American Machinist articles from January 2005

American Machinist archives from January 2005

Let's show the humanitarian side of manufacturing.(From the Editor)
January 1, 2005... As manufacturers, we continually seek ways to improve our products and develop market strategies that will provide us an edge in a global marketplace. We investigate new technology to make things faster, cheaper, and better. And we're doing a...

Smart grinder sets a standard for accuracy.(Technology Trends)
January 1, 2005... In the world of form grinding, DIN 2 levels of accuracy for high-precision helical, spur, and worm gears is quite good. However, according to Dr. Tony Barman, engineering director for UK-based Holroyd, many consider a tooth profile of DIN 1 the...

Pushing Congress for a pro-manufacturing agenda.(Technology Trends)
January 1, 2005... The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Washington, has a plan to strengthen U.S. manufacturing and is taking its agenda to the halls of Congress. President John Engler says members will push hard for a variety of pro-growth,...

Italian machines ready to tackle U.S.-market challenges.(Technology Trends)
January 1, 2005... As the economy continues to rebound, many global machine tool builders are once again eying the U.S. market. One such company, Gruppo Riello Sistemi S.p.A., Minerbe, Italy, is aggressively expanding its position by offering innovative machines...

New SLS process turns powder into prototypes.(Technology Trends)
January 1, 2005... Two Australian researchers with the University of Queensland have developed an aluminum alloy and treatment process that turns aluminum powder into a custom part in two days. The alloy composition and process, created by UQ's powder...

Alliance makes tooling supplier visible.(Company News)
January 1, 2005... A strategic alliance between Vykor and Iscar, Arlington, Tex., brings advanced machining technology in support of Vykor's Engineered Part Management (EPM) sourcing solutions. With Vykor EPM solutions, manufacturing knowledge integrates into...

Expanded collaboration.(Company News)
January 1, 2005... Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America expands its collaboration with Yamazen as its major distributor of Mitsubishi machine-tool products in the U.S. Yamazen now assumes responsibility for all Mitsubishi machining center, large machine, and...

Cast and ductile-iron cutters.(Cutting Products)
January 1, 2005... The high insert density of M750 Hexacut cast and ductile-iron face-milling cutters from Kennametal delivers increased metal-removal rates. The 8-in. cutters have 28 inserts, double-negative geometries, and positive-rake insert topographies....

U.S. cutting tool institute billings index.(Cutting Products)
January 1, 2005... U.S. CUTTING TOOLS INSTITUTE BILLINGS INDEX Index for September '03-August '04 September $125,456,973 115.5% October $132,331,224 121.3% November $11,6384,449 107.1% December $121,200,994 111.7% January ...

Extension to boring-head range.(Cutting Products)
January 1, 2005... The upper range of Kaiser's series 310 EWB automatic-balance finish-boring heads now runs from 4 to 6 in. for high-speed operations. The high-strength aluminum-alloy EWB heads are for boring on CNC machining centers with a maximum cutting speed...

San Francisco.... BEI Technologies Inc. has acquired DRO and linear-encoder manufacturer Newall Electronics Inc., Leicester, U.K.(Business Trends)
January 1, 2005... San Francisco.... BEI Technologies Inc. has acquired DRO and linear-encoder manufacturer Newall Electronics Inc., Leicester, U.K. BEI produces electronic sensors, motors, actuators, optical encoders, and motion-control products.

Wood Dale, Ill ... Mitsubishi EDM/Laser has established a Consumable Products Group to supply parts and support services for wire and sinker EDMs to Mitsubishi Laser owners.(Business Trends)
January 1, 2005... Wood Dale, Ill... Mitsubishi EDM/Laser has established a Consumable Products Group to supply parts and support services for wire and sinker EDMs to Mitsubishi Laser owners. CPG is a division of MC Machinery Systems Inc.

Windsor, Ont.... Delcam Inc. has been granted a U.S. patent for a high-speed machining technique, Race Line Machining.(Business Trends)
January 1, 2005... Windsor, Ont.... Delcam Inc. has been granted a U.S. patent for a high-speed machining technique, Race Line Machining. A variant on conventional offset machining, Race Line Machining is only available with the company's PowerMill CAM software....

Dallas.... Mori Seiki Ltd. has relocated its head offices to a Mori Seiki development center in Nagoya City, Japan.(Business Trends)
January 1, 2005... Dallas.... Mori Seiki Ltd. has relocated its head offices to a Mori Seiki development center in Nagoya City, Japan. The company says the move from Yamato-Koriyama City centralizes administrative operations, including corporate planning,...

