September 2007 Edition

Wisconsin Machine Tool Show Preview

The Cheese State Hosts Machine Tool Show

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 trade show in the state of Wisconsin. Admission for all events is free to those in the industry. For more information on any of the events or registration, please contact Expo Productions at 800.367.5520, or visit WiToolShow.com.

The show will feature

  • Free technical seminars sponsored by Modern Applications News magazine.
  • BOTSIQ Competition, sponsored by the Wisconsin Precision Metalworking Council, where robots from students and corporate teams compete for prizes.
  • The Solution Center will have manufacturing experts on-hand to offer solutions for problem parts and advice for production issues.
  • The Finance and Business Center, sponsored by Marshall & Ilsley Bank, that features a finance area, fax and copier service, and a meeting area. Special financing programs will be available.
  • An Internet/Cyber Café in the Business Center with a bank of Internet-connected computers.
  • A Relaxation Station with free massage chairs.
  • The Winner’s Circle that displays current national and local racecars.
  • The Rube Goldberg Competition Winners Display, where local high school teams compete with complex contraptions.

The show will feature free beer on Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m., a bookstore, and a special student day sponsored by the Milwaukee Area Technical College.

The Wisconsin Machine Tool Show will co-locate with the Milwaukee Design-2-Part Show that features exhibitors with expertise on manufacturing technologies.

The show will be open to the public on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. through 7 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Turning Centers Built With RigidityMAN

The RS-Series turning centers, the Super-Precision RS 42, 51, and 65 have collet-ready spindles using precision workholding devices. They are built with rigid platforms and feature Eppinger Self Alignment top-plate tooling systems. Iverson & Co./Hardinge, Inc. Booth 1105

www.rsleads.com/709mn-160

One-Operation Gear Turning

The Gear Hob produces gears or spline shafts on most turning centers in one operation. Standard or special hobs with single or multiple starts can be used. Many arbor sizes are available in inch or metric sizes. The holder adjusts for angles up to 25° and makes gears or splines from steel, iron, brass, or aluminum.
MD Tooling Booth 0502

www.rsleads.com/709mn-161

Finishing or Roughing Tool for Non-ferrous Metals MAN

The AFDH Aluminum Finisher/Double Helix Series features patented geometry that performs double-duty. Primarily designed for finishing, they also perform roughing applications. The tools provide surface finishes in aluminum and other non-ferrous materials. Roughing can be done with full engagement cuts of 1x diameter. Data Flute Booth 1350

www.rsleads.com/709mn-162

5-Axis VMC for Complex Parts

The NMV5000 DCG meets the demand for a 5-axis machining center with high-speed, high-precision, and easy use. It features DCG – Driven at the Center of Gravity – and Top Box-in-Box Construction. The DD – Direct Drive – motors on the table’s B and C axes eliminate backlash with high-precision positioning. Turning is also possible with a C-axis rapid-traverse rate of 120 rpm as standard and 500 or 1,200 rpm as options.Ellison Technologies/Mori Seiki Booth 0205

www.rsleads.com/709mn-163

VMCs with Coolant-Through Spindles MAN

The i Series VMC Machines offer large axis travels, and high-efficiency machining. The full range includes the V20i, V30i, MV40i, and MV50i. Fanuc-tuned controls power the VMCs with CAT 40 or BT-40 high-rpm coolant-through spindles. Full travel laser and ball bar accuracy reports come with every machine. Chip removal system is standard with surround enclosure guarding. Equipment Concepts Inc. Booths 0637, 0640, 0642, 0737

www.rsleads.com/709mn-164

Duel Model Turning Centers

The Quick Turn Nexus CNC turning centers range from the two-axis QTN 100 with 6" chuck up to the QTN 450 with an 18" chuck and 40" between centers. Options, including 50hp motors and 120" between centers, are available. Two Nexus vertical machining centers, the 40-taper VCN 510C and 50-taper VCN 510C/50, are also available. Machinery Systems/Mazak Corp. Booth 0145

www.rsleads.com/709mn-165

Industry News

Blue-collar Jobs Lead Employment Decline
According to information released by the National Council for Advanced Manufacturing – NACFAM – seasonally adjusted manufacturing employment was reported at 13.4 million by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in September.

NTMA and PMA Join to Strengthen Industry Advocacy
The Precision Metalforming Association, Independence, OH, and the National Tooling and Machining Association, Fort Washington, MD, are combining their federal government advocacy programs to promote the U.S. government to ensure a strong manufacturing sector.

Unemployment Trend by State
According to the Economic Policy Institute, since the economic downturn began in December 2007, the U.S. has lost more than 600,000 jobs, and the national unemployment rate has risen to a five-year high of 6.1 percent.

Manufacturing Technology Consumption Falls in July
July U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $303.44 million, according to the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association and the Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Consumption – USMTC – program, was down 21.5 percent from June but up 5.7 percent from the total of $287 million reported for July 2007.

GE Fanuc Backs MTConnect
GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, a unit of GE Enterprise Solutions, Japan, announced its support of MTConnect, a new communication protocol to link machine tools from varying suppliers around the world.

Flow Executes Definitive Agreement in Omax Merger
Flow International Corp., Kent, WA, a developer and manufacturer of industrial waterjet machines, executed a definitive agreement to merge with OMAX Corp., Kent, WA. OMAX was a privately-held provider of waterjet systems.

Dimension 3D Printing Provides $400,000 in Grants to Schools
The Dimension 3D Printing Group, Minneapolis, a business unit of Stratasys, Inc., gave more than $400,000 to schools across the nation to underwrite the purchase of 3D printing systems for the 2008-09 school year.

PennEngineering and Peninsula Components Announce Patent Fight Agreement
The patent infringement suit brought by PennEngineering & Manufacturing Corp., Danboro, PA, against Peninsula Components, Inc., San Carlos, CA, was settled.

Shuttle Follow-on Builder Chooses PLM Software
Siemens PLM Software, Plano, TX, announced Space Exploration Technologies – SpaceX – a privately-held leading space launch vehicle developer and services provider, standardized on Siemens’ NX and Teamcenter software for product design, simulation, and product data management.

Lincoln Electric Opens Automation Center
The Lincoln Electric Co., arc welding products manufacturer, opened its Automation Center of Excellence on October 23, adjacent to its Cleveland headquarters. The 100,000 ft2 facility showcases the company’s robotic welding solutions.

Association For Manufacturing Technology Elects New Board of Directors
The Association for Manufacturing Technology – AMT – elected its 2008-2009 officers and directors at its 2008 Annual Meeting in Austin, TX.

Some Good News in a Sour Economy
There may be at least three silver linings in the dark cloud of global economic crisis, according to a Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Rockford, IL, economic consultant.