Modern Applications News articles from January 2006

Modern Applications News archives from January 2006

Technology vs. educators: not that I ever want to start a fight or be disagreeable, but educators seem to be very different and far removed from those who toil in the industrial economy.(EDITOR'S CORNER)
January 1, 2006... I recently read a column by a guy who was obviously bright, but a failed engineering student. He complained that university engineering courses were ill taught and the material too intense to generate the number of engineers needed if this...

'Industrial Darwinism'.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... Mr. Mullally I read your commentary in November and it reminded me of a quote that I read that was attributed to Edward Deming. "Someone asked Deming once, 'What about the organizations that don't adapt?' He said, "The problem is...

'Quality Tune Not Enough?'.(Letters to the Editor)
January 1, 2006... In regards to the editorial "Quality Tune Not Enough?" by George Weimer... George, you are not being too optimistic. I couldn't agree with you more! Our country, the good ole US of A, and its astounding entrepreneurs have for years and years...

Smart tooling choices ensure shop survival: eightfold productivity improvement in roughing and finishing frees up capacity and gets more parts out the door for a Michigan machine shop survivor.(CUTTING TOOLS)
January 1, 2006... Established in 1965, Brighton NC Machine (Brighton, MI) is a survivor. Through a combination of investing in reliable equipment and keeping a constant eye out for productivity improvement opportunities, the family-owned job shop enjoys...

New drill-point geometry achieves higher feeds, superior finishes.(CUTTING TOOLS)
January 1, 2006... BIG Kaiser Precision Tooling Inc. introduces the newest addition to its high-performance Sphinx Quadro Plus drill line. With its specially designed point geometry, Quadro 15 PLUS is ideal for cutting steel, cast iron and other non-ferrous...

New General Catalog for carbide, indexable inserts.(CUTTING TOOLS)
January 1, 2006... Walter's new 736-page General Catalog is filled with information about the latest innovations in milling, holemaking, turning tools and inserts--a wide variety of tools designed to help improve productivity. The catalog also includes...

Essential cycle time.(CUTTING TOOLS)
January 1, 2006... Critical tolerances on the manifold were flatness and finish on multiple faces as well as hole location. Barton describes the job as "demanding... the customer's truck is here every day for parts. Cycle time is key. If we don't get decent...

Variable-helix Ball Nose endmill.(CUTTING TOOLS)
January 1, 2006... New from M.A. Ford, (Davenport, IA) is the TuffCut[R] XR, 4-flute Ball Nose solid carbide high-performance endmill for heavy rough milling applications, as well as for finishing cuts in virtually all materials. Extensive field-testing has...

Standard brazed tools.(CUTTING TOOLS)
January 1, 2006... Micro 100 Tool Corporation introduces its complete series of standard brazed tools which feature CNC precision ground carbide tips. Nine new styles are available including the AR & AL styles that come with square shank sizes from 1/4" - 3/4",...

Tooling trends indicate integration for profit: for tool and process engineers, machinists and operators, it has been commonplace for some time that the best material for a given part is also the most difficult to machine.(CUTTING TOOLS)
January 1, 2006... In virtually all applications--spanning a variety of industries--part machining is becoming more difficult. Due to process optimization in the broad arena of global competitiveness, the challenge is to continually fine tune all aspects of...

Indexables providing cover from rising carbide costs: a manufacturer of both solid carbide and indexable cutters sees substantial shift to indexables because of climbing carbide prices.(CUTTING TOOLS)
January 1, 2006... "There is a definite shift toward indexable drills and milling cutters triggered by the rise in solid carbide tooling prices," says Chuck Elder, Ingersoll executive vice president. "We hear it from supply chain managers and distributors, and...

Solution eliminates the finish line: applying a geared boring head solved the challenge of producing a finish fine enough to seal 6,000 psi at the bottom of a threaded hole.(CUTTING TOOLS)
January 1, 2006... Tight tolerance machining to provide high-pressure system integrity in stainless steel components is standard practice for operations at Waters Corp., a major supplier of high performance liquid chromatography instrumentation and consumables,...

+p making the cut in the job shop business: like many job shops, Oxford Industries traces its roots back to a garage. Also, like many job shops over the last five years, its owner wondered if his shop was going to make it--make a profit and grow--or whether the day-to-day business was just postponing an inevitable going out-of-business auction.(THE JOB SHOP)
January 1, 2006... In the last six months, Carl Freeburg, Oxford's president, has seen the years of work, worry, planning, changing and effort pay-off. Customers have returned with continuing orders, and Freeburg believes he and his team are "over the hump" and...

