American Machinist articles from September 2007

American Machinist archives from September 2007

Oil a stuck bushing.(PRACTICAL IDEAS)
September 1, 2007... In response to the "Tap a stuck bushing" idea printed in the July, 2007, issue of American Machinist Magazine on pg. 14, I would like to present my method for removing a bushing from a blind hole. I have often used this method, and it works for...

Simple modifications for sawing tough parts.(PRACTICAL IDEAS)
September 1, 2007... Here are a few simple modifications that make horizontal bandsaws easier to use, especially when it comes to cutting angles and dealing with tough-to-hold parts. The first modification is to drill and tap several holes in the area of the...

EMO Hannover 2007 has delivered access to all of the technical press releases--in German and English--that are being delivered for the trade show on the Internet.(Bogus)
September 1, 2007... EMO Hannover 2007 has delivered access to all of the technical press releases--in German and English--that are being delivered for the trade show on the Internet. The press releases are available on submenus at the trade show's website...

GE Fanuc will present an informational session on making your manufacturing processes more accurate and repeatable in an hour-long webcast at 2 p.m., Sept. 12.(Bogus)
September 1, 2007... GE Fanuc will present an informational session on making your manufacturing processes more accurate and repeatable in an hour-long webcast at 2 p.m., Sept. 12. Details and registration for the webcast are available at www....

What do you ask new employees to see if they have the skills to work in a shop?(Bogus)
September 1, 2007... What do you ask new employees to see if they have the skills to work in a shop? A machinist posed that question after he hired two would-be machinists who were fresh out of vocational school. He found his two new-hires could not read a...

The American Machine Tool Distributors Association is offering six webcasts that deal with the economy, business practices, training and keeping employees and other subjects.(Bogus)
September 1, 2007... The American Machine Tool Distributors Association is offering six webcasts that deal with the economy, business practices, training and keeping employees and other subjects. The sessions are designed as lunchtime (beginning at noon,...

Paradigm Precision makes three acquisitions to launch company.(LEADING INDICATORS)
September 1, 2007... A newly formed company has made three acquisitions and has set up operations to produce complex machined components for the aerospace, industrial gas, and turbine markets. Paradigm Precision (www.paradigmprecision.com) acquired Smith West...

Chips-n-burrs.
September 1, 2007... "And this is our speciality sir! It sprays water on a dozing operator." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] P.S. Ramdas, deputy chief engineer for HMT Machine Tools Ltd., of Kalamassery, Kerala, India, provided this original cartoon for American...

Flow cuts prices on spare parts.
September 1, 2007... Flow International Corporation (www.flowcorp.com), said in early August that it reduced its prices for spare parts for its waterjet cutting products. Additionally, the company said it offers discounts for orders placed online at...

Correction.(Correction notice)
September 1, 2007... Correction: On page 14 of the Aug. 2007 issue of Practical Ideas, the recommended speed for running an edge finder is 1,500 rpm, not 15,000 rpm.

The NanoSteel Company patents welding material for hardfacing.(TECHNOLOGY TRENDS)
September 1, 2007... The NanoSteel Company (www. nanosteel.com), a producer of nano-structured steel alloys for industrial applications, has commercialized a line of alloys that use the company's patented Super Hard Steel technology. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Sandvik coromant displayed technology advances at EMO and beyond.(TECHNOLOGY TRENDS)
September 1, 2007... Sandvik Coromant introduced a wide range of new tools at the EMO Hannover 2007 show under a listing of nearly 30 product categories that were part of its EMO exhibition. As the largest cutting tool manufacturer in the world, Sandvik had a...

You can get CAD training for as little as $25.(TECHNOLOGY TRENDS)
September 1, 2007... One side effect of CAD developers' constant march toward better, faster, more feature-rich software is that users are forced to either invest in a never-ending cycle of training or risk falling behind the product development curve and end up...

Effective alternative to tapping.(CUTTING PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... Seco Tools Inc. (www. secotools.com) said its new Threadmaster line of small, solid-carbide TiCN-coated threadmills produces threads with higher quality than tapping, reduces cost and improves productivity. The company said the tool's rigid,...