Indianapolis.... Senior Vice President and CFO Roger J. Wolf has retired from Hurco Companies Inc.(Business Trends)
January 1, 2005... Indianapolis.... Senior Vice President and CFO Roger J. Wolf has retired from Hurco Companies Inc. Corporate Controller Stephen J. Alesia is appointed to take over the position, with Hurco USA Controller Sonja K. McClelland taking over as...

October machine tool consumption drops.(Business Trends)
January 1, 2005... After hitting its highest mark in several years, October machine tool consumption tumbled says The American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) and AMT--The Association For Manufacturing Technology. October machine tool consumption...

Can manufacturing support a war?(Government Matters)
January 1, 2005... "The United States needs to have a national debate on manufacturing," challenged Lieutenant General Joseph Yakovac Jr. at the recent Defense Manufacturing Conference in Las Vegas. And he's not the only one expressing concern about America's...

Multitasking center tackles oil-field work.(Machine Of The Month)
January 1, 2005... Shops serving the oil-field and energy industries may want to check out Mazak's Cybertech Turn 4500MT, a heavy-duty CNC turning center with the machining capability of a midsize machining center. The multitasking system features a 12-position...

CAM software lends arm support.(Bits & Bytes)
January 1, 2005... As the result of a collaboration between Surfware and Faro Technologies, SurfCAM now supports USB FaroArm products. The alliance provides seamless part digitizing to machining and a direct interface from Faro portable measurement arms to the...

Device takes computer control in hand.(Bits & Bytes)
January 1, 2005... Kennametal's Kizma-M CncMcoder handheld computer-data-storage device backs up and downloads conversational programs from all models of shop-floor Mazak Mazatrol controls. The device also includes all the standard features of Kennametal's...

Software with a view.(Bits & Bytes)
January 1, 2005... TransMagic, makers of 3D CAD-translation software, has released a specialized 3D CAD-viewing product, called TransMagic View, that uses the same engine as in the company's popular 3D CAD-translation applications. In addition to a range of...

Software quickly responds to orders.(Bits & Bytes)
January 1, 2005... Engineers and designers use RuleStream v5.6, which now supports SolidWorks 2005 3D design software, to automate complex decisions about products to quickly and accurately design better ones, thus lowering delivery times and speeding the...

Simulation trims mower-design time.(User Review)
January 1, 2005... International TechneGroup Inc. (ITI) collaborated with lawn-and-garden-equipment manufacturer Murray Inc. on a product-development program to provide the company's tractors with all-wheel-steering capability. ITI's Systems Engineering/Analysis...

Expert-witness defect claim not enough.(Law & Liability)
January 1, 2005... In March 2001, Donald Shaffer, a service engineer for Amada Engineering and Service Inc., was injured while servicing a press brake at Newco Inc.'s plant in St. Charles, Mo. As Shaffer was adjusting the lower-ram position of the press brake,...

No liability for independent-contractor's injury.(Law & Liability)
January 1, 2005... Claude Gaspard was an employee of Kellogg Brown & Root that had a contract with DuPont Dow Elastomers LLC to package rubber at DuPont's Beaumont Works Plant in Beaumont, Tex. Rubber was compacted into 75-lb bales that were sent down a conveyor...

Calendar of events.(Calendar)
January 1, 2005... January 18-20, 2005, Machine Safeguarding Seminar, Rockford, Ill., Rockford Systems Inc., (800) 922-7533, rockfordsystems.com January 24-28, 2005, Laser Safety Officer Training, New Orleans, Laser Institute of America, (800) 345-2737,...

How to thrive in 2005: Smart U.S. manufacturers can grow their businesses and beat back foreign competition in the coming year.(Small-Business Outlook)(Cover Story)
January 1, 2005... American manufacturers--particularly small, agile shops--could have a good year as the economy continues to expand across many market sectors. They still have to contend with rising oil prices, inflation, and uncertain foreign economic and...

Line transfer keeps work on-shore: Flinchbaugh transfers manufacturing lines from large companies to its small plant and assumes all line part-manufacturing and management responsibilities.(Case-Books)
January 1, 2005... Instead of shipping some of its manufacturing off-shore, equipment builder Caterpillar, Peoria, Ill., transferred an entire production line, along with management and operational responsibilities, to Flinchbaugh Engineering Inc.'s facility....

