General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

Not only is automation continuing to displace workers at manufacturing companies, the thought of being ousted by a robot is making some workers at those plants feel sick. That's according to a study by three Ball State University researchers and a Villanova University professor.

Kardex Remstar is launching a new cloud-based Remote Support platform, which focuses on continuously monitoring the status of a customer's installed systems and remotely maintaining them when necessary. This new digital solution for condition monitoring and maintenance of automated storage systems will reportedly enable customers to use their machines at maximum efficiency.

The new A-635/A-637 PIglide low-profile stages from PI (Physik Instrumente) have no rolling or sliding elements and deliver frictionless, noncontact motion, resulting in negligible reversal error, better wobble, eccentricity and velocity stability – suitable prerequisites for high-end industrial applications such as inspection, metrology, calibration and scanning, including cleanroom environments.

Cortec VpCI-649 BD combines contact and vapor-phase corrosion inhibitors to protect metal surfaces in direct contact with the treated fluid, as well as those areas above the level of the fluid where the contact inhibitor cannot reach. As the inhibitor flows along in the liquid stream, it releases a corrosion inhibiting vapor that adsorbs and forms a protective layer on exposed metal surfaces above the level of the fluid.

EXSYS Tool Inc. has expanded its line of PRECI-FLEX modular tooling systems to include a 10,000-rpm, 1:1 ratio rotary tool for Mazak QUICK TURN and QTU series turning centers. The faster toolholders effectively match the processing speed of optional 10,000-rpm machine spindles to boost productivity and impart fine surface finishes.

After helping customers to remove tramp oil from coolant for more than 40 years, Jim Petrucci, vice president of Oil Skimmers Inc., has yet to hear from anyone that doesn't have at least some tramp oil present in an individual machine sump or large holding tank. When enough tramp oil seeps into coolant on a steady basis to justify the acquisition of oil-removal equipment, which is common, the Cleveland-based company offers oil skimmers to remove surface oil.

Julian Cornwall, a 17-year-old junior in the Butler Tech precision machine program at Colerain Career Center, has a big decision ahead of him. Companies looked at his portfolio and shop samples and talked to his instructor about his work during a recent skills competition. He had 11 job offers in hand when a trio of executives from the Feintool Group stopped by his machine to talk to him. When they left, his options had increased by another offer.

A precision machining supplier has come up with a way to address the skills shortage problem. Micron Manufacturing Co., Walker, Mich., lets workers create their own schedules. You want to be there for your first-grader's field trip? Do it. Want to have a long lunch with your aging mom? You can.

Nearly 100 percent of the solid-carbide tool assortment is suitable for reconditioning, according to Sandvik Coromant Co. Once a solid-carbide tool has been reconditioned three times and is no longer a candidate for reconditioning, it can be recycled.

Kuebler's new Sendix 36 motor feedback system is designed to operate servomotors of various sizes, performance levels, electrical interfaces and technical requirements, including high rotational speed and high temperature, making it suitable for factory automation systems.

Futura Automation LLC, Scottsdale, Ariz., added George Wilken to its management team.

The surface treatment global business unit of Ludwigshafen, Germany-based BASF SE's coatings division, operating under the Chemetall brand, was awarded the highest supplier award in the aerospace company Airbus SE, Leiden, Netherlands, Supply Chain & Quality Improvement Program known as SQIP.