Productive Times

Articles • July 1, 2011

Taking Grinding to the next level

Courtesy of United Grinding The Studer S40 CNC cylindrical grinder from United Grinding enables Damen Carbide to process shafts up to 63″ long and weighing 286 lbs. Technology change has a universal impact on parts manufacturers—from the largest plant to the smallest shop. Most of the manufacturers who have taken the leap and invested in...

Articles • July 1, 2011

Minimizing Polishing

END USER: Tech NH Inc., (603) 424-4404, www.technh.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce polishing time when producing hardened steel molds. SOLUTION: Long-reach, small-diameter endmills for hard milling. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Harvey Tool Co. LLC, (800) 645-5609, www.harveytool.com; Industrial Tool Supply, (888) 200-8887, www.itslowell.com.

Articles • June 1, 2011

Taming tough machining operations

END USER: Genesis Attachments, (715) 395-5252, https://www.genesisattachments.com. CHALLENGE: Increase productivity when machining high-strength steel jaws and other components for recycling and demolition equipment. SOLUTION: Implementing new cutting tools and high-speed machining based on lean manufacturing principles. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Northwest Wisconsin Manufacturing Outreach Center, (866) 880-2262, https://www.nwmoc.uwstout.edu; Walter USA LLC, (800) 945-5554, https://www.walter-tools.com/us

Articles • June 1, 2011

Do you believe in magic?

END USER: Single Source Inc., (574) 656-3400, www.singlesourceinc.us. CHALLENGE: Reduce programming and setup times when producing increasingly complex parts. SOLUTION: A combination of CAD/CAM software and mill/turn machines. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: DMG/Mori Seiki USA Inc., (877) 275-6674, www.dmgmoriseikiusa.com; DP Technology Corp., (805) 388-6000, www.dptechnology.com; Ellison Technologies, (630) 393-8900, www.ellisontechnologies.com

Articles • June 1, 2011

Finely finished flutes

END USER: Form Tool Technology Inc., (803) 788-3686, www.formtooltech.com. CHALLENGE: Polish flutes of drills and other round tools to enhance chip evacuation. SOLUTION: Diamond-abrasive polishing wheels. SOLUTION PROVIDER: 3M Abrasive Systems Div., (866) 279-1288, ext. 1258, www.3m.com

Articles • May 1, 2011

Cutting back spotfacing cycle time

END USER: Fulflo Specialties Inc., (937) 783-2411, www.fulflo.com. CHALLENGE: Increase tool life in back spotfacing of stainless steel hydraulic relief valve bodies. SOLUTION: Custom tool for difficult-to-machine workpiece materials. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Heule Tool Corp., (513) 860-9900, www.heuletool.com

Articles • May 1, 2011

Killing setup time

END USER: Highland Products Corp., (440) 352-4777, www.highlandproducts.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce setup time when employing high-pressure coolant for Swiss-style machining. SOLUTION: A through-coolant Swiss-style toolholder that directs coolant over the insert to the tool/workpiece interface. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Streamliner & Associates Inc., (814) 440-1548, www.streamlinertools.com

Articles • May 1, 2011

Maximizing global competitiveness

END USER: Alpha Machining and Grinding Inc., (704) 871-2183, www.alphamachiningandgrinding.com. CHALLENGE: Achieve cost savings through multiple process improvements. SOLUTION: Magnetic workholding and variable-index, variable-helix endmills. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Alpha Workholding Solutions, (877) 217-6900, www.alphaworkholding.com; CGC Tools Inc., (866) 888-9600, www.cgctool.com; Turning Concepts, (704) 849-9209, www.turningconcepts.com

Articles • April 1, 2011

Automated surface finishing is a ‘game changer’

END USER: RCBS, (800) 533-5000, www.rcbs.com. CHALLENGE: Automate ID finishing of ammunition reloading dies. SOLUTION: Flexible brush hones on CNC equipment that improved quality and throughput while eliminating operator injury and fatigue. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Brush Research Manufacturing Co. Inc., (323) 261-2193, www.brushresearch.com

Articles • April 1, 2011

A just-right hard turn

END USER: Axle Alliance Co. LLC, (313) 592-7438, www.daimler-trucksnorthamerica.com. CHALLENGE: Overcome workpiece variations while effectively hard turning large ring gears. SOLUTION: A workpiece measuring process for a vertical turning machine. SOLUTION PROVIDER: EMAG LLC, (248) 477-7440, www.emag.com

Articles • April 1, 2011

iProductivity

END USER: Holmatro USA, (410) 768-9662, www.holmatro-usa.com. CHALLENGE: Maximize productivity by facilitating tool acquisition and application. SOLUTION: Electronic tool catalog and application recommendation software. SOLUTION PROVIDERS: Iscar Metals Inc., (888) ISCAR88, www.iscar.com/ita or www.iscarmetals.com

Articles • March 1, 2011

Dedicated fixtures simplify pump housing machining

END USER: Weir Minerals North America, (608) 221-2261, www.weirminerals.com. CHALLENGE: Streamline workholding and machining of 12', 5,000-lb. cast iron pump housings. SOLUTION: Dedicated fixtures that cut setup and machining cycle time while improving operator safety. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Advanced Machine & Engineering Co., (800) 225-4263, www.ame.com