CNC machine tool efficiency is all about managing the components that must come together in proper alignment: the machine spindle, toolholder assembly and workspace.
Many machine shops lack objective criteria for making toolholder purchasing decisions & most are made by price alone. However they can improve runout significantly by using the right toolholders.
If you purchase cheap dual contact tooling after being told by a supplier that it will work just as good as the original you risk unsatisfactory performance.
Manufacturing miniature parts and features is not new. In the past, EDM and laser technologies were used to create these features. Although these technologies worked for low volume jobs, they are not practical for the high volume micro applications that are in demand today.
As a raw material, tungsten carbide is a limited natural resource and a widely popular tool material due to its hardness and heat resistance. We can both save money by reducing the consumption of carbide and help our environment by fully utilizing every tool before recycling the rest.
Cheater bars are appropriately named, especially when it comes to tightening tool holders. We see the common pipes that are often added to the end of wrenches to achieve more torque in customers’ shops all the time. And while these makeshift wrenches may make tightening or loosening holders easier, the damage they can cause is often overlooked.