Modern Applications News articles from February 2003

Modern Applications News archives from February 2003

It looks like some good news. (Editor's Corner).
February 1, 2003... The first thing I learned about playing the stock market was it is nothing but shooting craps in a three-piece suit. In both, it helps if you understand the game and the odds. The "dot com" phenomenon illustrated two points. Point One,...

October machine tool consumption level with September. (Industry News).
February 1, 2003... October U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $186.93 million, according to AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association and AMT -- The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating...

Manufacturing grew in December, first growth in four months. (Industry News).
February 1, 2003... Economic activity in December, 2002, in the manufacturing sector grew for the first time in four months. The overall economy grew for the 14th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing SM Report On...

Removable pallet rack system streamlines small shop operation: while large shops face a variety of problems, including limited space and productivity issues, these problems are even more acute at small shops. (Workholding/Toolholding).
February 1, 2003... Typically, large shops have more resources and therefore more solutions available to them. Small shops with limited resources have fewer options, especially when it comes to workspace and throughput issues. Two California firms, B.R. Alexander...

Collets, feed finger & pads for davenport machines. (Spotlight Products).
February 1, 2003... Hardinge, Inc. offers solutions for Davenport machines of all ages with off-the-shelf delivery for many common sizes in standard and oversize collets and feed fingers. Products available for Davenport machines include solid collets, master...

"Clak" quick-change parallel system. (Spotlight Products).
February 1, 2003... New quick-change parallels that align and lock into position on vise jaw plates are available for all Kurt 4" and 6" vises. This system, called the Kurt "Clak" System, uses patented parallels to eliminate manual clamping and locking-up of jaw...

New gripper for modular automation. (Spotlight Products).
February 1, 2003... Robohand, Inc. introduces the new DirectConnect[TM] Parallel Gripper (DPG), a gib-style gripper with features such as finger mounting surfaces on the sides and bottom of jaws, and tapped air ports on the front and both sides are standard. The...

Machinable cam action clamps. (Spotlight Products).
February 1, 2003... Mitee-Bite introduces a new version of its cam action clamps. These clamps have machinable washers and provide more felxiblity for holding round or unusual shape parts. The round washer, which has a flat edge, is made of mild steel for easy...

MDT toolholding system. (Spotlight Products).
February 1, 2003... With the use of a single toolholder and insert to perform turning, profiling or grooving operations, the multidirectional turning (MDT[TM]) system from Carboloy simplifies tool handling and reduces inventory costs. MDT holders and chipbreakers...

Square base stationary chuck. (Spotlight Products).
February 1, 2003... SMW Autoblok introduces a new stationary chuck to its complete line of precision workholding components. The Model MACC-3 features a square chuck body for a variety of work-holding applications. A compact design and low profile body allow for...

Broad line of chuck jaws. (Spotlight Products).
February 1, 2003... Rovi Products Inc. has expanded its line of chuck jaws to include 15" diameter full-grip jaws for serrated and tongue and groove chucks. These jaws are manufactured from solid 6061-T6 aluminum. This chuck jaw line includes, metric serrated,...

Clamp holds workpieces to 2" thick. (Spotlight Products).
February 1, 2003... A new riser component introduced by Stevens Engineering is selectively used to enable their Equalizer Clamp to hold thicker workpieces. This clamp accommodates workpieces up to 2" thick for precise machining operations. It is a totally...

Electro-magnetic clamps reduce set-ups, machining time: as work becomes less plentiful and customers demand shorter lead times, machine shops are driven to cut time and cut costs to remain competitive. (Workholding/Toolholding).
February 1, 2003... As The Sullivan Corporation (Statesville, NC) strives to stay on top of the market it has been forced to find ways to cut costs in its job shop and plate work. The company recently landed a large contract to machine large plates. Most of these...

Breathing new life into an old workhorse: "machine rebuilds are a cost effective alternative for many shops looking to increase capabilities and performance". (Holemaking/Boring/Tapping).
February 1, 2003... So says Richard Bikle, president, Bikle Manufacturing, Inc. (Smithsburg, MD). He should know, having recently completed a rebuild of a large 1952 Giddings & Lewis boring mill for use in his own job shop, which specializes in precision machining...

CAM software credited with mold maker's competitiveness: it doesn't matter where your shop is located in the world these days or how big it is, the deliver time is always the same -- yesterday. (CDA/CAM Shop Control Software).
February 1, 2003... For many manufacturers, getting to market faster may mean the difference between winning or losing the lion's share of the market opportunity. Today's smaller shops are no longer competing with just the shop across town to win work, but also...

