Productive Times

Articles • October 1, 2012

Overcome a weighty issue

END USER: Whirlpool Corp., (269) 923-5000, www.whirlpool.com. CHALLENGE: Eliminate damage to toolchanger arms on vertical machining centers when replacing a step tool that exceeded the weight capacity. SOLUTION: A lighter, module-style, combination cutting tool. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Mapal Inc., (810) 364-8020, www.mapal.us.

Articles • September 1, 2012

Ready, aim, machine

END USER: Evolution Gun Works Inc., (215) 538-1012, www.egwguns.com. CHALLENGE: Boost productivity when machining gun parts. SOLUTION: A high-performance endmill. SOLUTION PROVIDER: SGS Tool Co., (330) 688-6667, www.sgstool.com

Articles • September 1, 2012

Erecting better productivity

END USER: 80/20 Inc., (260) 248-8030, www.8020.net. CHALLENGE: Overcoming limitations of older machine tools that could each only perform one step when making a part. SOLUTION: New CNC machine tools with more capabilities and flexibility. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Haas Automation Inc., (800) 331-6746, www.haascnc.com

Articles • September 1, 2012

Boosting capacity with one and done

END USER: PDQ Corp., (860) 529-9051, www.pdqcorp.com. CHALLENGE: Find a more efficient method for machining complex, tight-tolerance parts primarily for the aerospace industry. SOLUTION: Two 6-axis mill/turn machine tools. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Eurotech, (352) 799-5223, www.eurotechelite.com

Articles • August 1, 2012

New grinder boosts production capacity

END USER: ZPS-Frézovací Nástroje a.s., +420-576-777-510, www.zps-fn.com. CHALLENGE: Increase capacity when producing milling cutters. SOLUTION: A two-spindle, automated, high-speed grinder. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Erwin Junker Machinery Inc., (847) 488-0406, www.junker-usa.com

Articles • August 1, 2012

Advancing cellular manufacturing

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

Articles • July 1, 2012

Milling tool is strong in the pocket

END USERS: Precor, (800) 786-8404, www.precor.com: Hardy Engineering & Manufacturing, (253) 735-6488, www.hardyem.com. CHALLENGE: Boost machining productivity. SOLUTION: A high-performance milling tool. SOLUTION PROVIDER: SwiftCARBCNC, (800) 227-9876, www.swiftcarb.com

Articles • July 1, 2012

Cutting downtime

END USER: Tivoly Inc., (802) 873-6003, www.tivoly.com. CHALLENGE: Significantly reduce downtime on a flute grinding machine. SOLUTION: Rebuild the flute grinder. SOLUTION PROVIDER: International Tool Machines (ITM), (386) 446-0500, www.itmfl.com

Articles • July 1, 2012

Indispensable dispensing

END USER: Attica Hydraulic Exchange Inc., (586) 949-4240, www.atx1.com. CHALLENGE: Increase profitability by effectively managing tools and other industrial supplies. SOLUTION: A vending system. SOLUTION PROVIDER: MSC Industrial Supply Co., (800) 521-9520, www.mscdirect.com/vending

Articles • June 1, 2012

Turning and hobbing combined

END USER: Mercury Marine, (920) 929-5000, www.mercurymarine.com. CHALLENGE: To increase productivity when machining driveshafts and propeller shafts. SOLUTION: A lathe with a hob assembly. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Okuma America Corp., (704) 588-7000, www.okuma.com

Articles • June 1, 2012

Tool for faster service

END USER: Fox Valley Metrology Ltd., (920) 426-5894, www.foxvalleymetrology.com. CHALLENGE: Providing faster service when repairing hand-held instruments. SOLUTION: A honing tool that allows repairing measurement instruments at a customer's site. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Brush Research Manufacturing Co. Inc., (323) 261-2193, www.brushresearch.com.

Articles • June 1, 2012

Software increases spindle utilization

END USER: Mainland Machine, (805) 543-7149, www.mainlandmachine.com. CHALLENGE: Increase spindle run times. SOLUTION: CAM system that enables efficient programming when machining with custom fixture plates. SOLUTION PROVIDER: DP Technology Corp., (805) 388-6000, www.dptechnology.com