changing the cleats, and we were able to remove and install all nine cleats on one of the two in four minutes. Though the grip is excellent, we experienced excessive pronation while wearing them due to what seems to be a combination of the spike placement and the hyper-elastic harness. We weren’t comfortable wearing these for long periods.

Understanding all the things that contribute to a machine’s full potential accuracy will inform what to prioritize when fine-tuning the machine.

Tungsten carbide spikes are lighter underfoot than the chains and steel spikes found on ice cleats meant for the backcountry. That’s why we recommend the Kahtoola NANOspikes cleats for safer road running in winter, when small patches of ice threaten dire consequences. Their small carbide spikes offer a lot more grip than the simple metal coil provided by many competitors, and they also stand up to more wear and tear.

These cleats aren’t meant for pavement, though. The spikes on these grippers are made of stainless steel, a softer metal than the tungsten carbide used in our running pick, the Kahtoola NANOspikes. That means if you spend a lot of time walking on concrete or rocky terrain, the spikes on this Hillsound pair will wear down quickly. But if you use them as intended, on ice and snow, you should have no issues with that kind of aggressive wear and tear.

Part of Major Tool’s 52,000 square-foot building expansion includes the installation of this new Waldrich Coburg Taurus 30 vertical machining center.

FANUC’s IMTS 2024 booth includes real-time demonstrations that show the abilities of its equipment, including robots, controllers and machine tools.

We’ve seen complaints about the bead cable snapping. We think this may be due to people taking them onto trails and more technical surfaces. We haven’t broken ours, but we’ll continue to monitor the cables during further testing.

FABTECH 2024 will be held October 15-17, 2024, in Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center. FABTECH provides a convenient ‘one-stop shop’ venue where you can meet with world-class suppliers, discover innovative solutions, and find the tools to improve productivity and increase profits. There is no better opportunity to network, share knowledge and explore the latest technology, all here in one place. Future U.S. Show Dates and Locations 2025 – September 8-11 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL 2026 – October 21-23 at Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV 2027 – September 13-16 at McCormick Place in Chicago, IL

Weldon Solutions is demonstrating three grinders at IMTS 2024. Though they differ in size and use case, all feature the company’s hallmark customizations.

They have a less robust harness than our other picks. This isn’t unusual for lighter, less aggressive traction devices such as these. We could see a scenario, though, in which heavy use might begin to wear at the contact points where the upper thermoplastic elastomer section is attached. Also, in the latest version of these cleats, Kahtoola swapped small chain links in the rubber harness for lower-profile rivets that pivot, letting the harness move with you. We tested them over the past winter and didn’t break them.

The L.S. Starrett Co. has been manufacturing precision measurement tools in Athol, Massachusetts, since 1880. Attention to U.S. manufacturing often focuses on reshoring manufacturing from other countries, but Starrett never left. The facility in Athol employs hundreds and produces thousands of tools that remain vital for measurement in machining and other fields.

Material advances have produced a ceramic end mill that performs well at lower cutting speeds and competes with carbide in a broad range of applications. Your shop might begin using ceramic tools.

Ceramic cutting tools offer a model case for appreciating the distinction between hardness and toughness. These very hard tools have long been a solution for machining very hard metals such as aerospace alloys. However, turning has been their principal application, because of a relative lack of toughness. The tools stand up to consistent high forces such as the steady cut in uninterrupted turning — thank you, hardness — but they are vulnerable to the bang-bang-bang shocks of an interrupted process such as milling, because enduring shocks is what toughness is all about.

The thermoplastic elastomer harness is the toughest we tested, yet easy to make fit. First, it’s stretchy enough that our testers were able to pull the Trail Crampon Ultra over their boots and shoes very easily. However, it felt sturdier than the nearest competitor in our stretch tests. This was the most likely model in our tests to provide a perfect, stable fit on a wide range of footwear. Having the Velcro instep strap to further anchor the harness in place was a big help in that.

This presentation focuses on the vital role that linear and angular encoders play in ensuring precision in machine tools. Attendees will learn about the common challenges compromising accuracy, such as thermal expansion, mechanical misalignments and vibration. Whether you're an OEM, integrator, or machine operator, this webinar will offer valuable insights into optimizing CNC performance. Agenda: Challenges to CNC machine accuracy Understanding encoder technology How encoders address accuracy challenges

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