Modern Applications News articles from September 2007

Modern Applications News archives from September 2007

I'm guilty as charged: sometimes a belief, even erroneous, can be pounded into our brains so that we take it for granted. Here's my mea culpa for letting the media sway my attitudes toward corporations.(EDITOR'S CORNER)
September 1, 2007... I love reader involvement. Each e-mail and letter I receive gives me a small peek into what readers are thinking. There are 75,000 of you subscribers, yet I only hear from a tiny percentage. I can trigger responses with my editorial comments....

Even homer nods.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... I read the interesting article, The Right Cutting Tool Helps a Shop Across the 'Finishing Line' [July 2007, Vol. 41, No. 7, p. 24]. I would like to comment that though surface finish spec and test results in the article are per the...

It's where the profit goes that matters.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Nice article [June 2007, Vol. 41, No. 6, The Last Word, Forget Outsourcing, the Issue is Insourcing, p. 50], or should I say, nice try at soothing the guilty consciences of U.S. businesses that are not buying American. Let's use this article as...

Root Cause Analysis feedback.(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Until our government starts to penalize companies when their sole purpose for closing down American manufacturing plants, laying off hundreds--or thousands--of American workers, and relocating to China or India for cheaper labor, the bleeding...

"Got to know when to hold 'Em and when to fold 'Em".(Letters to the Editor)(Letter to the editor)
September 1, 2007... Dave Sterling was on target with his column about old equipment [July 2007, Vol. 41, No. 7, From the Shop Floor, An Old 'Friend' Retires After 29 Years, p. 10]. Sometimes we spend more hours programming and trouble-shooting older equipment than...

Computer auxiliary memory promoses speedier circuits using less power.(40 Years Ago This Month)
September 1, 2007... A silicon-on-sapphire technique, being used by RCA in experimental circuits for computers, represents a relatively new approach in the computer industry. It makes possible production of large arrays of silicon field-effect transistors which are...

So you think you're hot stuff?(Industry News)
September 1, 2007... Better? Faster? More efficient? No, we're not referring to the Six-Million Dollar Man, we're asking about your company. Here's a chance to brag about what you do and how you do it and, perhaps, be profiled in Modern Applications News. MAN...

Manufacturing technology consumption both up and down.(Industry News)
September 1, 2007... May U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $313.74 million, according to AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association--AMTDA--and The Association For Manufacturing Technology--AMT, up from April, but down compared to...

Manufacturing migrating out of traditional regions.(Industry News)
September 1, 2007... A report by the National Association of Manufacturers shows manufacturing's geographic distribution in the U.S. has shifted in recent decades, with more manufacturing taking place outside of the traditional centers in the Northeast and Midwest....

Trumpf and Jenoptik form joint venture for laser components.(Industry News)
September 1, 2007... The Trumpf Group, Ditzingen, Germany, and Jenoptik AG, Jena, Germany, intend to expand their cooperative efforts with a joint venture which will bundle laser component efforts. Each have a 50 percent share of JT Optical Engine GmbH + Co. KG,...

Hardinge experiences growth.(Industry News)
September 1, 2007... Hardinge Inc., Elmira, NY, experienced a 14.3 percent increase in net sales during the second quarter of 2007, compared to the same quarter in 2006. Sales during the second quarter of 2007 were $89.7 million, compared to the $78.5 million...

Romi elects new CEO.(Industry News)
September 1, 2007... Industrias Romi S.A., elected Livaldo Aguiar dos Santos to chief executive officer, replacing Americo Emilio Romi Neto, who remains as chairman of the board. The election of dos Santos is one of the measures implemented to strengthen the...

Faro raising funds.(Industry News)
September 1, 2007... Faro Technologies, Inc., Lake Mary, FL, announced that it expects to raise $56.1 million in a registered direct offering with institutional investors. The net proceeds to Faro are expected to be approximately $53.3 million after deducting...

