Chatter Marks — What They Are and How to Avoid Them

Machining chatter. It’s the bane of machinists everywhere, yet everyone will have to deal with it at some point. It can be very difficult to find the root cause, especially without the right tools, and it often goes unnoticed until chatter marks are visible on finished parts. In this blog, we’ll do a deep dive […]

The Importance of Winding Down Your Machine Tool Spindles

Previously, we wrote a blog about one of the more common topics that we discuss with our clients – the importance of warming up a spindle properly. Today, we’re covering a related and equally important subject — the importance of properly winding down your machine tool spindles when work is done. When and Why Does […]

Understanding Machine Tool Vibration

In precision manufacturing, machine tool vibration is a critical factor that can significantly impact production quality and equipment longevity. All machinists deal with vibration, or “chatter,” but its complexities often go unnoticed. Let’s look at what it is, its causes, and why it’s crucial to monitor and manage it effectively. What is It? Machine tool […]

VibePro 7 – End-of-Life

This notice is to inform all VibePro 7 users about the upcoming end-of-life (EOL) for VibePro 7 and the update to VibePro 8. As of July 31st, 2024, active support for VibePro 7 will be discontinued. Starting August 1st, 2024, the only option to use VibePro 7 will be locally on your existing platform, as the ability […]

Machine Monitoring Systems and Software: An Overview

The heart of any good predictive maintenance program is a robust machine monitoring system. The world of monitoring systems is as vast as the equipment types in use today. They differ in form and function based on machinery type, metrics being monitored, industry, and more. Today, we focus on on the machine monitoring systems and […]

Using Technology on the Factory Floor to Fill Human Gaps

In the manufacturing sector, there’s been a trend toward having fewer people on the floor at any given time. It started with the advent of automation. Reshoring initiatives hastened it, forcing companies to run leaner operations to remain competitive. Finally, skilled labor shortages, due to several factors, have kicked this trend into overdrive in recent […]

Spindle Predictive Analysis

How it Works and Why You Need It We talk to a lot of people about spindle predictive analysis. In these conversations, we’ve learned that many companies are reluctant to invest in predictive analysis for their spindles. One comment we often hear is that people prefer to use their own “naked ear” to know when […]

Precision Matters: The Importance of Quality Spindle Rebuilding

One of the universal truths of business is that not every supplier provides the same commitment to quality and process as others. Some take shortcuts to get through jobs quicker, building their business on throughput. Others, like us at GTI, prefer to do jobs right, from bottom to top, building a business on results and […]

What Is Machine Tool Monitoring?

Machine tool monitoring has become an indispensable asset to machine shops operating in today’s competitive manufacturing landscape. Reactive maintenance strategies are no longer sufficient in an environment where customers will not tolerate unexpected machine tool failures that impact production schedules, delivery dates, and part quality. Implementing monitoring-based predictive maintenance practices allows manufacturers to solve problems […]