American Machinist articles from January 2002

American Machinist archives from January 2002

True quality requires relationships. (editorial).
January 1, 2002... Somewhere along the way, we have forgotten the real meaning of quality. Today, sophisticated systems measure scrap rates, evaluate in-process controls, certify raw material, and improve on-time deliveries. Yet the importance of providing the...

Big Three down for the count? (letters).
January 1, 2002... While reading your November editorial on the Big Three ("Champions don't get boxed into a corner," p. 8), I reflected upon my experience working at a General Motors plant in the early '80s. At the time, I was a young mechanical engineer working...

Search for needle information. (letters).
January 1, 2002... Your October article on needle manufacturing ("Needle manufacturing gets a shot in the arm," p. 6) brought a question to my mind. With all the advances in machining, how were needles manufactured 100 years ago? Is information available from...

Thoughts on 9-11. (letters).
January 1, 2002... I read the October editorial (I will never forget," p. 10). Nicely done. I too was there and experienced the same outpouring of support in Europe. Ralph Nappi AMTDA president Mr. Nappi's overseas experiences in the aftermath of...

Still up in down times. (letters).
January 1, 2002... I just wanted to comment on the farsightedness and practical wisdom brought out in "Wall Street can be detrimental to your bottom line" (September, p. 12). I have witnessed the damage caused by large corporations quick to "dump" valuable human...

Bolting past traditional thread cutting. (technology trends).
January 1, 2002... A new machine promises to thread bolts in one pass. Recently unveiled by Rebuilders Unlimited Machine Co. Inc. (RUMC), Waynesboro, Pa., the R-U-Matic Thread Cutting Machine takes advantage of GE Fanuc's control technology and the technical...

Pounding out power steering. (technology trends).
January 1, 2002... Drake Manufacturing Services Inc., Warren, Ohio, has built a heavy-duty milling system that creates power-steering racks for the automotive market. As with all Drake machine tools, the rack mill is preprogrammed to run the family of parts...

Production in Portugal. (technology trends).
January 1, 2002... The Portuguese manufacturing industry wants to convey a message to the rest of the world: Portugal offers everything countries strong in manufacturing do. This includes a well-established jobshop base, active trade associations, companies with...

Enhancing infrastructure security. (technology trends).
January 1, 2002... Safeguarding the security of critical business information and manufacturing infrastructures is the goal of a new group established by The National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS), Ann Arbor, Mich. The InfraGard Manufacturing Industry...

Targeting titanium-using automakers. (technology trends).
January 1, 2002... With its low mass, high strength, and a virtual immunity to automotive environment corrosion, titanium solves many automotive engineering challenges. With this is mind, Titanium Metals Corp. (Timet), Denver, has formed a division to serve the...

Find the best workers. (technology trends).
January 1, 2002... Employers Association (EA) Inc., Minneapolis, has introduced a new testing system that reportedly assists manufacturers in hiring more productive workers. The comprehensive battery of tests, called the Manufacturing Applicant Profile System...

Create a no-lead micro-scratch finish. (machine of the month).
January 1, 2002... Compact and easy to use, the Model 1040XE is a vertical-spindle microfinishing machine from Impco Machine Tools, Lansing, Mich. It removes the effects of grinder chatter, improves circular geometry, and creates a no-lead micro-scratch finish on...

Alternative for corner rounding. (Cutting products).
January 1, 2002... Radstar carbide inserts and holders for high-speed corner rounding are an alternative to multipocketed corner-rounding tools. The inserts feature two flutes ground to [+ or -] 0.00025-in. accuracy. The inserts and the holders also have a...

Drills tackle tough jobs. (Cutting products).
January 1, 2002... Excalibur is a single-point, short-flute, tungsten-carbide drill with a tool geometry that occupies two-thirds of its diameter. A chisel point cuts the center of the hole, and the primary cutting edge cuts the diameter. The relief edge features...

Carbide products. (Cutting products).
January 1, 2002... Extramet provides tungsten-carbide products and services. Among the offerings are straight or helical coolant-hole blanks for drills and special tools; non-coolant rods supplied in 12-in. lengths, cut-to-length, ground, or unground; and special...

Diamond coating for cutting tools. (Cutting products).
January 1, 2002... Well-suited to the machining of graphite, DiaMon CVD polycrystalline diamond coating resists wear and extends tool life over uncoated tools approximately 20 x. The coating works on complex, 3D shapes such as the helical cutting edges of end...

U.S. Cutting Tool Institute billings index: index for November 00 -- October 01 *.
January 1, 2002... November $161,578,310 141.4% December $149,282,576 129.9% January $163,511,167 144.2% February $153,265,265 134.8% March $173,222,182 152.1% April ...

