Fabrication & Cutting

The patented POLIFAN-STRONG flap discs from PFERD reportedly remove more material in less time than most other consumable abrasives for angle grinders. Featuring a unique extended flap design for consistent and extremely aggressive grinding up to the last grain, this disc delivers optimal performance for high-powered angle grinders.

Now there's a better way to protect small quantities of iron and steel parts from corrosion with Birchwood Technologies' BK-1 Mini PRESTO BLACK finishing line. It's fast, easy and economical.

Gehring Technologies GmbH recently introduced a surface finishing process for internal combustion engines that reportedly reduces carbon dioxide emissions through form honing.

Cincinnati Inc. (CI) continues its manufacturing solutions with the new MARCH (Multi Axis Rapid Cincinnati Handling) system for automated handling of metal fabrication materials. The MARCH system is for use with CI lasers to reduce operating cost and increase productivity and safety.

Omegasonics announced it has further enhanced its 3D support structure cleaning equipment lineup, the 1900BTX, with a new programmable cycle which provides for complete hands-free cleaning. Not only can cycle times be programmed, but now they can be repeated if, and as often as, necessary.

This article provides basic information about the coatings and processes used to coat cutting tools, dies, wear parts and other components. HSS, carbide, tool steels and stainless steels are among the most commonly coated materials.

Custom lenses and windows made from zinc selenide, zinc sulfide, fused silica, germanium, silicon and other materials for a myriad of applications are available from Laser Research Optics.

The Model MV-2L Swam-Blast Micro Sandblasters introduce a precise amount of finely graded abrasive powder into a controlled stream of compressed air through the abrasive pathway and out a manually or automatically positioned nozzle tip. Total process control can be achieved with independently adjustable powder flow control and air pressure regulation.

Water Jet Sweden recently introduced the FAWJ Micro Head package for shops that use the company's standard machines and want to make highly precise, narrow cuts that don't need to meet extremely tight tolerances.

Before bringing abrasive waterjetting in-house, shops should know it is a deceptively simple process that demands a great deal of thought, effort and planning to ensure a reasonably quick return on investment and increase in operational productivity.

As demand grows for finer surface finishes and tolerance specifications become tighter—and competition continues to intensify—parts manufacturers are adopting advanced fluid filtration technologies to achieve their machining and grinding goals.

What about the less obvious threats to worker safety? How do you take those elements into account? To address this concern, the shop where CTE's Machinist's Corner columnist works uses a system of unsafe acts or conditions tickets (UACTs).