An artefact for development
Machine tools form the backbone of a nation's progress. Meera Nair discusses key issues with a stalwart from the Indian machine tools industry - A Bhaskaran, (Retd) General Manager, HMT Machine Tools Division

What are your expectations from Tooltech 2006, the 8th International Exhibition of Cutting Tools, Tooling Systems, Machine Tool Accessories and Metrology and CAD/CAM. How different would it be from the last year? What kind of business do you see being generated from this event?
Tooltech 2006 would be an excellent way of encouraging small players in tools manufacturing for high speed machining. It would have live demonstrations of actual machining. Such an exhibition holds great significance in today's industry scenario where low cost automation is more relevant with a need for cost cutting and... more>>

Design mechanism
P Vasudevan discusses the basic principles of design in metal cutting machine tool construction to enable budding tool designers to have a strong foundation in this field

Amachine tool is used for shaping an object (workpiece) to a definite form or shape for use in other machine or machine tools. Another form of definition of a machine tool is: "A metal cutting machine tool is a device in which energy is expended in deformation of a material for producing finished surfaces or its form traces of desired shape, size and finish with the aid of a special device called ‘cutting tool’ which removes the excess material in the form of chips." The shaping of surfaces can be achieved by formative motions without chip removal (metal forming that is, forging, rolling etc) or by generative forming with removal of material in the form of chips (metal cutting machine tools that is, lathe, milling machine etc.) Here only the metal cutting machine...more>>