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December, 2004
Editorial
We can't afford complacency
It's hard to believe another year has gone by. And while many of us get a little nostalgic around the holidays, this is not the time to become complacent, especially if you're involved in...
Features
Building Tomorrow's Machinists
Partnerships between a large U.S. machine-tool builder and learning institutions shape manufacturing education for the next generation.
Cornering The Creepfeed Market
Expertise, agility, and the right mix of machines ensure one creepfeed-grinding operation stays on top.
Tech Trends
High-speed "data pictures"
Manufacturers can gather hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of points of information about an object in just minutes with 3D-scanning technology from Perceptron Inc., Plymouth, Mich. Creating a...
Laser cutter does its own setups
Artificial intelligence is key to an innovative lasercutting-system introduced by Mazak Laser Corp., Schaumburg, Ill. According to the company, its 4,000-W HyperGear system changes its own torch,...
New process yields strong saw blades
Shops may soon be using saw blades that are stronger and faster-cutting than what's currently available, according to The L.S. Starrett Co., Athol, Mass. The company has introduced Bi-Metal Unique,...
Roll form curved shapes
A new method of roll forming steel sections promises substantial cost reductions in the fabrication of vehicle parts compared to conventional techniques. The Monroe process uses high-precision...
Truck around long, narrow loads
Some forklifts have a hard time handling long loads of pipe and tube, but that's not the case with fork trucks from Combilift Ltd. The Irish company, with U.S. operations based in Red Bank, N.J.,...
Cutting Tool Digest
Bimetal bandsaw blades
Bimetal Gladiator bandsaw blades have a wear and heat-resistant backing and tripletempered M42 high-speed steel teeth with 8% cobalt (67 to 69 Rc) and up to a 12° rake angle. The blades...
Coated grooving inserts
SumiNotch Grade EH510V grooving inserts exhibit a stable tool life and have a V coating for wear and notch resistance. The inserts are for continuous cuts, as well as finishing light to medium-light...
Cutter kits
Freedom Kits, each for an application-specific material group, include 10 ground, polished, and coated Mil-Tec inserts, a Freedom Cutter body, screws, wrenches, antiseize, and a technical data sheet....
Full-radius milling cutters
R219.19 full-radius copymill cutters from Seco-Carboloy are for semifinishing and finishing operations in a range of materials. Available from 0.315 to 1.250-in. diameters, the copymills have a...
Government Matters
The continuing visa mess
The State Department recently responded to a visa inquiry from Congress by saying the visa problem had been solved. We would all rejoice if that statement were true, but unfortunately it is not.
Machine of the Month
Spilt-second toolchanges slash nonproductive time
A LiCON Liflex flexible machining system uses three sixspindle LTC modules. Workpieces are mounted to fixtures carried by a rotary transfer in the center of the system.
Bits & Bytes
CMM software
Calypso version 4.0 CADbased-programming software for CMMs packs several new key functions, options, and features for measuring, evaluating, simulating, curve-data importing, and model comparing. The...
Free integrators
Peps SolidCut suite of CAD/CAM software comes with free Design Integrators that handle component and assembly data from SolidWorks, Solid Edge, and Autodesk solid-models design solutions. Shipped at...
New features when they happen
Rather than bundling new features of its Depocam software into yearly releases, NC Graphics is issuing them as soon as they are ready. This lets customers grow with the new features and doesn't...
Software handles more native files
As part of Version 9, EdgeCAM Solid Machinist CAM system for CATIA V5 makes it possible to load native part and assembly files, while Solid Machinist for ACIS lets users directly load native .sat and...
Law and Liability
Illegal alien gets workers'-comp benefits
Ghassan Rajeh, a citizen of Lebanon, became a permanent legal resident of the United States in 1981. In 1988, he was convicted in federal court of a conspiracy to distribute heroin, and served five...
Pre-existing medical condition leads to workers'-comp benefits
Michael Preston suffers from a hereditary neurological disorder called paramyoclonus multiplex, which causes involuntary shaking of the head and arms. The shaking tends to become worse when he is...
Casebooks
CNC puts machines in gear
Klingelnberg GmbH, a German-based machine tool builder, produces CNC equipment for hypoid and spiral-bevel-gear work. For its C Series of gear-generating machines, the company wanted to incorporate...
Rebuilding only where necessary
DaimlerChrysler was machining 150,000 pump housings/yr for an electronic, four-speed automatic, rearwheel-drive transmission using a line that included nine automated and palletized HMCs and two...
Software makes for a speeding bullet
The Buckeye Bullet, designed by Ohio State University students, hit 314 mph on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, reportedly making it the fastest electrical car on earth. To develop such a vehicle,...
