Modern Applications News articles from April 2006

Modern Applications News archives from April 2006

Sometimes it's not 'just business'.(EDITOR'S CORNER)
April 1, 2006... This column has never been known as a haven for those who wanted to hide from the hard realities of our business. Making money from cutting or bending metal is a tough business. We've seen companies close, go bankrupt or just disappear and felt...

Letters to the editor.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2006... Quality Tune After reading John Archibald's comments regarding the 11-2005 article [Quality Tune Not Enough,--'By George' Column], I must agree, to stay competitive we must continue to advance, create and develop new technology. The old...

Balzers acquires new coatings capabilities.(Industry News)
April 1, 2006... Balzers, the coating services business unit of Unaxis, will take over the PVD coating operations of Gold Star Coatings, a subsidiary of the industrial tooling group Star Cutter Company. With the acquisition of Gold Star Coatings, Balzers...

Troops sharpen-up with Darex.(Industry News)
April 1, 2006... Darex has been awarded a contract to provide its drill sharpeners to U.S. soldiers in Iraq. The Ashland, OR-based company will ship its V390 Darex drill sharpeners as part of a tool kit to support soldiers' safety. This kit is designed to...

January machine tool consumption 11.3% higher.(Industry News)
April 1, 2006... The latest available figures detail that January U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $225.94 million, according to AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association, and AMT--The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This...

'In the chips' is great except in the coolant: machining job shops only make money when they are making chips. Because of its precision and profit capabilities, a VMC became a shop's 'golden goose.' Because the VMC machines everything from stainless to plastics, fines and chips in the coolant had a high potential for slowing down the golden egg production.(COOLANTS/LUBRICANTS/FILTERS)
April 1, 2006... Debco Machine, Inc. (Natick, MA), is a job shop specializing in precision components machined from aluminum, plastics and stainless steel for applications that require extremely tight tolerances. Because of its reputation for delivering high...

Punch grinder boosts competitive edge: one punch die manufacturer stands out by supplying punches for almost 30 fabricating equipment manufacturers. A new grinder further pushes the company into the global market by increasing productivity and reducing downtime.(GRINDING)
April 1, 2006... Noubar Korkorian, plant manager for Exacta Precision Products Ltd. (Scarborough, Ontario), explains that the key to his company's success lies in inventory management and technology. "Price, quality and delivery are all on equal footing today,"...

High purity gases meet high tech demands: to optimize performance, new technologies, like laser cutting, require high purity levels and special equipment. These requirements have shifted metal fab cutting and welding from industrial to specialty gas applications.(LASERS)
April 1, 2006... Whether metal fab cutting and welding are industrial or specialty gas applications is at the center of many discussions in the gas business. Though these processes would appear at first glance to be industrial, high purity is an intrinsic...

New controls spinning heavyweight niche: an advanced CNC spin machine designed to manufacture close-toleranced, oversize metal spinnings will be the most powerful machine in its configuration ever built for a company in the United States.(CONTROLS)
April 1, 2006... Manufactured by MJC Engineering and Technology, Inc. (Huntington Beach, CA), the new Model SP-78200-3 CNC spinform lathe, features a 200-hp spindle, a 100-hp hydraulic system and a 3-station automatic turret designed to handle the massive...

'Learn-as-you-go' reduces shop's 'time-to-part': making a profit by running one-offs and short production runs in a variety of materials from a range of suppliers frequently challenges shops to choose between manual or CNC machines to turn a profit. A Michigan shop discovered how to make the choice simple.(CNC/CONTROLS)
April 1, 2006... At Prince Industries (Livonia, MI) a unique blend of prototype and production work keeps this 30,000 sq.-ft. job shop very busy. Its customers include a variety of tool and diemakers, aircraft component suppliers, heavy construction equipment...

