Modern Applications News articles from April 2009

Modern Applications News archives from April 2009

Weighing the options: the old saw about how "it's hard to drain the swamp when you're up to your neck in alligators," may have a new application when weighing a wounded economy with other, less pressing, concerns.(EDITOR'S CORNER)
April 1, 2009... A catch-phrase that once embodied the economic trade-off between government spending for defense and making resources available for consumers was "guns or butter." The more guns--defense spending--the less butter--consumer stuff--was available....

Still a print kind of guy.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... Although I consider myself to be in the digital age, I do prefer the print version of industry magazines. Why? Because after a long, hard day at the office, I relax by sitting in my favorite chair after dinner to enjoy reading a real magazine....

Change is good.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... Just heard the news of MAN going digital. Awesome! Love the change. I run a small online magazine/blog called CNCReport.com where we showcase cutting edge news and products for machinists. I also have a podcast there where I cover similar...

Digital not as portable as paper.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... I am disappointed that MAN is going digital only. I typically read my industry magazines between tasks at non-desk locations, often at the front end of meetings, while waiting for the designated start time. I find that I am able to quickly...

The bull of the woods.(LETTERS)(Cartoon)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] YEH, TH' HULL WORKS IS SHOT! TH' TEETH IN THIS GEAR IS ALL GONE, AN' TH' BEARIN'S IS ALL WORN OUT--IT NEEDS A HULL NEW INSIDES. WHY, THA'S FUNNY! THAT'S ALMOST A NEW MACHINE. THEY OUGHT TO LEARN SOMETHIN'...

Formulating success part II: dealing with offshore competition, and winning, means examining what a company does best and then formulating a strategy to play to that strength. This is the second of a three-part series.(GROWING THE JOB SHOP)
April 1, 2009... The prices quoted by offshore sources look so attractive that many manufacturers believe that there is no way to compete by remaining in the U.S. Here is an example of a company--Baldor Electric Co., Fort Smith, AR,--not only facing offshore...

Big Brother is watching: incorporating today's communications technology with machine sensing and controls, it's possible to set machines to task and then monitor them remotely when they call for help.(CONTROLLING INTEREST)
April 1, 2009... Today's machine tool technology can call, text, or e-mail for help when there are alarm alerts on unattended machines. When machines were set up for unattended operations in the past, the following scenario was often played out: load the...

MultiCam is 20.(Industry News)
April 1, 2009... MultiCam, Inc., Dallas, celebrated its 20th anniversary. Founded in 1989, the company produces CNC machining systems and has installed more than 7,300 CNC cutting solutions in more than 50 countries. Current products include a line of CNC...

Former "cheers" cast member boosts U.S. manufacturing.(Industry News)
April 1, 2009... The Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation--NBTF--founded by actor John Ratzenberger, host of the cable television show "John Ratzenberger's Made in America," that spotlights U.S. manufacturing, is joining forces with the Fabricators &...

VMC donated to Philadelphia U. by MAG.(Industry News)
April 1, 2009... MAG Industrial Automation Systems, Erlanger, KY, donated a $100,000 state-of-the-art vertical machining center to Philadelphia University's School of Engineering and Textiles. The VMC is a prototyping machine designed to make metal, plastic, or...

New pres at Seco/Warwick.(Industry News)
April 1, 2009... Keith Boeckenhauer was promoted to president of Seco/ Warwick Corp. (USA), Meadville, PA. Boeckenhauer is responsible for the company's operating activities and future growth strategies. He is a member of the company's board of directors and...

Donald Welbourn, CAD/CAM Pioneer, dies.(Industry News)
April 1, 2009... Donald Welbourn, a pioneer in the CAD/CAM field, died recently, according to Delcam USA, Salt Lake City, a CAD/CAM company. Welbourn's work led to the creation of Delcam. His wife Esther, predeceased him in 2001. He leaves a daughter, Ann, and...

Employment trend drops.(Industry News)
April 1, 2009... The Conference Board Employment Trends Index--ETI--fell sharply in February. The index stands at 91, decreasing 3.2 percent from the January revised figure of 94, and down 21.7 percent from a year ago. "During the past year, the ETI...