Grades for steel turning.(CUTTING PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... Walter USA (www. walter-tools.com) has introduced new cutting materials for all steel turning applications, from roughing, to medium machining operations to fine finishing. Walter USA's new WPP01 and WPP05 Tiger-tec cutting materials have a...

New milling inserts.(TOOLING)
September 1, 2007... Iscar Metals Inc. (www.iscar.com) expanded its Millshred family of tools with a new ERW Millshred endmill that can carry a serrated-cutting-edge insert as well as a traditional round insert for machining deep cavities. Its serrated insert has...

Biodegradable coolants.(FLUIDS)
September 1, 2007... RS Diversified Products Inc. (www. rsdiversified.com/spindkool.htm) has released three new water-based coolants to launch their Spindlkool line of biodegradable lubricants. Spindlkool Saw is a biodegradable flood lubricant designed for saws...

Skimmer intake attachment improvements.(FLUIDS)
September 1, 2007... Zebra Skimmers Corp. (www. ZebraSkimmers.com) has redesigned its Sumpster and Floating Sumpster skimmer intake attachments for use with Zebra or other brand coalescers or customized oil removal systems. Improved features include: galvanized...

Problems with the carbon tax.(GOVERNMENT MATTERS)
September 1, 2007... This is not a partisan column. I am not trying to promote the Republican Party, nor do I have anything against the environmental movement. Indeed, I like to think of myself as an environmentalist. Nevertheless, I believe that those who promote...

Are you flying blind? Modern machine shops, like today's aircraft, need instrumentation to keep flying.
September 1, 2007... IN THE AUGUST ISSUE of American Machinist we recommended 12 important performance measures, with benchmark data from our 2007 Benchmark survey, that shops should use to monitor and improve performance. [see "12 Key Performance Benchmarks,"...

Brawny milling cutters get small: small-diameter tools extend the capabilities of tangential milling beyond slabbing.(MACHINING)
September 1, 2007... TANGENTIAL MILLING HAS LONG BEEN a familiar technique for speeding up flat rough and finish slab milling. In tangential milling, the inserts lie flat around the cutter's pitch line rather than standing up radially, as in conventional cutters....

How long will toolholders last? How long a tool keeps position depends on the fit between its toolholder and spindle.(TOOLHOLDING)
September 1, 2007... Predicting the service life of a toolholder is extremely difficult. However, understanding and avoiding the factors that shorten the life of various types of toolholders can maximize their life spans. Quality toolholder shanks are straight...

Where are the real problems in manufacturing?(FROM THE EDITOR)
September 1, 2007... After we ran a chart in the July issue indicating that the U.S. remains the world's largest manufacturer--and has lost only 1.1% in global market share since 1984--a reader sent a scathing e-mail suggesting that American Machinist should be...

A healthy switch.(MEDICAL)
September 1, 2007... THE DECISION WAS made and business plans were put into action--Mendell Machine and Manufacturing inc. (www.mendell.com) in Lakeville, Minn., was switching from servicing technology industries to the more stable medical market. But as the shop,...

Grinder cuts cycle times to the bone.(CASEBOOKS)
September 1, 2007... When demand for its products increased worldwide, Corin Group, a British orthopedic implant manufacturer, invested in a special grinding machine for grinding its bone rasps and for femoral components that make up the company's knee systems. The...

Borescopes provide insight to Burr problem.(CASEBOOKS)
September 1, 2007... What General Automotive Manufacturing didn't see was costing it money. Burrs and other part defects went undetected by the company's manufacturing team and were not found until the quality department did final inspection. Then, parts had to be...

Machine controls optimize cell performance.
September 1, 2007... It's not only the machine tools but also their controls that add productivity to the manufacturing operations at Smith's Machine. The Cottondale, Ala., shop supplies high-quality machined parts to the massive Mercedes Benz U.S. International...

