Modern Applications News articles from October 2007

Modern Applications News archives from October 2007

The future sneaks up on us: Alvin Toffler wrote Future Shock to warn about the impact of technological advances on society. He may have overestimated things. Today we accept "miracles" of science as the expected.(EDITOR'S CORNER)
October 1, 2007... Here's my dirty, little confession. I'm an avid reader of hard-science, science fiction. Yes, I do so, but then make sure I wash my hands afterward. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I grew up in the golden era of gadget science fiction, when...

The proof is in the product.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... Attached is a picture of a 9/16" drill bit made in China of supposedly high-speed steel. The bottom third of the bit had a Rockwell hardness of about 62 [R.SUB.C] and then the rest of the drill bit had an average hardness of about 27 [R.SUB.C]....

Sometimes we just need entertainment.(Leteers to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... What do you think? Will the information in this article increase efficiency or save time, money, or effort? None of the above. But, a marvelous article [July 2007, Vol. 41, No. 7, From the Shop Floor, An Old 'Friend' Retires After 29...

Google "mark twain" + "school boards".(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... Why is it so hard to find qualified youth for employment in manufacturing? Perhaps a little introspection might be in order. When was the last time that you discussed your vocational education and desired outcomes with your local...

Enhancing the machinist's art.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
October 1, 2007... I thought the article by Norman Bleier [August 2007, Vol. 41, No. 8, Controlling Interest, Muskets and Machining, p. 17] was most informative. It doesn't save time, money or effort, but it does provide a context and background that enhances the...

775-lb forging machined to 225 lbs entirely by NC bridge-type profiler.(40 Years Ago This Month)
October 1, 2007... Probably the largest closed die titanium forging made in this country to date is a 775-lb forging made for the main rotor for the Sikorsky Aircraft CH53A Marine Assault Helicopter. When finished the hub is a 225-lb part which has been machined...

More standards; less awkward moments: dave suggests the powers that be create standards where none now exist.(FROM THE SHOP FLOOR)
October 1, 2007... A tooling salesman was in my office last week with a brochure featuring milling tools and inserts. He pointed out that his company's cutter bodies were more expensive than the competition, but due to advanced manufacturing techniques, better...

Hot shot entry form now online.(Industry News)
October 1, 2007... So you think your shop is hot stuff? Now you can prove it. MAN is looking for shops that do it faster, better, or more high-tech than its competitors. If you think your shop fits the bill, go to MAN's website,...

Workholding shipments up from 2006 levels.(Industry News)
October 1, 2007... At $64.6 million for the second quarter 2007, shipments of workholding equipment for the U.S. were up 8.2 percent from the second quarter 2006 according to the Workholding Product Group--WPG--of the Association For Manufacturing Technology....

Fed report points to accelerated expansion.(Industry News)
October 1, 2007... A Federal Reserve report shows industrial production rose 0.3 percent in July, the third increase in the past four months. Analysts see it as an indication of stable industry growth. "Mirroring the gain of the prior month, it's clear that...

NAM annual Labor Day Report shows housing downturn cushioned.(Industry News)(Report)
October 1, 2007... The National Association of Manufacturers' 10th annual Labor Day Report shows a snapshot of the past year's economic trends in relation to the American workforce. The 2007 report highlights how rising incomes are cushioning the impact of...

Dayton-based trade show opens Oct. 24.(Industry News)
October 1, 2007... The third annual Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Show--AMTS--produced by the Dayton Tooling & Manufacturing Association will be held October 24 and 25 at the Dayton Airport Expo Center in Dayton, OH. The show reaches concentrated...

The Conference Board results show a mixed economy.(Industry News)
October 1, 2007... The monthly Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index, which had surged in July, gave back all of the gain in August. The Index now stands at 105 [1985=100], down from 111.9 in July. The Present Situation Index decreased to 130.3 from 138.3 in...

Delcam posts record sales.(Industry News)(Financial report)
October 1, 2007... Delcam, a company specializing in CAM products, announced the company had its best half-year sales in the first six months of 2007. Sales for the first half of 2007 were $29 million, up almost 10 percent from the $26.4 million reached in the...

Hexagon acquires Israeli laser company.(Industry News)
October 1, 2007... Hexagon AB, Stockholm, Sweden, entered into an agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of CogniTens Ltd., a 3D, noncontact, measurement technologies company. CogniTens provides equipment for full-surface and features measurements using...

