General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

Shipments of cutting tools were $208.1 million in June 2024. Orders decreased 2.9% from May 2024 and were down 4.2% from June 2023. Year-to-date shipments totaled $1.27 billion, up 2.6% from shipments made in the first six months of 2023.

Olis Robotics launched a remote diagnostics system for industrial automation cells at IMTS 2024 in Chicago, following the addition of powerful new PLC capabilities to its Olis solution.

Exair has increased the availability of free tools to help customers. The company's latest free tool, the EXAIR AR Mobile App is now available in both Apple and the Google Play Stores.

Based on the Easy-Cut, the new and improved RushCut is a fully enclosed semi-automatic cut- off machine, designed for quick and easy cutting of carbide rod, high speed steel, and tool ends with diameters between 1/8′′ (3.175 mm) to 1-1/4′′ (31.75 mm). PLC controlled, the RushCut has air actuated work piece clamping and hydraulic feed cutting stroke with a neutral button for manual positioning/feeding.

In MERLIC 5.6, some methods that were previously available on a test basis have been transferred to completely new tools. These tools are: "Count with Deep Learning", "Segment Image Pixel-Precisely", and "Recognize Color". With "Count with Deep Learning", also known as Deep Counting, it is possible to count a large number of objects quickly and robustly with little training effort. There are many possible use cases for this feature, like for example completeness checks. "Segment Image Pixel-Precisely" makes it possible to localize trained defect classes with pixel precision.

SG SmartCapture software offers a direct PolyWorks Plug-In for streamlined workflow, GD&T measurements and fitting with SmartProfile integration, and STEP file reverse engineering for automatic CAD conversion. Fully supported robotic integration is available for automatic part handling and sorting.

SmartBox 2.0 leverages MTConnect technology to deliver real-time manufacturing data, allowing shops to optimize operations, boost efficiency and quickly adapt to changing market conditions. The integration of edge computing addresses the challenges of real-time data processing by combining the benefits of decentralized cloud architectures with the efficiency of local network systems.

Rainbow Robotics' CEO Jungho Lee announced Sept. 5 that the company would attend IMTS 2024, the world's largest machine tool exhibition being held for six days from September 9 to 14 in Chicago.

At the core of Astorino is a 1kg payload, 6-axis robot with a structure and programming environment nearly identical to that of a Kawasaki industrial robot. Weighing only 12 kg and powered by a 110V outlet, the robot is adoptable to any classroom environment. The Astorino platform includes a built-in control system; dedicated firmware and software; Modbus TCP and USB/Ethernet communication, and safety functions such as E-Stop and safety brakes.

With the ability to rapidly dial in runout with complete control, users spend less time tapping on the side of the tool and resetting tools and collets. Overall efficiency is increased, machining costs are lowered, and scrap is reduced with easyZERO.

The FANUC Series 500i-A CNC has all the benefits of FANUC's other control platforms, such as high precision, accuracy and rock-solid reliability, but with additional benefits attained from the latest CNC features as well as the integration of FANUC's new generation servo system Alpha i-D Series.

A model-based enterprise (MBE) leverages the benefits of MBD to optimize the entire internal and external supply chain. The 3D CAD model becomes the single source of information for all processes—not only in development and manufacturing but also in change management, production planning, assembly, quality assurance, technical documentation, spare parts management, and even customer and supplier communication.