IMTS Preview: Metalworking products: Medical Manufacturing

STOCK MODELS.

CNC Software Inc. says its Mastercam X6 CAM software can create accurate, fully associative stock models. According to the company, a precise machining stock model provides numerous benefits, including viewing and verifying work as it progresses, performing stock model comparisons and easily choosing existing stock for rest machining. The CAM software enables users to create stock models at any point in the machining process.

CNC Software Inc.
Booth: E-3340.

DEBURRING MACHINE.

Earth-Chain Inc.’s sPINner machine deburrs batches of small parts made of nonmagnetic materials, such as titanium, aluminum and brass. Parts are automatically demagnetized at the end of the deburring cycle, so residual magnetism is reportedly not an issue. The machine removes light burrs and whiskers without changing part dimensions or adding ferrous material to part surfaces. The stainless steel pin media can access threads, slots, cross-holes and blind-holes.

Earth-Chain Inc.
Booth: W-1732.

CABLE CARRIER.

igus Inc. developed a compact cable carrier system that can turn through 3,000° in minimal space. The TwisterBand TB30 guides energy, data and media with little wear. At high rotating speeds, the cable carrier stays close to the axis. Applications for the slim, circular chain system are mainly in robotics, test jigs and lifting and assembly equipment.

igus Inc.
Booth: E-5610.

MACHINE SIMULATION.

CGTech’s Version 7.2 of its Vericut CNC machine simulation, verification and optimization software includes enhancements to the user interface to simplify common user actions. The software eliminates manual prove-out of NC programs and reduces scrap and rework, according to the company. A new feature optimizes a program from a saved simulation. Users can adjust and re-optimize without rerunning the simulation.

CGTech
Booth: E-3346.

DIGITAL LASER SCANNER.

Nikon Metrology Inc. says its LC15Dx digital laser scanner is an alternative to a tactile probe for many coordinate measuring machine applications, including molds, small turbine blades and medical devices. The LC15Dx achieves a probing accuracy of 2.5µm and a multiple-stylus test accuracy of 6µm in tests comparable to EN/10360-2 and -5. A thermal stabilizer inside the scanner body eliminates the uncertainty and delay caused when scanning before operating temperature is reached, according to the company.

Nikon Metrology Inc.
Booth: E-5371.

VALVE SEAT INSPECTION.

The VSM/SIKO valve seat inspection system from Euro-Tech Corp. is for measuring cylinder heads in automobiles, small engines, off-road vehicles, motorcycles and diesel engines. The VSM is a manual gage and uses mandrels armed with inductive built-in transducers. The VSM consists of a mandrel, joint coupling, hollow shaft and driving component.

Euro-Tech Corp.
Booth: W-2453.

WIRELESS BALL BAR.

The QC20-W ball bar from Renishaw features a company-developed linear sensor and Bluetooth wireless technology, allowing testing in “closed-door” manufacturing settings, where access for wiring can raise safety and procedural issues. The device enables testing in three orthogonal planes through a single reference point. A single hardware setup means quicker testing and the ability to produce a representative volumetric measurement of positioning accuracy.

Renishaw Booths: E-5530, N-650.

NONCONTACT LASER MEASUREMENT.

Beta LaserMike’s BenchMike tabletop laser measurement device does not touch a part, eliminating part distortion and operator influence that can impact measurements. The instrument can measure diameters, multiple ODs, TIR, taper and part position. Four models are available, providing a measurement range from 0.001 ” to 2.0 “. Linearity is as low as ±0.000020 “.

Beta LaserMike
Booth: E-5326.

WIRELESS MEASUREMENT COLLECTION.

MobileCollect from MicroRidge Systems Inc. wirelessly collects measurements from hand-held gages using “mobile modules” that attach to the gage or fixture and then send those measurements to a PC. The technology is ideal for applications with heavy radio frequencies, significant machinery, robots and electrical noise, the company reports. Transmitter and receiver options fit individual gaging and measurement collection requirements.

MicroRidge Systems Inc.
Booth: E-5552.

CAROUSEL DISPENSING.

CribMaster says its ProStock carousel dispensing system provides flexible sizes, on-site reconfigurability and high capacity in a small footprint. It keeps the necessary production tooling next to the machine and automates replenishment with direct communication to distributors. The unit measures 82 ” tall × 34 ” wide × 34.75 ” deep and weighs 625 lbs. unstocked.

CribMaster
Booth: W-1446.

AUTOMATIC FORM MEASUREMENT.

Hommel-Etamic America Corp.’s F435 and F455 systems automatically measure geometric tolerances, surface roughness and straightness in one setup. According to the company, an advanced probe permits roughness and waviness inspections along with form and position tolerance measurements via a simple adjustment on the rotary control, significantly enhancing productivity. The system is for workpieces up to 430mm in diameter and weighing up to 40 kg.

Hommel-Etamic America Corp.
Booth: E-5545.

MIST COLLECTORS.

The Darwin centrifugal mist collectors from Losma Inc. offer throughputs from 353 to 1,767 cfm. The collectors are reportedly suitable for all types of machine tools. During operation, centrifugal force pushes oil mists through an annular filter medium. Collected oil is then sent back to the machine through a drainage pipe. Three designs are available for air that contains soluble mists and heavy particulate, soluble mists, and neat soluble mists and vapors.