Premium grinding investments deliver premium market niches: when customers measure part tolerances in microns, successful grinding job shops understand that it's the technology investment that will secure their market niche and attract new customers.(GRINDING)
January 1, 2006... Gary Treichler, vice president and general manager of Form Grind Corporation (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA), says that as a college student he had a internship with Magerle in North Carolina, during which time he viewed large turn-key Magerle...

CAD/CAM provides cookie-cutter solution: most companies don't go looking for "cookie-cutter" CAD/CAM solutions to their technology or machining challenges--but if you make cookie-cutters, that's exactly what you need.(CAD/CAM SOFTWARE)
January 1, 2006... Christmas cookies have unusual shapes such as Christmas trees, sleighs or reindeer. At one time, these shapes were often produced with dies made by hand at Moline Machinery (Duluth, MN). But now, the company has gained far greater efficiency to...

Flying optic laser helps Iowa shop soar: the owner of an Iowa fabricating shop got more than sore feet at the last IMTS, he got a piece of equipment that changed the future of his business--a laser.(LASERS)
January 1, 2006... At Janco Industries (Sully, IA), Joel Jansen had a thriving business, making various structures in mild and some stainless steel for the agricultural, food processing, foodservice and construction industries. But when he visited IMTS in Chicago...

Automated laser feeds the need for speed: from prototypes to production runs, laser-cutting systems coupled with automation and control software help shops generate stronger returns on their capital equipment investment.(LASERS)
January 1, 2006... It was the need for speed that encouraged Canadian contract manufacturer John G. Wilson Machine (Ontario) to step into the world of laser cutting technology. In 2000, Wilson installed its first laser-cutting system, aiming at maximum speed...

High-performance welding helmets.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... Hobart Welders introduces its new XTV Series of lightweight, high performance auto-darkening welding helmets that darken in 1/12,000 of a second after arc start and feature an internally adjustable auto-darkening shade (#9-12), lens...

New machine for crankshaft production.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... Heller's new generation of RFK heavy-duty crankshaft milling machines is designed to improve the efficiency of batch machining main and pin journals of heavy-duty forged steel or cast iron crankshafts to 1250mm. Main and pin journals, cheek...

Step chuck collet closer holds parts up to 6".(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... Lexair's economical 5C pull-back style collet closers are now offered with a threaded nose. The closer accepts standard 5C collets up to 11/16" dia., 5C step chucks for parts up to 6" dia., and expanding nose 5C collets for ID holding....

New Horizontal grinding center.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... Max-Tek introduces the HGC 400 Horizontal CBN grinding center with 3-, 4-, and 5-axis capability for applications in aerospace and power generation, including gas turbine blades, vanes, nozzle guide vanes, and shroud segments. Constructed on an...

Brushes for in-machine deburring.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... Weiler Corporation offers the Bore-Rx[TM] line of internal deburring brushes. Designed to increase productivity of in-machine deburring in CNC machining centers, these brushes remove all burrs found at intersecting holes and other internal...

Lighted magnifier for large workstations.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... Waldmann Lighting's fully rotational Omnivue illuminated magnification light now offers a 43" extended reach arm. The Omnivue "Max" version is ideal for longer length inspection and assembly applications. The standard Omnivue arm reach is 35",...

Standard containers in popular sizes.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... Linpac Materials Handling, manufacturer of ROPAK(TM) reusable container systems, offers the Industry Standard family of containers. Built on a 45" X 48" footprint, these containers are available in two heights: 25" and 34". Engineered to be...

Machine tool tray loader.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... Distech Systems' new DS1200-MTL provides an accurate, reliable alternative to costly conveyor automation and operator tending. The new, compact system, which is compatible with most machine tools, uses robotic technology to load and unload...

VDI-driven units for Mazak machines.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... Self-contained VDI-driven units from Kennametal for Mazak Quick Turn Nexus, Super Quick Turn, and Multiplex-series machine tools enable multiple part processes such as milling, drilling, and turning on the same part in a single setup. Available...

Collet Adaptation workholding catalog.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
January 1, 2006... An updated brochure details the Hardinge line of HCAC[TM] Collet Adaptation Chucks manufactured for Hardinge machines and other machine brands. Products are described with full dimensional information with reference to machine spindle...

Are super technologies right around the corner? Technological change is something we are used to in America.
January 1, 2006... We expect manufacturing to offer a whole new computer chip technology every year and a half. We expect new and different cars to be produced every three years. We expect bigger and clearer televisions and smaller and cheaper hand-held...