March 2017
Digital Issue
In this issue we take a closer look at how innovative process technologies continue to disrupt the business of metalworking by advancing metal fabrication to new levels of competitive advantage in design freedom and manufacturing complexity. Also Inside:
- Augmented Reality: The Future is Here
- Metal 3D Printing
- Hybrid Machine Tools
- Trends in Press Brake Hydraulic Clamping Systems
- The Critical Role of Next Generation Welding Helmets
Take a trip into process innovation with guest columnist Wes Hart of Imperial Machine & Tool, who shares some real-world insight about the journey of this 73-year-old machine shop as they incorporated metal additive manufacturing into a traditional machine shop environment.
Is your wire welding operation being challenged by poor feedability, birdnesting, burnback, or clogging of the gun liner? If so, you may be using the wrong type or size of drive rolls for the job, or using improper drive roll tension. Here are some tips to help you prevent downtime and its associated costs due to poor wire feeding.
Smart technologies and augmented reality are a growing part of the future of manufacturing. Shops must embrace this growing interaction between humans and computer systems in order to remain competitive in the future. Are you ready?
A TITAN H2 vacuum heat treating system with two-bar gas quenching from Ipsen satisfies the strict legal requirements of the medical industry.
From 3D profiling to beam coping, the new Robotic Profile Cutting Line RPC 2.0 from HGG is ideal for cutting I/H beams and square/rectangular tubing profiles used in offshore or steel construction applications.
Hueter runs small lots of Becu pins under a nitrogen atmosphere inside a 42GT-H12 oven from Lucifer Furnaces to achieve a specific Rockwell hardness and reduce surface oxidation for a scale free, bright finish.
This innovative process technology continues to disrupt the business of metalworking and advance metal fabrication to the new levels of competitive advantage in design freedom and manufacturing complexity.
Here is some of the latest 3D printing equipment, automation, software and other advances in metal additive manufacturing.
Metal 3D printing technology increases yacht racing performance through advanced rapid prototyping capabilities that allow this British yacht racing team to refine custom parts on demand and reduce their costs.
Take a trip into process innovation with guest columnist Wes Hart of Imperial Machine & Tool, who shares some real-world insight about the journey of this 73-year-old machine shop as they incorporated metal additive manufacturing into a traditional machine shop environment.
Smart technologies and augmented reality are a growing part of the future of manufacturing. Shops must embrace this growing interaction between humans and computer systems in order to remain competitive in the future. Are you ready?
To efficiently handle material up to ¾ in thick and 20 ft long, Primeline swing beam hydraulic shears from COMEQ are generally more economically priced than comparably sized guillotine/variable rake machines.
A looming skills gap that must be filled. Robots taking away jobs. Shops fighting to keep jobs in our country. How about some promising news regarding our manufacturing sector?
Because the fully open OSP control from Okuma allows for complete customization, Moser Engineering was empowered to innovate an app on their own.
After a four-year break, EMO Hannover 2017 promises all sorts of new equipment and systems for metalworking shops to compete in the Internet of Things.
The economies and production rates that are gained on metal parts produced by additive manufacturing processes can suffer when post-machining is required due to a sub-standard surface finish. That’s where these innovative machine tools come in: they combine additive and subtractive technologies to eliminate secondary operations. Here’s a closer look at how some of the newest systems do it.
More comfort. Improved safety. Higher productivity. Better weld quality. Reduced costs. Increased bottom line. This is only the beginning of the reasons why metal fabricators should stay updated on new helmet technologies. There’s more.
There are a number of choices for laser for micro welding. Here are the factors to consider why and when one laser might be chosen over another, and how to select the best option for your specific application.
Here are some innovations that can help you increase productivity, improve quality and reduce costs in your welding operations.
Is your wire welding operation being challenged by poor feedability, birdnesting, burnback, or clogging of the gun liner? If so, you may be using the wrong type or size of drive rolls for the job, or using improper drive roll tension. Here are some tips to help you prevent downtime and its associated costs due to poor wire feeding.
The properties of stainless steel offer corrosion resistance, toughness and strength, a good appearance and longer useful life. But there are some challenges when welding stainless steel. Consider these tips and best practices, including proper filler metal selection, to get the most from stainless steel welding applications.
The new Airstream charging system from Festool reduces battery cooling time while recharging up to 60 percent faster.
Replacing manual removal of steel shot with vacuuming to handle ergonomic concern reduces unscheduled downtime by 80 percent, manpower by more than 50 percent and provides more efficient maintenance of cleaner environment.
If you work in a manufacturing environment, chances are when you come to work you see lots of grey hair. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, more than half of skilled manufacturing workers are now 55 and older – and getting closer to retirement every day.
Ideal for monitoring fluid inventory, usage, waste and recycling on everything from machine tool coolants and lubricants to parts washer degreasers, the TechTool mobile app from Fluid Service Technologies helps machine shops monitor an unlimited number of assets.
Wilgard XT, MT, and LT structural steel end-of-aisle rack protectors from Wildeck guard against fork truck impact at rack aisle corners in busy storage facilities, warehouses, and distribution centers.
By using shrink fit technology from Haimer, one of the few remaining U.S.-based manufacturers of sport fishing reels not only competes, but excels in the competitive global marketplace. Here’s how they do it.
Depending on the press brake and setups, there are a number of hydraulic clamping options that fabricators can use to work within their budgets and production requirements. From a fully modular hydraulic clamping system or by retrofitting safety tangs onto straight-tanged punch tools, streamlining production with hydraulic clamping solutions can deliver greater efficiencies in your shop and help you compete with the world.
Here are some tooling and workholding innovations that can help you increase productivity, improve quality and reduce costs in your machining operations.
The Basic Mill from Haimer is ideal for slotting, trochoidal milling, steep ramping and even plunging in stainless steel, alloy steel, cast iron, aluminum and general steels.
Runout can be fickle, but finding a solution for it can pay significant dividends. Here are some insights into how much a little wobble can really increase your costs.
The complicated array of convolute wheels being used on the production floor can confuse operators who find it difficult to select the right one for their specific deburring or finishing job. But now a new system simplifies all of that, reducing lost time in selection and downtime due to rework, increasing cost savings through higher productivity.
Take a closer look at how Hendrick Motorsports uses technology to deliver speed and actionable data to win big and gain recognition for excellence.
Not only does incorrect material impact metal fabrication and final finish processes that delay job delivery, it can place your shop at risk to premature component failure and potential disaster in mission critical applications. But now there is a new way for shops to effectively identify alloy grade, confirm elemental composition, and further streamline metals verification for greater quality control and assurance.
Here are some innovations in measurement technology that can help you increase productivity, improve quality and reduce costs in your inspection operations.
