American Machinist articles from May 2003

American Machinist archives from May 2003

There are two sides to every story. (Editorial).
May 1, 2003... As I LISTENED TO A DIRECTOR OF A MAJOR UNION DISCUSS THE WIDENING gap between productivity and employee wages, I could feel my blood pressure on the rise. According to this union official, labor wages are not keeping pace with high levels of...

The not-so-friendly skies. (Letters).
May 1, 2003... I ENJOYED YOUR FEBRUARY EDITORIAL ON BUSINESS FLYING ("It takes customer focus for a business to fly high," p. 10). You hit it on the head. I fly Delta a lot--had 56 segments last year--however, its new policy is to reward those paying for...

Serve or lead the way? (Letters).
May 1, 2003... I COULD NOT AGREE MORE WITH YOUR DECEMBER EDITORIAL ("Now is not the time to take a wait-and-see attitude," p. 10). Wait for what, the knock on the door that brings the news that your job is going overseas? As manufacturers, we can only...

Correction.
May 1, 2003... The company name of the Surfcam distributor mentioned in "Software helps fight cancer" (April, p. 75) was incorrect. The name should have been CAMcad Technologies.

Lean and clean manufacturing. (Technology Trends).
May 1, 2003... PARTS-CLEANING REQUIREMENTS have changed, leading to the development of systems that not only meet stringent cleaning requirements but can also function as part of a manufacturing cell--requiring great flexibility and a small footprint. But...

True 5-axis contouring. (Technology Trends).
May 1, 2003... A NEW 5-AXIS HMC PROMISES TO shake up the world of high-speed machining, according to its manufacturer Moore Tool Co. Inc., Bridgeport, Conn. The portal-type FSP300X, which makes its debut at Eastec this month, features a fixed-position...

Add 5-axis capabilities to waterjet systems. (Technology Trends).
May 1, 2003... ORIGINAL OWNERS OF OMAX waterjet systems can upgrade their machines at no cost with new Intelli-Max software. According to Omax, Kent, Wash., the software boosts cutting speeds anywhere from 15% to 200%. In addition, the company is also...

Measuring system helps rocket fly high. (Technology Trends).
May 1, 2003... A LASER MEASURING system recently helped launch a Boeing Delta IV rocket, which deployed the first satellite for the U.S. Air Force's Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle program. The Faro Laser Tracker, built by Faro Technologies Inc., Lake Mary,...

Groovy literature. (Company News).
May 1, 2003... CATALOGS CONTAINING information on various tools and toolholder systems for grooving, parting off, and side turning are available from Horn USA Inc. The literature includes detailed drawings and specifications of individual tools and...

Catalog on-line. (Company News).
May 1, 2003... A 20-PAGE, ILLUSTRATED CATALOG of Royal Workholding's line of chucks is available on-line at the company's website. The new literature contains specifications, part sizes, capabilities, and dimensions for long-stroke moderate and high-speed...

Large hole power chuck. (Tooling & Workholding).
May 1, 2003... THE ROTA THWPLUS POWER chuck has large diameter through-hole capacity and a quick-change capability to swap out jaws in less than one minute. Specially textured surfaces in high-friction areas retain grease and reduce wear. Schunk...

Expanded clamping system. (Tooling & Workholding).
May 1, 2003... THE COROTURN RC CLAMPING system now includes shank tools, Coromant Capto modular tooling, and tools for multitasking. CoroTurn RC securely clamps inserts in two directions by combining downward forces with tip-seat positioning. The tip seat is...

U.S. cutting tool institute billings index. (Tooling & Workholding).
May 1, 2003... U.S. Cutting Tool Institute Billings Index Index for March 02-February 03 * March $141,777,389 129.6% April $135,384,295 123.1% May $136,342,116 124.1% June $133,189,928 121.1% July...

Custom fixturing. (Tooling & Workholding).
May 1, 2003... HYDRAULIC TOMBSTONE-TYPE fixturing and other custom workholding for horizontal and vertical machining centers are available from Master WorkHolding Inc., a subsidiary of Cogsdill Tool Products Inc., Camden, S.C. Fixtures can be made to...