Milling tools and inserts. (Cutting products).
January 1, 2002... ClappDiCo's superabrasive milling tools and cutters include Super Feed high-density milling cutters, Super Sett coarse-pitch cutters, and application-specific tooling. The lightweight aluminum cutters are hardcoated to 65 HRc, and body styles...

Universal power chuck. (Tooling & workholding products).
January 1, 2002... Ultra-Grip power chucks come in three designs: centralizing, where a workpiece is gripped equidistant to the center of rotation; compensating, in which chuck jaws float to grip a workpiece in a pre-established position; and centralizing/...

Chucking for high-speed jobs. (Tooling & workholding products).
January 1, 2002... Big-Sheppard Ultra Precision Mega chucks run at up to 40,000 rpm when used with symmetrically ground cylindrical-shank tools without flats. The chucks, which are dynamically pre-balanced and precision ground on every surface, feature a...

Rotary and fixed toolholders. (Tooling & workholding products).
January 1, 2002... Exsys offers fixed and rotary VDI tooling for all major turning centers with live tooling. Tool-head styles vary from axial, radial drill/mills to shell-mill and slotting-saw applications. The company also offers X/Z and Y adjustable...

Tombstone fixturing. (Tooling & workholding products).
January 1, 2002... Prohold's standard hydraulic tombstones hold parts at a consistent clamping force up to 5.5 tons at 3,800 psi. The fixturing allows mounting of two or three-jaw chucks (4, 8, or 12 stations), vises, or modular tooling. Tombstones also have...

Drill and tap. (Company news).
January 1, 2002... An eight-page publication details Govro-Nelson's drilling units and rotary-indexing machines. The drill-and-tap units have a concentric construction with air thrust, hydraulic control, and positive stop on the spindle centerline. This...

New and improved coating. (Company news).
January 1, 2002... Balzers has introduced an improved version of its Futura TiAlN PVD thin-film coating. Futura, which has been a standard coating for carbide, cemented, PCBN, and high-speed steel tools, is now harder and more oxidation resistant. The coating now...

Workholding products. (Company news).
January 1, 2002... A four-page brochure from Nardco details its serrated, Acme-serrated-master-key, tongue-and-groove, and square serrated-master-key chuck jaws. The publication also includes information on the company's collet pads, toolholder bushings,...

Source for diamond and PCBN tools. (Company news).
January 1, 2002... E.C. Kitzel and Sons offers both PCD and PCBN tooling. Information on its products, can be found in a series of brochures that covers diamond-tipped carbide inserts, diamond-tipped commutator turning tools, and PCBN cutting tools. Kitzel...

One head does multiple jobs. (Accessories).
January 1, 2002... Cogsdill generating heads let users perform multiple operations at one spindle, including facing, recessing, boring, and contouring. The heads, which range from 3.937 to 9.842 in., are for special-purpose machines and other high-production...

Machine tool consumption still off for 2001. (business trends).
January 1, 2002... October U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $206.73 million according to the AMT -- The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association. This total was down 21.6% from September and...

Change of guard. (business trends).
January 1, 2002... Steven Lowder is the new president and CEO of Komet of America, Schaumburg, Ill. Lowder's experience includes development and implementation of lean manufacturing and quick-delivery programs for high-speed steel, tungsten-carbide, diamond, and...

New OSG president. (business trends).
January 1, 2002... Dale Winters is president of cutting tool supplier OSG Tap and Die Inc., Glendale Heights, Ill. He is responsible for all OSG North American operations, including manufacturing, engineering, sales and marketing, and new product development....

Two companies, one CEO. (business trends).
January 1, 2002... Thomas N. Wright, chief executive officer of CNC and DRO manufacturer Anilam Inc., Miramar, Fla., was named CEO of sister company Acu-Rite Inc., Jamestown, N.Y. Both are owned by encoder and CNC manufacturer Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH. In...

Bigger home means expanded service. (business trends).
January 1, 2002... Optical Gaging Products Inc., Rochester, has moved its Tempe, Ariz., regional technical center to a larger facility. It has also expanded service for customers in the western U.S., Mexico, and western Canada. The center has a dedicated...

Component firm expands in Europe. (International news).
January 1, 2002... Ingersoll-Rand's Torrington Co., Torrington, Conn., acquired full ownership of Nadella S.A., a French-based precision-needle-bearing company. The Nadella purchase is the latest in Torrington's program for European expansion and investment. In...