Agie, Charmilles and Mikron become GF AgieCharmilles.(Industry News)
September 1, 2007... Agie Charmilles combined its Agie, Charmilles, and Mikron brands under a new brand identity, GF AgieCharmilles. This unification lets the company offer products in EDM and high-speed and high-performance machining, under a single brand. As...

Vietnam hosts machine tool show for third year, but it's no IMTS.(Industry News)(Conference news)
September 1, 2007... MTA Vietnam2007, the third Vietnam International Precision Engineering, Machine Tools and Metalworking Exhibition & Conference, hosted 8,728 visitors at the Ho Chi Minh International Exhibition and Convention Centre. A total of 433...

Manufacturing confidence on the uptick.(Industry News)
September 1, 2007... The National Association of Manufacturers/Industry Week business outlook survey for the second quarter of 2007 points to confidence edging up from both large and small companies, after declining during the prior four quarters. The survey...

Update.(Industry News)
September 1, 2007... Since we ran "30 Years of Expertise Pays Off," [MAN, Vol. 41, No. 6, June, 2007, p. 26] Southwestern Laser has been acquired by LAI International and Joe Wagner was named plant manager.

Stocking the digital toolbox: while "anything can be a hammer," digital tools such as cameras and other devices, are finding their way onto the shop floor.(FROM THE SHOP FLOOR)
September 1, 2007... Open any drawer in a machinist's tool box and find a variety of tools. The tools may be as basic as a hammer or as advanced as a set of digital calipers. Between those are a range of items, some low tech, some high tech. Some do the dirty work...

Breaking the code: spindle specifications aren't mystery numbers. Understanding them can mean better machine shopping and cutting.(MACHINING Rxs FROM DR. J)
September 1, 2007... The heart of the machine tool is the spindle. Its capabilities define the performance of a machine tool. Often, spindle specification is expressed as 15hp S3-30%, 60min or 20KW S6-5min. What do these figures mean? These terms represent the...

The key to keyseating: cutting keys was a losing proposition until a shop owner invented a better "mousetrap." The new system brought in work and may have the world beating a path to his door.(KEYSEATING)
September 1, 2007... Sometimes there's so little profit in a job the only sensible thing to do is turn the work away. Kim Morris, founder of Morris Welding & Machine, Inc., Wildwood, FL, found himself doing that when faced with work that required keyseating. ...

Make the right investment in marketing: effective marketing is as important to a shop's success as having the right machines.(MARKETING)
September 1, 2007... For such an important factor in the success of a business, many shop owners don't have the appreciation of marketing they need. Marketing and advertising are not the same. Although it's the most visible function of marketing, advertising is...

Commonality is the key: making the most of its machines' time is a key to this shop's success. Common controls on different manufacturers' machines lets it take advantage of time and effort.(MACHINING)(Cover story)
September 1, 2007... Alan Manufacturing Inc., Odessa, FL, serves local manufacturers with quality components since this production CNC turning shop opened in 1976. Components include parts used in the production of high-accuracy flow instruments, high-pressure...

'Trifecta' success: a cooperative effort between three manufacturers--two of which are each others customers--provided a lights-out solution for a tool manufacturer.(GRINDING)
September 1, 2007... Melin Tool Co. and Jergens Industrial Supply, both located in Cleveland, have an unconventional, long-standing business relationship: Each is a customer of the other. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Melin manufactures carbide and cobalt...

Necessity is the mother of trunnions: as a company transitioned into a job shop, it found the need for a stable, rigid trunnion. When it couldn't find one on the market, it made its own.(CAD/CAM)
September 1, 2007... Star Metal Products, Westlake, OH, needed the accuracy of a horizontal CNC, but found the cost prohibitive. As an alternative, the company thought a trunnion added to its VMC would provide the rotary capability with the trunnion supported on...

Strength in numbers: even though going it alone is an American trait, sometimes e pluribus unum is the way to go in getting purchasing discounts.(PURCHASING)
September 1, 2007... With the competitive global marketplace, running a metal manufacturing company is complex. From purchasing materials and finding skilled labor to marketing the shop and meeting sales goals, keeping up with the competition is a full time...