Losma Inc.
Booth: E-5718.

ACTUATORS.

Rollon USA’s Acturatorline actuators are available in belt- and screw-driven models. The actuators are for a variety of OEM machinery applications, including robotic handling systems, conveyors and packaging machines, semiconductor equipment, lab automation and life sciences platforms, machine tools and machine accessories, and part-transfer and assembly lines.

Rollon USA
Booth: E-4351.

MACHINE SIMULATION.

Spring Technologies Inc.’s NCIMUL 8.9 software is for simulating, verifying, optimizing and reviewing CNC machining programs. Three-dimensional graphics help users avoid machine crashes while algorithms and embedded, process-based know-how optimize cutting conditions. To verify part programs, the software investigates and corrects coding errors, simulates to locate and correct motion errors and validates the program.

Spring Technologies Inc.
Booth: E-3267.

METAL PLATING.

Incertec’s capabilities include precious, semiprecious and alloy metal plating; metalizing plastics; custom masking; and advanced testing methods. The company serves the aerospace, medical, military, automotive and electronics industries. Its processes use advanced recycling and water treatment systems.

Incertec
Booth: N-6270.

FIRE DETECTION, SUPPRESSION.

Firetrace International offers automatic fire detection and suppression systems for CNC machines and EDMs. The systems are for extinguishing machine fires sparked by oil-based metalworking fluids, coolants and lubricants. The systems are compatible with most extinguishing agents, including nontoxic, nonconductive and noncorrosive ones. The agents leave no residue on machines or workpieces and will not contaminate lubricating oils or fluids, the company reports.

Firetrace International
Booth: E-5387.

BELT CONVEYORS.

MunchMan hinged steel belt conveyors from Jorgensen Conveyors Inc. transport heavy chip loads generated during machining. They employ a stocked conveyor arrangement at the lower curve and through the incline and system chip discharge. As the chips go through the transition at the lower curve, they are sucked in and pinched between two moving belts through the incline and discharge area. Chips are effectively compressed and trapped until forced off the discharge end of the conveyor.

Jorgensen Conveyors Inc
Booth: E-5724.

MOTOR STARTER.

LQ Mechatronik-Systeme GmbH’s A-TEC motor starter for control cabinets can be integrated into existing wiring schemes and machine layouts. This is because of its clear input, output and software interfaces, according to the company. To install it, users must have an ASi-bus or ASi-gateway for overall control. In this way, the power and data reach the motor starter module via the standard input interface. The ASi communications interface is housed inside the module mounting.

LQ Mechatronik-Systeme GmbH
Booth: E-4020.

Programming SOFTWARE.

Version 2013 of PartMaker software from PartMaker Inc. is for programming CNC mills, lathes, wire EDMs, turn/mill machines and Swiss-style machines. The software has a revamped surface machining module for simultaneous 3-, 4- and 5-axis milling. The module enables use of the Vortex area-clearance strategy to gain the maximum benefit from a solid-carbide tool, in particular using the full flute length as the cutting surface, according to the company.

PartMaker Inc.
Booth: E-3222.

SAFETY SWITCH MATS.

Tapeswitch Corp.’s safety switch mats, used to guard machines, provide millions of actuations at any point and are fail-safe protected. The safety mat is a simple, normally open switch. When a specified minimum weight is applied to the safety mat, the switch closes and a stop signal is sent to the guarded machine. Standard actuation forces range from 22 lbs. (100 nominal) to 66 lbs. (300 nominal). Custom products can be ordered.

Tapeswitch Corp.
Booth: E-5814.

GUSSET MAGNETS.

Gusset magnets from Strong Hand Tools align, locate and hold steel gussets, base plates and steel panels against a steel frame or substructure when assembling, tacking and welding. Four rare-earth disc magnets embedded in the faceplate hold steel panels with direct, even clamping pressure. Three positioning pins on the faceplate act as a guide for quick alignment and positioning of the gusset magnet.

Strong Hand Tools
Booth: N-6276.

LIFT MODULE.

Kardex Remstar LLC’s Shuttle XP vertical lift module delivers parts to the operator at an ergonomic height. The system is comprised of two large sections of racking with an extractor that runs up the center to store trays in the racking and deliver them to an access opening at the operator’s request. Maximum tray capacity is 1,598 lbs. (246,550 lbs. per system).

Kardex Remstar LLC
Booth: W-1617.

SURFACE EVALUATION.

Mahr Federal Inc.’s MarSurf M 400 skidless surface gage has motorized probe-height adjustment that automatically zeros the probe in seconds. It features a magnetic, breakaway probe mounting system, which protects sensitive probes from accidental damage and facilitates fast probe changes.

Mahr Federal Inc.
Booth: E-5242.

TOUCH PROBE.

Marposs Corp.’s Mida VOS optical touch probe system is for use on large 3- and 5-axis machining centers. The system consists of a receiver with integrated interface and a transmitter unit that is compatible with Mida touch-trigger probes. Mida VOS permits up to four transmitter/probe units to be used in an application with only one receiver, enabling multiple-channel operation.

Marposs Corp.
Booth: E-5519.

MACHINE LUBRICANT.