Hi-ho silver. (Cutting Product).
May 1, 2003... THE CERATIP SILVER-COATED STRONG Bar boring tool has an internal damper within its shank to reduce vibration and chatter. A carbide core supplies strength and rigidity, and the silver coating provides chip and corrosion resistance. ...

Tool consumption falls behind 2002. (Business Trends).
May 1, 2003... AMT--THE ASSOCIATION FOR MANUFACTURING Technology and the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) report U.S. machine tool consumption for February decreased 20% from the February 2002 total of $167.21 million and increased 1.5%...

Special coating system installed. (Business Trends).
May 1, 2003... BALZERS INC., AMHERST, N.Y., has installed a coating system at its Wixom, Mich., coating center to apply Balinit A (TiN) to can-lid tooling. Balzers reports the coating extends tool life and reduces rejects while decreasing machine downtime....

Italian-designed machines coming from Ohio. (Business Trends).
May 1, 2003... MONARCH LATHES, SIDNEY, OHIO, is producing, distributing, and servicing vertical turning machines from Sirmu SRL, Rivanazzano, Italy. Both lathe manufacturers have worked together since 1978, producing vertical-turning machines with Italian...

DMG America Inc. (New Faces).
May 1, 2003... PETER RIEHLE IS NOW CEO OF DMG AMERICA INC., Chicago, the American arm of Gildemeister. Gildemeister produces Deckel Maho machining centers, laser machines, and milling machines as well as Gildemeister, Graziano, and Famot turning machines and...

Step Tools Inc. (New Faces).
May 1, 2003... TROY, N.Y.... STEP TOOLS INC. is cohosting a STEP-NC technology meeting June 5 to 6 with the National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) at its headquarters in Gaithersburg, Md. There will be a STEP-NC demonstration at NIST's...

Mikron Bostomatic Corp. (New Faces).
May 1, 2003... HOLLISTON, MASS.... MIKRON BOSTOMATIC CORP. has opened high-speed machining competence centers at its showrooms in Holliston and Lincolnshire, Ill. The competence centers are staffed by company application engineers expert in multiaxis...

Faro Technologies Inc. (New Faces).
May 1, 2003... LAKE MARY, FLA.... FARO TECHNOLOGIES INC.'S Platinum FaroArm, Titanium FaroArm, and Laser Tracker now come with reverse-engineering software modules from HighRES Inc., La Jolla, Calif. Faro reports the additional software eliminates the need...

Tool-and-die workers retool. (Talking Shop).
May 1, 2003... THE MICHIGAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Corp. (MEDC), Lansing, Mich., and the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, Plymouth, Mich., are teaming up on a pilot program to train tool-and-die industry workers in new manufacturing methods. The...

New site for engine plant. (Talking Shop).
May 1, 2003... GLOBAL ENGINE ALLIANCE LLC, THE PARTNERSHIP OF DAIMLERCHRYSLER, Mitsubishi Motor Corp., and Hyundai Motor Co., has selected Dundee, Mich., as the site for its new $400 million engine plant. Daimler spokesman Dan Bodene told the Toledo Blade...

Stamper relocates. (Talking Shop).
May 1, 2003... METAL-STAMPING MANUFACTURER Wedge Products has relocated from Valley View to Twinsburg, Ohio. Besides moving from a 55,000-ft to 100,000-[ft.sup.2] facility, the company is also updating its equipment. General Manager Joe DePiero says Wedge...

Innovation leads to large profits. (Talking Shop).
May 1, 2003... GEORGIA MANUFACTURERS competing based on product and process innovations rather than low costs earned higher profits and benefited from higher wages, according to the 2002 Georgia Manufacturing Survey conducted by the Georgia Institute of...

Let's get China on a level playing field. (Government Matters).
May 1, 2003... THERE IS INCREASING CONCERN IN Congress regarding the Chinese Government's strategy of undervaluing its currency to garner exports and foreign investment. Last year, our bilateral trade deficit with China exceeded $100 billion. Indeed, China is...

Machine multiple parts simultaneously. (Machine of the Month).
May 1, 2003... ACCORDING TO HELLER, ITS MCT Series machining centers are flexible, productive, and accurate thanks to twin spindles and multiple part fixturing. The machine can be equipped with two CNC B axes or with a combination of A and B axes for 5-sided...