Industrial distributor survey shows demand slowing.(Industry News)
April 1, 2009... A survey of industrial distributors by Longbow Research analyst Eli Lustgarten shows weak markets, but also a possible stabilization stabilization in the industrial sector based upon an uptick during the January-February time frame. "Among...

U.S. ranks eighth in innovation leadership.(Industry News)
April 1, 2009... In the largest and most comprehensive global index of its kind, the U.S. ranked eighth in innovation leadership among 110 countries, according to a new report produced jointly by The Boston Consulting Group, the National Association of...

Mid-sized companies weathering the crunch, but hunkering down.(Industry News)(Survey)
April 1, 2009... Among the top findings of a study is that the credit crunch is not yet having an adverse direct impact on the mid-sized U.S. manufacturers. Instead, other factors that are related to the economy are creating more pressing issues, according to...

What's in a name? A married couple bought a shop and kept the old name, but had no qualms about updating it with new equipment.(MACHINE CONTROLS)
April 1, 2009... Asher Sharoni is the president of B.A.R. Engineering & Manufacturing, Inc., a 30,000 [ft.sup.2] aerospace machine shop in Cerritos, CA, that he and his wife, Tova, bought in 2005. The business was founded by the previous owners in 1985. ...

Love at first cut: in striking out on his own, a former purchasing manager for a shop made a career change and moved into waterjet cutting. He hasn't looked back since his partner fell in love with a waterjet system he saw at an IMTS exhibit.(WATERJET CUTTING)
April 1, 2009... Even success can bring boredom. Gary Lee was the purchasing manager of a 100-man Illinois job shop 12 years ago that was growing at a rate of 30 percent per year. But, for the 35-year-old, it wasn't enough. In his own words, he was bored out of...

Not the same-old, same-old: just because a product or process has worked forever, doesn't mean there aren't improvements available.(CUTTING TOOLS)
April 1, 2009... Often it pays to take a risk. A German plant knew what worked and what didn't, but wasn't afraid to try something new in cutting tools if it meant reducing costs. Hyco Pacoma, a shop that makes hydraulic cylinders in Eschwege, Germany, had...

'Go west, young man, go WESTEC': in the harsh economic climate, advanced productivity and taking the offensive were the focus of WESTEC 2009.(WESTEC ROUND-UP)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The WESTEC 2009 APEX--Advanced Productivity Exposition--was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, March 30 through April 2. With the focus on taking an offensive approach to the tough economic...

"Advanced" sawing.(WESTEC ROUND-UP)
April 1, 2009... Advanz is a line of carbide-tipped band saw blades that offers a special tooth tip cylinder of high-quality sub-micron grain carbide with a triple-chip grind, welded to a tough, ductile back. These blades also feature carbide-to-back bonding...

Drilling and cutting options shown.(WESTEC ROUND-UP)
April 1, 2009... The Model HMD904S Swivel Base drill unit features a drill body/magnetic base coupling that establishes two axes of motion--side-to-side 1-1/8" and front-to-back 1-3/8"--allowing precise tool positioning after magnet engagement, including in...

Look at this attachment.(WESTEC ROUND-UP)
April 1, 2009... The high-performance In-Sight 5100 family vision sensors are an independent vision system with robust hardware conforming to IP67 that is attached to TRUMPF laser welders. Because of its compact design the In-Sight can be mounted straight onto...

Waterjet cutting for difficult-to-machine materials.(WESTEC ROUND-UP)
April 1, 2009... The 60120 JetMachining Center precision abrasive waterjet systems is a large format machine that is ideal for quick and accurate cutting of larger or multiple parts from stock up to 5'x10'. The system features a 600 lb abrasive delivery feed...

Hold tight.(WESTEC ROUND-UP)
April 1, 2009... Wolverine Clamps are designed to fit Modular Fixturing tables, and are ready for production and high volumes of work. The clamp provides 2,100 lb of clamping force compared with a traditional toggle clamp that supports 300 lb of force. The...

Twins see double.(WESTEC ROUND-UP)
April 1, 2009... The MC 531/[TWIN.sup.2] is a 4-spindle TWIN2 concept for multi-spindle machining applications. Instead of two spindles and four clamped workpieces, there are four of each. The actual output will usually increase by 60 to 70 percent by adding...