If at first you don't succeed ... get better software: "try, try, try again" wasn't working for PSC Machining. Reprogramming parts was causing problems. It needed a way to download part programming to break a bottleneck.(CAD/CAM)
September 1, 2007... Consistency in second, third, and fourth runs of parts caused a bottleneck at PSC Machining and Engineering, Inc., Portage, IN. "We had employees who thought they could reprogram simple parts a lot faster than downloading them," Bill...

The cheese state hosts Machine Tool Show.(WISCONSIN MACHINE TOOL SHOW PREVIEW)
September 1, 2007... The Wisconsin Machine Tool Show takes place Oct. 9 to Oct. 11 in the Wisconsin Exposition Center at Wisconsin State Fair Park, Milwaukee, WI. The latest machine tools and accessories will be under one roof. The show is the largest industry...

CNC router changes the face of business: the time and effort of manual routing hindered business. The addition of a CNC router helped the company soar.(SPOTLIGHT: CNC)
September 1, 2007... Switching from manual machine tools to a CNC router helped a plastic fabricator produce a wide range of products while trimming production time by 90 percent. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RBC Enterprises, Baltimore, MD, makes safety guards...

Automated machine tool tending.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... LoadWorld cells automate machine tool tending. Pre-engineered modules include a robot and options for standard two- and three-jaw dual grippers, conveyors, part positioners, pallet floor locators, part cleaners, and markers. Modules are...

Heavy-duty Face Drivers for hard turning.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... Neidlein Face Drivers are designed for hard turning, grinding, heavy cuts, and other special applications. They allow workpiece O.D.s to be machined in a single operation. Face Drivers perform heavy and interrupted cuts, turn small and large...

Adjustable boring head with fine resolution.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... The EWB UP--Ultra Precision--Finish Boring Head is a series of boring tools with adjustable resolution of 0.001mm diameter correction steps. This lets users make incremental adjustments for critical diameter tolerances without using a Vernier...

Serrated cutting inserts take on deep cavities.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... Millshred cutters have serrated edge inserts as well as round inserts. Both have protruding cylinders on the bottom with locating flats designed for precise insert indexing and positioning in cutter bodies. The serrated insert has four indexing...

Workholding for hydraulic and pneumatic systems.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... StrongHold Select is a workholding system series of hydraulic and pneumatic products. The Select products include hydraulic swing clamps, work supports, threaded body cylinders, square body cylinders, pneumatic swing clamps, and accessories....

Grinding disks for aluminum.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... AL-tra Cut discs are designed for aluminum grinding. The discs resist loading and provide high cut rates. For use on right-angle grinders, the discs are available in 4.5" and 7" sizes with grit sizes ranging from 36 to 120. Weiler Corp. ...

Machining fluid is chlorine-free.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... WS6610, a chlorine-free micro-emulsion for heavy-duty machining of ferrous and non-ferrous metals controls biological growth, eliminates odors. The manufacturer states its micro-emulsion chemistry extends sump life and reduces waste disposal...

Truck oven bakes paint.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... The No. 911 is a 500[degrees]F truck oven for paint baking. Workspace dimensions are 39"x36"x48" with 30 kW Nichrome wire tubular heating elements and a 2,000 cfm, 2 hp recirculating blower for heated horizontal airflow to the workload. ...

Position System mounts to flat surfaces.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... The Universal Positioning System mounts blowers, heaters, cameras, and other devices onto conveyors and packaging equipment. It consists of a base that attaches to any flat surface and a series of stepped and straight-through couplings, which...

Portable scale weighs scrap.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... A portable drum and barrel scale with a digital weight indicator has keypad-selectable conversion units and RS-232 computer connectivity. The scale stores vertically and is 4.5" wide with wheels and handles for weighing drums of scrap metal...

Large VMC capability in a small footprint.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... The VF-3YT/50 vertical machining center with extended Y-axis travel has the heavy-duty cutting capability of a 50-taper machine in a small footprint. It has a 40"x26"x25" work envelope. Heavy cast-iron construction provides rigidity and...