Custom solutions generate new capabilities. (Bits & Bytes).
May 1, 2003... THE CUSTOM SOLUTIONS GROUP (CSG), formed by Gibbs and Associates, responds to specialized needs of customers by building custom add-ons for GibbsCAM. While the solutions are customer-specific, they often provide other GibbsCAM users with a...

Software for direct EDM programming. (Bits & Bytes).
May 1, 2003... DELCAM'S LATEST VERSION OF PS-ELECTRODE for electrode designing provides a direct link to Agie's Agievision control on its EDM equipment. Directly programming to the control makes electrode processing fast and less prone to error. With...

Insurance didn't cover patent infringement. (Law & Liability).
May 1, 2003... IN 1995, CHIUMINATTA CONCRETE CONCEPTS INC. SUED Green Machine Corp., charging that Green's manufacture, sale, and promotion of concrete-cutting saws infringed and induced others to infringe Chiuminatta's products and methods patents. In 1997,...

$6.6 M judgment reversed. (Law & Liability).
May 1, 2003... IN 1997, H.R.H. METALS INC., A dealer in scrap metal, contracted with Vulcan Materials Co. to buy and remove three buildings located at Vulcan's Dolcito Quarry in Jefferson County, Ala. H.R.H. agreed to pay Vulcan for the steel it removed, and...

Terminated rep wins commissions. (Law & Liability).
May 1, 2003... THERMAL ENGINEERING CORP. manufactures curing ovens, paint booths, and control panels that operate manufacturing equipment. On Oct. 5, 1987, Thermal hired Richard E. Lee as its sales representative in the southeastern U.S. The agreement, which...

Turning to automation: loader and lathe keep clutch production from slipping. (Turning).
May 1, 2003... Most shops, especially those with under 20 employees, can't afford to waste the time and talent of their machinists on loading and unloading parts. So they often turn to automation like gantry loaders. Such systems not only eliminate the...

Have clamp, will travel: universal clamping systems accurately move parts around the shop floor. (In the field: workholding).
May 1, 2003... Universal clamping systems solve two of manufacturing's toughest setup problems: repeatability of location from one fixture or workpiece blank to another and transfer of work from one machine tool to another. They do so through the relative...

New jaws from old. (Practical Ideas).
May 1, 2003... EASILY AND INEXPENSIVELY MACHINE TOP JAWS for power chucks from used soft-steel top jaws. The sizes that work for me are in the following sketch. Klaus Hubner FREEPORT, N.Y. CIRCLE 376 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

No more fiddling with loose bolts. (Practical Ideas).
May 1, 2003... EXTREME CUTTING PRESSURES associated with high-power machine tools can move tool holding or workholding devices. For instance, tool-post bolts on lathes or clamp bolts on milling machines may loosen slightly, ruining setups. To prevent...

VMCs make mighty-fine molds. (Casebooks).
May 1, 2003... MACHINING FOR DIE/MOLD MAKERS AS WELL AS manufacturers that don't have the capacity or don't want to make the large investment to machine big parts is a challenge. These shops want everything as good as, if not better than, the parts they...

Filter system does a fine job. (Casebooks).
May 1, 2003... ANY SHOP PRODUCING ALUMINUM PARTS IS PAINFULLY aware of the problems that plague machining operations when chips and fines aren't adequately dealt with. This is why Kawasaki Motors Manufacturing Group in Maryville, Mo., incorporated compact...

Special collet picks off workholding problem. (Casebooks).
May 1, 2003... MANTH-BROWNELL OF KIRKVILLE, N.Y., IS CONSIDERED one of the largest manufacturers of turned parts in North America. The shop needed a more affordable solution for an internal grip in a pickoff spindle on a EuroTurn 6/32 6-spindle screw machine...

A manual's best friend. (Casebooks).
May 1, 2003... MANUAL MACHINES STILL HAVE A place, especially in short-run and prototype work. But some shops, such as Hummel Machine & Tool and Halm Industries Co., aren't always in a position to purchase these types of machines brand new. In such...

A win-win sponsorship. (Casebooks).
May 1, 2003... TO BOLSTER ITS IMAGE AND BRAND RECOGNITION, machine tool distribution company Arthur Machinery Inc. in Elk Grove Village, Ill., entered a motorsports sponsorship program with SilverHorse Racing. The team races at such historical tracks as...

