Modern Applications News articles from April 2008

Modern Applications News archives from April 2008

PIMBY.(EDITOR'S CORNER)
April 1, 2008... Keen observers of The Bull of the Woods cartoons we've started to run will notice that in the 1920s and '30s, many of the machine tools were run by belts from a central power source. Those days are long gone. Today, each machine has its own...

2007 was good to Haas.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Haas Automation, Inc., of Oxnard, CA, reports 2007 as the most productive year in the company's history, with CNC machine tool production exceeding 13,755 units--up 10 percent from 2006--and a 19 percent increase in revenue, to more than $880...

Raw material availability is worrisome for manufacturers.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... The availability of raw materials is a primary concern for small and mid-sized manufacturers, according to the results of a recent survey. Prime Advantage, Chicago, a buying consortium for small and mid-sized manufacturers, released the...

A new leader and a merger for Emco.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... John Roasa was named president and CEO of Emco Maier Corp., Columbus, OH, in January. The company is a division of A-TEC Industries' Machine Tool Division, Austria, and a subsidiary of the Emco Group, Austria. Emco Maier manufactures CNC lathes...

Companies celebrate centennials.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... The Cleveland Steel Tool Co., Cleveland, celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2008. Founded in 1908, the company supplies steel tooling to the metalworking, bridge, automotive, aircraft, and shipbuilding industries. The company was founded...

Michigan workholding company opens site in India.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... DE-STA-CO, Auburn Hills, MI, a manufacturer of robotic tooling, workholding, and industrial automation solutions, opened a facility in Pune, India. A variety of products will be produced at the facility, including industrial automation...

Robotics company creates Certified Education training.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Fanuc Robotics America, Inc., Rochester Hills, MI, created Certified Education Robot Training--CERT, a certification program available to qualified high schools, community colleges, and universities. The program certifies instructors at...

The bull of the woods.(Comic)(Cartoon)
April 1, 2008... THE DEPOPULATOR. Reprinted Courtesy of Algrove Publishing Ltd., Almonte, Ontario, Canada; anthology reprints available from Lee Valley Tools; www.leevalley.com; US 800.871.8158; Canada 800.267.8767 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dreamliner composite technology tested.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... The composite technology, design, and construction of the 787 from the Boeing Co., Chicago, was proven during a series of testing scenarios conducted in late 2007 and concluded at the end of February, 2008. The tests were performed on a...

IAM and Lockheed Martin come to agreement.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers--IAM-reached three tentative agreements with aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin Corp., that cover about 6,000 machinists at eight Lockheed facilities throughout the country....

Future could be bright for solar power growth.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... A report from Specialists in Business Information, Rockville, MD, a research firm, predicts several factors favorable to the solar power industry will propel the U.S. market to triple digit growth, reaching almost $12 billion by 2012. The...

Fourth quarter 2007 industrial lasers up 12 percent.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Fourth quarter 2007 orders of industrial laser equipment and systems were reported at $131.1 million, an increase of 17.6 percent from the previous quarter, according to the Association For Manufacturing Technology. Orders within North America...

Detroit metal scrap pricing -- February 2008.(Industry News)
April 1, 2008... Detroit Metal Scrap Pricing -- February 2008 Scrap Material Price / lb unless noted 17-4 PH Solids $0.37 17-4 PH Turn $0.34 18-8 Stainless Turn $1.11 18-8 Stainless $1.20...

Virtually no problems: by exploring the virtual reality of a project with solid modeling, Dave, and the shop, can find issues and resolve them before the chips start to fly.(FROM THE SHOP FLOOR)
April 1, 2008... Every so often a project will come to the shop that is above and beyond the standard job that normally rolls through. Such was the case when a group of three similar parts came across my desk. The parts, at first, looked intimidating. Large...

Simulation test drives provide detours around trouble: simulating operations on a PC before cutting metal means having the right software capabilities. Here are some factors to keep in mind.(CONTROLLING INTEREST)
April 1, 2008... Better simulation not only improves the training for CNC machine tool operators, it has other upsides that often go unused by many shops. A quick review of the situation might help open some new avenues to better productivity at your location....

