Subject: Re: Remember Cutting Tool Basics

From: [email-masked] (Bruce Holder)
Date: Thu, 2 Nov 1995 17:16:23 GMT

anderson ([email-masked]) wrote:
[snip]
:  
:  Recently, I asked a CNC operator about the knowledge required to do
:  his job. My friend is good at his work and well paid because of it. He
:  quickly listed conversational programming, EIA programming,
:  comprehension of geometry and trigonometry, understanding of complex
:  measuring instruments, and knowledge of coordinate measuring machine
:  functions. Every thing he mentioned oozed of sophisticated technology
:  and scholarship. However, I was concerned by his omissions. He did not
:  mention feed and speed rates, nor how to identify (much less produce)
--------------------------------------------^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
:  a properly sharpened cutting tool.
:  
:  While it's easy to get caught up in the glamour of technology it is
:  important to remember the basics. A recent help wanted ad for a
:  machine operator stressed "computer knowledge required". No where in
:  the ad did was the applicant asked about their cutting tool knowledge.
:  A CNC machine as it churns out parts is a wonder to behold. However,
:  if the drills, taps or end mills in the CNC machine are dull or
:  improperly sharpened, the machine's output shifts from awesome to
:  awful.

  So a CNC operator identifies a sharp tool by its awesome output and
produces one by walking over to the tool crib. What's the problem?

Bruce