FactoryLink Friday

Eddie Krall • May 9, 2025

My Journey with Swiss Lathes — and a Shoutout to GenSwiss

     I (Eddie Krall) started my own company in the 1990s manufacturing dental handpieces, components, and accessories. At the time, most products on the market were made overseas, so I needed cost-effective manufacturing methods to remain competitive. Many of these parts required extensive post-machining operations like grinding and finishing. That’s when I began exploring Swiss lathe machines. Learning from scratch, I was able to produce parts complete—without any second-operation machining. As part complexity increased, I quickly discovered a limitation: the number of tools I could fit into the machine. Space inside a Swiss lathe is tight, and every new tool took up valuable clearance. I needed tool positions capable of machining more than one feature per setup.

Enter GenevieveSwiss—now known as GenSwiss.


     The founder of GenSwiss was raised in the world of Swiss machining, mastering both tool selection and toolpath programming. He recognized the gap in the industry and filled it with niche tool holders, tooling, and accessories designed to expand the capabilities of Swiss machines. From day one, GenSwiss provided solutions that were innovative and truly “out of the box.” While today many companies offer tooling packages for Swiss machines, GenSwiss remains the gold standard. As I reflect on my journey in the metalworking industry, I’m reminded of how GenSwiss got it right from the beginning. Here’s a look at my personal “Catalog Museum”—a collection of GenSwiss catalogs through the years. Compact, easy to navigate, and always within reach on my desk.


Cheers to you, GenSwiss—and thank you for the knowledge, support, and innovation you’ve brought to this industry.

Fresh starts. Better results.

By Keith Brown • April 3, 2026
As spring rolls in, Easter is a reminder that renewal, precision, and fresh starts matter. At FactoryLink, we’re focused on helping you: ✔️ Start fresh with better processes ✔️ Improve efficiency and consistency ✔️ Deliver cleaner finishes and stronger results Whether it’s cutting tools, workholding, or automated finishing solutions—we’re here to help you eliminate the guesswork and deliver results that last. Because in manufacturing—just like Easter—a fresh start can make all the difference. From all of us at FactoryLink, Happy Easter!

Hex Shank Drill Bits: Stop Wasting Torque in Modern Cordless Tools

By Keith Brown • March 27, 2026
Hex Shank Drill Bits: Improving Torque Transfer in Modern Hand Tools

Coolant Chemistry Is Process Control

By Keith Brown • March 20, 2026
Experienced operators know machining instability rarely starts at the cutting edge. It starts in the sump. Foam creeping into high-pressure lines. Heat building at the tool interface. Bacteria breaking down fluid integrity. Corrosion forming where it shouldn’t. When coolant chemistry falls out of balance, performance doesn’t collapse all at once — it slowly drifts. Tool life shortens. Surface finish changes. Operators compensate. Downtime increases. Cooling lubricants must simultaneously remove heat, provide boundary and extreme-pressure lubrication, flush chips, resist microbiological growth, prevent corrosion, control foam, and remain stable in both hard and soft water conditions. Cadillac Oil’s Microcool line is engineered to maintain that balance across materials, duty levels, and machine conditions. The Three Microcool Technologies Synthetic: - High thermal and oxidation stability - Rapid heat dissipation - Oil-rejecting, clean-running chemistry - Low misting and reduced smoke - Enhanced wetting agents for reduced carry-out - Transparent formulation for operator visibility Semi-Synthetic: - Balanced extreme pressure and boundary lubrication - Strong detergency and surface finish capability - Defoaming performance for low and high pressure systems - Extended sump life with microbiological protection - Stable in varying water hardness Soluble Oil: - Premium base oils with advanced emulsion packages - High lubricity for demanding applications - Bio-resistant components for sump longevity - Excellent corrosion protection - Stable emulsions in hard and soft water Why the Chemistry Matters Modern CNC systems operate at higher spindle speeds, feed rates, and often high-pressure coolant delivery. Coolant must maintain film strength under load, prevent thermal shock, control aeration, resist microbial breakdown, and maintain emulsion stability across water conditions. If any of those fail, the result is reduced tool life, inconsistent finishes, and reactive maintenance. Microcool fluids are formulated to maintain stability under those variables across extended production cycles. Industry Applications Automotive Manufacturing – Controls heat and foam under aggressive feeds and continuous production. Aerospace – Supports heat management and corrosion protection for tight-tolerance alloys. General & Heavy Industry – Maintains stability across mixed substrates and variable water quality. The Result With Microcool: - Tool life extends under load - Surface finishes remain consistent - Sump life increases - Waste streams decrease - Machines run cleaner Cutting tools remove material. Coolant chemistry protects the process.  Learn How Cadillac Oil Co. can optimise your machining