Modern Applications News articles from October 2005

Modern Applications News archives from October 2005

'Be prepared': when that phrase became part of most of us, we were about 12-years old and there was nothing that couldn't be handled with little more than a positive attitude and pocketknife.(EDITOR'S CORNER)
October 1, 2005... Now, older and wiser, we understand that it takes a little more to be prepared for the simple challenges of living and making a living. I'll also add that in most instances today, a 12-year-old caught with a pocketknife isn't looking at his...

Small businesses expect strong third quarter.(Industry News)
October 1, 2005... The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index anticipates a strong third fiscal quarter. NFIB Chief Economist William Dunkelberg noted the economy showed continued strength as six of the index...

Peter C. Hobart establishes two unique scholarships.(Industry News)
October 1, 2005... International entrepreneur and board member of the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, Peter Cahill Hobart has established two scholarships in the amount of $1,000 each for selected students to further their education in welding at the...

Florida leads in latest job growth numbers.(Industry News)
October 1, 2005... U.S. Department of Labor reports in its latest figures that July nonfarm payroll employment rose in 34 states, fell in 14 states and DC, and was unchanged in only two states. Florida had the largest job gain (+42,400), followed by...

Machine tool consumption continues to rise.(Industry News)
October 1, 2005... June U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $269.00 million, according to the latest figures from AMT--The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association. This total, as reported by...

SME showcases manufacturing for high school students.(Industry News)
October 1, 2005... The Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) hosted more than 300 Michigan high school students from a six-county area for the SME Student Summit in September at the newly built Rock Financial Showplace in Novi, Mich. The SME Student Summit was...

Aerospace job gains continue.(Industry News)
October 1, 2005... According to Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) Aerospace Research Center, the sector added 11,100 jobs since the end of 2004 with total aerospace employment at 618,400 in June (vs. 607,000 in December, 2004, and vs. a 50-year low of...

ISM Report On Business[R] PMI at 53.6% new orders, production expanding.(Industry News)
October 1, 2005... Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in August for the 27th consecutive month, while the overall economy grew for the 46th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business....

Letters to the Editor: MAN--Modern Applications News thanks its readers for their thoughtful responses to recent columns and articles, these are always most welcome and we are pleased to be able to publish them.(Letter to the Editor)
October 1, 2005... Provocative Columns Mr. Mullally: As usual, the editorial columns of your September magazine proved both provocative and entertaining. Regarding George Weimer's column on the shift in unions, what I find most interesting is the...

Small, flexible laser marks metal, plastics: challenged to produce a high-contrast, permanent mark on both plastic and metal components without disrupting production, a manufacturer of gasoline handling products employs a self-contained laser-marking unit.(ID MARKING)
October 1, 2005... Although their expiration dates are not as short or obvious as a bottle of milk gone bad, many plastic and metal parts also have finite lives. For instance, key components for airplanes, automobiles or medical implants also can outlive their...

Marking inks for all surfaces.(ID MARKING PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... Dell Marking Systems, Inc. offers a complete line of pigment and non-pigmented marking inks that are automotive manufacturer approved and meet OSHA requirements. Standard and special formulations are available for marking surfaces where a...

Laser marking system.(ID MARKING PRODUCTS)
October 1, 2005... The MicroLase system from Schmidt Marking Systems is designed for non-contact laser marking on plastic, paper, glass, metal and ceramic at a rate of up to 150 characters per second. The unit's compact, lightweight design requires less floor...

New software optimizes mill-turn programming: moving up to the newest mill-turn machine tools to gain productivity and competitive advantages, a shop completes its technology investment with new CAM software to get the most performance from the new machining centers.(CONTROLS/CAM)
October 1, 2005... Hill Manufacturing (Broken Arrow, OK) machines parts for winches, submersible oil pumps, safety valves, and flight simulators. In the past, the company used 2-1/2D programming software that had no difficulty handling the relatively simple...

High level controls drive multi-spindles to the max: keeping pace with machine tool and controls technology keeps high-precision screw machine shop in high-quality, profitable niche.(CONTROLS/CAM)
October 1, 2005... Through its use of Index multi-spindle machining centers, one Clearwater, FL job shop is continuing to score high marks with precision hydraulics, aerospace, and defense sector customers. Model Screw Products (MSP) is a 78-person, 42,000...

+p 'there are no simple parts anymore': because there are no simple parts anymore, an Oregon shop demonstrates that teaming multi-tasking mill/turn machine tools with powerful CAM capability produces precision parts and profits.(CONTROLS/CAM)
October 1, 2005... Contract machine shops in North America can prosper despite tough global competition with multi-tasking CNC machine tools--especially combination turning and milling or "mill/turn" centers. They can manufacture parts in one setup--sometimes...