Detroit metal scrap pricing--September 2007.(INDUSTRY NEWS)
October 1, 2007... Detroit Metal Scrap Pricing--September 2007 Metal Price per Pound 17-4 PH Solids $0.44 17-4 PH Turn $0.38 18-8 Stainless $0.61 18-8 Stainless Turn $0.61 301 Solids ...

Smoothing the road: while advanced acceleration smoothing and jerk limits smooth toolpaths, it's best to use smoother profiles by using circular arcs and NURBS to smooth a tool's "road" and speed its "trip".(MACHINING RXs FROM DR. J)
October 1, 2007... As I mentioned in the August issue [August 2007, Vol. 41, No. 8, "The Need for Speed, p. 18], the starting point for any project is defined by the amount of work necessary and the end result. If the project objective is part quality, then the...

An industry giant leaves a lasting legacy: the intellectual father of NC and CNC has died. While controversy surrounds his involvement with the development of numerical and computer machining, his pioneering ideas can't be denied.(CONTROLLING INTEREST)(Obituary)
October 1, 2007... John Parsons died on April 18. He was 93. Why does this matter? It's because Parsons was the father of numerical control. While we mourn Parsons' death, he leaves the legacy of Numerical Control and Computer Numerical Control. ...

German automotive parts via Alabama: German automotive parts machined on German machines have their origin in the U.S. Deep South.(MACHINE CONTROLS)
October 1, 2007... On the face of it, Cottondale, AL, may seem an unusual place for a German machine tools firm to make automotive components for a German car, but Smith's Machine proves how the automotive industry has become a world market. The 30-person shop,...

Rock, paper, scissors, waterjet! Creating precision gaskets once involved paper templates and knives and kept a shop from reaching its full potential. Waterjet systems solved the problem.(WATERJET)
October 1, 2007... As a manufacturer of precision gaskets and packings, AP Services processes more than 50 rush orders each day to meet the 24/7 demands of power generation, chemical, and wastewater treatment industries worldwide. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Taking a bite out of the 'sandwich-cutting' costs: milling a layered mold base of different metals and hardness was causing problems until the company found the tooling solution it needed.(CUTTING TOOLS)
October 1, 2007... Precision Mold Base Corp.--PMBC--wasn't getting the results it needed when cutting stacked layers of different metals for molds. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Rough-milling that metal sandwich used to create a lot of thumping and scraping...

Putting manhole covers on a diet saved half a million bucks: faced with soaring material costs, LeBaron Foundry streamlined designs, lightening manhole covers and frames by as much as 50 lb.(CAD/CAM)
October 1, 2007... Manhole covers are an invisible part of the environment, they're everywhere, but no one sees them since they're so common. But, for a company that makes them--trapped in fixed-price contracts--manholes were of prime importance. LeBaron...

Anticipating needs leads to success: determining what types of machines are needed before the need arises has been a successful strategy for a Rhode Island shop.(TURNING CENTERS)
October 1, 2007... It takes foresight for a shop to keep customers tempted by the low labor costs of Asia. A New England shop is battling off-shoring through the purchase of a Swiss-type turning center. "In a global marketplace, it's not enough to offer great...

Solutions for short-run, light stamping: when two contract manufacturers needed a solution for stamping jobs that didn't require a large investment, they found a machine to fit their needs.(STAMPING)
October 1, 2007... When plastic injection molder Nordon Inc., Rochester, NY, saw an opening in the automotive market, it pounced. To capture a contract for heavy truck alternator contacts, it had to deliver overmolded metal products as quickly as possible, at the...

Accurate holding speeds UK shop's production: introduction of a workholding system decreased setup time for small part runs.(WORKHOLDING)
October 1, 2007... Spindle speeds, rapid traverses, cutting feedrates, and tool changes are getting faster and faster. Productivity, however, is often restricted because components aren't presented to the cutting spindle quickly enough after the previous batch...

'Rock stars' Get the welding equipment they deserve: pulling a company out of bankruptcy meant increasing efficiencies and providing workers with the right equipment.(SPOTLIGHT: WELDING)
October 1, 2007... Sometimes it takes an odyssey through failure to find success. Sfi of Tennessee LLC went through bankruptcy before gaining success. Today it has customers such as UPS, MTD, Caterpillar, FedEx, International, General Motors, Case New Holland,...

