Fabrication & Cutting

For our February issue's Industry Briefs department, I'm writing an article about the Deburring Application Laboratory at Matrix Design LLC. The company designs, builds and installs robotic automation systems for deburring parts, as well as machine tending and material handling.

Guyson completed a precise shot peening machine for a customer in the automotive/marine industry. This small footprint machine is equipped with a spiral separator (media shape separator) to ensure that the S-70 Mil Spec media is correct spec shape to guarantee the intensity that is required to adhere to AMS-2431/ 2E.

Softwall clean rooms from HEMCO Corp. are designed to meet ISO 5 – ISO 8 requirements and feature a flexible design that allows them to locate over and around equipment, with the option of being mobile with casters. The structural framework is of aircraft anodized aluminum with clear vinyl curtains around the unit.

The new 100-Watt fiber laser FOBA Y.1000 operates up to 40 percent faster than common 50-Watt lasers and allows for marking substrates that are usually difficult to mark with other models. It applies robust marks on heavy wear products to ensure abrasion-proof legibility.

Laser Research Optics has introduced a line of sapphire cover glass windows that have lower bulk absorption and about 30 times higher thermal conductivity than quartz protection glasses.

In connection with the abrasive waterjet machining article scheduled for our March issue, I spoke with Jim Draper, owner of Rocky Mountain Waterjet, Greeley, Colo., who said when a parts manufacturer finds that waterjetting is a suitable process for a part or family of parts, the decision to outsource that work to a waterjet job shop or buy a waterjet machine for in-house production depends on the part quantity.

​​​A year ago, a leading aerospace manufacturer approached Sandvik Coromant with a machining challenge. The operation in question was finishing deep titanium pockets, a common feature in structural aircraft components.

FTT says its in-house PVD coating is yet another example of its commitment to maintaining the latest technology in-house to provide the highest-quality, timely and efficient service to customers. These types of coatings protect the tools from heat and abrasion.

Scottie Mahl joined finishing toolmaker Osborn, Richmond, Ind., as director of marketing and product management.

When choosing an edge inspection and burr detection system, users generally try to balance accuracy and speed. The EdgeInspect system from Novacam Technologies Inc., however, acquires and analyzes edge properties and detects burrs with micrometer precision and at speeds previously unimaginable.

A line of drop-in field replacement CO2 laser lenses supplied in mounts for Trotec, Xenetech and Raytec lasers is being introduced by Laser Research Optics. Laser Research mounted CO2 laser optics for popular engraving and marking lasers are optimized for 10.6 microns where depth of field is critical and are available with focal lengths from 1" to 10" at 1/2" increments.

Henkel Adhesive Technologies has sharpened the market fit of its Bonderite L-FM FL portfolio of polymeric coatings for the surface conversion of metals used in cold forming operations. The optimized Bonderite L-FM FL process reduces the number of treatment steps from as many as 10 to one or two and is emerging as an attractive alternative in the production of high-performance automotive bolts and screws, according to the company.