Modern Applications News articles from March 2003

Modern Applications News archives from March 2003

Change the gameplan. (Editor's Corner).
March 1, 2003... Watching the recent Super Bowl, I was reminded why I enjoy football. With each snap of the ball, you are never certain what will happen. A completed 60-yard pass, a fumble, a sack, a tackle-busting 35-yard run or a heart-breaking...

November machine tool consumption down 9.7%. (Industry News).
March 1, 2003... November U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $145.52 million, according to AMT--The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association. This total, as reported by companies...

New business model: Shops join forces to land large jobs. (Machining/Turning Centers).
March 1, 2003... Two productive, but relatively small, Illinois shops joined forces in a new business model that allows them to tackle large contracts as a team. The owners of AT Precision (Northbrook, IL) and K&C Precision Machining (Wood Dale, IL)--Chuck...

Robot cell in smaller shop delivers large benefits. (Robotics).
March 1, 2003... Sensing a new business climate, a smaller shop installs a turnkey robotic cell to increase productivity, focus employee efforts on quality production, and win jobs from China. Security Locknut, Inc. (Chicago, IL) has been manufacturing...

Compact twin spindle CNC lathe. (Spotlight Products).
March 1, 2003... Wasino's JJ-l twin spindle CNC lathe is small in size, and big on accuracy and efficiency, and can do the job of two lathes offering AA and AB operation. This unit's gantry loader enhances cycle times and features a Fanuc AC servo with vertical...

VMC combines precision, stability, speed. (Spotlight Products).
March 1, 2003... Romi Machine Tools, Ltd., introduces the D series of vertical machining centers (VMCs), a flexible and accurate solution for mixed volume, short run applications, and high volume applications. With a work envelope of 22" (W) x 16" (D) x 20" (H)...

New Vertical machining Center. (Spotlight Products).
March 1, 2003... The Vertical Center (VC) Nexus 410A from Mazak Corp., is part of the new Nexus series of machine tools focused on providing advanced technology, increased productivity, and value for metalworking manufacturers. This machining center provides a...

Expanded MAG-Series product line. (Spotlight Products).
March 1, 2003... The MAG3 is the newest addition to the MAG-Series machining center product line from Makino. This new unit adds a three-meter (9.843-foot), X-travel selection to the product line which consists of the larger MAG4, MAG7, MAGlO, and MAG16. They...

New high performance machining center. (Spotlight Products).
March 1, 2003... The Mikron UCP 1350 delivers high performance simultaneous four- or five- axis machining with a highly versatile milling head and an exceptionally fast and accurate heavy load rotary table. The machining capabilities of this machining center...

Plunge milling cutter solves heavy metal removal challenge. (Cutting Tools).
March 1, 2003... A long-time customer comes to a shop with a new job that presents new challenges in terms of approach and machining capability. Though they consider themselves a small- to medium-sized shop with seven CNC milling machines, four turning...

Marking constantly changing parts is an axle manufacturer's challenge. (Marking).
March 1, 2003... With the potential for 50 product changes during an eight-hour shift on an axle assembly line, parts marking for traceability has to be fast, accurate, permanent, rugged, and simple to change accurately. Operating plants in five states,...

New laser marking technology. (Westec Products).
March 1, 2003... On display this year at Westec will be the new MicroLase laser marking system from Geo. T. Schmidt, Inc. The unit's unique compact design and diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser combine to create a new method of industrial non-contact marking. This...

New Global[R] Selfeeder drill units. (Westec Products).
March 1, 2003... The "Global" series of Sugino Selfeeder drill units are named for their universal global appeal and adaptability to virtually any application, replacing hand drills, radial drills, pneumatics and to other automated drilling operations. The new...

High positive inserts for machining steels. (Westec Products).
March 1, 2003... Rouse-Arno introduces a new line of replaceable high-postivie geometry inserts for machining stainless steels, steels and cast steels at low cutting forces where toughness is required. The line of "Steel Pro' inserts produces medium to large...

Portable CMM with 0.0002" accuracy. (Westec Products).
March 1, 2003... Faro Technologies, Inc. has unveiled their accurate and advanced portable measurement arm, The FARO Gage[R] Personal CMM[TM]. This represents the culmination of two decades of R&D with more than 10 new pending patents for innovations in...