Breaking the mold: lean principles and a CAD program let a manufacturer make aluminum rather than steel molds, saving the customer time and money.(CAD/CAM)
April 1, 2008... J & M Mold, Fairport Harbour, OH, is a precision tool and die maker for the plastic, aluminum, and zinc injection industries. Owner David Martin is a mechanical engineer who said he has been working in the die casting industry since he was 13...

Cut out for the part: a steel company, once known for just cutting steel, added a laser cutter that let it move into parts production.(LASER CUTTING)
April 1, 2008... Benjamin Steel Co., Inc., Springfield, OH, has been saw-cutting, shearing, and oxy-fuel and plasma cutting carbon-based plates, sheet, shapes, hot-roll and cold-drawn bars, grating, pipe, and tubing products for decades. Since future success in...

You've got to know when to hold them: a palleting system helped reduce setup time and saved a shop an estimated $75,000 by keeping zero at zero.(WORKHOLDING)
April 1, 2008... Survival and growth in contract manufacturing isn't just a matter of getting more business. It's processing more business. In contract manufacturing facilities there are different levels of inefficiency, some considered acceptable. For example,...

From bottleneck to breakthrough: replacing machinery on its last legs provided a boon in production and flexibility.(MACHINING CENTERS)
April 1, 2008... "We had a bottleneck in our shop," Gregg DeCheck, manufacturing engineer for Twin Disc, Racine, WI, said. "We knew why the process was being held up--old machinery that couldn't keep up and forced us to rework parts." [ILLUSTRATION...

Getting by with a little help from friends: when faced with an increase in demand, a machine-tool manufacturer bought another brand to fill a need its own tools weren't meeting.(TURNING CENTERS)
April 1, 2008... Even machine-tool manufacturers don't always have the right machine or the most efficient process in their own factories. Some will admit this and find a machine to suit its need. The most enterprising, after buying an outsider's machine, will...

Snacks sold separately: using a vending machine to organize its tool inventory put money back into the pocket of a tool and die manufacturer.(SHOP MANAGEMENT)
April 1, 2008... Davis Tool & Die of Fenton, MO, had had significant growth since it opened its doors in 1989 and yet it never established a tool crib or inventory control system. As it grew, tools and parts were scattered around the shop and it had no concept...

Prototyping a hot project: an energy lab at Colorado State University cut the prototyping time for a better stove for developing countries by using a waterjet; now the waterjet is a critical piece of equipment for other projects.(SPOTLIGHT: WATERJET)(Cover story)
April 1, 2008... Conserving energy and reducing indoor pollution for people burning wood and other biomass materials in stoves was one of several projects under development at the Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory--EECL--at Colorado State University. The...

Low cost with high features.(SPOTLIGHT: WATERJET)
April 1, 2008... The 1000 Series pure waterjet is equipped with dual drives, an engineered aluminum extrusion frame, 25mm bearings throughout, and a KMT Water Jet System. The waterjet features custom engineered aluminum extrusion design; high-speed contouring;...

Cutting with the big boys.(SPOTLIGHT: WATERJET)
April 1, 2008... The Byjet L, an abrasive waterjet cutting system for processing large sheet sizes, is designed for processing large volumes of waterjet parts. The base frame of the machine is of modular construction that can be expanded in 6.5' increments...

Cuts directly from CAD and DXF files.(SPOTLIGHT: WATERJET)
April 1, 2008... The Model 5555 JetMachining Center cuts complex flat parts out of most materials including metal, plastic, glass, ceramic, and composites directly from a CAD drawing or DXF file. No tool changes or complex fixturing are necessary. Standard...

Diesel-powered cutting system.(SPOTLIGHT: WATERJET)
April 1, 2008... The iP55-280DS is powered by a 280 hp Cummins turbo diesel engine that meets domestic and international Tier 3 emissions standards. It is capable of producing a flow rate of up to 4.1 gpm of 55,000 psi water for waterjet cutting, surface...