Swing-frame grinder assures surface finish, cost control. (Coatings
February 1, 2003... By bringing a final slab and plate finishing step in-house, a producer of high-performance alloys has gained control of surface quality, production cost and schedules. At Haynes International, Inc. (Kokomo, IN), intermediate grinding with...

Robotic welding delivers new business, lowercosts to job shop. (Forming/Fabricating).
February 1, 2003... Fabricators are confronted with historically demanding cost pressures. In addition to pure pricing pressure, another powerful trend is impacting metal fabricators. Stamping/forming operations and all job shops are being required to add...

EDM allows shop to aim at high-end rifle market: it's not every day that you run into the combination of an EDM job shop and a rifle manufacturer, but if you travel to Redlands, CA, that's exactly what you'll find at Affordable EDM. (EDM).
February 1, 2003... Founder Keary Ritchie and his wife Peggy started the Southern California job shop in 1992. Five years later, they began producing large-caliber, high-end rifles under the banner of EDMARMS and they haven't slowed down since. Both businesses...

Variable angle clamp. (Westec Products).
February 1, 2003... A new line of variable angle positioning clamps has been introduced by Heck Industries. These clamps feature adjustable angle 90[degrees] for both left and right. Light weight machined from 6061 bar stock aluminum. The clamps have detents every...

Flexible blast cabinets. (Westec Products).
February 1, 2003... A new line of adjustable-height blast systems, to be introduced by Guyson Corporation, has special features that enhances its flexibility and convenience, Some of these features include, padded arm holes, switch controlled cabinet height, and...

Non-leak check valve. (Westec Products).
February 1, 2003... Kosmek (USA) has recently introduced a non-leak check valve featuring patented zero-leakage which greatly simplifies hydraulic fixturing by eliminating the need for live hydraulic connections or large accumulators. The BK non-leak check valves...

Modular fixturing for welding. (Westec Products).
February 1, 2003... The Demmeler modular fixturing systems features accurate five-sided tables made of a high tensile strength steel. Tables from 1,000mm square up to 3,000 1,500mm can be joined together where larger parts need to be fixtured. Angles, spacer...

Custom designed grooving. (Westec Products).
February 1, 2003... Kaiser Tool Company introduces Design-A-Groove[TM] tooling that is modified to the customer's specific application requirements. Special configurations include face grooving geometry, full or corner radius, increased depth of cut, chamfering,...

Magnetic chuck for wire EDM. (Westec Products).
February 1, 2003... Holding large work pieces for wire EDM has been simplified with introduction of a Herman Schmidt[R] magnetic chuck. This chuck features watertight, stainless steel construction and the use of rare earth magnets for excellent holding power. ...

PlateLASER[R]-II offers more power and faster speeds. (New Products and Literature).
February 1, 2003... W.A. Whitney Co. introduces their new PlateLASER-II which offers a large work envelope, more laser cutting power, and faster cutting speeds for thick and thin materials. This machine features a standard work envelope of 120" x 240" (with 120" x...

Mill alignment tool. (New Products and Literature).
February 1, 2003... EZ-TRAM allows the operator to quickly check and align the spindle of a vertical turret mill, perpendicular to the machine table without disturbing the work set-up. This tool is made of cast iron and has a 15.7" diameter with a 1.8" wide gaging...

Laser cutting machine's productive "beam on" time improved. (New Products and Literature).
February 1, 2003... Trumpf introduces a new laser cutting technology that will substantially increase production by improving the percentage of "beam on" time. Sprint Axis motion technology allows the laser machine to achieve rapid acceleration rates that improve...

Tools/holders increase productivity. (New Products and Literature).
February 1, 2003... The "Mosys" (Modular System) tool holder system, incorporates Emuge Thriller-tools into the Mosys Tool Holder. This system can drill, thread, chamfer, spot face, or counterbore in one pass to improve productivity by 70% through cycle time...

Direct-part marking withstands manufacturing processes. (New Products and Literature).
February 1, 2003... Mecco Marking & Traceability has introduced the Bumpy Bar Code[TM] technology that embeds a bar code directly in a product. Represented by highs and lows in surface height rather than changes in black and white. These Bumpy Bar Codes are...

High speed reamers. (New Products and Literature).
February 1, 2003... With the newly high-speed REAMAX[TM] reamers, the Komet Group offers a tool system for maximum cutting output from multiple cutting edges and the advantages of exchangeable cutting heads in one unique system. These modular high-speed reamers...

Machine tool upgrades: the three "R's"; time to make a decision.
February 1, 2003... In this, the final installment of our series, we'll discuss selecting a contractor for your machine tool upgrade. Finding A Contractor You can locate contractors by contacting friends, customers, and local chapters of professional...