Automation & Robots
Automation In A Production Shop
Production turning automation is the beneficiary of increasingly powerful design and application tools. This makes it much easier to create automation that fits the application.
Read MoreMaking An Aquisition The Smart Way
The right approach will increase your likelihood of finding the right acquisition.
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Reestablishing A Name In Bar Feeders
To keep its well known line at the forefront of the minds of those in the market for a bar feeder, this company completely redesigned its product. Features such as a see-through cover and Direct Connect programming through the machine tool's CNC demonstrate the results of this focused effort.
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Bar Feeders And Workpiece Surface Finish
Quality surface finish of a part is not only dependent on the turning machine itself, but also on the barstock loading and support system. The bar feed system becomes critical to the surface finish outcome by enabling the turning machine to create the desired finish and/or by protecting the existing finish.
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Handling Parts In A Robotic Cell
Here’s a review of the workholding and workhandling challenges a shop faces as it moves a part through a robotic cell, from serving up the blanks to the transfer of the final workpiece to post processing and gaging. Productivity, Inc. takes the reader through a few of their cells that they've installed using Fanuc robots and a variety of other machine tool equipment.
Read MoreRecent PMPA Listserve Topics
PMPA members use e-mail Listserves to share ideas, solve problems, sell excess material and equipment and learn about new business opportunities. Here is a list of topics that were recently discussed: Have a customer who needs quote for large quantity pin Delinquent customer account Bill pay and transfer controls Looking for help with AGT grinder control Radios on the shop floor Pre-employment tests Workers’ comp Work visa Speeds and feed on CDA 792 leaded nickel silver Product segregation Looking for material source Cutoff application in ETD150 in a 5/8 Acme Iemca CNC Boss 542 Ultem 100 machinability Oil containment systems Metric material Metric 304 tubing Source for 8622 barstock Looking for SS316 tubing source Extruded aluminum Davenport index stopping Used Fanuc robots VDI 30 tooling Tornos shave cam Cold-headed part Live Z unit BND34s, two wanted ISO 9001 design and development Remember that you must be a PMPA member to subscribe to the PMPA Listserves and to receive the benefits. .
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The Hammond Way
Embracing innovation is part of the culture in this California production shop. Its founder takes competition and technical challenges as quests that demand creative solutions from man and machine.
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Line Your Spindles, Line Your Pockets
Urethane spindle liners present a viable option to steel to fill the gap between spindle ID and bar OD. They protect both the spindle and bar stock and increase machine performance.
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Drafting New Players For Swiss Precision
Consistent operations play a big part in attaining high productivity. That’s why, as a shop grows (as this Swiss shop has), it should look to add machines—and employees—that complement each other.
Read MoreAutomation Determines The Industry's Future
Industrial history will repeat itself. Automation technology will continue to drive productivity increases in the precision machining industry. Fewer skilled workers will be needed to manufacture ever-increasing volumes of parts. Offshore labor costs will become all but irrelevant. In Darwinian competition, manufacturers that focus on productivity will thrive, and those that don't will die.
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