Builders teaming up. (International news).
January 1, 2002... Australian CNC tool-and-cutter grinder manufacturer Anca and Germany's Vollmer Werke, a producer of erosion and sharpening machines, will be jointly represented in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. The companies are cooperating to offer customers...

Get more on-line. (business trends).
January 1, 2002... E-commerce site www.emachinetool.com, Denville, N.J., expanded its on-site service facilities to include more than 300 service personnel. Visitors to the site can order new and used machine tools, accessories, and tooling, as well as locate the...

Atlanta's Esab Group Inc.
January 1, 2002... Atlanta's Esab Group Inc. is adding automation to its filler metal and equipment product portfolio in North America. Esab Canada, located in Mississauga, Ont., will handle automation projects. Esab Automation Group, North America, based in...

Sandvik Coromant Co. and Pathtrace PLC, Southfield.
January 1, 2002... Fair Lawn, N.J.... Sandvik Coromant Co., and Pathtrace PLC, Southfield, Mich., agreed to cooperate on new machining techniques for production machining and mold and die applications. The companies will also do joint research and development. As...

Hardinge Inc.
January 1, 2002... Elmira, N.Y.... Hardinge Inc. relocated its Los Angeles technical support center and demonstration facility to Machinery Sales Co., Vernon, Calif. Machinery Sales now represents Hardinge in California and Utah.

Daewoo Heavy Industries America.
January 1, 2002... West Caldwell, N.J.... Daewoo Heavy Industries America opened an office and showroom in Sante Fe Springs, Calif., for its Western U.S. and Canadian customers. The 3,400-square-foot facility offers sales, service, and training for customers in...

Smart dimensioning. (bits & bytes).
January 1, 2002... Produced by Cadkey Corp., Cadkey OraphX Version 20 incorporates "intelligent" dimensioning on native or imported drawings to prevent manufacturing errors by prohibiting the creation of dimensions that do not match geometry or are not properly...

No additional software needed. (bits & bytes).
January 1, 2002... Recently released from Actify Inc., 3DView Version 4.0 delivers extensive viewing, measurement, and markup capabilities as well as access to native CAD files without additional software or servers. Highlights of Version 4.0 include...

New tool permits simultaneous product development. (bits & bytes).
January 1, 2002... IX SPeeD Suite promotes simultaneous product development, where members of worldwide development teams co-develop products in parallel efforts to reduce time to market. According to its developer, IX SPeeD is the first design-authoring...

A vintage look requires new technology. (user review).
January 1, 2002... To make new engines look like classics, PML develops valve and transmission covers that give Chevy engines the classic look of a fifties Cadillac. The southern-California CAD/CAM engineering services company accomplishes this using VX Overdrive...

Company may be liable for drunk-driving employee. (law & liability).
January 1, 2002... On Sept. 13, 1991, James Partington was injured when a truck he was driving was hit by a Ryder truck driven by Jon C. Ball. Ball was an employee of Metallic Engineering Co. Inc. of Florida, and his blood-alcohol level was more than twice the...

Unconstitutional law. (law & liability).
January 1, 2002... On August 22, 1992, David R. Matthies, lost parts of four fingers of his left hand in a punch press at Mirro-Foley Co. in Chilton, Wis. The press was equipped with a pull-back device, intended to prevent the operator's hand from being caught in...

Kicking into high gear: CAD/CAM technology propels scooters from prototype to production at record speed. (In the field: software).
January 1, 2002... Generally, manufacturers make prototypes in small lots, then move to mass production. But not scooter manufacturer Nova Cruz Products of Dover, N.H. Foregoing these more traditional approaches to design and manufacturing, the company instead...

Pinning down an industry: workholding manufacturers get a grip on slippery issues challenging industry. (workholding roundtable).
January 1, 2002... As manufacturing technology in the 21st century advances, economic pressures are changing the priorities and demands of end users. This was one of the overriding themes of a workholding roundtable AMERICAN MACHINIST held in concert with a...

One tough exterior: new cutting tool coating makes easy work of hardened materials. (tooling).
January 1, 2002... Most shop owners wince at the thought of milling hardened steels. The tools involved usually cost a little more as compared to standard ones, have shorter lives, and remove smaller amounts of material. However, a new coating, teamed with some...

Mend your nets. (view point).
January 1, 2002... When the fish aren't biting, the smart fisherman mends his nets. We would do well to follow this example during these slower times. Just as a wise old salt takes the long perspective, we should do the same as responsible industry managers....

Pinpointing I.D.s. (practical ideas).
January 1, 2002... Our shop does close-tolerance ([+ or -] 0.001 in. or less) I.D. work. Large-size gage pins are not always available, and telescoping gages give only two-point-contact measurement. In these situations, we check I.D.s using three small gage pins....

