Industry News

The ability to “see through” a solid object was once thought to be a tool of the future, or a power belonging to Superman–but the technology is here today, and more widespread and accessible than you may have though

Customers and partners of BIG KAISER Precision Tooling teamed up to generate a $7,283 donation to benefit the National Robotics League (NRL). The amount is nearly 10% more than last year and the fourth year-over-year increase in NRL funding from BIG KAISER.

It took six years of experimentation and trial and error along with tool grinding know-how for West Ohio Tool Co., a specialty cutting tool shop in Russells Point, Ohio, to develop its own commercially available cutting tool. The revolutionary tool is a solid PCD drill that generates from 800,000 to 1,000,000 holes in die cast aluminum without regrind or re-tipping required.

Imagine you’re trying to learn a new tune on the piano, but the sheet music only has one note out of every ten. Wouldn’t that be pretty hard? That’s what it’s like learning what your machine is doing with data that only plays a few notes from the entire piece. Just like Chopin, a machine writes complex, nuanced melodies that get shortchanged when an incomplete picture is represented in the notes it plays, the data.

Rice University engineers have one-upped their own technique to increase security for the "internet of things." In truth, their upping is far greater than one.

Finally, a unique take on the traditional V-Block which allows you to complete a wider range of projects than ever before. Introducing the Uni-Vee, a useful solution to some common and tedious workpiece fixturing difficulties.

As an industry #ANCATooloftheYear celebrates the knowledge and imagination of cutting tool craftsmen, creating tools with the perfect geometry, profile and finish that shape and build our world every day.

Amidst the growing demand from automotive industry, metal forging market is set to witness a robust growth rate of more than 7%. Within the automotive sector demand is soaring for high-performance forged components for cars, trucks and commercial automobiles, thus augmenting the demand for metal forging. Metal forging is witnessing a surge in automotive applications on back of its durability, strength and reliability.

In 2019 alone, SilencerCo was able to realize remarkable improvements in both the efficiency and profitability of their production leveraging MachineMetrics. SilencerCo started their implementation with the goal to capture real-time manufacturing data for their business systems in an effort to improve decision making and set realistic benchmarks for future improvement. Download this case study to learn how they achieved these goals as well as other significant gains they experienced across the organization.

The leaders in metalworking and metal forming industries understand fluid recycling can have a positive effect on their bottom line. Coolants have improved significantly and are now better than those available 10 or 15 years ago. They last longer, but the cost has also increased. Depending where a business is located, shop managers may pay up to $50 per gallon for coolant. Disposal costs also vary significantly, anywhere from 25 cents to $6 per gallon.

After 14 years in service, a Studer S40 grinding machine that had over 45,000 hours of run time now produces precision components to tolerances it achieved when brand new. The Studer factory in Switzerland performed the rebuild that involved completely overhauling the machine, and while doing so also provided the machine’s owner LMT Kieninger with a loaner to ensure the customer’s production would continue uninterrupted.

Researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have developed a system for fully automated monitoring of ballscrew drives in machine tools. A camera integrated directly into the nut of the drive generates images that artificial intelligence continuously monitors for signs of wear, helping to reduce machine downtime.

Ort Tool and Die Corp., Erie, Michigan, saw significant sales growth in 2019, which matched its best year of sales in 2007.

The Coordinate Metrology Society (CMS), Weatherford, Texas, announced the launch of the industry’s first Level-One and Level-Two Certifications for traditional coordinate measuring machine professionals. Applicants for the CMS Level-One Certification must submit an application, meet eligibility requirements, sign the CMS code of ethics, and pass a peer review. Candidates for the CMS Level-Two Certification must possess a Level-One Certification, have two years experience using a CMM (minimum 400 hours), and submit an application with two references who can confirm their hands-on expertise.

Industrial cutting processes have played a significant part in the overall manufacturing of products. From metal foundries to automobile manufacturing, the effectiveness of cutting technologies has been employed across multiple industrial verticals. Among which, plasma cutting methods have gained lucrative grounds in the global industrial landscape.

Systima Technologies Inc., Kirkland, Washington, manufactures components for the defense, space and commercial markets. The company was founded in 2008 but has quadrupled in the four years since 2015. Materials and Process Engineer Marc Staiger realized early on that the forecast growth would require them to have better material management; “At that time we had around 20 rolls on-site, which we were managing out time with Excel spreadsheets, but information was not up-to-date and was scattered across PCs across the network. Also, it involved a lot of manual work counting out-time.”

According to the 2017 McKinsey report "Making it in America – Revitalizing U.S. Manufacturing," the manufacturing industry is responsible for 35% of the nation’s productivity growth, 60% of its exports and about 70% of private sector R&D spending. These figures point to just how impactful American manufacturing is to the U.S. economy. Visionary American manufacturers have the opportunity to lead the evolution in this industry, which is the basis for the growth/investment strategy of ARCH Cutting Tools (ACT).

Toolholders are the critical connection between a cutting tool and a machine tool spindle. A toolholder’s performance dictates productive output, part surface finish and cutter life. With the right toolholder for the application at hand, shops gain maximum benefit from their high-performance cutting tools and machine tools.

January is traditionally a month for new hope and new energy to meet life and business goals. But for manufacturers facing a new year with the lowest unemployment rate in more than five decades, it can be a tough time to expect workers to come back with enthusiasm from holiday celebrations to dull and menial tasks. That makes January an ideal time for National Cobot Awareness Month

Modern truck engines are produced at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Mannheim, Germany. The requirements for ideal engine properties include extremely tight tolerances for the decisive dimensions of the engine blocks. Thanks to the close cooperation between the specialists from Mercedes-Benz, the machine manufacturer and toolmaker Mapal, significant progress was made when a new production line for machining engine blocks was designed.