Parts washer for cells. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE COMPACT MODEL RCW-30E ROTARY PARTS washer is suitable for manufacturing cells. It has a spray-system that provides maximum coverage of parts; two removable parts baskets that hold large individual parts or smaller parts for cleaning...

Basket rocking. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... IN ADDITION TO FULL ROTATION, THE LEANCLEAN 360 cellular-basket aqueous parts-cleaning system also provides optional basket rocking. Workpieces rock from 5[degrees] to 60[degrees] on each side of the basket centerline. This is especially useful...

Cross contamination prevented. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE LEAN-JET RT-18 PROCESSES individually loaded parts up to 24 in. in diameter and 24-in. high on a continuous basis at 120 parts/hr. A rotary-pocketed wheel eliminates work-passage openings to prevent cross contamination between stages. The...

No nonchlorinated solvents. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE UNIVERSAL 81C PARTS-CLEANING system removes tough oils, greases, and swarf from a range of materials. It automatically cleans up to 12 batches/hr using nonchlorinated solvents that produce no VOC emissions and simplify disposal. The system...

Pump and mechanical agitation. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE SL80-L PARTS WASHER combines pump and mechanical agitation to clean oils, grease, and dirt from metal parts. Its heavy-duty pneumatically powered work platform handles loads up to 500 lb. The tank cover automatically closes during cleaning...

Large parts washer. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE NEW, LARGE-CAPACITY STAINLESS STEEL work chamber of the Tempest 20 parts washer measures 36x38x28 in. and accommodates big, bulky parts up to 500 lb/load. A 20-gallon, roll-out, stainless steel cleaning-solution reservoir has easy...

Lathes increase output. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE CTX 320/420 LINEAR UNIVERSAL lathes reportedly provide at least 10% more output because of their dynamic linear drives in the X-carriages. Also contributing to increased output is a high-speed Siemens 840D control with ShopTurn, a...

Quiet conveyors. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... POWERED BY PNEUMATICALLY DRIVEN vacuum pumps, the C-Series vacuum conveyors safely and quietly transport up to 10 to 15 tons/hr of powders and granules in any manufacturing or processing environment. Conveyor filters trap particles down to 0.3...

Lathes perform microturning. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE SCHAUBLIN MODEL 70 instrument lathes provide miniature and microturning for laboratory, R&D, and prototyping applications. The lathes feature DROs with programmable speeds to 5,000 rpm and W12 collet-type headstocks with spindle TIRs to...

Washer for lean manufacturing: Eastec. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE AQUACELL PARTS WASHER FOR LEAN-MANUFACTURING ENVIRONMENTS features one-person operation. Its attributes also include one-piece/small-lot flow, narrow width for cell environments, recirculating spray wash, and air blowoff. Booth 6636 ...

Expandable HMC. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE KIWA KNH-435x IS AN expandable 40-taper, 500-mm HMC that offers 25.2x24x26.2-in. travels and rapids of 2,400 ipm. It features a 35-hp, 12,000-rpm spindle; full rotary fourth axis; 64, 120, or 240-tool ATC; and 2, 6, or 9-pallet APC. ...

HMC speed package. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... SPEED PACKAGES FOR THE HMC 95 and HMC 135 provide quick toolchanges, high traverse speeds, and 1-G accelerations. A package includes a 16,000-rpm spindle with a 40-hp motor to optimize cutting. Rapid travels of 1,780 ipm in X and Z and 1,525...

Hydrostatic linear guideways. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... HYRDOGLIDE, A NEW HYDROSTATIC linear guideway system debuting on the Quest CNC lathe, reportedly produces surface finishes in the 4 [mu]in. range and part roundnesses in the 5 [mu]in. range. The system also increases tool insert life, which is...

New turning center. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE Quick TURN (QT) NEXUS 200 CNC turning center has an 8-in. chuck, 40.2-in. maximum-machining length, 26-kW (35-hp) spindle output, and 5,000-rpm spindle speed. An 0.18-sec/position turret indexing time minimizes idling time, and the machine...

Bandsaw processor deducts kerf loss. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE HFAT00CII BANDSAW FEATURES a 15-hp motor, 2 5/8-in. wide carbide blade, and an automatic self-adjusting wire-brush system. Its feed-control system separates materials into nine categories, while a CNC processor performs multiple...

