Mike Lynch1 minWatch Out For That Tailstock Center! Many turning centers, commonly called universal style turning centers, have the ability to do chucking work, bar work, and shaft work....
Mike Lynch2 minThe safe approach procedure As you know, CNC machines have extremely fast motion rates. When you're verifying a program (new or proven programs), you also know that...
Mike Lynch2 minThe right way to activate a program in production Setup people who get a machine ready to run production know that just about anything can happen the first time they execute a program. If...
Mike Lynch2 minUnderstand Your Turning Center's Chuck Clamping Direction Selection Almost all current-model CNC turning center that are equipped with three-jaw chucks have a way to select clamping direction. An inward...
Mike Lynch3 minUnderstand spindle speed limiting on turning centers Today’s CNC turning centers allow very fast spindle speeds. It is not uncommon for a machine having an eight inch diameter hydraulic...
Mike Lynch1 minHow well do you maintain your hydraulic chucks? Hydraulic chucks are very common workholding devices – especially on CNC turning centers. They provide a tremendous mechanical advantage....
Mike Lynch2 minHow machine maintenance affects safety The primary reason companies perform preventive maintenance on their production equipment is to minimize, if not eliminate, unpredicted...
Mike Lynch2 minWhen not to use a dwell command! As you know, G04 is used to specify a dwell – or pause – in your CNC program’s execution. With Fanuc controls, the format for the dwell...
Mike Lynch1 minHow much safety training do you provide? Most companies assume quite a bit of their employees when it comes to safety issues. They assume their employees know how to stay safe in...
Mike Lynch2 minEliminate horse-play and practical jokes Given the list of ten commandments presented earlier in this issue of The Optional Stop, this commandment should rank near the top: “Thou...
Mike Lynch1 minDo you still use air hoses for cleaning parts? When I first started working in shops (I won’t mention how long ago), it was customary for each machine operator to have an air hose....
Mike Lynch1 minWhere’s the closest first-aid kit? You probably have many safety-related items placed in various locations around the shop – fire extinguishers, respirators, first aid...
Mike Lynch2 minTesting if the correct fixture offset is instated In order for the cutting tool to move to the correct coordinates, the program zero point (program origin) must be properly instated....
Mike Lynch1 minMake all sizing adjustments with offsets One of my cardinal rules is that all sizing adjustments should be done with offsets. However, I do – from time to time – see operators...
Mike Lynch2 minA custom macro A program to safely check and position a cutoff tool by George Bahn About 10 years ago we purchased a couple of Tsugami’s SX20 sliding-headstock machines. These machines require 2 programs...
Mike Lynch2 minWatch out for that G28 command! As you know, the G28 command is used to send the machine to its zero return position. At the completion of a G28, the machine will be at...
Mike Lynch1 minDoes your machining center have an air-blow system for the spindle? Most machining centers have an air blowing system within the spindle. During an automatic tool change, air will be blown from inside the...
Mike Lynch2 minWatch out for block delete applications As you know, block delete can be used to give the operator a choice between two conditions. The operator is told to turn the block delete...
Mike Lynch1 minLimiting wear offset amount Submitted by Suhas L. More of Macro CNC Solutions If an operator makes a mistake with an offset entry, the results can be disastrous....
Mike Lynch2 minEliminate distractions that cause lapses in attention Setting up and running CNC machine tools requires setup people and operators to focus on the tasks at hand. A high degree of...