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Outpace the Competition with Okuma Automation Solutions

Searching for skilled labor and ways to increase overall efficiency and productivity has just gotten much easier with Okuma’s automation solutions. Whether you’re looking to integrate automation on your existing machine or need a machine that comes fully equipped, Okuma can help you outpace the competition by using state-of-the-art technology. Automation solution options include automatic tool changers, automatic pallet changers, gantry loaders, external conveyor belts and robotic cells. Learn more about Okuma’s automation solutions in this video.

USCTI Fall 2019 Meeting: The Millennial and The Mentor

Terry Iverson, author of Finding America's Greatest Champion, discusses manufacturing careers with a millennial who attended the Fall 2019 meeting of the United States Cutting Tool Institute.  Terry, who has been involved in manufacturing since 1980, serves as president and CEO of Iverson & Co., a machine tool distributorship and rebuilder in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Among the goals for his book, which was published in 2018, Terry set out to help the industry address the shortage of skilled labor. In his words:

U.S. cutting tool orders up 0.2% in September 2019 YTD/YTD

September 2019 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $195.9 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report collaboration, was down 4.3 percent from August's $204.7 million and down 7 percent when compared with the $210.6 million reported for September 2018. With a year-to-date total of $1.8 billion, 2019 is up 0.2 percent when compared with 2018. Please note there were revisions to August 2019.

Eliminate Problems Caused by Chips with Citizen's LFV Cutting Technology

Low Frequency Vibration (LFV) is Citizen’s widely applicable cutting technology designed to avoid the problem of spiraling chips, entanglement of chips and built-up edges.  In LFV cutting, “air cutting” time prevents the machining temperature from rising, which gives relief from various problems caused by chips and virtually eliminates the need for high pressure coolant.  LFV is ideal for cutting difficult to cut materials in a broad range of shapes (including hard metals and soft plastics).  

Finishing Steel Faster: Cermet vs Carbide, Uncoated vs Coated

Shorter cycle times are key for manufacturers to remain competitive and profitable.  For roughing applications customers can try running higher cutting speeds, taking heavier depths of cut or using higher feedrates to maximize the metal removal rate and shorten cycle times.  However, in finishing applications the depth of cut is usually fixed (1 finish pass) so only the cutting speed or feed can be addressed.  The purpose of this evaluation was to see how CVD-coated cermets compared to PVD-coated and uncoated cermets and CVD-coated carbide when finishing 1045 steel.