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Tooling & Workholding for Today’s Shop Floor Spring 2018

The EF solid-carbide drill from Emuge.

New Tool Designs Power Faster-Than-Ever Cutting

April 23, 2018
Industry veterans often say the makers of machine tools, cutting tools, CAD/CAM software, and other components push each other in an endless feedback loop to deliver ever faster cutting speeds in ever harder materials. Lately it’s the cutting tool manufacturers who seem to be leading the charge. Let’s see what they’re up to.
Ed Sinkora
By Ed Sinkora Contributing Editor, SME Media
A 6.6′ (2-m) chuck from SMW Autoblok.

Big, Heavy, Awkward Parts Need Workholding, Too

April 23, 2018
If you’ve ever seen industrial wind turbine components on the back of a flatbed truck rolling down the highway, you have a good idea of what a large, heavy, difficult-to-handle workpiece is. For example, with a single blade on the GE 1.5 mW turbine being almost as long as a football field, the entire blade assembly weighs about the same as 36 small cars.
Ilene Wolff
By Ilene Wolff Contributing Editor, SME Media
Horn USA offers anti-pullout technology from Fahrion.

When the Going Gets Tough, Tough Toolholders Get Going

April 23, 2018
As machining has evolved, toolholders have advanced to include rigid, secure systems with anti-pullout protection. These advanced systems are needed to take on difficult-to-machine materials, such as titanium and heat-resistant superalloys (HRSA), and accommodate ambitious removal rates and long tool overhangs. Think of them as insurance against tool pullout and breakage—a situation nobody wants.
Candace Roulo
By Candace Roulo Managing Editor, SME Media
Zoller powerShrink is an inductive shrink-clamping unit for HSS and carbide tools.

Shrink-Fit Toolholder Offers Consistency When Setting Tools

April 23, 2018
Shrink-fit toolholding is a simple concept—an induction coil is adjusted and fits over the top of the toolholder. The induction coil heats the toolholder end of the shrinker, expanding the inside diameter, which opens the engagement bore (IDs of shrink-fit toolholders are smaller than the shank diameter of the cutting tool).
Candace Roulo
By Candace Roulo Managing Editor, SME Media
Lang Technovation’s Makro-Grip vise holding a steel workpiece on less than 3 mm of material. The vise is held in a Quick Point plate.

Workholding Solutions to Reduce Costs, Increase Throughput

April 24, 2018
At the Nirvana Machine Shop on planet Perfection, every workpiece is clamped to a custom-built fixture mounted on a dedicated machine tool. Each workpiece is dimensionally identical to the one before and the one after. All the fixtures are totally automatic—instantly positioning, clamping, machining, inspecting, and releasing the part with the ultimate precision.
Robert Puhr
By Robert Puhr Contributing Editor, SME Media
Sandvik Coromant’s CoroDrill 870 drilling flange holes. The company plans to release a series of new coatings for the series, geared to handling newer, abrasive, heat-shedding aerospace materials.

Replaceable Tip Drills Offer Versatile Design Improvements

April 24, 2018
Since their introduction about 20 years ago, replaceable-tip drills have become increasingly accurate and cost-effective alternatives to solid carbide units.
Geoff Giordano
By Geoff Giordano Contributing Editor, SME Media

Digital Tool Data Refines Machining, Helps Industry 4.0 Find Its Way

April 24, 2018
It’s said you don’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been. For Industry 4.0 and advanced manufacturing, digital libraries provide that map.
Bill Koenig
By Bill Koenig Senior Editor, SME Media

Shop Solutions

  • PRESS RELEASES

    Starrett, Gerstner Partner to Offer Limited Edition Wooden Machinist Tool Chests

    PRESS RELEASE: The L.S. Starrett Co. November 18, 2025
    The L.S. Starrett Co., a leading global manufacturer of precision measuring tools and gages, metrology systems and more, has announced that it has partnered with H. Gerstner & Sons to offer 120 limited edition, American-made, Starrett machinist wooden tool chests. The Starrett 200WCR chests are replicas of the classic and treasured 1950s Starrett 200W chest design and will be available to order this year now through Dec. 19, for estimated delivery in March 2026, to anywhere in the continental U.S. from Gerstner’s legendary Dayton, Ohio facility. The offer celebrates the enduring legacy of the Starrett and Gerstner partnership and coincides with Gerstner’s 120th anniversary.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Heule Precision Tools Introduces VEX Tooling

    PRESS RELEASE: Heule Precision Tools November 18, 2025
    Heule Precision Tools, a leader in precision hole-finishing technology, introduces VEX tooling, which drills and chamfers in a single step for increased efficiency and precision. Designed with a solid carbide tip and a patented SNAP chamfering system, VEX tooling is available from 5 mm to 17 mm. Regardless of size, a convex cutting edge ensures high drilling performance and short, manageable chips, even in long chipping materials.
  • NEWS DESK

    Methods Machine Tools Introduces Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex

    PRESS RELEASE: Method Machine Tools Inc. November 18, 2025
    Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of leading-edge precision machine tools and automation solutions, has brought the Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex to the U.S. machine tool market.