One cutting system turns big bolts.(Case-Books)
January 1, 2005... Kaltech Manufacturing, Delta, B.C, specializes in machining white iron, and one of its primary customers makes massive steel components for anchoring large cables on hydroelectric dams to prevent earthquake damage. For machining large-diameter...

Shop sees QC improvement with video measuring.(Case-Books)
January 1, 2005... After experiencing a significant increase in parts production, UltraSource Inc., Hollis, N.H., needed to expand its QC program and gage finer tolerances with fast and reliable inspection equipment. An automated video-measuring system met the...

Pushing tools turns into savings.(Case-Books)
January 1, 2005... Pushing durable tools to their limits may be routine in turning standard metals, but at Slabe Machining Products in Willoughby, Ohio, the practice works for improving efficiency when cutting high-temperature alloys such as Inconels, Waspalloys,...

Technology truths: an educational series brought to you by American Machinist and Flow International Corp., Kent, Wash.
January 1, 2005... Myth Waterjets are limited in aerospace applications because they can't cut high-strength materials such as metal-matrix composites, intermetallics, honeycomb structures, and hybrid metal-organic composites. Reality Metals used...

Sweeping, cleaning, and painting.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... Anderson's maintenance brushes include brooms, cleaning, and painting brushes. The flagged-tip brooms tick up everything from fine dust to dirt. The brushes include scrub, vehicle, squeegee, utility, and scratch. Paint brushes handle any type...

Air-conditioner dust covers.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... Air-conditioner dust covers prevent dust from reaching wall-mounted air conditioners. The covers are part of the company's dust-filter family, which is designed to stop dust from reaching fan-cooled electronic devices. Dirt Bag Inc....

Stanchions add versatility.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... Quick Clamp stanchions include single or double shaft bases, blank or predrilled mounting plates, and single or double mounting blocks with 1, 1.5, and 2-in. bores. Stanchions add an adjustable fourth or fifth axis to T-slotted frames and...

Storage/retrieval-system software.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... FastPick Systems' FastPick Parts Locator software boosts metalworking storage/retrieval-system operators' efficiency. Installation Wizard software creates a basic parts inventory by stock-keeping-unit (SKU) number and quantity. The...

Expanded lockout line.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... Master Lock's spark-resistant aluminum, pry-resistant, hinge-style steel, and nonconductive plastic hasps work with the company's laminated steel, aluminum, or xenoy lockout padlocks. The hasps are offered in different styles, such as the No....

Universal carriers offer flexible solutions.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... Remstar's universal carousel carriers, offered in different heights, widths, and depths, let vertical carousels adapt to changing metalworking storage/retrieval needs--they reconfigure to hold a variety of containers. Additional shelves are...

Lathes polish and deburr.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... Twister speed lathes LT-1BR and LT-2AR have 1/2-hp motors and spindles that operate up to 2,600 rpm for polishing and deburring. The models have "no hesitation" forward/reverse switching, regenerative speed control, fast speed and direction...

VMC uses gearless technology.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... The Duracenter 5 VMC uses direct-drive spindlemotor (DDS) gearless technology that applies full power at all speeds. A No. 40-taper spindle reaches 12,000 rpm in 1.1 sec, and the automatic tool changer's tool-to-tool time is 1 sec. The...

Router features large work area.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... The MaxiMiser router's work envelope is 60x98x7 in. Its 60,000-rpm spindle handles feedrates up to 1,000 ipm for tooling 0.25 in. or less cutting large workpieces or blanks for batch machining and lights-out production. A steel base and granite...

CNC machine tools.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... Dean, Smith & Grace's Type 1508Ci and Type 1508Di lathes feature 15-kW spindle-drive motors with variable-speed to 3,000/4,500 rpm. Standard equipment includes a Siemens 840 control, digital axis, 12-station Sauter auto-indexing turret, and...

Machines tackle complex contours.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... DS Technology's Ecospeed F HT five-axis machining centers provide high chip-removal rates, accuracy, and acceleration/deceleration in all axes, as well as eliminate fettling, polishing, and deburring. The Sprint Z3 parallel kinematic machining...

Upgradeable VMC.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... For upgrading, the 2443VMC has a fourth axis, coolant-through-spindle, and spindle-oil cooler prep. Its 49x26-in. table accommodates workpieces up to 2,200 lb. The machines have 20-hp, 10,000-rpm cartridge-type spindles with air-purge systems...