TIG welders help prevent burn-through.(SPOTLIGHT: WELDING)
October 1, 2007... Syncrowave 250 DX and 350 LX feature low-end DC TIG arc starting capabilities that help prevent burn-through when welding thin metal. While use of 1/6" or smaller diameter tungsten electrode is recommended for low-amperage arc starts or welding...

Mobile Welding Table features portability.(SPOTLIGHT: WELDING)
October 1, 2007... The Nomad Economy Welding Table, at 46 lb, features a 30"x20" steel tabletop that tilts to horizontal, 30[degrees], and folded positions. Three 1.1" slots let clamps be inserted at any point, so users can fully use the entire tabletop. Two...

Welders have gas control on handle.(SPOTLIGHT: WELDING)
October 1, 2007... Available in five models, the handheld WP-26 series is manufactured with heavy-duty copper materials and rated to 200-amp DC or 150-amp AC at 60 percent duty cycle. An optional gas control valve on the handle lets welders tune in gas flow,...

Ultrasonic welder for non-ferrous metals.(SPOTLIGHT: WELDING)
October 1, 2007... Delivering up to 800 W of ultrasonic energy, the 40 kHz Sonic Weld 4010 is suited for non-ferrous metal-joining applications, such as welding battery components or small gauge electrical wires and terminals. Measuring 4" x 5" x 12", unit has...

Flux-cored wires offer a range of operating parameters.(SPOTLIGHT: WELDING)
October 1, 2007... Dual Shield X-Series provides welders with high deposition rates, fast travel speeds, flat bead profile, limited spatter, and slag removal. It includes wires for use with C[O.sub.2] or mixed gases, and flat, horizontal, and all-position...

Fabrication show coming to Chicago.(FABTECH PREVIEW)
October 1, 2007... The 2007 FABTECH International & AWS Welding Show returns to McCormick Place in Chicago. Taking place November 11 to 14, it is the largest event in North America dedicated to showcasing a full spectrum of metal-forming, fabricating, stamping,...

Five-sided inserts.(New Products)
October 1, 2007... The ValMILL V556 system consists of face mills, end-mills, and an array of insert grades and geometries. The V556 series features inserts for rough- and finish-face milling operations, as well as plunging, ramping, and helical interpolation...

Long torches added.(New Products)
October 1, 2007... Four extra-length torches have been added to the Bulldog series. Three are 36", 48", and 72" with 180[degrees] head angles. The fourth is a 36" torch with 75[degrees] head angle that holds a seat to accept Harris-style tips. The torches can be...

Custom tooling blocks.(New Products)
October 1, 2007... The distributor now offers Abbott blank tooling blocks that reduce tooling cost and lead time. They are made from A713 Tenzaloy aluminium alloy for light weight, strength, and dampen vibration. These blocks fit standard machining center pallets...

Adapter for Unilock systems speeds setups.(New Products)
October 1, 2007... For use with the Unilock clamping system, the Rotary Indexer adapter kit makes it easy to change setups and parts. The 210mm adapter has 0.0002" repeatable accuracy and retention force greater than 11,000 lb. Its clamping provides a system to...

New press brake series.(New Products)
October 1, 2007... The TruBend 3000 Series is an addition to the company's series of press brakes. It features a new crowning system that uses hydraulic cylinders combined with a passive crowning technique, as well as a 5-axis backguage with [+ or -]3" on the X2...

Grooving inserts sport coolant passages.(New Products)
October 1, 2007... The VHM series of face grooving inserts are made of solid, micrograin carbide. The AK-40 grade is for machining aluminum, brass, copper, plastics, and high-temperature alloys. The AL-40 grade has a high-temperature coating for machining steels,...

Cutters deliver metal-removal rates.(New Products)
October 1, 2007... The manufacturer of KSOM clampless cutters reports they deliver high metal-removal rates and good surface finishes in steel, stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, and high-temperature alloys. The cutters also do roughing and semi-finishing....

Automatic tube Cutoff Lathes and feeders.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... Our new color 10 page catalog describes the advanced engineering and performance of Modern Machine Tool's newest Servo-Slide and Conventional Cutoff Lathes; capable of quickly and accurately cutting-to-length and machining cylindrical tube,...

