Articles
Sentinel Events – Recognize, Respond, Revisit
Every day, we face numerous challenges. Urgent demands from others, unexpected events, system breakdowns, equipment malfunctions, and failed communications are "all in a day’s work," for most of us. Occasionally, a singular event arrives that has the potential to alter the circumstances of our life or work. Such an event is called a sentinel event.
Read MoreSecondary Operations Become Primary
As a way to reduce production times, shops often look to bring secondary operations to the primary multi-spindle operation. Such a shift can help reduce errors from part location and keep the expense of damaged parts to a minimum.
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Sticker Shock Relief For The CNC Multi-Spindle
To bridge the gap between traditional multi-spindle technology and full CNC, Index Corporation (Noblesville, Indiana) has developed the MS22C, a six-spindle CNC multi for the medium-complex workpiece market, which has been dominated by the cam-controlled multi-spindle automatics and simple sliding and fixed headstock automatics.
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Postprocessors: An Integral Part Of Machine Tools
Without a good postprocessor, many machine tools are underutilized. It takes a well-matched post to access the full potential built into a machine.
Read MoreSpeed, Accuracy And Power In A CNC Multi World
The inherent advantages of the multi-spindle machine design remain in place within the metalworking industry. What have changed are the volume, complexity and tolerance requirements to which manufacturers must produce. Builders are responding with enhancements that keep traditional multi-spindle advantages, while dealing with the new production issues.
Read MoreVolumetric Measurement For Practical Positioning Accuracy
Using a conventional laser interferometer to measure the straightness and squareness errors can be difficult and costly. The process can require days of machine downtime, even with an experienced operator performing the measurements. To address the need for faster, more accurate machine calibration, Optodyne, Inc. (Compton, California) has developed a laser vector measurement technique for the 3D volumetric positioning error measurement.
Read MoreRotary Transfer Machines For Extruded Bar
To address the requirements of extruded bar applications, Italian builder Picchi, which is distributed in the United States through RBR Associates (Darien, Illinois), has developed a line of rotary transfer machines designed to handle round, hex, square, rectangular, elliptical and even complicated extruded shapes.
Read MoreSimplifying Machine Load/Unload Automation
Today, lower part volumes and frequent change-over are changing the offerings of some automation integrators. Standard, off-the-shelf components are being engineered to work together in a large variety of applications and, in some cases, are even portable so they can be moved from machine tool to machine tool.
Read MoreReduce Nonconformances With Automated Inspection
Are you tired of receiving phone calls from your customers requiring you to have a third-party sort? Perhaps you’re finally tired of having to deal with thousands of parts returned to you for sorting because of one or two nonconforming parts that made it through your system. You’ve made up your mind to eliminate this nonsense once and for all—but how?
Read MorePMPA Technical Member Profile: Fischer Special Tooling Corp.
When the Howard H. Fischer Company was founded in 1957, carbide tooling was still relatively unknown. The Mentor, Ohio-based tool and die shop focused on the unique tooling material and soon made its mark as a specialist in custom carbide tooling.
Read MoreTrends In Copper And Brass
Copper is selling for $3.70 per pound at the time that I am writing this in mid-September. Thefts of copper materials from homes, businesses and utilities are lead stories and front-page news on television and in the newspapers—even in the Wall Street Journal.
Read MoreWorkholding For Swiss Turning
In large part, because of the machine’s versatility, Swiss turning is increasing its penetration of the precision turned parts market. As more shops look to this technology, a look at workholding considerations is in order.
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