Medical & Healthcare

Articles • May 1, 2016 • Kip Hanson

Growing demand for microparts challenges suppliers, users

Ever machined parts so small that they not only fit on a penny but can sit on old Abe's nose? Cutting parts and part features in this Tom Thumb world often comes with Titanic-sized challenges, such as unexpected cutting tool breakage, deburring parts the size of typical burrs and machine tool spindles speeds that come up short. Sometimes just handling ultrasmall parts is a gargantuan task.

Articles • May 1, 2016 • Keith Jennings

Manager’s Desk: Impacted by illness

I generally consider myself to be a positive person. However, these past few weeks have tested my resolve. It's not the roller-coaster daily life as a machine shop owner, but the stark reality of losing employees and friends to serious illness that's been especially hard to take. Thankfully, illness doesn't always mean death.

Products • April 29, 2016

MULTUS U Series Multitask CNC Lathes

Okuma's MULTUS U series general-purpose multitask CNC lathes are designed to reduce setup time, improve accuracy and keep noncutting time to a minimum. Built with Okuma's heavy-duty construction, the MULTUS U series lathes provide a sturdy platform for long-term rigidity and accuracy.

News • April 28, 2016 • Michael C. Anderson

Slow business can have a silver lining

Doug Wetzel, managing director at contract manufacturer Protomatic, Dexter, Mich., is finding business to be slower than he wishes. Like many other U.S. job shops, the 45-year-old company is experiencing a slowdown caused by tumbling oil prices and worldwide political and economic uncertainty. The difference is Wetzel isn't too worried. His advice to fellow manufacturers is to not let market uncertainty paralyze them from seeing a slowdown's silver lining— namely, time to prepare for the inevitable upturn.

Products • April 27, 2016

HF 120.4 High-Speed Spindle

IBAG North America offers the HF 120.4 high-speed spindle for Haas and other leading machining centers, delivering up to 42,000 rpm, 16kW and equipped for HSK40 and BT30 Tooling. The HF 120 is ideal for production manufacturing in aerospace, medical, mold and die machining and can be used in hardened steels, aluminum, brass, copper, graphite and various plastics.

News • April 18, 2016

Exhibition for Ceramic Manufacturing Supply Chain

Ceramics Expo takes place April 26-28, 2016, in Cleveland and is dedicated to providing a marketplace for all raw materials, equipment, machinery and technology used within the ceramic manufacturing supply chain. Ceramics Expo is attended by technical leaders, production directors, engineers, project leaders, buyers and senior executives interested in exploring the latest ceramic manufacturing innovations.

Products • April 14, 2016

Industrial Cleaning Solutions

KKS Ultraschall AG develops, produces and markets solutions in the fields of industrial cleaning, ultrasonic technology and surface refinement.

Products • April 12, 2016

MicroMachine – USP III Ultrashort Pulse Laser Workstation

PhotoMachining Inc. recently installed its new MicroMachine – USP III ultrashort pulse laser micromachining workstation at a world renowned medical care and research institution for the development of novel medical, implantable, surgical and diagnostic devices.

Products • April 8, 2016

MIL-Spec 5015 Connectors

The MIL-Spec 5015 series from Mencom Corp. was originally designed for severe aeronautical and tactical service applications. Due to the rugged and versatile design, these connectors are widely used in a range of commercial and industrial applications, such as factory automation, robotics, instrumentation, medical equipment and power applications.

Products • April 6, 2016

PolyGrind NT-US Grinding Fluid

The demand of the tool grinding industry for high-performance grinding fluids with excellent air release and non-foaming properties led to the development of PolyGrind NT-US from oelheld. Benefits are elevated grinding performance, superior surface finish, improved wheel life with less redressing, enhanced filtration capabilities with higher flow levels and excellent temperature stability, according to the company.

News • April 5, 2016

Spate of mergers and acquisitions

An item in the April 1 issue of The Kiplinger Letter suggested that a tough business climate for makers of various products will spur mergers and acquistions among companies looking "to consolidate forces to keep going." And judging from the spate of mergers and acquisitions announced since the beginning of this year, it would appear the prediction was no April Fool's Day joke.

News • April 4, 2016

Emuge appoints Dan Doiron milling product manager

Emuge Corp., West Boylston, Mass., recently named Dan Doiron its new milling products manager, which puts Doiron in charge of endmills, toolholders, technical and CAD/CAM program support for milling products, according to a recent company news release.