Gages feature shock-proof spindle movement. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... BORE AND SNAP GAGES FROM DORSEY Metrology feature a shock-proof "following spindle" movement with 0.00005, 0.0001, and 0.0005-in. graduations in single and multirevolution versions. Bore gages in #4, #5, and #6 sizes as well as Paralloc D...

Software expands CAD/CAM. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... MASTERCAM VERSION 9.1 SOFTWARE simplifies complex processes and expands shop capabilities. Among its improvements are increased tool control, faster verification, enhanced solid-contour programming, and customized functions using VBScript....

Software controls graphite mill. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... OPENCNC SOFTWARE CONTROL IS now part of Fryer Machine Systems' high-speed mills such as the MC-20 graphite machine that produces electrodes. Version 6.2 of the software features high-speed machining algorithms, RTCP extensions in 5-axis...

Software has full associativity. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... ONE OF SURFCAM 2003'S FEATURES is full associativity throughout Surfware's manufacturing software. This includes 2 through 5-axis machining, turning, and wire EDM products. Machining parameters are associative to the geometry. When any changes...

Thread-milling software. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... WITH WIZARD THREAD-MILLING software, operators need only to enter thread type, diameter, depth, and material. The software generates the machine code and selects the optimum cutter and cutter parameters. The Wizard also offers good axial-cut...

More grip than collet chucks. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... HIGH-GRIP POWER MILLING CHUCKS reportedly provide up to 5x the gripping power of traditional collet chucks. In addition, they have a vibration-reducing design for good surface finishes. Their special clamping system delivers a 0.0004-in. TIR,...

WEDM clamping system. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE 3D-PENDULUM HOLDER IS A useful complement for PalletSet W tooling and works as clamping element for WEDM centers. It handles workpieces up to 15 kg and has a repeatability of 0.002 mm. With the holder, upper and lower wire guides stay close...

Workholding products. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... THE DOUBLE-STATION MODEL OF THE HD vise product line is 13.75x6 in. with up to 7,800 lb of clamping power repeatable to 0.001 in. It features two clamping stations with machinable jaws. Another model, the HD CarvLock manual tower is 16.875-in....

Recessing and grooving tools. (Spotlight: parts cleaning).
May 1, 2003... COGSDILL AUTOMATIC RECESSING and grooving tools feature standard heads with cutters and pilots matched to applications. In addition, the company offers generating heads, precision chamfering tools, burnishing tools, and Shefcut reaming and...

2003 cutting tool charts: find the right tool for the job with this data on cutting tool speeds and feeds.
May 1, 2003... AMERICAN MACHINIST has put together these milling charts using information from cutting tool suppliers. The goal of the charts is to speed up the tool-selection process. The charts are separated by workpiece material. Cutting tools are...

Manufacturers directory.
May 1, 2003... Use this directory to help you contact key manufacturers quickly. It contains complete addresses and telephone numbers of main offices. Listings in boldface indicate advertisers in this edition. Blue listings were purchased. Check the...

Metalworking fluids products & services directory.
May 1, 2003... Here, in alphabetical order, are suppliers of the products, services, and systems. It contains complete addresses and telephone numbers of main offices. Listings in boldface indicate advertisers in this edition. Check the advertisers index for...

NAM president condemns unions. (100 years ago in American Machinist).
May 1, 2003... CALLING THE PROPOSED EIGHT-HOUR LAW AN ACT TO "repeal the Bill of Rights," National Association of Manufacturer's (NAM) president David M. Parry took an ultra-conservative stand against unions at the association's annual meeting April 14, 1903....

Postal power trip. (100 years ago in American Machinist).
May 1, 2003... EDITORS AT AM DISAGREED WITH THE SEEMINGLY unchecked control the Post Office was exercising against businesses it felt were fraudulent. The department was making decisions to stop delivering the mail of certain companies it felt committed...

Plane truth. (50 years ago in American Machinist).
May 1, 2003... AEROSPACE NEWS IN THE MAY 25, 1953, ISSUE OF AM discussed Lockheed Aircraft's new Development Planning department that was set up to predict aviation trends for the 10 to 25-year future. Engineers and scientists in the group were called...