September 2008 Edition

NEW PRODUCTS

MIG Gun Includes All Replacement Parts

A Binzel MB style MIG gun includes all the replacement parts from front end to rear end. The parts include power pins for Tweco, Miller, and Lincoln. The gun offers an ergonomic front-end handle with a Lightning rear-end assembly and handle, including both spring guards. Other consumables include nozzles, contact tips, contact tip holders, and swan necks. American Torch Tip

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Milling Tools Now for Steel and Cast Iron

The CoroMill 490 family of milling tools has been expanded for applications in steel and cast iron. According to the manufacturer, the tool offers high performance for contouring, edging and slot, shoulder and face milling. Its design is compatible with the latest insert geometries and grades. The CoroMill 490 can produce a finished piece with a single pass, reducing machining costs by up to 25 percent, according to the manufacturer. Its flexibility lets it replace multiple cutting tools, simplifying production and increasing efficiency. Sandvik Coromant

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Clamping System Has Repeat Accuracy of 0.01mm

The TANDEM KSP plus is a stationary clamping system. The multi-tooth guidance of the base jaws, the long jaw guidance, and the exact centering via the clamping sleeves help reduce jaw lifting, letting it achieve a repeat accuracy of up to 0.01mm. The compact clamping force block with its one-piece, rigid base body achieves gripping forces of up to 60 kN. The system also has an integrated piston lubrication system. It is available in sizes 100mm, 160mm, and 250mm. Schunk

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Power Sources for the Sub Arc Process

The Sub Arc DC 650 and Sub Arc DC 1000 are optimized for the sub arc process while providing air carbon, arc cutting and gouging, stick, and flux cored capabilities. The sub arc components, available separately or mounted on a Sub Arc Tractor, provide plug-and-play functionality. The arc control provides a stable and consistent output regardless of electrode size or type or flux used. Features include an internal digital voltage control, letting the operator preset weld voltage before striking an arc. The power sources also allow the use of external voltage sensing leads for accurate monitoring of the arc voltage. The ability to preset and maintain accurate voltage ensures day-to-day consistency. They also feature Fan on Demand, which reduces noise, power consumption, and contaminants pulled into the machine by turning on the fan only when required by the thermostatically controlled circuit. Miller Electric Mfg. Co.

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One-stop Shopping for X-Y-Z Machine Protection

Ready-to-install subassemblies for machine protection include a range of units that can be combined as needed and adapted to the customer’s requirements in regard to technical specifications, load, use, visual effect, and economic efficiency. These XYZ units can be equipped with steel or aluminum aprons, lamella bellows, or flex-protect systems. For example, the X-axis can be equipped with aluminum aprons, the Y-axis with lamella bellows, and the Z-axis with traditional telescoping steel covers. Depending on the specifications for speed, acceleration, and load, the appropriate driving apparatus will be installed for the individual elements – scissors drive, hydraulic system module, or other. Hennig

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PCBN Grade Increases Productivity by 35 to 60 Percent

Secomax CBN400C is a PCBN – polycrystalline cubic boron nitride – grade optimized for finishing of grey iron components found in automotive manufacturing. It offers surface finish, dimensional tolerance, and tool life requirements, as well as producing 35 to 65 percent more parts per tool, according to the manufacturer. The lifetime is increased due to its hardness in combination with optimized pre-treatments and deposition conditions of the TiSiN coating compared to traditional TiAlN coatings, resulting in a PCBN grade for grey cast iron machining that offers long, consistent, and predictive tool life. The copper color provides clear detection of worn edges. It has a grain size of 3 to 6µ and a CBN content of 90 percent, and is available in a range of insert styles used in the machining of grey cast iron components to address a variety of finishing cutting tool needs. Seco Tools, Inc.

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Saw Eliminates Abrasive Particle Dispersion

Model K12-14MS Manual Metallurgical Saw features an enclosed wet-cutting area with dual coolant nozzles to eliminate the dispersion of abrasive particles into the workplace. The saw has a 14" abrasive wheel, a 5 hp, three-phase, 1,725 rpm TEFC motor, dual moveable 4" screw vises and a 24V halogen light inside the enclosure. Designed for external manual operation, the saw can cut up to 2-1/2" diameter solids and 3" shapes. Options include a power down feed, oscillation for large sections, and door interlocks. Kalamazoo Industries

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Precision and Rigidity for Swiss-style and Lathe Tooling

Integral collet tooling to connect to Hi-PosMicro indexable endmills and Chip-Surfer solid carbide tipped tooling lines is now available. Worn tooling can be replaced in seconds with 0.0005" axial and radial repeatability. The tooling maximizes the rigidity of tooling applications and increases productivity with higher feed rates, better finishes, and longer tool life, according to the manufacturer. Cutter diameters range from 0.25" to 2". Medium- and high-density versions also available. Ingersoll Cutting Tools

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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.