American Machinist articles from June 2009

American Machinist archives from June 2009

Don't trash components, fix them.(AUTOMATION)(automotive repair)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A control board or motor in an assembly line robot malfunctions, and the shop manager must take action. But first, he or she must decide whether to replace or repair. The decision may seem like a no-brainer,...

Shop adds automated peening to its skills list.(AUTOMATION)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Skills Inc.'s Auburn, Wash., facility boasts many capabilities that are approved and audited by NADCAP (a supplier management and audit system for aerospace industry suppliers). Among those capabilities, the supplier...

Keep robots working via the web.(AUTOMATION)
June 1, 2009... As a web-based system for performing robot preventative maintenance, alarm-code troubleshooting and repair procedures, Motoman's (www.motoman.com) RobotPro Web Edition software requires no installation and does not have to be tied to a specific...

Automated five-axis machining.(AUTOMATION)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Datron Dynamics Inc. (www.datron.com) has unveiled its automated, 5-axis, high-speed machining center for small-part manufacturing. The company said the machine is the only one in its price range that provides 5-axis...

Instant automation.(AUTOMATION)
June 1, 2009... For shops in the medical, energy, transportation, aerospace, and food industries, among others, looking to stimulate production efficiency, Midaco Corp. (www.midaco-corp.com) offers its fully automated rotary pallet system that adapts to...

Hybrids grow for engine work; special machining system lets shop economically adjust to changing volumes.(AUTOMOTIVE)
June 1, 2009... Walk the floor of any automotive manufacturing facility and see several types of manufacturing systems, ranging from dedicated transfer machines to fully flexible all-machining-center-based configurations. Now, there's another type of machining...

Programming MTM machines with integrated synchronization and simulation.(DEVELOPING SOFTWARE)
June 1, 2009... Introducing sophisticated or complex machine tools starts with thoughtful planning. Builders usually ensure availability of software for their machines by developing or adapting their own, or by consulting CAM suppliers in advance of a...

Demand more.(FROM THE EDITOR)(increasing demand of equipment)(Editorial)
June 1, 2009... Strolling around a recent equipment expo, asking the customary questions of equipment builders and supplier companies about the state of their businesses and the conditions in the machining industry, there were some encouraging reports. Many...

Getting credit flowing again.(GOVERNMENT MATTERS)(Column)
June 1, 2009... We are living through unprecedented times. A combination of the credit crunch and the automobile industry's shaky financial condition is making it extremely difficult for many companies to survive in the manufacturing technology sector. A...

Mist collector installation: part 3.(MACHINE TOOLS)(Editorial)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The mist-collector system has been installed. Then, problems arise that weren't there before, or that have been there ever since the initial installation. What's next? When a shop receives a new mist collector,...

Long-life waterjet heads.(MACHINE TOOLS)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AccuStream (www.accustream.com) said its DiaLine water-jet cutting heads provide longer component life and faster cutting speeds over current industry cutting heads. The DiaLine uses long-life components, such as...

Quick cut offs.(MACHINE TOOLS)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Modern Machine Tool Co.'s (www.modernmachinetool.com) latest servo-slide and conventional cut-off lathes quickly, accurately and simultaneously cut-to-length and perform multiple machining operations on round stock,...

Budget-conscience EDM.(MACHINE TOOLS)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Referred to as the "affordable sinker EDM" by its builder Sodick Inc. (www.sodick.com), the C32 not only fits in a shop's budget, but also into limited available floorspace. The machine's compact size takes up 3.5 ft...

Versatile machining center.(MACHINE TOOLS)
June 1, 2009... A special swing milling spindle, full traveling column and fixed table design makes Mazak's (www.mazakcorp.com) VTC-800/30SR vertical machining center ideal for aerospace and energy work and for extremely long or heavy workpieces. The machine's...

Engineering career? Many kids say no.(MACHINE TOOLS)(Survey)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... A Harris Interactive survey conducted on behalf of the American Society for Quality (www.akq.org) indicated that 85 percent of youth, ages 8 to 17, say they are not interested in a future engineering career for a variety of reasons. The...

High-performance tool grinder.(MACHINE TOOLS)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The MX7, ANCA Inc.'s (www.anca.com) next-generation CNC grinding system, was made for high flexibility and quick changeover to accommodate smaller batch sizes with high-volume capability for production houses. The...

Efficient titanium machining.(MACHINE TOOLS)
June 1, 2009... Built for large titanium and titanium alloy aerospace parts, such as edge frames, pylons and bulkheads, the T4 five-axis horizontal machining center from Makino (www.makino.com) sports several key elements for efficient titanium machining....

Shop administers the right dose of machining technology.(MACHINE TOOLS)(Editorial)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An increasing emphasis on minimally invasive surgical procedures is hastening the development of more intricate instruments that require specialists to produce them. As a consequence, the medical device industry, in...