A plethora of hole-finishing tools shown.(WESTEC ROUND-UP)
April 1, 2009... A line of hole-finishing tools include Shefcut precision reaming and boring tools, for accurate size, fine finish, and superior hole geometry, and Burraway and Burr-Off mechanical hole-deburring tools, for controlled edge break or burr removal...

How to select the right turning center: there's more to leasing or purchasing a turning center than writing a check and keeping fingers crossed. A decision based on needs, capabilities, and costs can help avoid expensive mistakes.(TURNING CENTERS)
April 1, 2009... Choosing the right machine for the right application is a workout. To choose a machine that can also produce complex parts beyond the initial requirements for its purchase is an important part of the machine selection process. To further...

Insane for membranes: a die casting plant is crazy about its solution to separate and concentrate its lubricant.(FILTERS)
April 1, 2009... Finding the most effective, reliable, and economical method for separating and concentrating die lubricant is tough for die casting plants, as different variables have to be factored into the equation. The situation faced by Metaldyne...

Small and accurate is on display: precision machining is the centerpiece of the 2009 PMTS trade show in Columbus at the end of this month.(PMTS SHOW PREVIEW)
April 1, 2009... The 2009 Precision Machining Technology Show--PMTS, April 28 through 30, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus, OH, will have more than 200 exhibitors, focused on the precision machining industry, showcasing * Automatic Screw...

CNC solutions.(PMTS SHOW PREVIEW)
April 1, 2009... The SINUMERIK 802D solution line CNC for job shops combines network-centric architecture and drive technology. It is an operator panel-based control system that combines the numerical control, the programmable logic controller, and the human...

Swiss-style machine control.(PMTS SHOW PREVIEW)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] GibbsCAM software for programming CNC machine tools has added lathe features that provide efficiency through tool control, and take advantage of newer high-tech cutting tools to turn harder materials and machine...

Quick [tool] change artist.(PMTS SHOW PREVIEW)
April 1, 2009... The C100 series of production turn-mill centers has three 14-position tool turrets and identical main and counter-spindles. They are for production of medium-complexity parts turned from bar stock in the 30 to 42mm diameter range. Designed for...

Live tools for a multitude of machines.(PMTS SHOW PREVIEW)
April 1, 2009... A variety of live tools are designed to enhance the performance of CNC lathes. These rigid tools effectively improve milling, drilling, and tapping capabilities in turning operations, according to the manufacturer. They are available in a range...

Multi-spindle heavyweight.(PMTS SHOW PREVIEW)
April 1, 2009... The eight-spindle Mori-Say TMZ 867 CNC multi-spindle multifunction production center can accommodate bar stock diameters up to 72mm and can operate as an open-front chucker. Provided with a double Siemens 840 D CNC, the European-built machine...

Belly up to the bar.(PMTS SHOW PREVIEW)
April 1, 2009... The Alpha ST 212 and ST 320 bar feed feeds round bar stock from 0.12" to 0.78" diameter. The Alpha ST 212 is designed to load small-diameter, round bar stock from 0.078" to 0.47" using a positive mechanical device to advance bar stock into the...

Double-sided turning inserts.(PMTS SHOW PREVIEW)
April 1, 2009... According to the manufacturer, the UTILIS Multidec 3000 series double-sided turning inserts guarantee repeatability to 0.0004" for cut-off, front and back turn, groove and turn, and threading work. The holder features a recessed pocket for...

Hard-turning machines.(PMTS SHOW PREVIEW)
April 1, 2009... The RS 51 MSY turning center with live tooling, C-axis, Y-axis, and sub-spindle offers vibration control, thermal stability, and accuracy, resulting in part roundness, surface finish, and statistical process control--SPC--capability. The...

Dual-capability marking system.(SPOTLIGHT ID MARKING)
April 1, 2009... The Duo enables engraving on a variety of materials including reflective metals such as aluminum, brass, silver, gold, and stainless steel, as well as on plastics, wood, acrylics, leather, glass, and coated metals. It combines C[O.sub.2] laser...

Unit puts "zing" into marking.(SPOTLIGHT ID MARKING)
April 1, 2009... The Zing 24 offers users a 24"?12" work table and comes in a variety of powers from 30 to 60W. It offers 1,000 dpi engraving and features the company's Laser Dashboard that lets users print directly from many of the Windows based software...

