Endmills that can take the heat
Efficiently machine stainless steel parts without breaking endmills. 6-flute, solid-carbide endmills.
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Micromachine for max accuracy
Accurately machine EDM electrodes used to produce micromolds for medical parts. A high-speed, high-precision, 3-axis micro milling machine.
Put your finger right there!
A shop I once worked at had a beautiful cast iron welding table. It was 5' wide × 12' long and had started life as a surface plate for assembling diesel engines. The owner bought it at auction for $100. With a screen in the middle, two guys could work on it at once.
Finding an app for that
After acquiring my first iPhone, I searched the Internet for apps to use in the shop. I found 70 hits for "machinist" or "machining" and 45 for "cutting tool." Conversely, there were 11,169 hits for movie apps and 37,616 for music apps.
Bad parts? Check the tailstock
Every lathe and grinder operator has, at one time or another, struggled with workpieces that are out of round, tapered or have poor finish. The "quick fix" is typically replacing centers. The more involved fix requires replacing spindle bearings that appear to have failed prematurely. In either case, the problem goes away initially, only to reoccur a short time later.
Hybrid machining expands a part designer’s pallet
Imagine building a ship in a bottle, but instead of using a preexisting bottle, you build the ship along with the bottle while machining the ship's and bottle's surfaces as you go.
Collaborative robots lend a helping hand
Joe's struggling to package a truckload of parts before noon. Mary can't keep up on the painting line. Jimmy's in trouble with the boss because he can't make quota. These are just a few of the challenges faced by workers on the manufacturing floor, problems that, in many cases, can be solved with collaborative robots.
Right tool makes deep holes easier to drill
Deep holes can be difficult to define, but knowing the right tool for the job makes them easier to drill.
Integrating simulation
It's quite common for CAM software to come with built-in simulation to identify potential collisions and optimize virtual machining. However, most versions don't deliver the experience of programming in the context of the NC machine and instead rely on third-party machine simulation to connect the processes. To visualize a toolpath simulation in the context of the NC machine, the programmer must transfer a machine code (ISO or G code) generated from a post-processor to the simulation software.
A firm, flexible grip
An off-the-shelf robotic gripper that conforms to a variety of parts shapes without reprogramming.
Turning to hybrid
New hybrid cermet inserts that significantly enhance abrasion and fracture resistance.
Measuring with capacitance sensors
Capacitance sensors are noncontact sensors used in machine tools to measure the distance between a noncontact probe and a target sensor. Because the probe does not physically touch the target, capacitance sensors are beneficial in instances where the target surface is moving, such as a rotating spindle, or delicate, such as a silicon wafer.