Why buy an OMAX[R]?(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... Only OMAX offers the fastest cutting speeds and dynamic positioning accuracy to within +/-0.001". The user-friendly system machines virtually any material to a smooth finish with little or no setup necessary. With free software upgrades for the...

Free maintenance ideas.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... More than 100 maintenance ideas, collected from operations personnel, are revealed in a revised brochure from Kano Laboratories. Included in the brochure are ideas for handling hot or frozen bearings, loosening corroded bolts, frozen brake...

New brochure highlights newest machine offerings.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... Finn-Power's new "Quick Guide to Higher Productivity" is now available. The updated and expanded eight-panel, four-color pamphlet highlights Finn-Power's entire product line--turret punch presses, punch/shear and laser/punch cells, lasers,...

3000 Series CNC Plasma.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... The MultiCam 3000 Series Plasma is the perfect choice for those looking for value in a machine tool quality CNC Plasma Cutting System. The rigid, all-steel plate frame design supports a variety of standard or high-definition plasma units and is...

Machining without coolant.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... The Cold Gun Aircoolant System[TM] increases tool life, tolerances and production rates by eliminating heat buildup. The quiet Cold Gun produces cold air at 20[degrees]F from compressed air to extend tool life, stop burning, and reduce wheel...

Visit Hardinge at www.hardinge.com.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... The newly enhanced Hardinge website provides a concise overview of the extensive line of Hardinge turning centers, Bridgeport machining centers, and Kellenberger, Hauser, Tripet, and Tschudin grinding machines. The site details Hardinge's...

New airborne oil/coolant mist and fog collector brochure.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... Aget Manufacturing offers a new brochure that details the eight models of Mistkop[R] airborne oil/coolant mist and fog collection and air purification systems. Described in it is the simple Mistkop design and unique features as well as easy...

TRAK K3SX knee mill.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... The TRAK K3SX knee mill with the ProtoTRAK SMX control is available as a 2-axis CNC machine or with a quill drive for automatic 3-axis CNC machining. It has precision-ground ballscrews in the table and saddle. Other features include...

Turnkey equipment *design* large machining.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... Ascension Industries offers design fabrication of turnkey process systems. Products and services include: vessels, instrumentation, sanitary, polishing, CNC boring, milling and drilling, CNC laser cutting, and brake press and sheet metal...

Scientific Cutting Tools--Value line thread mills.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... Scientific Cutting Tools offers the high-efficiency Value line helical fluted solid-carbide thread milling tools. The fine ground cutting edge, sub micro grain substrate, and TiALN coating guarantee excellent surface finish. Available in UN,...

Atb Uni-Lok Quick Chang brushes.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... The Uni-Lok Quick Change brush is engineered for maximum aggression. The disc brush has a 1/4" shank. These brushes are designed for use on hand tools, CNC machining centers, fully automatic machinery, and robotic cells. They come in sizes from...

All about ESPRIT.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... ESPRIT is a high-performance computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system for a full range of machine tool applications. ESPRIT delivers powerful full-spectrum programming for 2- to 5-axis milling, 2- to 22-axis turning, 2- to 5-axis wire EDM,...

Recycle coolants and oils to cut costs and increase productivity.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... Sanborn Technologies designs and manufactures metalworking centrifuge and filtration systems for recycling coolants. Applications include separators for individual tools or plant-wide recycling. Other applications include tramp oil removal,...

GibbsCAM[R] interactive tour.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... This multimedia CD-ROM introduces the GibbsCAM[R] product line and shows why GibbsCAM[R] is your best choice for CAM software. Actual customers tell how GibbsCAM[R] addressed their manufacturing problems and improved their company's...

Free 34-page marking equipment catalog.(Literature Marketplace)
October 1, 2007... Numberall Stamp & Tool., Inc., has a free 34-page catalog outlining all types of metal marking equipment. Included with every catalog is a FREE Length Of Impression Ruler, a versatile aid in determining character size and number of characters....

Don't wait for the next leaders to appear, groom them: as U.S. education turns away from the sciences, it is up to industry to find and groom the next generation of leaders.(THE LAST WORD)
October 1, 2007... As a metalworking company, chances are on any given day, managers will complain about the skyrocketing cost of materials or worry about how to compete with cheap foreign labor. But, what probably won't be heard are people worrying about who...