Low maintenance is key to efficient deflashing: removing flashings from diecast aluminum transmission cases wasn't a real challenge, maintaining the deflashing equipment was.(FINISHING/DEBURRING/CLEANING)
October 1, 2005... Ryobi Die Casting (USA), Inc (Shelbyville, IN) was challenged to find machines to deflash large diecastings aluminum transmission housings, create a uniform finish, and meet stringent maintenance requirements. Before turning to the...

Package converts mill to waterjet: almost every shop has one--an older knee-type mill that sits in the corner of the shop, virtually unused since newer technology has delivered much higher productivity to the process. That old mill might be your ticket to employing a different cutting technology and perhaps opening new markets--convert it to a waterjet.(WATERJET)(Cover Story)
October 1, 2005... An Ohio waterjet manufacturer has expanded the meaning of multi-function machine tools with the introduction of a new package that converts a vertical mill into a waterjet cutter. "The concept is really quite simple," says Richard Ward,...

Outsourcing job reveals new machining resource: thinking 'outside the box' is now almost a punchline, but looking outside the four walls of your shop can certainly allow you to discover new tools to improve productivity and profit.(CUTTING)
October 1, 2005... IKA Works (Wilmington, NC) produces products that are used to mix, blend, and disperse liquids and solids for the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Although manufacturing is done in-house, occasionally IKA Works will contract...

Grinding shop's niche secured by challenges: too big, too long, too much stock, terrible material, non-round, eccentric ... "who needs jobs like this?" A grinding shop proves that it needs these tough jobs to stand out and establish its niche and position for the future.(GRINDING)
October 1, 2005... Hommer Tool & Manufacturing, Inc. (Arlington Hts., IL), opened in 1983 to specialize in the production of round tooling and components, as well as the fabrication of replacement tooling, for the plastics injection mold building industry. ...

FABTECH product review.
October 1, 2005... North America's largest metal forming, fabricating and welding event, the 2005 FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show will take center stage at Chicago's McCormick Place from November 13 - 16. This new combined show, co-sponsored by the...

New face mills brochure.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
October 1, 2005... Valenite LLC has released an eight-page color catalog that describes the new advanced milling tool system, the Valmill[TM] V555 Series of face mills. The literature outlines the advantages of the new system of inserts featuring a pentagon shape...

Saw for cutting foundry gates/risers.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
October 1, 2005... The Model K20FS Lock Down Head saw from Kalamazoo Industries, Inc. is designed for cutting foundry gates and risers. A stepped-in design on the front of the unit allows easy access. Features include a 20" abrasive wheel, 2,500 rpm 1" spindle...

High-volume cutting machine brochure.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
October 1, 2005... Hydropulsor AB has announced a new brochure detailing its new generation of high velocity cutting machines. These new machines use a highly concentrated energy within a narrow zone to eliminate strain hardening, cracking, burrs, cutting fluid,...

Welding end prep tool.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
October 1, 2005... Esco Tool offers the Prepzilla Millhog[R] pipe milling end prep tool for a wide range of tube and pipe. This new end prep tool features one mandrel and eight sets of easily interchangeable clamps to cover the full 1-1/2" I.D. to 8-5/8" O.D....

Cooling tower packing.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
October 1, 2005... The Tri-Mer Corporation introduces its new line of lightweight cooling tower packing that is compatible with all tower types and sizes used commercially. Tri-Packs CT is a high-efficiency cooling tower media that facilitates continuous...

Zinc plating system brochure.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
October 1, 2005... A new brochure is available from Dorken Corporation USA providing a comprehensive overview of its advanced Delta MKS[R] zinc-flake plating system. The brochure highlights the major elements of the system, including the two inorganic base coats...

Magnifiers/comparators/microscopes catalog.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
October 1, 2005... The new product catalog from GEI International, Inc. features a variety of magnifiers, measuring magnifiers, microscopes and other optical inspection devices for use in diverse industrial and commercial applications. Products are shown with...

Industrial fluid purification.(NEW PRODUCTS AND LITERATURE)
October 1, 2005... The Turbo-Separator T22/RCS, from Sandborn Technologies, is a complete filtration system that recycles grinding and polishing fluids by removing the fine micron particles entrained in the fluid. The centrifuge has a process rate of up to 40 GPM...

'I pledge allegiance to ...' los Estados Unidos: have you noticed the English and Spanish trend in America?
October 1, 2005... It's in everything from ATMs to phone calls seeking help from the Federal bureaucracy to assembly brochures and increasingly in secondary public schools. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Now before you label me some kind of language bigot or...