Low-cost drilling.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... EcoMax drilling units measure 3.54-in. wide and reportedly perform like more-costly units in minimal space. They are suitable for low-tolerance drilling of bolt holes and plastics. Hardened and polished quills and dual ball bearings provide...

Machines tackle simultaneous cutting.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... Intertech's Fast Cut Model FC-SB10 CNC machines feature two axis turrets and two collet spindles driven in the center by a servomotor, so different cutting operations occur simultaneously on both ends of cylindrical parts. With a center-drive...

CNC universal grinding machine.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... Zeus M universal grinding machines combine cylindrical, nonround, plunge, and high-speed peel grinding. They feature grinding lengths up to 37.40 in., maximum diameters of 16.92 in., and center heights to 8.66 in. United Grinding...

Punch press tooling.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... Mate Precision Tooling's Mate EasyTap produces precisely located, threaded holes on punch presses at high speeds automatically and with repeatable quality. Secondary tapping by hand or adjacent machines is not needed. Prepunched or extruded...

Quick-change tool/cutter grinder.(Spotlight: shop supplies)
January 1, 2005... The TX7 CNC production tool and-cutter grinder from ANCA features a 24-hp, 10,000-rpm spindle, automatic wheel changer, optional auto loading system, 3,000-rpm headstock, and direct-drive 3,000-rpm workhead (A-axis). A complete changeover of...

Oil skimming handbook.(AM LIT Review)
January 1, 2005... One of the simplest, reliable, and economical ways to remove floating waste and tramp oils from water is "skimming." Abanaki has compiled a colorful, easy-to-read handbook with answers and application information for the most encountered...

FEMCO lathes.(AM LIT Review)
January 1, 2005... Our complete line of lathes delivers a fine balance of computerized precision and mechanical power. These machines combine power, accuracy, reliability, and high speed with large capacity. They can be used for manufacturing precision products...

GibbsCAM interactive tour.(AM LIT Review)
January 1, 2005... This multimedia CD-ROM introduces you to the GibbsCAM product line and shows why GibbsCAM is your best choice for CAM software for 2-through-5-axis milling, turning, multitask machining, and wire EDM. Listen to GibbsCAM customers tell how...

Expanding collets. (AM LIT Review.
January 1, 2005... A 12-page catalog has detailed information on Rovi expanding collets for 5C, 16C, and 3J spindles and fixtures. The internal collets can hold bore diameters from 0.065 to 6 in. and up to 6-in. long. This catalog is available in a downloadable...

Idea shields lathe operators.(Practical Ideas)
January 1, 2005... My idea is a simple and easy-to-make coolant/chip shield for lathe chucks. Materials needed include a 3/16 x 3/4-in. steel strip 2 or 3-ft long, three 3/8-in. bolts 3 to 4-in. long, one 3/8 I.D. x 3/4-in. O.D. bushing 3/4-in. long, one...

Patterning fixtures.(Practical Ideas)
January 1, 2005... For making holding fixtures, I construct patterns from Styrofoam or balsa wood and create a casting. In the investment process, I burn out the pattern as one would the wax, and for a sand casting, I leave the pattern in the mold and pour in...

Blind workers find "lost" profits.(50 years ago in American Machinist)
January 1, 2005... The January 3, 1955, issue described how sightless workers at Griffin factory for the Blind in Georgia had reclaimed $60,000 worth of small parts for B-47 bombers in one year. Workers sorted out mixed parts by touch and with special templets....

Army's experimental aluminum truck.(50 years ago in American Machinist)
January 1, 2005... That same issue reported on how Chrysler Corp. had built an experimental 2 1/2-ton truck for the U.S. Army. Made entirely of aluminum, the truck weighed 9,000 lb and was intended for airborne operations. Conventional Army 2 1/2 tons of the time...

"Telegraphing" production bottlenecks.(50 years ago in American Machinist)
January 1, 2005... A new use for TelAutograph, a system commonly used to transmit handwritten messages in hotels, banks, and other commercial institutions, was detailed in the January 17, 1955, issue. Aircraft maker Northrop Aircraft employed it to whittle down...

The truth is out there.(50 years ago in American Machinist)
January 1, 2005... The news must have been full of reports on "sightings" of flying saucers in 1955. That might explain why editors felt compelled to voice their opinion on the validity of the subject in the January 31 issue. Editors said the entire debate...