CNC: Milling holder tapers (the story behind the names BT30, CAT40, etc.)
The taper used generally used is the NMTB, also called NMT or NT. It was defined by the NMTBA, the National Machine Tool Builders Association (now called the Association for Manufacturing Technology) of the USA. It is a 7/24 taper, 16.7112 degrees.
BT, HSK, ISO (also called DIN 2080) and CAT (also called DIN 69871) tooling all have this taper, but differ in the other details, like the areas for holding by the tool changer.
Tooling comes in different sizes: NMTB-25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50 and 60. NMTB-25 is the smallest, used on small machines, while NMTB-60 is the largest. For a single taper type, the different sizes are scaled versions of the same basic shape, like the BT holders in the picture below.
Pic. source: Cadem NCyclopedia multimedia CNC training software
Cadem NCyclopedia has extensive explanations on CNC holder types and tapers. It is great for CNC programming training and CNC machinist training.
Etc.
Kerala Banana chips
One of my favourite snacks is Kerala Banana chips (called Upperi in Kerala).
You can’t make them from any old banana – they’re made from a particular type of banana called the Nendran, . The raw banana is white, turns golden yellow when fried. To get that heavenly taste and aroma, you HAVE to fry them in coconut oil. You get so-called healthier versions fried in other oils like sunflower oil, but these are just imposters. If you ever feel guilty about the oil in the chips, you can console yourself with the thought of all that potassium, dietary fibre, and vitamins in the banana.
Pic. courtesy: The Hindu newspaper
Speaking of banana chips, that’s exactly what visitors to our stall got at the IMTEX manufacturing show last week. In a pouch with our company’s slogan, “Making money, or just chips?”. The chips we sourced from a firm in Coimbatore – vacuum fried, so they have only 50 % of the usual oil. The firm specializes in banana-related snacks, and is called, appropriately, Banaanaa Slice Pvt Ltd (yes, with the extra As).