Two-sided marking at once.(SPOTLIGHT ID MARKING)
April 1, 2009... The Model 20-20SD is a two-sided bar stock roll marking machine that simultaneously imprints continuous identification information on two sides of square, hexagonal, or round bar stock. Fitting sizes, types, lot numbers, part numbers, company...

Marking in tight spaces.(SPOTLIGHT ID MARKING)
April 1, 2009... The Multi 4-50 is a 1.96"x2.36" handheld marking system designed for marking larger parts in reduced access areas or as an integrator unit for automated marking. It is completely electric, requiring no air supply, and features an embedded...

Marking for robots.(SPOTLIGHT ID MARKING)
April 1, 2009... The XF510Cr is a series of compact scribing machines available for integration on the production line, on turning platforms, or on robot arms with three models: XF510Cr, XF510Sr, and XF510DR, the latter with a marking field of 160mm--50mm. The...

Lightweight marking system.(SPOTLIGHT ID MARKING)
April 1, 2009... The MicroLiner 312 has a marking window of 2"?2" on an X/Y axis and marks up to four characters per second using scribe, stylus, or dot-matrix marking processes readable by the human eye. It can generate DataMatrix code markings as well. It...

Tough Enough.(New Products)
April 1, 2009... Semi-automatic Tough Gun air- and water-cooled MIG guns are built-to-order. They are available in 350- to 650-amp models, while the water-cooled versions offer 400- and 600-amp capabilities. Both gun models include a cable strain relief on the...

A High-pressure standard in tooling.(New Products)
April 1, 2009... The modular Serration Lock--SL--40 and 70 heads for turning provide more than 300 tooling options for difficult to access areas. The high-pressure coolant system harnesses the high-pressure pump's capability and channels a jet through small...

Easy access workholding.(New Products)
April 1, 2009... The Triag 5-axesCLAMP lets the machine spindle of 5-axis machines reach all areas of a complex part using conventional workholding technology, according to the maker. The clamping design of the tool minimizes interference, so machine spindles...

An intelli-gent machine.(New Products)
April 1, 2009... The Intelli-TRAX, a traction drive that is closed loop on larger models of JetMachining Centers is available. The mechanical force to produce motion is obtained from a friction wheel pressed against a rail. This force is set to be sufficient to...

KenFEED can feed.(New Products)
April 1, 2009... KenFEED end mills are designed to machine materials with hardness ratings up to 67 HRC. With an end geometry designed for high-feed processes, they have six flutes and AlTiN coating, enabling 0.024" per tooth feed and speed rates on a 0.075"...

Power from the fourth generation.(New Products)
April 1, 2009... The MTS 3500i is a multi-process, fourth-generation inverter power source that combines reliability and ease of use, according to the maker. It offers welding capabilities for MIG, TIG, or stick welding. It supports a wide selection of ferrous...

An attractive chuck.(New Products)
April 1, 2009... The electro-magnetic, Power Matrix chuck offers up to 132 tons of holding force per ft2 for machining applications. These chucks allow milling on five faces for high metal removal rates while eliminating vises and H-clamps for faster part...

VMC is feature-full.(New Products)
April 1, 2009... The SMV-40 combines milling and machining capacity within a compact footprint. Maximum table load is 500 kg and five table T-slots are standard. Rapid traverse rates are 60m/min in X-axis, 60m/min in Z-axis, and 30m/min in Y-axis. Maximum...

High-temperature approved.(New Products)
April 1, 2009... The No. 995 is an electrically-heated, 1,250[degrees]F high-temperature cabinet oven used for preheating steel forgings. Workspace dimensions are 20"x40"x20". Sixty kW are installed in Incoloy-sheathed tubular elements to heat the oven chamber,...

Small fixes have big green pay-offs: greening manufacturing can be done without a company investing in square miles of solar panels or windmills the size of 747s.(THE LAST WORD)
April 1, 2009... The federal government estimates manufacturing uses about one-third of the energy consumed in the U.S. The good news is that manufacturing engineers, especially design and manufacturing engineers, are already stepping up to the plate. Every...