Medical Specialist.(SPOTLIGHT: WATERJET)
April 1, 2008... The MD+JET waterjet is designed for the medical industry. Its CNC controls the self-positioning sensor, placing the cutting head next to the material and maintaining the right distance between the focusing tube and the material. Other features...

Laser system marks wide range of materials.(New Products)
April 1, 2008... The YLIA fiber series is a laser marking machine that marks a range of materials, from plastics, polymers, metals, to ceramics. These laser systems offer a heavy-duty production cycle. Its footprint and optical fiber delivery allows integration...

Digital microscope incorporates advanced technology.(New Products)
April 1, 2008... The VHX-600 Digital Microscope has a 54 mega-pixel 3-CCD mode camera and a selection of high-resolution RZ optical design zoom lenses with up to 5,000x magnification that provide chromatic aberration correction. Targets can be observed with the...

Step here and the machine stops.(New Products)
April 1, 2008... UMQ Series Safety Mats feature a quick-disconnect cable for last minute cable length changes in the field and reducing potential for cable damage during installation. The quick-disconnect is designed for backward compatibility with the mat...

Twin spindle lathe suits shaft work.(New Products)
April 1, 2008... The twin spindle/twin tailstock ANW-3500S can handle heavy workloads, large machine envelopes, and high machine power and torque. The dual spindles operate at 20 and 25 hp each. An A2-6 spindle nose comes standard. It features MT.4 tailstock, a...

Laser system saves energy.(New Products)
April 1, 2008... The Titan FLS 48 is a fiber laser cutting system equipped with a single pallet shuttle table. The system is capable of large scale industrial cutting jobs and is for applications such as aircraft skin fabrication and cutting of stainless and...

Instrument marks up to four characters per second.(New Products)
April 1, 2008... The MicroLiner 312 is a marking instrument that can generate scribe, stylus, or dot-matrix marking, as well as ECC200 DataMatrix code marking for reading by automated vision systems. It is programmable, marking up to four characters per second,...

Precise feed control from semiautomatic Wet Saw.(New Products)
April 1, 2008... The K20SW-PHV Semi-Automatic Wet Cut Saw has an air-over-oil feed control and variable feed rate from 0 to 12 feet per minute. Capacity is up to 4" solids and 6" shapes. The saw is semi-automatic, with the saw head returning at the end of cut....

This flapper valve has strength.(New Products)
April 1, 2008... The Hiflex is a flapper valve of martensitic stainless chromium strip steel and a modified AISI 420 type material. It has impact fatigue strength, high tensile strength, high ductility, and high damping capacity. The valve displays up to 10...

Digital readout tool for milling and turning.(New Products)
April 1, 2008... The ND 500 system is a mid-level digital readout--DRO--coupled with a Heidenhain LS linear scale. The ND 500s come in two- or three-axis versions with an LCD screen and offer standard functions for both milling and turning applications....

Clean is their middle name.(New Products)
April 1, 2008... High-frequency ultrasonic cleaning machines with an agitated immersion feature provide cleaning power. Two heavy-duty models of the machine move a load of parts through 60 vertical 4" strokes per minute while ultrasonic energy and surging...

Kit reduces setup time.(New Products)
April 1, 2008... The Unilock Starter Kit lets users plug the components into their production cell, eliminating setup time and increasing productivity, according to the company. The clamping chucks in the kits are mounted to universal adapter plates, letting...

Loosens frozen metal parts.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... Kroil is for industrial use in loosening frozen metal parts. It creeps into spaces as narrow as a millionth inch, dissolves rust, and lubricates. Kroil has been used since 1939 by most Fortune 500 companies and is guaranteed to meet all...

Haas Automation provides world-class CNC machine tool sales, service & support.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... Haas Automation is the largest unit-volume builder of CNC machine tools in the western world and the largest dollar-volume builder in North America. All Haas products are built in the company's 1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in...