Shop snaps up milled marking stamps.
September 1, 2007... Manufacturers of hand tools produce millions and millions of the same kind of components, and these companies are extremely sensitive to quality and readability when it comes to part marking. Markings are functionally important, but they must...

Agie Charmilles.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Agie Charmilles says its new 100 percent service productivity program is designed to provide customers with comprehensive machine support. www.gfac.com/us

AIM Joraco.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... A new Direct Air Press from AIM Joraco features a straight pneumatic cylinder for applications that require full force over the entire stroke. www.joraco.com

Autodesk Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Autodesk Inc. is offering a free Personal Learning Edition of AliasStudio 2008, a conceptual design tool used to create sketches and 3D concept models, available for download at www. autodesk.com/studiople.

Bondhus Corp.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Through its German marketing partner, FELO, Bondhus Corp. introduced a complete line of screwdrivers machined to exacting German standards. After the blade and shaft are made, a handle is molded on by a proprietary two-component process....

Brown Metals Co.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Brown Metals Co. now offers buyers the ability to shop online for smaller quantities of stainless steel at its new website www. sidecuts.com.

Bryant grinder / Vermont machine tool.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Bryant Grinder / Vermont Machine Tool has developed a new PC-based software package called REVELATIONS designed to simplify CNC programming and operations on grinders. www.bryantgrinder.com

CADCIM Technologies.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... CADCIM Technologies has released the Autodesk Inventor 2008 for Designers textbook by Prof. Sham Tickoo, Purdue University. www.cadcim.com

CGW-Camel Grinding Wheels.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... CGW-Camel Grinding Wheels expanded its line of Fast Cut products with 19 new cut-off wheels ranging from 4.5-in. diameter to 14-in. diameter. www.cgwheels.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Colchester-Harrison.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Colchester-Harrison has developed a two-axis lathe, the Tornado T4-HD, multi- axis mill/turn centers, designated as the T8MS and T8MSY, a large bore flat-bed manual/ CNC lathe, the Alpha 1800XS and a teaching lathe, the Alpha 1400XR....

Columbia marking tools.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Columbia marking tools has a programmable UID/2D pulsed laser marking machine, the CMT 166, that can mark matrix 2D codes and part numbers on cast iron automotive differential cases. www.columbiamt.com

Delcam Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Delcam Inc. FeatureCAM 2008 includes support for continuous 5-axis machining for the first time. The new release also offers numerous smaller enhancements and speed-ups. www.delcam.com

DP Technology Corp.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... DP Technology Corp. says ESPRIT 2008, the new version of its CAM software, includes new productivity enhancing technology for CNC programmers of mills, lathes and wire EDM machines. www.dptechnology.com

Dunkley International Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Dunkley International Inc. says its new Cyprovision Mach 7 automated vision inspection system is capable of sorting bolts, washers, screws and more up to 10 times the speed of previous machines (up to 3,000 pieces per minute)....

Flow International Corp.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Flow International Corp.'s WMC2 waterjet machining center is now available with 87,000 psi waterjet cutting pressure. www.flowcorp.com

GE Fanuc Automation.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Ge Fanuc Automation now offers the Power Mate i--Model H pressure and position controller, an 8-axis positioning CNC suitable for controlling general industrial machines. GE Fanuc has also introduced the NC Guide and NC GuidePro CNC Simulators...

Gibbs and Associates.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Gibbs and Associates has added 5-axis simultaneous milling to its GibbsCAM 2007 software product. www.gibbscam.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Kerk Motion Products Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Kerk motion products Inc.'s new SS2 spline shaft series has an outside diameter of 0.125 in. (3.18 mm) making it the smallest spline shaft in its line. Kerk says the new spline shaft is designed for light load applications where low cost, low...