CAM triggers short-run capabilities: as production runs go overseas, a subcontracting company sees a demand for short-run manufacturing. CAM software meets the needs of this new manufacturing environment by reducing setup and machining time, increasing accuracy and keeping up with technology.(CAD/CAM)
April 1, 2006... Like many other subcontracting companies, Jetblades Engineering (Coventry, U.K.) has had to change its operating methods to cope with the new manufacturing environment. Mark Kirby, managing director, relies more than ever on Delcam's PowerMILL...

Catalog on chipbreakers.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
April 1, 2006... This eight-page catalog features four new chipbreaker geometries--C5 positive/negative chipbreaker for general purpose turning, RN5 geometry for heavy duty roughing and interrupted work and two wiper geometries, WN3 and WN5, for high-speed...

Toolholder and boring system catalog.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
April 1, 2006... This interactive product catalog on CD-ROM is designed to make tool-holder and boring system product specification faster and easier. The CD version is based on the 200+ page print catalog with updates, additions and a range of product...

Waterjet cutting tables.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
April 1, 2006... WaterjetPRO[TM] line of cutting tables is designed to be affordable, fast and accurate. The tables feature a jogging pendant and a programmable Z-axis. The new Powered by Flow[TM] program is intended to enable machine tool providers to...

Indexable insert disc mills.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
April 1, 2006... New additions to the established line of indexable insert disc mills include free cutting (positive geometry) LNKT and LNKW inserts and round 6 mm and 8 mm RD and RP styles. These new inserts feature corner radii from 0.015" - 0.122" for most...

Automated plasma torch.(WELDING/BRAZING/SOLDERING)
April 1, 2006... An upgrade to the Merlin 1000 system, the XT-301 automated plasma torch is designed to provide improved cutting performance with a lower total cost of operation. The torch, which can be used with lower price consumables, is intended to decrease...

TIG inverters.(WELDING/BRAZING/SOLDERING)
April 1, 2006... The Dynasty[R] 700 and Maxstar[R] 700 inverters are designed to deliver arc shaping options, 5 to 700 amps of weld power and high-speed pulsed TIG weld controls. Both machines produce an output of 500 amps/40V at 100% duty cycle, weigh 198 lb....

Plasma cutting system.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
April 1, 2006... The Auto-Cut[TM] 100 plasma cutting system with XT torch technology is designed to deliver precise cutting and ease of use. The XT-301 consumable parts cartridge system is intended to locate the exact centerline of cut after process changes....

Shrink Fit tool holder.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
April 1, 2006... Shrink Fit tool holders are designed to offer high clamping forces, low runout and a small nose diameter to reduce clearance issues. Simultaneous spindle and flange contact are intended to enhance rigidity and repeatability, resulting in higher...

Aluminum oxide-coated inserts.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
April 1, 2006... Tiger-tec cutting grades feature a PVD coating, aluminum oxide (A[l.sub.2][O.sub.3]). The coated inserts are intended for most applications, including stainless steel, heat resistant alloys, super- and titanium alloys, proved steel and cast...

Robots for waterjet and routing applications.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
April 1, 2006... Six new models of the AccuTrim[TM] robot are offered. These models include a Fanuc robot, Robotic Production Technology (RPT) process tooling and a combination of software features and tools designed for path-intensive, non-metallic product...

Automated arc welding.(WELDING/BRAZING/SOLDERING)
April 1, 2006... The A6S Arc Master is an automated arc welding system featuring a VEC motor that is designed to provide reliable and consistent wire feed. The system includes joint-tracking with manual slides or joystick-controlled, motor-operated cross...

Cutting system accessories.(WELDING/BRAZING/SOLDERING)
April 1, 2006... Three new accessories are offered for the Powermax handheld plasma torches. The cutting guide is designed for straight cuts, circle cuts from 4" to 22" in diameter and bevel cuts. The guide includes an adjustable point pivot, stabilizing wheels...

PCD cutting grade and advanced spring-grinding disc wheels.(WESTEC)
April 1, 2006... CITCO's Dipax D4 polycrystalline diamond (PCD) cutting grade is a homogeneous, fine grain material that is suited for fine finishing of aluminum, bronze and precious metals. The D4 material is designed to provide abrasion resistance, toughness...