Avoiding the boss. (practical ideas).
January 1, 2002... Often, our shop requires castings with bosses on the sides and tops. Creating the bosses involves developing core boxes along with making and setting them at the foundry. We eliminate these bosses and the extra foundry cost by casting a flat,...

This month's most useful sites. (nothing' but net).
January 1, 2002... Go with the flow Or better yet, find out how to meter it on FloCat's new website, which offers over 10,000 flowmeters and related products. The site, www.flocat.com, includes numerous models covering a range of flowrates and pipe sizes. A...

Megohmmeter catalog released. (testing & measurement report).
January 1, 2002... ILLUSTRATION OMITTED Caption: A EMC Instruments recently released its latest digital/analog megohmmeter catalog. The publication features comprehensive information on the company's line of multiple-voltage insulation, resistance, and...

Taking the heat. (testing & measurement report).
January 1, 2002... ILLUSTRATION OMITTED Caption: Control Instrument's 670 series of process analyzers for lower flammable limit (LFL/LEL) monitoring are high-temperature, high-speed, direct-mount systems that detect vapors and combustible gas. The...

Sensor approaches ability of human eye. (testing & measurement report).
January 1, 2002... ILLUSTRATION OMITTED Caption: The new Keyence CV-700 machine-vision system uses RealEyes shade-scale technology for color recognition. The device provides high-speed image processing for measurement speeds up to 10x faster than...

New CMM doesn't sweat the temperature. (testing & measurement report).
January 1, 2002... ILLUSTRATION OMITTED Caption: Mitutoyo America Corp. has a new eight-page brochure that describes the Bright Apex Series 191 CNC coordinate measuring machines. The machines feature real-time compensation from temperatures of both the...

High-powered laser diagnostics. (testing & measurement report).
January 1, 2002... ILLUSTRATION OMITTED Caption: Laser Mechanisms Inc. has added the PRIMES GmbH beam-power and diagnostic devices for distribution in North America. Products in the line include beam-analysis equipment for high-power C[O.sub.2], Nd:YAG,...

Accuracy in the extreme. (testing & measurement report).
January 1, 2002... ILLUSTRATION OMITTED Caption: Siko's magnetic length-measuring system, model MLA, gives position feedback for a number of industrial applications and helps eliminate measurement errors. It also communicates with a myriad of control...

E-marketplace instead of cold calls. (case books).
January 1, 2002... Doug Hradek, OEM sales manager at Tring Corp., Orrville, Ohio, isn't criss-crossing the state as much as he once did. Instead of making cold-call visits to develop business for the 35-person fabrication and machine shop he uses First Index, a...

Robotic assembly keeps shop on top. (case books).
January 1, 2002... Schaller Corp., Chesterfield, Mich., is a stamping supplier to the automotive industry, providing brackets, supports, and other structural components. When the 2002-model-year vehicles were introduced, part changes on those cars and trucks made...

Laser leads to better body. (case books).
January 1, 2002... GM's operation in Valley City, Ohio, produces engineered-welded blanks for SUVs that create a stiffer body than traditional auto door frames. The automaker manufacturers these blanks -- four-layer laminates made from different gages of hot-dip...

Retrofit gets still waters moving. (case books).
January 1, 2002... Primarily a jobshop, Texas-based Maudlin & Son Mfg. provides metal stamping, electrical discharge machining, and abrasive waterjet cutting to petrochemical, aerospace, oil, and shipping companies. Maudlin built its reputation around quality...

RFID keeps production in tune. (case books).
January 1, 2002... Hexcel Corp., a manufacturer of composite materials, produces the honeycomb inserts that go inside the hard tonneau covers found on the Chevrolet Avalanche truck series. The size of these covers makes using a traditional conveyor system during...

Top-handle saw. (new equipment: spotlight: saws).
January 1, 2002... ILLUSTRATION OMITTED Caption: The Bosch 1678 is a top-handle worm-drive saw that provides an alternative to top-handle sidewinder saws. Reportedly, the 1678 lasts 4x longer than other top-handle circular saws. Its metal motor housing...

Verify feedrate before cutting. (new equipment: spotlight: saws).
January 1, 2002... ILLUSTRATION OMITTED Caption: The HKB-6050 bandsaw cuts up to a 23.6x20-in. rectangular and 20-in. round stock. A digital display shows the desired feedrate for verification prior to sawing. The machine also has a blade-deviation monitor...

