November 2008 Edition
NEW PRODUCTS
Band Saw Available in Manual and Automatic
The SH 1419 Band Saw, with Metal Fabricating Solutions, has a swing head for mitering without material movement, provides straight, accurate cuts, and can be used in bundle cutting. It has 60º of mitering ability, with capacities of 14"×19" at 90º and 14"×10-1/2" at 30º. Features include a 1-1/4" blade, carbide guides, preset blade-tensioning, power-blade brush, and a 3 hp variable-frequency AC drive, with speeds from 70 to 400 sfpm. Other features include a self-contained hydraulic unit for quick-approach, head hold and separate cutting feed rate, feed force adjustments, a recirculating flood coolant system, and ANSI-required guarding. They are available in both manual and fully-automatic versions. Scotchman Industries
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Knee Mill Has Meehanite Castings
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. Precision-ground ballscrews are installed in the table and saddle of the K3XS. The knee mill’s wide way surfaces are hardened and ground and the slide ways are Turcite coated. It has a standard glass scale for quill Z readout. Other features include chromed hardened and ground quills and Meehanite castings. Southwestern Industries, Inc.
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Wireless Mobility for Quality Assurance
The Synergy 200A bundle features a compact 2.2 lb computer pre-loaded with Synergy SPC software for personnel who want to conduct quality checks as they move about the production facility. The software is designed for data collection, charting, process monitoring, analysis, and reporting of an unlimited number of dimensional measurement characteristics for each manufactured part, assembly, or process. Users can also access e-mail, the Internet, spreadsheet, word processing, presentation software, or other business applications. It includes 10/100 Ethernet and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi wireless connectivity as well as multiple USB ports. The unit includes a 9" SVGA monitor. The software maintains detailed traceability data and audit trails for customer compliance and ISO/TS standards. The software runs on Windows, which is included. Zontec Inc.
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Foam-controlled Fluid Line
The HFP line of fluids, with FACT foam-arrest control technology, produces less foam, making it a solution for applications that include high-speed machining and metalworking operations. The line offers more than five different fluids, including a chlorine-free, soluble oil; a fluid for high-turnover, high-pressure applications where foam-control is required; one designed for use where machining and grinding is required in moderate- to heave-duty operations; one that blends synthetic lubricants with soluble oils for machining and grinding in moderate- to heavy-duty operations; a low pH synthetic fluid designed for the aerospace industry; and one suitable for moderate- to heavy-duty machining and grinding operations of ferrous materials where a synthetic is needed. CIMCOOL
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Turning and Grinding in One Operation
CUBLEX platforms from Matsuura, integrate turning and grinding functions into high-performance 5-axis milling machines, providing multi-process machining capabilities. They can change up to 40 chucks. The two models are the model 25 PC 40 that features an 11.8" diameter × 9.8" horizontal maximum work size, 5.2" pallets and a 40 pallet changer, and the larger 42 PC24 with a work envelope of 16.8" diameter × 14"horizontal and a 24 pallet changer with 12.8" round pallets. Both machines have standard spindle speeds of 15,000 rpm for the 25 or 12,000 for the 42, with an optional speed of 20,000 rpm for each. Methods Machine Tools Inc.
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Carousel Offers Productivity Boost
The Consolidation Carousel system consists of horizontal carousels and control software. Items picked from multiple work zones are conveyed to the consolidation carousel. The software designates specific cell locations in a bin for the completed order. When the last tote, or container, from one of the pick zones hits the consolidation workstation, put-lights blink, telling the operator that the order is ready to ship. Carriers rotate on an oval track. The high-density design uses up to 350 percent less floor space than conventional conveyor, cross belt, or tilt tray consolidation systems and costs up to 50 percent less, according to the maker. Remstar
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Dual Spindle, Quad Faceplate Rotary Table
The Tsudakoma RT-251 is designed for a horizontal machining center, allowing for up to four parts to be manufactured per machining cycle. The rotary tables generate a torque transfer efficiency of up to 85 percent by using an oversized, dual lead worm wheel/worm spindle drive train with a deep tooth engagement. The worm wheel is made from a proprietary, dense, high-tensile-strength brass alloy with hardness and vibration absorption characteristics. Koma Precision, Inc.
