General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

Increase the speed and accuracy of doing business in today's complex manufacturing environment and streamline operations. With the new innovations available in Macola 10, you can easily configure your own workspaces at the user level – without the need for developers or consultants.

Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives announces its new Norton Rapid Prep XHD Coarse and Medium Discs to solve users' most aggressive stock removal and blending challenges. The extra heavy-duty nonwoven discs remove weld lines, weld splatter, weld discoloration and blend surfaces in a single step.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in October, and the overall economy grew for the 101st consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The October PMI registered 58.7 percent, a decrease of 2.1 percentage points from the September reading of 60.8 percent. This indicates growth in manufacturing for the 14th consecutive month and continues expansion consistent with pre-hurricane levels.

Mencom harsh-environment industrial Ethernet switches series provide rugged solutions to manage high-demanding advanced networks under the extreme temperature. Minimum operating temperatures for the harsh environment Ethernet switches range from -20° C to +70° C.

Swiss pattern CORINOX machinist's files from PFERD are designed for use on stainless steel and exotic alloys. With a surface hardness of 1,200 HV and 70 HRC, these files offer enhanced wear resistance and long service life.

A new, lightweight, compact processing head from the Coherent division formerly known as LASAG is optimized for industrial laser applications where space is limited and minimum mass is required. Specifically, the new FLBK40 is a modular beam delivery system, including a variety of collimators, focusing lenses, cameras, camera adapters and an IR illuminator, that can be rapidly configured by the user as needed to deliver optimum performance for a wide range of fiber laser-based cutting, welding or drilling applications.

SMIRT 2017 R1, the latest release of Vero Software's powerful viewing solution for the die-build stamping industry, introduces automation tools and numerous improvements that pave the way for greater consistency, quality, and efficiency.

Sumitomo Electric Carbide, Inc.'s new AC1030U high-precision, small-parts machining grade combines "Absotech Bronze" PVD coating and a special substrate for superior wear- and chipping-resistance. In addition, the high-quality cutting edge of the AC1030U ensures excellent resistance against adhesion and microchipping for improved surface finishes, according to the company.

Stephen Winn, owner of Winn Manufacturing Inc., blogs about how his search for information on bending formulas came up short when he relied on the popular Internet search engine. "It was about that time that I saw my 20th Edition of the Machinery's Handbook sitting in the corner of my desk," he writes. "Within about 10 minutes I had the bending formulas that I vaguely remembered and the standard method of measurement for the pitch diameter of the V-Groove of a "B" size pulley groove." Read his entire post on the satisfaction of kickin' it old-school at the link below.

My October 20 post on adding capabilities to your current CNC brought a response from a reader who who shares a problem. "We have a few Kitamura MyCenter 4XiF VMCs with FANUC 16iMB controls running daily on our shop floor," he writes, "The control hasn't given us a single problem since they powered on for the first time. However, we haven't been able to get the machines onto our network and we have given up trying."

Walter Dunkmann, head of the vacuum automation business area for J. Schmalz GmbH, Glatten, Germany, answers queries about digitization.

eNET announces the release of USBCenter, a "network license" option for eNETDNC and machine monitoring softwares. USBCenter can be hosted on any computer, server or virtual server on an Ethernet Network.