Fabrication & Cutting

Productive Times Article. END USER: Wolfram Manufacturing, (512) 600-3220, www.wolframmfg.com. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Brush Research Manufacturing Co. Inc., (323) 261-2193, www.brushresearch.com. CHALLENGE: Perform finishing operations during the machining process. SOLUTION: Tool with small, abrasive globules that are permanently mounted to flexible filaments.

To meet the increasing utilization of superhard materials in production processes, notably aerospace, Agathon Machine Tools Inc. has introduced the Neo Roughing Laser for accelerated processing rates, and overall indexable insert production savings. The Neo has three mechanical axes and three optical axes for processing the periphery, clearance angles and chipbreakers.

When mass finishing—finishing many parts simultaneously—in a vibratory finishing system, the tendency is to use ceramic or plastic preformed cutting media, said Steven Schneider, technical sales manager at surface finishing company Kramer Industries Inc., Piscataway, N.J. Ceramic tumbling media are made with abrasive filler, much like a grinding wheel.

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.