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Jetstream Tooling Line Offers Better Chip Control
The Jetstream Tooling line are cutting tools designed to deliver a high-pressure coolant stream at the inserts’ cutting edge. The line achieves better chip control along with increased tool life and cutting speed and feed rates across coolant pressures from 70 psi to 5,000 psi and many material types, such as titanium alloys, nickel-chromium, aluminum and steel alloys, and stainless steels, according to the manufacturer. Field tests show the use of the tooling line with a variety of water-based or cutting oil coolants applied at high pressures can reduce cycle times by up to 50 percent, according to the manufacturer. Coolant is applied through the tooling nozzle close to the cutting edge, cooling the work area and producing smaller, hard, brittle chips. The high-pressure jet then breaks and lifts the chips away from the cutting area without damaging components or tooling. It includes a coolant inducer that pivots, allowing access to index the carbide insert. Seco Tools
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Solid Carbide End Mills for Large-volume Machining of Aluminum
Alu-Jet-Cut Solid Carbide End Mills are designed for large-volume machining of aluminum. Developed in conjunction with major aircraft manufacturers, these tools are for material removal in monolithic airframe structural components manufacturing. These endmills are capable of cutting speeds in excess of 3,000 fpm. A carbide substrate helps resist vibrations that could lead to premature chipping of cutting edges, and a chip breaker provides control over chip shape and directional flow to increase chip evacuation capacity. The tools are offered in various corner radii, roughing, and finishing designs. Roughing cutters are available with 3-flutes and finishing cutters with 3- and 4-flutes. All tools are made with through-coolant capability that is also suitable for minimum-quantity lubrication. Emuge
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Replacing Collet Pads Speedier than Replacing the Solid Collet
Patented style-S pads can be changed without removing the master collet from the spindle, reducing changeover time. On an eight-spindle automatic, all the pads can be changed in 15 to 30 minutes, compared to up to three hours needed to change the solid collets. The dovetail anchor design holds the pad in place when the bar is closed; it cannot be dislodged. The design eliminates sets screws or clamps that could wear or break, and there is no pressure on the clamp. There are no holes in the OD of the master collet, or on the ID of the pads, resulting in maximum bearing on the workpiece and the spindle collet seat. Hardinge Inc.
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Software Release Sports Improvements
Mastercam X3 offers expanded machining flexibility and an increased emphasis on speed and automation. Feature Based Machining, new high speed tool motion, and faster toolpath generation combine with dozens of enhancements in a package intended to improve shop floor productivity. Other functionalities include import of full SolidWorks history trees, expanded support for cutting STL files, CAD enhancements, 3D high-speed toolpath enhancements, and other improvements.
CNC Software, Inc.
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Semi-Automatic Band Saw
The Model KS450 Semi-Automatic Band Saw is designed for work requiring sawing of solids and structural shapes up to 14"at 90° in full cycle, semi-automatic operation, and double mitering – 60° to either left or right – with a variable speed blade from 60 to 360 fpm. The saw frame is canted 5° to cut through the bottom of a structural section without vibration or slowdown of the sawing rate. It features components for hydraulic operation and a free-standing operator console. When the operator pushes a button, the sawframe senses the material size, the vise clamps, the sawframe makes the cut at the preset rate, then returns to clear the workpiece, opening the vise opens, ready for the next cut. Kalamazoo Machine Tool
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Automatic Robot Loading System
A robotic loading system for the Coborn RG9 CNC 8-axis Grinding Machine for PCD/PCBN/CVD grinding offers 6-axis operation with an integrated robot controller capable of 4.5 lb payloads, a 36" programmable reach, and positioning accuracy of ±0.0001". Programming is through the unit’s touchscreen. The system features two pneumatic grippers with gripping fingers for component pick up or handling insert blanks. There are two insert trays, two insert plates, and one toolholder for ISO insert type tools as well as a hydraulic clamping system for robotic handling of rotary tools. Precision International Corp.
