Automation

CTE Editorial Director Alan Rooks laments the long and winding road to economic recovery in this Lead Angle editorial in the September 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

The Look Ahead feature in the October 2011 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine mentions a CNC rotary transfer machine that approaches the productivity of a mechanically controlled machine and can produce microscale parts.

Manufacturing was a star in 2011 and looks to shine brightly in 2012.

Alan Richter takes a Look Ahead at an automated part-to-CAD verification system for a digital optical comparator.

Swiss Automation's success is based on machining complex parts quickly, accurately and consistently.

END USER: Richardson Manufacturing Co., (217) 546-2249, www.rmc-bigcnc.com. CHALLENGE: Achieve a tight tolerance without increasing cycle time. SOLUTION: A combination drill that eliminated an unreliable boring operation. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Allied Machine & Engineering Corp., (800) 321-5537, www.alliedmachine.com

END USER: Kennametal Inc., (800) 446-7738, www.kennametal.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce lead times, manufacturing footprint and costs when making toolholders. SOLUTION: Work cells employing advanced multitask machine tools. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Methods Machine Tools Inc., (877) 668-4262, www.methodsmachine.com

Automated parts handling with robotic work cells is an affordable option for job shops and other parts manufacturers.

END USER: K-Fab Inc., (408) 727-5311, www.k-fabinc.com. CHALLENGE: Increase spindle utilization for a vertical machining center while reducing labor requirements. SOLUTION: A nonrobotic automation system for VMCs. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Simons Design Innovation, (408) 398-3296, www.simonsdesigninnovation.com

Lightweight and easy-to-program robotic arms.