GibbsCAM[R] interactive tour.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... This multimedia CD-ROM introduces the GibbsCAM[R] product line and shows why GibbsCAM[R] is your best choice for CAM software. Actual customers tell how GibbsCAM[R] addressed their manufacturing problems and improved their company's...

Indent marking tool operates up to 120 IPM.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... DMwriter, from Dapra Marking Systems, is an indent marking tool for CNC milling machines. Easily-integrated, DMwriter marks up to 120 IPM. Standard engraving software produces high-quality, permanent marks in parts up to 62 Rc with no part...

Why buy an OMAX?(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... OMAX offers the fast cutting speeds and dynamic positioning accuracy to within [+ or -]0.003". The system machines material to a smooth finish with little or no setup. With free software upgrades for the life of the machine, and ongoing...

VersaFinish finishing tool suitable for robotic use.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... ATI Industrial Automation has released VersaFinish, an axially-compliant finishing tool suitable for a multitude of robotic and automated material finishing operations. VersaFinish is a robust, low-speed, high-torque air tool with an...

Trubend led technology offers efficiency and productivity.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... TRUMPF's optical tool setup and positioning aid improves productivity and handling of the TruBend Series 5000. The LED panel indicates which tool stations have been fitted. While the operator is working, the LED panel indicates at which tool...

New brochure highlights newest machine offerings.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... Finn-Power's new "Quick Guide to Higher Productivity" is now available. The updated and expanded eight-panel, four-color pamphlet highlights Finn-Power's entire product line--turret punch presses, punch/shear and laser/punch cells, lasers,...

All about ESPRIT.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... ESPRIT is a high-performance computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system for a full range of machine tool applications. ESPRIT delivers powerful full-spectrum programming for 2- to 5-axis milling, 2- to 22-axis turning, 2- to 5-axis wire EDM,...

Spin Roll Fixtures.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... St. Mary Spin Roll Fixtures feature a patented design that uses three intermeshing contact rolls. This ensures precise, repeatable, automatic linear positioning and concentricity up to 0.0002" during precision cylindrical grinding or machining...

Automatic tube Cutoff Lathes and feeders.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... Our new color 10 page catalog describes the advanced engineering and performance of Modern Machine Tool's newest Servo-Slide and Conventional Cutoff Lathes; capable of quickly and accurately cutting-to-length and machining cylindrical tube,...

Abtex Tri-Ten deburring systems.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... Abtex is a single source for abrasive brushes and application-specific delivery equipment for specific needs. The new Tri-Ten system is capable of deburring both sides of a flat part in a single pass using Abtex's three-brush planetary head...

Free 34-page marking equipment catalog.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... Numberall Stamp & Tool., Inc., has a free 34-page catalog outlining all types of metal marking equipment. Included with every catalog is a FREE Length Of Impression Ruler, a versatile aid in determining character size and number of characters....

Clamps and tooling components.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... This 680-page catalog includes toggle clamps, modular fixturing, chuck jaws, drill bushings, pins, knobs, power workholding, handles, supports, feet, locators, vises, and threaded inserts. Carr Lane Mfg. Co.; MO; 314.647.6200; Fax 314.647.5736;...

WaterJet cutting production solution.(Brochures & Catalogs Covering Metalworking Equipment)
April 1, 2008... The MultiCam 4000 Series Cantilever WaterJet cutting system is an affordable, highly accurate, highly accessible, production cutting solution. Designed for manufacturers who need to cut heavy stone or like materials or need a large processing...

Don't let us sacrifice our future: with other nations at our heels threatening to surpass us as manufacturing leaders, we must take efforts to step-up research and development, lest we fall behind.(THE LAST WORD)
April 1, 2008... [Editor's Note: We usually limit The Last Word to a single page, but due to the importance of this topic, we have allowed an expansion in this case.] An Iowa manufacturer of scrap-processing and solid-waste equipment shrinks its machine...