Don't let apathy kill U.S. manufacturing.(NTMA NOTES)
June 1, 2009... Apathy is a lack of emotion, feeling, or indifference. In November 1995, the U.S. precision custom manufacturing industry was warned that Asian tool-and-die makers had formed a coalition with their governments, targeting new business in the...

Sharpening skills in online classroom: smaller companies shape training strategies using Tooling University.(OPERATIONS)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Every week, for at least one hour, every employee at Truline Industries takes a break from their work and goes back to school. But at this university, the windows contain bits and bytes of information rather than...

RFID tag functions directly on metal surfaces.(OPERATIONS)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Confidex has launched the RFID tag SteelWING, a passive high-frequency (UHF) tag that supports the ePC Class 1 Generation 2 specification. The tag offers a read range of up to 32 ft and has an adhesive backing...

Expanded line of borescopes.(OPERATIONS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2009... Gradient Lens Corp. has introduced a new line of Hawkeye Pro Flexible Borescopes that provide highly detailed images of surface-finish irregularities, sand, voids, and other defects that can seriously affect the quality of products like engine...

Justifying investment in CNC technology.(OPERATIONS)
June 1, 2009... Navigating a profitable path through the increasingly competitive industry of precision parts production is harder than ever today. Companies need to use every resource at their disposal, which makes getting the most out of CNC technology all...

A wireless window on the shop: with wireless monitoring and the internet, shops can keep tabs on machine health anytime, anywhere.(SHOP OPERATIONS)(Editorial)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Full-spectrum vibration monitoring of critical rotating equipment just got a lot simpler and less expensive. This is the claim of GTI Spindle Technology (www.gtispindle.com) and its partner InCheck Technologies...

CAM software certified for 3D mechanical design system.(SOFTWARE & CONTROLS)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The FeatureCAM family of computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software products from Delcam plc (www.delcam.com) has been certified by the Autodesk Inventor Certified Application Program for Autodesk Inventor...

New ShopMill, ShopTurn software for job shops.(SOFTWARE & CONTROLS)
June 1, 2009... Siemens Energy and Automation Inc. (www2.sea.siemens.com) is set to introduce new versions of its ShopMill and ShopTurn software packages, promising higher productivity and simplicity, and greater speed. Step-by-step, on-screen programming...

Significant CAD enhancements.(SOFTWARE & CONTROLS)
June 1, 2009... IMSI/Design, is shipping a "significant upgrade" to its flagship CAD product, TurboCAD Professional Version 16 (www.TurboCAD.com). "TurboCAD Professional v16 may be the strongest upgrade we've ever had to the TurboCAD series," according to...

Workholding for fast changeovers.(TOOLING & WORKHOLDING)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Effective management of a machine workspace and workholding devices goes a long way toward efficient production and fast changeovers. Gerhard Vacio, Workholding Product Manager at BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling...

Pull clamps for precise location.(TOOLING & WORKHOLDING)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Imao pull clamps from Fixtureworks (www.fixtureworks.net) provide high-accuracy workpiece locating, using precision ground clamping pins in conjunction with the fixture-mounted clamp mechanisms. The clamp devices...

Short toolholder.(TOOLING & WORKHOLDING)
June 1, 2009... New from Schunk Inc. (www.schunk.com) is Tendo-ES, a short hydraulic expansion toolholder that allows the tool to be clamped directly in the mounting taper and supported via the spindle. The company said the result is high holding forces for...

New toolholders.(TOOLING & WORKHOLDING)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc. (www.bigkaiser.com) has introduced several new toolholding products. Its new CKN modular connection is said to be the strongest tool connection available for large tools with...

High-pressure coolant tooling.(CUTTING PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sandvik Coromant (www.coromantsandvik.com/us) has added two new products to its family of high-pressure coolant solutions: the modular Serration Lock (SL) 40 and 70 heads for turning will allow Sandvik Coromant to...

Carbide-tipped bandsaw blades.(CUTTING PRODUCTS)
June 1, 2009... The Starrett Saw Division of The L.S. Starrett Co. (www.starrett.com) has launched its new Versatix and Advanz bandsaw blade product lines. Versatix MP bi-metal blades have a special tooth design that easily copes with the shock-loading...

Low-foaming cutting fluid.(FLUIDS)
June 1, 2009... A new semi-synthetic cutting fluid, KoolRite 2365, has been introduced by JTM Products Inc. (www.koolrite.net). The fluid is a high-performance metalworking coolant, specially formulated for high-pressure applications that traditionally have...

Semi-synthetic aerospace coolant.(FLUIDS)
June 1, 2009... Valenite LLC (www.valenite.com) has added Aerotech VP, a semi-synthetic fluid developed for the aerospace industry and difficult-to-machine titanium alloys to its line of coolants. The company said the coolant provides increased throughput...