Stock-car builder rides on EDM
Joe Gibbs Racing makes parts light, but strong, to reduce racecar weight and squeeze out more speed. While many of these parts could be cast, the Huntersville, N.C., Nascar Nextel Cup and Bush Series...
New Equipment
Assembly-line washer
For cleaning parts on an assembly line, the Hotsy 8600 pass-through part washer has a 16-in.-wide steel conveyor belt. The adjustable belt moves up to 8 ft/min. Hot-water spray from a 360°...
Balanced grinder brushes
Mighty-Mite small-angle balanced grinder brushes eliminate vibration, reduce operator fatigue, and extend tool life. Wheel, cup, and bevel brushes for high-speed tools are available in heat-treated...
CAD/CAM software controls machines
The Direct Machining and Control (DMAC) system operates cutting machines and robots from CAD/CAM software. The PC-based open-architecture control incorporates digital and analog drive interfaces,...
Combined CNC, motion control, and PLC
The IndraMotion MTX control incorporates CNC, motion control, and PLC functions into one system for machine tools and forming machines. The NC and IEC 61131-3-compliant PLC share the same hardware...
Contour machine measures molds
Tokyo Seimitsu Contourecord 1700DX contour-measuring instruments for machine parts such as molds feature linear-motor technology and AI functions. According to Carl Zeiss, the linear motors improve...
Energy-saving part washers
Jenfab front-loading, spray, oscillating-basket washers save energy because of a back-and-forth parts movement directly under spray jets. According to the manufacturer, the system reduces spray...
Functional workwear
Riggs Workwear by Wrangler is a denim line engineered for long hours on the job. The jeans, jackets, and shirts meet comfort and durability demands of shop workers. They include Durashield, a fabric...
Grinder removes weld beads
Dynabrade's 4 1/2-in.-diameter depressed-center wheel grinder features a 12,000-rpm, 1-hp air motor for cleaning metal before welding and removing weld beads afterwards. This grinder has a safetylock...
High-speed moldmaking
The VMC 3016 with 30,000-rpm spindle is a rigid platform for high-speed operations such as contouring molds. It uses HSK-40 (DIN standard) tooling and features a 20-pocket dual-arm ATC. Machine...
Inspect and sort small parts
Resec Systems' Model J181-T automatic parts sorter inspects and sorts up to 3,600 parts/hr with an accuracy of ±0.0001 in. Parts feed via a vibratory bowl feeder onto a gravity track, which...
Laser cutter uses 5,200-W resonators
Byspeed 3015 laser cutters feature 5,200-W resonators with adaptive radius control (ARC). ARC provides automatic optimization of beam diameters for cutting sheetmetal and other materials. This...
Lasers feature conduction cooling
Spectron SLD6000 series solid-state lasers provide 5 to 10-W output using conduction-cooled diode bars for reliability and cost effectiveness. The systems mark, trim, scribe, and...
Multiple workholders fit VMC
Providing 43 X 22 X 22-in. travels (X/Y/Z), the A-3 VMC handles large workpieces as well as multiple workholders containing small parts. Its 12,000-rpm CT-40-taper spindle uses P4 angular-contact...
New CMM feature
Faro's Laser Tracker X features XtremeADM, which lets the system perform measurements in one mode, eliminates interferometers for measuring distance, and overcomes line-of-sight issues. If something...
Parts washer saves energy
The Lean-Veyor parts washer offers 50% or more energy savings than conventional spray washers thanks to its internal ventilation and encapsulatedsprayand blowoff zone. It sports an enclosed design...
Refurbishing testing equipment
ARO Measurement Systems reconditions tensile/compression machines for testing metal parts or raw-material inspection. ARO cleans, adjusts, and makes new fixtures for machines that measure with dial...
Triple-mode laser
A compact production laser, the SG-U44, does high-speed, 2D processing of sheetmetal and plate, 3D cutting of preformed parts, and 3D rotary cutting of tube and pipe. With a multi-axis torch, the...
Washer movement ensures clean parts
The Turbo pump agitation and oscillating platform action of LiftKleen part washers make sure that all surfaces of parts are in contact with the cleaning solution. The washers are suitable for parts...
Wide belt transports parts
The PWRB9-36EU aqueous parts washer with 9-in.-wide, flat wire belt tackles large metal parts and batches of small parts. This washer features a compact U-bend design sooperators can load/unload from...
Practical Ideas
Quick, custom hex sockets
My idea is for easily producing custom, hex-head socket screws. The quick procedure is coldworking, so it generates sockets harder than those produced by EDMing.
Retrospective
Slide rule cool in 1904
In the December 1, 1904, issue, a reader thanked the editors for introducing him to the slide rule. "Having heard it spoken of (in print that is) by one whom I believed to be thoroughly practical as...
