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Keeper of the Flame

Have you ever wondered where the metalworking technology you use daily came from? After all, somebody had to invent the machines and tools from which our machines and tools evolved.

Located in Windsor, Vt., the American Precision Museum (APM) is home to the largest collection of historically significant machine tools in the United States. Housed in the historic Robbins and Lawrence Armory, the APM preserves the heritage of mechanical arts, celebrates the mechanical ingenuity of our forbearers and explores the effects of their work on our everyday lives.

I’ve taken the opportunity to visit this special place, and it is surely time well spent. The museum’s machine tool collection is among the most extensive in the world and includes single and multiple spindle lathes, shapers, planers, milling machines, gang drills and grinders tracing back to the early 19th century. READ MORE

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Technology Hits the Road

For this editor, this spring has been a season of trade shows. I've traveled to WESTEC, PMTS and EASTEC. Of course, with many exhibitors displaying at more than one of these shows, I've enjoyed the benefit of being able to revisit technologies that caught my eye, ask additional questions and delve further into topics than many other show attendees. Not everyone has the opportunity to go to as many shows as I do, and with the fast-paced atmosphere on the show floor, often attendees walk away wishing they had more time with certain exhibitors to see their products up close and in action.

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Macro Programming

In recent years, macro programs have been created to replace the practice of writing a separate program for every part number. The reason: Macro programs react to geometric variations across broad part families and therefore are more efficient compared with NC programs that are dedicated to particular parts. Using these macro programs often results in higher productivity.

With macro programs, in many cases, an operator does not need to rely on a programmer anymore, but instead can input the correct geometric variables to describe the part for the appropriate macro. The macro generates the correct tool paths according to the entered part variations. Operators are more interchangeable when using macro programs, too, because both experienced and inexperienced operators can initiate the machining process as needed with a similar outcome. READ MORE