Top 10 Blog Posts of 2016

Every Wednesday we publish a new blog post here on our website, and these are the result of a good amount of thought and effort from our experts here at Okuma America. As we close out the year we enjoy taking a look at which blog posts were viewed most often, as this gives us some insight about which topics you find most useful.

Sharing information that’s useful to you is the ultimate goal for our blog. We carefully consider what we’d want to know about, if we were in your shoes. And judging from the popularity of the topics below, there are times when we hit the mark. Check out our Top 10 from 2016 and see what resonated with folks in our industry.

Okuma’s Top 10 Blog Posts of 2016 (Most Popular First)

1. 6 Causes of Grinding Chatter – And How to Fix Them: Grinding chatter usually rears its ugly head when you’re inspecting your parts, so it can be a real productivity killer that has to be fixed. Robbie Williams’ list of possible causes of grinding chatter is a must-read for grinder operators.
2. Little-Known Facts About Cryogenic Machining: Since coolant has been the lifeblood of our industry for so long, cryogenic machining seems like a revolutionary concept. We asked 5ME to answer some questions that arise when people first encounter this technology, and presented some little-known facts about cryogenic machining.
3. Cycle Time Reduction: Indexing Turret: This post is a continuation of Cooper Ferguson’s popular series on cycle time reduction, the holy grail for most operators. Here he discusses techniques that can be used when indexing a lathe turret.
4. 5-Axis: It’s All About the Right Ingredients!: Wade Anderson is a true Renaissance man, a man of many talents. Here he shares his insights about how the key to achieving success in 5-axis machining is the same as it is for barbequing – you have to use the right ingredients.
5. IMTS Sneak Peek: “Coolest” Aerospace Demo at the Show: In the weeks before IMTS 2016 Lee Johnston shared a preview of his show demo that takes “cool” to a whole new level. Cryogenic machining may look like space age stuff, but it’s being used in shops today, it’s highly effective, and it’s a safe and proven technology.
6. IMTS Sneak Peek: Automation Cell for a High Mix of Parts: In another pre-IMTS blog David Fischer showed how to run unattended with a high mix of parts. A new automation cell eliminates the need to handle changeovers manually by using a robot to change the chuck jaws.
7. Get On With It or Get Out of It: Mark Hamielec shares the story of an Amish Okuma user’s impressive journey from a fencing business, to an all-manual shop making axles for horse-draw buggies, to a full CNC shop using some of the highest technology you can get in the business world.
8. Hot Topics at IMTS (Part 1): Jim King and Tim Thiessen kicked off our 4-part post-IMTS series spotlighting major headlines from the show. IIoT, service and support, and energy-saving CNC control functionalities were all tops on their list.
9. An Ode to “Speaking CNC”: When Tony Slagle moved to Okuma’s applications engineering department after three years of software engineering, he realized there’s a deep amount of communication required in operating a machine tool. Here are his tips for effective communication in any shop.
10. Just Hit the “i”: Brad Klippstein discusses the “awesomeness of the i key” on Okuma’s OSP control. This handy feature offers built-in program guides, alarm codes, data settings and other helpful features that aid in your manufacturing process.

What’s your favorite Okuma blog post from 2016? Let us know in the comments below, so we can stay focused on your favorite topics.

MORE: You can find other most-read topics in our Top 10 Blog Posts of 2015 and Top 10 Blog Posts of 2014.