Bed mills.(WESTEC)
April 1, 2006... The TRAK[TM] FHM Series features the easy-to-use ProtoTRAK SMX CNC, designed to increase productivity of toolroom and small-lot work. These machines are suitable for small parts and have the mass and weight to handle heavy workpieces. The...

Bi-metal band saw blades.(WESTEC)
April 1, 2006... Armor Rx+, a bi-metal band saw blade, features a patented tooth form, AlTiN coated edge and high performance backing steel. The blades are designed to cut through structurals, tubing and small rounds of mild carbon steels and tool steels with...

Light curtains and light barriers.(WESTEC)
April 1, 2006... PSENopt safety light curtains and light barriers can be used for finger, hand and body protection in a range of industrial applications. The compact design is intended to save space and cost, and make the product easy to install. The muting...

Modular clamps.(WESTEC)
April 1, 2006... The Pitbull fixture clamp is now available as a slotted modular clamp in two sizes, with holding forces of 6,000 and 12,000 lb. Featuring a riser design, the hardened and ground clamps are intended for use on work cubes and machine tables with...

Solar powered, digital calipers.(WESTEC)
April 1, 2006... The IP67-rated SuperSolar digital caliper is designed for ease of use, convenience and shop hardness. Powered by a solar battery charging a super capacitor, the product is capable of operation under low light conditions--requiring 60 Lux (min.)...

Metalworking lubricants.(WESTEC)
April 1, 2006... These new lubricants are based on polar cutting technology and advanced very high flash point (VHF) chemistry. PC 28 and 45 are designed to lubricate the tool and the metal being cut to create metal flow conditions unlike traditional...

Laser system.(WESTEC)
April 1, 2006... The XL Series laser system features a large work area, dual laser capability and advanced job management functions. Compatible with 10 to 150 watts of air-cooled laser power, the product can accommodate up to 300-watts of laser power using two...

Finishing tool.(WESTEC)
April 1, 2006... The electric Dynisher finishing tool is designed to provide in-line scratch finishes on stainless steel and other materials when used with coated abrasive or non-woven nylon belts. An 835-watt motor (operating at 0 - 3,000 rpm) maintains the...

New 5-axis programmable head attachment.(WESTEC)
April 1, 2006... Model 5414 is designed to attach to most 3-axis vertical, horizontal or bridge style CNC milling centers, providing simultaneous 5-axis machining and drilling capability. The product offers an upgraded spindle with high precision bearings,...

Hybrid laser system.(WESTEC)
April 1, 2006... The FineMarker hybrid features a diode pumped Nd:YAG (YVO4) laser and a C[O.sub.2] laser. With an active work area of 29" x 17", the machine is designed to engrave, cut and mark on a range of materials. The laser has the same platform as the...

+p technology is more than tools for expanding prototype shop.(JOB SHOP)
April 1, 2006... Having your own shop and working for yourself may be the stuff of dreams for many. But when you take the step for real, the stuff of the dream often fades in the face of hard reality. Where and how do you open your business? How do you make...

+p shop slashes tool sharpening from 40 hr. To only 30 min. Technology is the best weapon in the global war for profitability, but teamed with careful planning and implementation a British Columbia fabrication shop has achieved some truly amazing results.(FORMING/FABRICATING)
April 1, 2006... In only 12 months, Wesgar Industries, Ltd. (Port Coquitlam, BC) doubled punching output while reducing labor content; reduced tool sharpening time from 40 hours a week to under a half hour, and reduced tool setup time by more than 50% on most...

Will China follow Japan in U.S.? Remember Japan 25 years ago? We all thought we were going to close up shop and learn farming and Japanese. Instead, the Japanese learned English and opened up shop on numerous former farms.
April 1, 2006... The result? Almost all the new auto plants and automotive supplier plants and machine tool making factories in America built since 1980 have been and are Japanese-owned. They also employ thousands of Americans and buy millions every year from...