Cuts steel like plywood. (new equipment: spotlight: saws).
January 1, 2002... ILLUSTRATION OMITTED Caption: Suitable for cutting angle iron, plate steel, and more, the Evolution 180 metalcutting circular saw features a heavyduty, 2.25-hp gear-driven motor. There are additional saw blades to handle mild and stainless...

Features eliminate finish damage. (new equipment: spotlight: saws).
January 1, 2002... A lifter mechanism on the Emmegi Automatica/S saw prevents the workpiece from being scratched as it feeds into the machine. The saw also eliminates scratched finish cuts by separating the cut piece from the blade after sawing and before the...

Bandsaws and circular saws. (new equipment: spotlight: saws).
January 1, 2002... Kasto bandsaw and circular-saw machines tackle medium and heavy production. Large bandsaws come in horizontal-design, vertical-plate, or block models as well as plate saws for longitudinal cutting. They cut workpieces up to 40 tons, difficult...

Barfeeder has flexible CNC. (new equipment).
January 1, 2002... A flexible CNC with an integrated PLC and easy-to-use keypad controls the Master 880's barfeeder cycle and lathe interface. An AC servomotor and high-resolution encoder work with a planetary-gear drive for accurate feeding. A lubricated bushing...

Machining in a single setup. (new equipment).
January 1, 2002... The Quest 8/51 and 10/65 multitasking CNC lathes tackle everything from basic to multitasking in a single setup and with a range of options. They come in either precision or Super Precision models. The machines' A2-6 spindle nose...

Quiet barfeeder. (new equipment).
January 1, 2002... Like other Tornos barfeeders, the MSF 522/6 hydrodynamic-style barfeeders operate with less noise and vibration because of an oil-filled tube and deliver high rotational speeds, automatic remnant retract, and greater part-length control. They...

Dual-processor controls. (new equipment).
January 1, 2002... The 6000M line of 3 and 4-axis digital high-speed milling controls are PC based for fast processing. They also have a second processor dedicated to motion control so one processor does not take care of all computing tasks, slowing performance....

Next-generation CNC. (new equipment).
January 1, 2002... The 3200XP CNC's expanded main memory supports new and future features. Users will notice more power with the control's new Executive hardware and improved operation. Embedded diagnostics and software fences, integrated into the control,...

EDM chuck. (new equipment).
January 1, 2002... Holding large workpieces for wire EDM is simple with Hermann Schmidt magnetic chucks. They have watertight, stainless steel construction and use rare earth magnets for holding power. These 2 1/2x2 1/2x5 1/8-in. chucks work horizontally or...

Carbide and HSS cutters. (new equipment).
January 1, 2002... Eliminate multiple machining operations with these complex helical cutters made from solid carbide or high-speed steel. They use the Accu-Grind profile technology. Accu-Grind Cutter Service Inc. Terryville, Conn. www.accgrind.com Circle...

Six-sided inserts. (new equipment).
January 1, 2002... Mini-Bore Trigon six-sided inserts handle tough materials and make big cuts without chipping or breaking. They come in three styles, two carbide grades, and three corner-radii sizes. TiN-coated or uncoated inserts are in stock. TiN/TiCN and...

Countersink and chamfer any angle. (new equipment).
January 1, 2002... The Fleximill indexable countersink-and-chamfering tool uses TCMT TiC/TiN-coated carbide cutting inserts and comes in two sizes. Because it's adjustable, the tool countersinks or chamfers any angle from 10 [degrees] to 80 [degrees]. Cutting...

Three-axis machining in single-machine space. (new equipment).
January 1, 2002... The Triax4 module offers 3-axis machining in the same space as a single machining station. Its 21x21-in. off-the-floor mounting surface lets it attach to any machine base. The Triax4 does circular interpolation, angular machining, or...

Rotary parts washer. (new equipment).
January 1, 2002... The Lean-Jet indexing fixturized aqueous rotary washer processes up to 225 individually loaded parts per hour on a continuous basis using a common load/unload point. A rotary-pocketed wheel design eliminates work passage openings and prevents...

Non-smoking area, please. (100 years ago in American Machinist).
January 1, 2002... Editors reported on the air quality in Cleveland in the January 23, 1902, issue of AMERICAN MACHINIST. Smoke inspectors said the manufacturing sector of the city was over the limit of acceptable black smoke and the business district was...

Wage-increase debate. (100 years ago in American Machinist).
January 1, 2002... A public statement by Andrew Carnegie spurred a serious debate in January of 1902, and editors reported on his comments and the ensuing discussion within the industrial world in the January 30 issue. In short, Carnegie had said that workers'...