New line of Quick-Jaw Change Lathe chucks. (Westec Products).
March 1, 2003... A new line of Quick-Jaw Change Lathes from Schunk, Inc. will be displayed at Westec. The new model THW Quick-Jaw Change chucks feature a wedge-bar serration mechanism, provide less than one-minute jaw change, repeatability to 0.0006" (0.015mm)...

Bench Marking Presses. (Westec Products).
March 1, 2003... Numberall Stamp & Tool Co., Inc. has upgraded their line of Bench Marking Presses. Simple, compact and easy to operate the Numberall press lines offer 8 choices. The cylindrical presses are available in hand and air powered. For flat stamping...

Hardinge demonstrates gripping solutions. (Westec Products).
March 1, 2003... Hardinge Inc. will be demonstrating their workholding and industrial products at Westec 2003. Products being demonstrated include, collets, step chucks, devices for fixturing, production assembly and other non-typical applications. Special...

ScrewCoder provides true straight-line postioning. (Westec Products).
March 1, 2003... Combining a lead screw assembly with a linear encoder, Newall's ScrewCoder is an industry first. True straight-line positioning is now possible as the nut and screw are integral parts of the measuring components. Linear positional readings will...

New cutting tool carbide eliminates polishing. (Westec Products).
March 1, 2003... The new GC1610 cemented carbide for Sandvik PluraTech solid carbide endmills eliminate costly polishing and electrical discharge machining in shops finishing hardened steel dies and molds. PluraTech GC1610 is fine-grained carbide with a...

Multi-Axis software helps drive better production. (Westec Products).
March 1, 2003... Even small margins of improvement make a big difference in producing top-quality parts. This is especially true with precision multi-axis projects. Comprehensive new capabilities in Master CAM software are designed to add machining flexibility...

The 'in's and out's' of ballbar calibration. (QC/Measurement/Inspection).
March 1, 2003... A look at the technology behind this key machine tool diagnostic device that allows detection of errors noticeable only while machine tools are in motion, and a manufacturer taking advantage of it. Determining a machine tool's capabilities...

Pneumatic plate beveler. (New Products and Literature).
March 1, 2003... Heck Industries has added a new lighter weight beveler to their line of edge conditioning equipment. The new Model 3000 Bevel-Mill will produce clean chamfers at 8 ipm . This new tool features a gear drive air motor, variable angle bevels from...

New Laser Tool Setting System. (New Products and Literature).
March 1, 2003... Marposs Corporation has added to its Mida Laser Tool Setting Systems line the compact Mida Laser 75, that can measure tools as small as 0.004" in diameter. This new laser is available as a stand-alone unit or as a modular system. In the modular...

New ball screws with Rotating Nuts. (New Products and Literature).
March 1, 2003... Steinmeyer, Inc. offers several standard Rotating Nut designs in sizes 16 x 30, 32 x 40. and 65 x 80 (pitch x diameter), and all can be modified and converted into a rotating nut, by adding a precisely ground bearing seat on the outside...

Dissolve rust without damaging metal surfaces. (New Products and Literature).
March 1, 2003... ExRust, from Kano Laboratories, dissolves rust without damaging metal surfaces. Industrial maintenance techs also use it to prepare metal surfaces for painting or coating. This concentrated rust remover can be applied directly or diluted for...

Digital Linear Encoder is "on the ball". (New Products and Literature).
March 1, 2003... The Spherosyn[R] Digital Linear Encoder from Newall Electronics, Inc., features a unique "ball" technology which reduces fitting time, increasing efficiency levels in machine applications. This encoder is completely sealed against oil, dust,...

Ceramic Grain abrasive. (New Products and Literature).
March 1, 2003... VSM's Ceramic Grain abrasives feature Combikorn technology, a special coating process that provides the ceramic grain with a firm layer of support allowing for easy regeneration and self-sharpening of the grain. These ceramic products are also...

"More bang for your machine tool buck?" (Ron Loeffler on the Three 'R'S").
March 1, 2003... Although linear motors first came on the scene back in the '70's, recent advances in drive amplifier technology make them more suitable for machine tool use. Linear motors' growth as replacements for servomotors and their associated...