High Performance Machining

Rating:
Summary: A great, easy to understand overview for the industry.
Review: The author is able to communicate his knowledge of the machine tool industry in such a way as not to alienate his reader. This book should be required reading for freshman at all major engineering universities. This is the best book I've ever seen that relates to the machine tool industry.

Rating:
Summary: A good tutorial for machine shops looking to move up market
Review: The book provided a good overview of many of the issues facing machine shops. Topics of machine geometry, CNCs, thermal effects, spindles, process design, CAM, and real-time feedback were discussed in a lot of depth.

A large number of photographs, illustrations, and tables supplemented the text. There were also useful formulas and examples that allowed me to understand the concepts discussed without having to be a brain surgeon. This was one of the best elements of the book: A highly technical subject was presented in a way that would allow machinists to understand the concepts without having to digest a lot of engineering theory.

I also found the sections on 4- and 5-axis machining very interesting.

The book included a very useful survey that could be used by a shop to evaluate its machining performance. This was helpful as well.

Unfortunately, the book focuses on milling, without much attention to turning or grinding processes. That was the only major drawback.