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Motion Computer Controls More Than 100 Axes
The Power PMAC can control up to 128 axes simultaneously. It employs a Linux operating system with a hard, real-time kernel, for general-purpose computing environment. It comes embedded with a complete motion and machine control software environment. Users have the choice between using the built-in algorithm and providing their own software, written in C or C++ and compiled with the public-domain GNU compiler. Other features include 800 MHz and 1GHz RISC processors with hardware floating-point engine; rates of up to 5,000 per second with controlled acceleration and jerk; 100-Base-T and 1000-Base T Ethernet TCP/IP communications with DMA streaming; PCI Express, USB, SATA, and RS-232 interfaces. Delta Tau
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Ring Groover for Oil and Gas Industry
The OTM API Ring Groover is a cutting tool designed to advance productivity in the oil, gas, and petrochemical industries, where the quality and reliability of ring-joint gasket sealing in flanged pipe connections has a significant influence on costs, profitability, safety, and environmental protection, according to the manufacturer. It can be used for high-temperature and high-pressure applications. Its features include low cost per cut; setup and adjustment; free-cutting geometry; and an integral shank for rigidity. Its body features a CAT 50 shank, with several other shank options available. Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corp.
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Sweeper Magnet Cleans Up Ferrous Material
The Magnetic Road Sweeper, made from 304 stainless steel, uses a permanent magnet or electromagnet for vehicle-mounted applications such as a forklift or skid-steer to sweep industrial or commercial floors, worksites, roadways, construction sites, or any area where ferrous materials need removal. Sweepers are available in various magnetic strengths from standard to high-intensity. They are available in widths from 4' to 8' with lengths 10" wide and 3" deep. Each has a release lever mounted on the side, and is engineered for a 3" sweeping height with higher sweeping heights available. Sweepers are also available with a battery-operated hydraulic release that’s activated by the vehicle driver. Storch Magnetics
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Reduced-chatter Burrs
Omega Burs feature an aggressive, deep double-cut tooth pattern for chip control and rapid stock removal in harder materials with minimal chatter. They feature a geometry and a deep flute configuration for increased tooth strength, and maximum stock removal. The flute configuration delivers increased tool life when working in challenging application such as mild steels, stainless steel, cast iron, and other ferrous metals, according to the company. They are for use in a variety of industries including marine and shipbuilding, offshore MRO, foundries, automotive, and metal fabrication. SGS Tool Co.
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Software Offers Time Savings
Verisurf X, a new generation of software, is easier to navigate and to customize, as well as faster to learn, according to the manufacturer. It lets users inspect, analyze, build, and reverse-engineer using the same software. Features include: simplified menu structure for faster, easier operation; an always-available feature tree for enhanced access to inspection platform and data; both real-time and offline inspection to meshes; state-of-the-art CAD system for model-based inspection and reverse engineering; and CATIA and Unigraphics/NX native read options with GD&T Import.
Verisurf
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Wiper Insert Widens Chip Breaking Ranges
The WMX wiper insert combines a main radius with multiple complementary radii and integrates a new chip-breaker geometry. This design widens feed rate and chip-breaking ranges, allowing machining times to be cut by 30 percent, according to the manufacturer. Productivity is increased in medium- to rough-machining and much higher quality surface finishes can be achieved in finishing operations. Sandvik Coromant
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Fiber Laser Line Offers Range of Applications
Turnkey fiber laser welders provide welding performance with minimal cost of ownership. Both low-power and high-power fiber lasers can be integrated into the existing range of Delta Series or custom workstations with motion options including multi-axis orthogonal stages and 6-axis robotic arms. The addition of this product line offers a range of welding solutions for customer’s welding applications. Miyachi Unitek
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