Workholding Maintenance Guide: How to Protect Your CNC and EDM Precision 

02 Feb

In precision manufacturing, we all talk about tolerances, stability, and repeatability. But there’s something many shops leave out of the equation:  Maintenance of their clamping systems.  It doesn’t matter if your workholding system was a well-planned investment, compatible with the most demanding standards. Over time, any component subjected to constant cycles, coolant exposure, metal particles, or pneumatic pressure starts to change:  # Axes…

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Modular, Quick-Change, and Zero-Point: What Each Approach Does—and When It Actually Makes Sense to Use It 

27 Jan

Workholding decisions shape more than setup time. They define how stable a process is, how parts move through the shop, and whether repeatability is designed in or constantly corrected.  Modular, quick-change, and zero-point systems are often discussed together. But they solve different problems. Confusion usually starts when one approach is used to fix a problem it wasn’t designed for.  Modular…

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What Is a Reference System and Why It Changes How Parts Move Between Machines: CNC → EDM → Wire EDM Without Realignment 

26 Jan

In many shops, every machine treats the part as if it were new. Each operation begins by re-establishing alignment, finding zero, and redefining position. That repetition feels normal, but it quietly introduces variation.  A reference system exists to prevent that. It allows a part to move between machines while preserving the same geometric intent. The…

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Stop Scrapping Parts: 5 Workholding Fixes That Save Thousands 

18 Jun

In today’s high-precision machining environment, scrap isn’t just a nuisance—it’s lost revenue. Whether you’re producing aerospace components, medical parts, or complex automotive fixtures, a single misaligned setup can ruin an entire run. For CNC and EDM professionals, proper workholding is the difference between flawless parts and expensive do-overs.  1. Eliminate Setup Guesswork Manual alignments and…

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