Weekly Update 05/17/2007

May 17, 2007
NEWSLETTER SPONSOR Makino

Makino— a leading manufacturer of horizontal and vertical machining centers and EDM machines — has announced a new series of online Webinars. Designed for shops of all types and sizes, the seminars are free to anyone who registers. The planned seminars are intended for shops in the automotive, aerospace, medical product and die and mold industries. In addition to metal cutting and die/mold, the seminars will cover new technologies, such as micromachining. Mark Rentschler, marketing manager, says, "Online seminars allow anyone with an Internet connection to attend without losing a day of work." The seminars concentrate on shop efficiency, lean manufacturing, asset utilization, machine tool integration and automation, machine tool technologies, and metal cutting processes. Makino's application engineers, product managers and guest speakers will give presentations. Click here for more info on upcoming seminars and registration information.

Aerospace machining becoming a golden goose

Aerospace outsourcing can turn shops into high flyers The aerospace market has taken a major upturn and is expected to be strong for several years to come, and more than ever before, prime aerospace contractors are outsourcing almost all of their regular machining and are actively looking for qualified shops to do that work. Why aerospace presents the hardest challenge One of the consistent themes at an Aerospace Symposium hosted last month by Kennemetal, was how hard it is to cut the exotic alloys that are being designated for use in airframes and engine parts. The alloys — primarily of titanium — are harder than Ti 6-4 and, in fact, approach the hardness of cutting tool materials. Engineers at The Boeing Co. and its suppliers are flummoxed; they are searching for solutions. Market study provides details on aircraft manufacturing sector Aside from divisions of a few large companies such as Honeywell and Northrop Grumman, few aircraft parts manufacturers have annual revenue in excess of $100 million, and the typical parts company has 150 employees and revenue of $25 million, according to an industry study done by Research and Markets. The full report, “ Aircraft Parts Manufacture – Industry Profile,” is available at www.researchandmarkets.com Report spells out new aerospace and defense product development processes A report from consulting and research firm CIMdata, Inc., titled “Overcoming the Challenge of Electro-Mechanical Product Development in Aerospace and Defense,” discusses how electro-mechanical product development enables key industry initiatives to transform the defense strategy to fully leverage the information age. Technology Truths MYTH: Waterjets are limited in aerospace applications because they can't..., and hybrid metal-organic composites. REALITY: Metals used in aerospace applications are among the most difficult to machine. In addition, aerospace shops face tough partmachining challenges... channels. GE/Rolls-Royce venture gets engine contract GE/Rolls-Royce venture gets contract develop the engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program. The F-35 is the next-generation stealth aircraft in development to replace the AV-8B Harrier; A10, F-16 and F/A-18 Hornet; and Harrier GR.7 and Sea Harrier airplanes. Boeing sells Whicita/Tulsa DivisionBoeing Corp sells Wichita/Tulsa Division. After announcing a year ago it was studying the possible sale of its commercial aircraft plants in Wichita, Tulsa, and McAlester, Okla., The Boeing Co. has a deal with Onex Corp., a Canadian conglomerate, for $900 million cash, assumption of certain liabilities, and long-term supply agreements. It is part of the company's plan to concentrate on aircraft design and final assembly. Company gets second Boeing contract Ducommun AeroStructures Inc., has been awarded an additional $15 million contract by The Boeing Co., to produce structural components and assemblies for C-17 cargo aircraft . The contract extends the company's right to supply aluminum fuselage panels and other components into 2007. Ducommun AeroStructures manufactures large, complex structural components and assemblies for various military and commercial aerospace applications Faro receives order from BoeingFaro Technologies Inc., has received an order from the Boeing Co, for 10 of its Laser Tracker Xi measurement systems. These measurement systems will be used by Boeing's Rotorcraft Facility in Philadelphia in the modernization and maintenance of CH-47 Chinook helicopters and V-22 Osprey aircraft from several U.S. military branches and international customers. Aerospace manufacturer installs new grinder Barnes Aerospace, increased its capacity for precision grinding of high-temperature alloys for commercial and military engine original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) with the installation of a Campbell 930V five-axis radial groove grinder. The company expects the increased capability to reduce tooling costs, lead times and set-up times for jet turbine engine components.

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Upcoming Webcast Series

The CNC Best Kept Secrets Series of educational webcasts from GE Fanuc and American Machinist is designed to educate manufacturers on the often overlooked ways to prevent downtime, enhance the speed of machine tools, and improve part quality.

• Best Kept Secrets to Reduce Cycle Time -- June 13, 2007 2:00 PM ET
• Best Kept Secrets to Improving Part Quality -- September 12, 2007 2:00 PM ET

Click here for more information.

Practical Machinist Metalworking Forum

Need a machinery manual? ISO 9000 Good or bad for American Manufacturing Which CAD/CAM for 5-axis milling of gears

AMERICAN MACHINIST DIGITAL EDITION

Now you can get the latest edition of American Machinist delivered directly to your PC. Click here to learn more about the digital edition.

Welding Webcast Series

Four hot topics you need to hear about.

• ERP for Gases: On the Edge of Enough - July 18, 2007 @ 2:00 PM ET
• Best Practices in Electrode Selection: Maximum Profit Starts With the Process - September 25, 2007 @ 2:00 PM ET

Click here to attend these free Webcasts.

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