Industry News

If you have ever had parts or components CNC milled, you probably have a good understanding of the process. However, unless you have had custom products manufactured, you may not be aware of everything that goes hand-in-hand with custom CNC milling.

In the EU-funded project SelSus, Fraunhofer scientists are collaborating in a consortium with partners from research and industry to develop maintenance technology capable of forecasting machine downtimes in production before they occur. This allows plant managers to rectify faults before the machine breaks down. The system even corrects some defects automatically.

Although picks, or plectra, for playing musical instruments are commonly plastic injection molded or stamped, some are machined.

Precision Drive Systems LLC, Bessemer City, N.C., a global provider of high-speed precision spindle motors, support and repair, named Bob Barone vice president.

Cutting Tool Engineering (CTE) is seeking machine shop candidates to be featured in an episode of our new Shop Ingenuity video series, which debuted earlier this year. The series is open to any shop that would like to share its story of shop innovation.

Coldwater Machine Co., Coldwater, Ohio, an engineered solutions and precision machining company that manufactures and integrates assembly automation and special machines, announced a 27,500-sq.-ft. expansion to its manufacturing space, enlarging the facility to 132,500 sq. ft.

Fairmont Supply, Washington, Pa., which distributes industrial maintenance, repair and operation supplies in the United States, appointed Paul Fichiera CEO.

Top jaws should be designed to hold the workpiece as close to the chuck face as possible. Excessive jaw height reduces the effective gripping force available and is detrimental to accuracy.

GF Machining Solutions LLC, Lincolnshire, Ill., named Ellison Technologies Inc., Los Angeles, as its distributor to serve customers in Indiana.

Engineers at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, tested NASA's first 3-D printed rocket engine prototype part made of two different metal alloys through an innovative advanced manufacturing process. NASA has been making and evaluating durable 3-D printed rocket parts made of one metal, but the technique of 3-D printing with more than one metal is more difficult.

Premier Industries' pressure regulators are subjected to tough duty in the oil & gas, aerospace and welding industries, but their precision performance is also critical, as regulator outlet pressure determines downstream pressure. A HORN modular toolholding system allow the company to reduce cycle times by 65 percent and cost per part by 79 percent—with better finish, flatness and tool life.

For many machinists, the conversation begins, "If I could have this size tool with this attachment on it, we'd be able to …" With the variety of machine taper types, sizes, differences in the flanges, draw-in thread sizes, and pull studs, finding the ideal toolholder for the job can be a difficult task.