Leica Geosystems Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Leica Geosystems Inc. says its ScanStation 2 pulsed laser scanner has a scan speed up to 50,000 points per second and includes the industry's first coordinate lock function. www.leica-geosystems.us

MAG Cincinnati.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... The U5-1500 universal machining center from MAG Cincinnati has full 5-axis countouring and does 5-sided machining of large parts for aerospace, off-road and other industries. www.cinmach.com

MAG Fadal.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... MAG Fadal now offers two levels of controls on all three of its FX series vertical machining centers - the Fadal MP CNC control or the Fadal GE Fanuc 0i-MC digital control. www.fadal.com

Marposs Corp.'s.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Marposs Corp.'s Optoquick Set V25 Series compact optical measuring system provides a measuring range up to 94 mm (3.7 in.) in diameter for non-contact inspection using shadow casting optoelectronic measuring technology. Marposs will also...

Mastercam--CNC Software Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Mastercam--CNC software Inc. says its new Mastercam X2 Mill introduces significant new capabilities including many 3D toolpath additions and enhancements, added support for SolidWorks assembly files, Z-oscillation and more. www.mastercam.com...

Metronics Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Metronics Inc. Quadra-Chek 300 (QC300) advanced digital readout system with image archiving allows users to store measured part features, including test data and descriptive text, as JPG images for documenting, testing and quality inspection...

Mikron-Agie Charmilles'.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Mikron-Agie Charmilles' new HPM 1850U traveling-table-type machining center offers simultaneous 5-axis machining for workpieces up to 56.5 cu. ft. in volume and is equipped with the HSK63 tool interface and milling head driven by a direct-drive...

Mitsubishi Laser--MC Machinery Systems Inc.'s.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Mitsubishi Laser--MC machinery systems Inc.'s new NX Series laser is designed for speed with resonators available in 4,000-W and 6,000-W capacities. www.misubishi-world.com

mk Automation Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... mk Automation Inc. says its new Easy Guard modular guarding system is designed to provide economical standard and custom guarding solutions for virtually any in-plant application, and the pre-assembled Easy Guard panels and doors utilize OSHA...

Mori Seiki's.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Mori Seiki's new NZ22000 T3Y3 multi-axis machine has three turrets with built-in milling motors and a Y-axis function, and was built for high-efficiency, mass production machining. Mori Seiki also said that its subsidiary DTL (Digital...

Motoman Inc.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Motoman Inc. MotoSight 3D robot vision system allows access to part position information using either serial or DeviceNet interfaces, and the vision software supports true 3D (X, Y, Z, yaw, pitch, roll) with one, two or three cameras....

Numerical Control Computer Sciences (NCCS).(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Numerical Control Computer sciences (NCCs) has enhanced its NCL multi-axis machining software to significantly improve machine simulation and verification. www.nccs.com

Lincoln Electric Company.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... Lincoln electric Company says its new LN-25 PRO wire feeder is designed to be simple, reliable, easy to service, ideal for field construction, fabrication, shipyards and rental companies and is available in standard and extra torque models....

OMAX Corp.(NEW EQUIPMENT)
September 1, 2007... OMAX Corp.'s Fabricator JetCutting Center is OMAX's latest abrasive waterjet cutter and is designed to support large-format cutting of metal and stone materials. www.omax.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

2008 Machining competition coming up.(LAST WORD)
September 1, 2007... It's time to start thinking about the 2008 National Apprentice Competition sponsored by the National Tooling and Machining Association and the National Institute for Metalworking Skills. While the start for the competition is several months...

Working with schools to advance technical education.(LAST WORD)
September 1, 2007... Cimatron technologies Inc. (www.cimatron.com) donated 160 seats of its CAD/CAm software for tooling and manufacturing to Oakland County schools in michigan to help the local schools offer high level advanced manufacturing and production...

Allied Machine & Engineering Corp.(COMPANY PROFILE)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... NEWSWORTHY AccuThread 856[TM] thread mills--complementing the AccuPort 432 port Contour Cutter--are a helically fluted solid carbide thread mill line, coated in Am210[TM]. They provide a superior thread form owing to a thicker core and...

Cincinnati Tyrolit.(COMPANY PROFILE)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... SUMMARY Cincinnati Tyrolit is focused on technical innovation and customer service and has developed extensive field service support capabilities that allow the business to both deliver and maintain superior product performance. Cincinnati...

