Aerospace is unique among industries in its thirst for component accuracy with ‘blemish-free’ precision. Unlike any other industry, anything that goes into the air has to be on spec, as the smallest imperfection in machining can adversely affect flight safety.
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.
Because of the popularity of BIG-PLUS, many tooling companies, without a proper license, offer what they call dual-contact tooling. But not all dual-contact is the same. Let’s tackle a few of the most common misconceptions.
Just as your car’s health depends on regular oil changes and tune-ups, your shop tools and equipment require preventive maintenance to stay in good working order and to maximize life cycle.
This simple switch makes life much easier because it introduces more standardization to the shop floor, reduces the burden on operators, increases setup speed and dramatically reduces the chances of human error. All of which saves time and realizes return on investment – and each additional machine helps increase the rate of return.