Overview
Planing is the process of smoothing metal surfaces in a machine shop.
Milling Machine Operations
What is milling machine operation? Milling machines use rotary cutters to advance into a workpiece to remove material. Milling operations vary direction, cutter speed, and pressure. Shaping machines are limited by the amount of material removed per pass due to machine size and power.
Machine Shop Scheduling
A machine shop schedule plans work order and timing through the shop to meet demand. Scheduling optimizes productivity and on-time delivery. Effective scheduling software offers visual planning tools like Gantt charts.
Business Planning
Business plans help acquire funding and strategically grow shops. Document funding sources like savings, credit, loans, and investors. Banks want to see reasonable financials and a professional presentation showing the ability to repay loans. Write executive summaries introducing the business and summarizing each section. Update plans annually as the business evolves.
Automated Planning Tools
Automated optimal planning improves shop productivity and efficiency. Comparing system variants evaluates different criteria like costs, timing, and resource utilization to select ideal plans, equipment, and processes.
Planning Methods
Mass production methods use specialized equipment, while process planning suits specialized machinery needing set assembly sequences. Flow method aims to reduce costs through efficient workflow. Batch method separates production into specialized steps and teams. For small businesses, planning identifies the most affordable manufacturing path.
Machine Planer Operations
What does a machine planer do? A planer machine uses linear motion between a workpiece and cutting tool to machine flat surfaces. Common planer machine operations include cutting slots or keyways and generating flat, accurate surfaces.
Precision Components
What are precision components? Milling machines use rotary cutters to advance into a workpiece removing material. Milling machine operations vary direction, cutter speed, and pressure.
Milling vs. Turning
The basic difference between turning and milling is that in turning the tool is fixed and the job rotates, whereas in milling the job is fixed and the tool rotates.
Boring vs. Turning
Boring and turning involve a lathe removing material from a rotating workpiece with a stationary cutting tool. The difference is turning removes material from a workpiece’s exterior, while boring removes material from its interior.
CNC Turning and Milling
Before explaining the CNC turning and milling difference, both processes involve feeding instructions into a machine which then controls lathes, mills, routers and grinders to create a desired part by removing excess material from raw material. The main CNC lathe and CNC mill difference is how the machine and part rotate.
Production Planning
Production planning is the first step. Production scheduling is a detailed extension. Thanks to these processes, accurate production schedules and efficient production control are achieved. Production activity provides actual volumes and results for further improvement.
Lathe vs. Milling Machine
The difference between a lathe and a milling machine is how the tool is fed. In a lathe, the tool is fed against the rotating workpiece. In a milling machine, the workpiece is fed against the rotating multi-teeth cutter.