Productive Times

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.

END USER: Helac Corp., (800) 327-2589, www.helac.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce maintenance and programming time on a large vertical turning center. SOLUTION: Retrofit the VTC with a new CNC and AC digital-axis servodrives and servomotors.

END USER: Machine Tech CNC, (780) 461-0890. CHALLENGE: Accurately bore 14 diameters deep and deeper. SOLUTION: Carbide-reinforced boring bars with built-in vibration damping.

END USER: Cincinnati Mine Machinery Co., (513) 728-4040, www.cinmine.com. CHALLENGE: Improve throughput and maintain higher part-quality consistency. SOLUTION: A machining cell with 24 pallets and two horizontal machining centers.

END USER: Southwest Greene International Inc., (760) 639-4960, www.greenegroup.com. CHALLENGE: Effectively measure small, complex medical parts.SOLUTION: A measurement system that combines vision and touch-probe inspection. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Hexagon Metrology Inc., (800) 274-9433, www.hexagonmetrology.us.

END USER: Thortex Inc., (503) 654-5726, www.thortexinc.com. CHALLENGE: Maximize tool life and reliability when threading cobalt chrome. SOLUTION: Replace solid-carbide taps with high-performance thread mills. SOLUTION PROVIDER: OSG Tap & Die Inc., (800) 837-2223, www.osgtool.com.

END USER: Kline Oilfield Equipment Inc., (918) 445-0588, www.klinetools.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce cycle time and extend tool life when machining 718 Inconel. SOLUTION: An AlTiN-coated, general-purpose endmill and CAM software that generates efficient toolpaths. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: IMCO Carbide Tool Inc., (800) 765-4626, www.imcousa.com; SolidCAM Inc., (866) 975-1115, www.solidcam.com.

END USER: A large aerospace manufacturer. CHALLENGE: Avoid buying a new machine by retaining use of a 25-year-old lathe. SOLUTION: Rebuild the lathe and retrofit it with a new control.

END USER: Acumed LLC, (888) 627-9957, www.acumed.net. CHALLENGE: Accurately direct high-pressure coolant on Swiss-style machines to control chips when turning. SOLUTION: A Swiss-style insert holder with high-pressure, through-coolant capability.

END USER: The TMF Center, (765) 762-1000 CHALLENGE: Reduce setup and changeover times when machining large parts. SOLUTION: A modular magnetic workholding system.

END USER: Marquardt Engineering Inc., (847) 669-0690, www.marquardt-eng.com. CHALLENGE: Eliminate chatter to prevent indexable inserts from blowing up and causing catastrophic tool body failure when drilling 4150 prehardened steel. SOLUTION: A new drill body and inserts.

END USER: MSI Corp., (724) 567-6500, www.msicorporation.com. CHALLENGE: Effectively cut a large amount of material on older machines without damaging cutting tools. SOLUTION: A milling cutter tooled with inserts that enable a large DOC at a low horsepower.