Upfront

  • PRESS RELEASES

    Starrett, Gerstner Partner to Offer Limited Edition Wooden Machinist Tool Chests

    PRESS RELEASE: The L.S. Starrett Co. November 18, 2025
    The L.S. Starrett Co., a leading global manufacturer of precision measuring tools and gages, metrology systems and more, has announced that it has partnered with H. Gerstner & Sons to offer 120 limited edition, American-made, Starrett machinist wooden tool chests. The Starrett 200WCR chests are replicas of the classic and treasured 1950s Starrett 200W chest design and will be available to order this year now through Dec. 19, for estimated delivery in March 2026, to anywhere in the continental U.S. from Gerstner’s legendary Dayton, Ohio facility. The offer celebrates the enduring legacy of the Starrett and Gerstner partnership and coincides with Gerstner’s 120th anniversary.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Heule Precision Tools Introduces VEX Tooling

    PRESS RELEASE: Heule Precision Tools November 18, 2025
    Heule Precision Tools, a leader in precision hole-finishing technology, introduces VEX tooling, which drills and chamfers in a single step for increased efficiency and precision. Designed with a solid carbide tip and a patented SNAP chamfering system, VEX tooling is available from 5 mm to 17 mm. Regardless of size, a convex cutting edge ensures high drilling performance and short, manageable chips, even in long chipping materials.
  • NEWS DESK

    Methods Machine Tools Introduces Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex

    PRESS RELEASE: Method Machine Tools Inc. November 18, 2025
    Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of leading-edge precision machine tools and automation solutions, has brought the Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex to the U.S. machine tool market.

Advanced Manufacturing Now

  • PRESS RELEASES

    Starrett, Gerstner Partner to Offer Limited Edition Wooden Machinist Tool Chests

    PRESS RELEASE: The L.S. Starrett Co. November 18, 2025
    The L.S. Starrett Co., a leading global manufacturer of precision measuring tools and gages, metrology systems and more, has announced that it has partnered with H. Gerstner & Sons to offer 120 limited edition, American-made, Starrett machinist wooden tool chests. The Starrett 200WCR chests are replicas of the classic and treasured 1950s Starrett 200W chest design and will be available to order this year now through Dec. 19, for estimated delivery in March 2026, to anywhere in the continental U.S. from Gerstner’s legendary Dayton, Ohio facility. The offer celebrates the enduring legacy of the Starrett and Gerstner partnership and coincides with Gerstner’s 120th anniversary.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Heule Precision Tools Introduces VEX Tooling

    PRESS RELEASE: Heule Precision Tools November 18, 2025
    Heule Precision Tools, a leader in precision hole-finishing technology, introduces VEX tooling, which drills and chamfers in a single step for increased efficiency and precision. Designed with a solid carbide tip and a patented SNAP chamfering system, VEX tooling is available from 5 mm to 17 mm. Regardless of size, a convex cutting edge ensures high drilling performance and short, manageable chips, even in long chipping materials.
  • NEWS DESK

    Methods Machine Tools Introduces Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex

    PRESS RELEASE: Method Machine Tools Inc. November 18, 2025
    Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of leading-edge precision machine tools and automation solutions, has brought the Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex to the U.S. machine tool market.

Viewpoints

  • PRESS RELEASES

    Starrett, Gerstner Partner to Offer Limited Edition Wooden Machinist Tool Chests

    PRESS RELEASE: The L.S. Starrett Co. November 18, 2025
    The L.S. Starrett Co., a leading global manufacturer of precision measuring tools and gages, metrology systems and more, has announced that it has partnered with H. Gerstner & Sons to offer 120 limited edition, American-made, Starrett machinist wooden tool chests. The Starrett 200WCR chests are replicas of the classic and treasured 1950s Starrett 200W chest design and will be available to order this year now through Dec. 19, for estimated delivery in March 2026, to anywhere in the continental U.S. from Gerstner’s legendary Dayton, Ohio facility. The offer celebrates the enduring legacy of the Starrett and Gerstner partnership and coincides with Gerstner’s 120th anniversary.
  • PRESS RELEASES

    Heule Precision Tools Introduces VEX Tooling

    PRESS RELEASE: Heule Precision Tools November 18, 2025
    Heule Precision Tools, a leader in precision hole-finishing technology, introduces VEX tooling, which drills and chamfers in a single step for increased efficiency and precision. Designed with a solid carbide tip and a patented SNAP chamfering system, VEX tooling is available from 5 mm to 17 mm. Regardless of size, a convex cutting edge ensures high drilling performance and short, manageable chips, even in long chipping materials.
  • NEWS DESK

    Methods Machine Tools Introduces Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex

    PRESS RELEASE: Method Machine Tools Inc. November 18, 2025
    Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of leading-edge precision machine tools and automation solutions, has brought the Nakamura-Tome NT-Flex to the U.S. machine tool market.