I agree with balnh, helix mill if possible rather than plunge.

Not sure if there's an easier way to change which offset is displayed, but you could send the machine to the coordinates of G58, then zero the "operator" position. Now when the machine is moved, the coordinates in "operator" will be in relation to G58.

If this is a new machine, ask one of your tooling suppliers for a voucher. Kennametal, Seco, Sandvik and others will typically give you a voucher for 50% off tooling up to 20% of the purchase price of the machine.

Not sure what kind of clearance you have, but I love the Schunk Tendo hydraulic holders with sleeves to adapt to smaller shank sizes. The sleeves with coolant slots are great too!

https://www.vaculok.com/

We have always used Micro 100 single point thread mills in infiltrated Tungsten, and Titanium, cutting top down G03 (conventional cut) with no problems. We cut right to size, but usually take a spring pass or two. I can't remember offhand, but I think SFPM is around 150 and only around .0002" chip per tooth.

We had several issues with our screw a while back. Our backup compressor is a piston and is piped from another building around 100yds. away. Usually, the backup is only used when doing PM on the screw, but with our breakdown, we were on the piston for a couple of months. I didn't think about the backup compressor not being plumbed through the air dryer, and we are still paying for that mistake. Air bearings on CMM suffered, had to rebuild the drawbar cylinder on a horizontal, lift cylinder on the saw, ect...

Guhring has them too.

We have used Calef Machine Tool Rebuilding in Gresham for some of our old stuff.

I highly recommend the D'Andrea modular kits supplied by Ingersoll. Very versatile, and surprisingly economical.

I was at DMG Mori this week, and they were offering the CMX1100 with 30 ATC, 22 x 40 x 20, chip conveyor, tool and spindle probing, 1000psi through spindle coolant etc. for $91,900!!!

http://www.roviproducts.com/category/Collets---Expanding-5C-16C--3J-112

We have the Burr King Model 15 with filterpak 4001 http://www.burrking.com/catalog/p-100028/model-15-vibra-king-medium-bowls-combi-paks-1.3-cubic-feet . We are using ceramic angle cut cylinders (ACC50A) for media, and BKS-60 solution. the parts vary between 4" and 10" long and roughly 1/4" cross section. Basically Swizzle sticks. We tested some parts in a model 45 Vibra King chamber, but did not get good results with this particular family of parts.

We had a specific part we needed deburred, so we sent some sample pieces, via our tooling supplie,r to Burr King. They returned the deburred parts with a recommended machine, media, and solution to use. We couldn't be happier.

I don't care about the compare, I just want the hand guard!

I've had that problem with Haas machines if I didn't have the smoothness settings right. The roughing cutters over-ran and left gouges in the part that wouldn't clean up with the finish tool. There are settings in the Haas control to allow for acceleration/deceleration, but if set too loose (so the machine runs smoother), can overcut if you are not leaving enough stock.

I like Kennametal KSEM drills

I just downloaded the free trial from http://www.varcoreporting.com Completely customizable, and very easy to use.

I couldn't wait for Stevens either. My tooling vendor suggested http://www.durusworkholding.com/menu/ and they were able to deliver in 2 weeks. They make the fixed jaw just like Stevens to go with the modular vise. The main difference is, instead of dowel pins, the Durus vise has two .625 buttons that protrude .065" from the base, so the subplate has to be counterbored. If I had a Stevens subplate, I'd make some step dowels instead of counterboring.

+1, or 10, on the Micro100 single point thread mills. We worked with Guhring on a bunch of modified taps for Ti, and it just didn't work out. The uncoated Micro100 tools last a LONG time, and I usually program my threadmills to conventional mill, because I like to start at the top.

I don't think I'd be at all interested in that task even with cut resistant gloves. How about a suction tube positioned near the tool tip?

 The chips will not break no matter what you do. We have had some limited success with Cryogenic machining to get the chips to break, but are still in the testing phase. It is definitely a dangerous situation, but we have developed processes to deal with it the best we can. Specialty alloys are a different beast for sure!

I agree with the no gloves around spindles rule for the most part, but there are exceptions. We work with many refractory metals that require chips to be removed as a continuous string when lathe turning. As you can imagine, the chips are like razor wire, so we use many different kinds of cut resistant gloves depending on the material and operation. I haven't found any that will keep chips out, but I would suggest something that has a rubber coating that might help repel the slivers. Take a look at various cut resistant gloves such as G-Tek 3GX. There are many gloves similar to this, and I'm sure there's something that would provide some measure of protection. Might be time to contact your safety supplier and see what they can offer.

We have an Icefly unit from Industrial Cryotec. It's not as sophisticated as the 5ME, but it is much cheaper. Kind of apples to oranges though. The 5ME system uses low pressure nitrogen at around 30 psi, and cools the cutting tool from the inside. The Icefly system uses nitrogen at around 150 psi and sprays the liquid nitrogen right on the tip of the cutting tool. We have only used the Icefly for O.D. turning, and we are using Sandvik tool holders that have the coolant through ports built in. You have to get creative with Teflon tubing to insulate the tool holder the best you can so that the nitrogen remains liquid.