Exair, Corp.(COMPANY PROFILE)
September 1, 2007... ABOUT THE COMPANY Exair's Application Database will let you see how other companies have successfully solved their blowoff, cooling, drying, conveying and static electricity problems. The CAD Library contains CAD files forthe EXAIR...

Faro Technologies Inc.(COMPANY PROFILE)
September 1, 2007... ABOUT THE COMPANY With more than 12,500 installations and 5,50 customers globally, FARO technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:FARO) and its international subsidiaries design, develop and market portable, computerized measurement devices and software....

Greenleaf Corporation.(COMPANY PROFILE)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... HISTORY & CONTRIBUTIONS: Founded in 1945 by Walter J. Greenleaf Sr., Greenleaf Corporation offers a diverse line of products for the machine tool industry. By 1960, Greenleaf began to manufacture cutting tools and in 1969, Greenleaf was...

Haas Automation.(COMPANY PROFILE)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... ABOUT THE COMPANY Haas Automation Inc., is the world's leading manufacturer of CNC machine tools. Gene Haas founded the company in 1983 to manufacture the industry's first-ever, fully programmable collet indexer. The Haas 5C indexer was a...

The Hardinge Group.(COMPANY PROFILE)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... MISSION The mission of Hardinge Group is to supply the metalworking industry with the right metalworking solution, at the right price, without compromising capability or performance. This includes standard, performance and high-performance...

Hydromat Inc.(COMPANY PROFILE)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... ABOUT THE COMPANY Hydromat Inc. is the industry leader in the manufacture and assembly of precision transfer machines--Rotary, EPIC R/T, Inline, Trunnion and Advanced Technology Machines--and has a reputation built on a commitment to...

INDEX Corporation.(COMPANY PROFILE)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... ABOUT THE COMPANY INDEX and TRAUB machine tools are focused on precision parts production and include a wide range of production CNC turning machines, from single-spindle to multi-spindle to Swiss-style sliding headstock machines and...

Iscar Metals, Inc.(COMPANY PROFILE)
September 1, 2007... ISCAR METALS Celebrating 50 years of Innovation, Iscar is a full-line ISO9001 and QS-9000 certified manufacturer and supplier of precision carbide metalworking tools. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As a result of its high quality and...

Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.(COMPANY PROFILE)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... KEY PERSONNEL: Masahiko Mori--President Dr. Eng., Mori Seiki Co., Ltd. Thomas R. Dillon--President, Mori Seiki USA, Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] YEARS IN BUSINESS: 59 (Mori Seiki Co., Ltd.) Founded in 1948, Mori Seiki Co., Ltd....

The Peter Wolters Group.(COMPANY PROFILE)
September 1, 2007... ABOUT THE COMPANY The PETER WOLTERS group is a leading supplier of high-precision machine tools and systems for surface processing of nearly any kind of workpiece. With our brands--Peter Wolters, Speedfam-PW and Voumard--we offer a very...

Sandwik.(COMPANY PROFILE)
September 1, 2007... COMPANY MISSION Sandvik Coromant is a strong proponent of the principle of Manufacturing Economics, a model of analysis that demonstrates that the greatest amounts of savings occur through increasing efficiency. In short, a higher level of...

Seco Tools Inc.(COMPANY PROFILE)
September 1, 2007... ABOUT THE COMPANY Seco Tools Inc. is part of the Seco Tools AB global organization, a world leader in metalworking technologies, providing solutions for milling, turning, holemaking and threading applications. The company is committed to...

Tornos US.(COMPANY PROFILE)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... ABOUT THE COMPANY Tornos' history goes back to the year 1880, which saw production of the first machines used to turn small parts for the Swiss watch industry in the Moutier region of Switzerland. In the '60s and '70s, three local...

Walter North America.(COMPANY PROFILE)
September 1, 2007... MISSION WALTER's corporate mission and sales philosophy begins with its customers. As the mission statement defines: "We are there for our customers. We are all responsible for recognizing and satisfying the individual needs of our...