Wedge design offers high clamping force.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... The Uniforce Clamp, a wedge-style edge clamp, holds two workpieces with equal pressure on each piece. The wedge principal generates a clamping force relative to the size of the wedge. The clamp consists of a steel wedge in an aluminum channel...

Configurable locating pins.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... Locating pins for jigs and fixtures are available in a range of styles: round or diamond shape, with or without shoulder, for set screw or nut fixing, in 4137/SCM415 steel or 304/440C stainless, with hardening or carburization surface...

Carbide endmills for tool steels and other metals.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... Jabro Mini solid-carbide endmills include the JM100 series designed to machine hardened tool steels. The 400 series tackles aluminum and copper. Manufactured from micrograin carbides, the endmills' geometries are coated for heat and wear...

Lathe series displaces heat.(NEW PRODUCTS)
September 1, 2007... The NL Series of lathes have increased rigidity and minimal thermal displacement for precision and productivity. The series features a milling motor inside the turret directly coupled to the milling tool. There are 30 models in the NL Series,...

Easy machine tool upgrades reduce costs.(Literature Marketplace)
September 1, 2007... Lyndex-Nikken's line of CustomTools is designed to easily and effectively upgrade machine tool capabilities. AngleHeads reduce work setups by accessing previously unavailable planes. HiSpinners reduce cycle times and costs by increasing tooling...

Free 34-page marking equipment catalog.(Literature Marketplace)
September 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....

Darex drill sharpeners.(Literature Marketplace)
September 1, 2007... Darex has been making industrial drill sharpeners for use in shops of all sizes for 30 years. For shops that demand precision and productivity, the Darex V-390 can sharpen bits from 1/8" to 3/4" easily. Darex; OR; 800.547.0222; www.darex.com...

Clamps and tooling components.(Literature Marketplace)
September 1, 2007... This 680-page catalog includes toggle clamps, modular fixturing, chuck jaws, drill bushings, pins, knobs, power workholding, handles, supports, feet, locators, vises, and threaded inserts. Carr Lane Mfg. Co.; MO; 314.647.6200; Fax 314.647.5736;...

Visit Hardinge at www.hardinge.com.(Literature Marketplace)
September 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...

Why buy an OMAX[R]?(Literature Marketplace)
September 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...

VersaFinish[TM] axially-compliant finishing tool.(Literature Marketplace)
September 1, 2007... ATI Industrial Automation released VersaFinish, an axially-compliant finishing tool for a multitude of robotic and automated material finishing operations. VersaFinish is a robust, low-speed, high-torque air tool with an axially-floating...

Turnkey equipment *design* large machining.(Literature Marketplace)
September 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...

Abtex Tri-Ten deburring systems.(Literature Marketplace)
September 1, 2007... Abtex is a single source for abrasive brushes and application-specific delivery equipment for specific needs. The new Tri-Ten system is capable of deburring both sides of a flat part in a single pass using Abtex's three-brush planetary head...

Automatic tube Cutoff Lathes and feeders.(Literature Marketplace)
September 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,...

New tools for burr-free punch parts.(Literature Marketplace)
September 1, 2007... Trumpf's new roller deburring tool and deburring MultiTool create burr-free contours and deburr punched sheet metal parts. The roller deburring tool uses an embossing roll for long edges and contours with a radius of more than 0.8". The...

New brochure highlights newest machine offerings.(Literature Marketplace)
September 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,...

Dimensional measuring instruments brochure.(Literature Marketplace)
September 1, 2007... This brochure details digital indicators; linear gage sensors with ranges of 1"-4" and accuracies up to 0.00002". These gages measure dimensions, thickness, curvature, eccentricity, displacement, height, depth, flatness, variation, run-out,...

Wiha Tools catalog.(Literature Marketplace)
September 1, 2007... Wiha Tools offers its 2007/2008, 244 page full-color catalog. It features more than 3,800 tools, with more than 200 new products that include TorxPlus Fold-Up, Drive-Loc VI Nut Drivers, Insulated Terminal Block Zeno Slotted/Phillips...