Original Date: 05/08/1995
Revision Date: 01/18/2007

McDonnell Douglas Aerospace (MDA)-St. Louis has formed the Cutting Tool Development Group to evaluate both vendor standard cutting tools and/or designs in a laboratory environment. This group is also responsible for developing MDA-St. Louis standard cutting tools to ensure that its customers are provided with the best performance-to-cost value on perishable cutting tools.

The laboratory is staffed with engineers and technicians who perform controlled experiments with different tool configurations, materials, cutters, and a variety of machines. This evaluation process results in the establishment of the process requirements to include the type of tool, the machining parameters, suggested cooling methods, and subprocesses. Once the process requirements are established, the work for the Cutting Tool Development Group will continue as process maintenance through evaluations for repeatability and cost effectiveness.

The goal of testing the cutting tools is to achieve a consistent level of performance which will result in better utilization of manpower and machines in the manufacturing area, improve accuracy, give performance predictability, reduce scrap and rework, reduce perishable tool costs and inventory, and establish tool specifications and performance standards for cutting tool products and suppliers. The group works with the procurement department to establish a reliable supplier base for standard tools. When specifications are established defining performance criteria, procurement can reject nonconforming material.

Because there are many factors that have an influence on the machinability of a part, it is important to know where to begin. Predictable cutting tools must produce predictable results if machinery data is to be considered valid. Consequently, cutting tools must be inspected and accepted to an inspection document.

Perishable tools are a recurring cost. Poor tool performance equates to higher tool inventory and increased process maintenance costs. High performance tools lower inventory and process maintenance costs. The use of high performance tools provides MDA-St. Louis with a competitive advantage in process maintenance and customer satisfaction.

The Cutting Tool Development Group ensures that high performance tools are available, at an equitable cost, at MDA-St. Louis to meet the needs of production, thereby providing the company a competitive advantage and improved customer satisfaction.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.