General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

Radix Inc., Windsor, Ontario, acquired vision system integrator Automated Detection Devices Inc., Mississauga, Ontario.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 49 percent of injuries from hydraulic power presses and press brakes result in the amputation of the operator's hand or fingers. Other bodily injuries include strangulation from loose clothing, and severe lacerations caused by material movement. To turn the tables on press injuries, Rockford Systems introduced the second generation of its SSC1500 control system upgraded with encoder-based positioning technology.

MC Machinery Systems Inc. hosted more than 1,000 customers, visitors and team members for the grand opening of its new headquarters in September. The event was one of the first opportunities for customers and partners to explore the 175,000-sq.-ft. facility, which includes a 50,000-sq.-ft. showroom among many other modern amenities.

The ABS 325 L from Knuth Machine Tools USA Inc. is a fully automatic bandsaw. According to the company, it provides enhanced automation, fast cutting action and less downtime.

JW Winco Inc. offers GN 214.2 metric size, rapid release pins with plastic push button, steel shank, securing pins and pull ring. The RoHS compliant rapid release pins are used for quick assembly, connecting and locking of various jig and fixture systems.

OPEN MIND Technologies AG has developed a performance package of the hyperMILL CAM software suite. MAXX Machining offers three powerful modules for finishing, roughing and drilling on planar, ruled and curved surfaces often found in aerospace parts and other complex 5-axis components.

Both are used to achieve a smooth surface and precision dimensions on metal parts, writes MC's Joshua Jablons. "Both are usually performed at the end of the manufacturing process to remove a very small amount of material or finesse the finish on a part. The difference between honing and lapping begins to be revealed if we look at where on a part each process is performed: While honing is used where parts need a precise inside diameter, lapping is performed on an outside flat surface. And when we look at what each process is, the distinctions between the two are plain to see."

LiquidPlanner Inc., Seattle, a developer of dynamic project management software, and P3 Group, Aachen, Germany, a manufacturing consultancy, partnered to deliver project management software and accelerate deployments for manufacturing customers worldwide.

Dürr Ecoclean GmbH, Filderstadt, Germany, is changing its name to Ecoclean.

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in September, and the overall economy grew for the 100th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The September PMI was 60.8 percent, an increase of 2 percentage points from the August reading of 58.8 percent. This indicates growth in manufacturing for the 13th consecutive month and is the highest reading since May 2004, when the index registered 61.4 percent.

Some good ideas can be made even better. Much better. This was certainly the case when Kennametal engineers took the strength and versatility of their proven KSEM modular drill system and combined it with the ease of use and low feed forces of its smaller companion drill, KenTIP, the company reports. The resulting fusion of these advanced holemaking technologies is the KenTIP FS, a 6 mm to 26 mm, 1.5 to 12 x D modular drill that's simple to use, produces good hole quality, and is tough enough to compete with solid-carbide drills across a wide range of materials.

LMC Workholding offers the Energy series large-bore air chucks, featuring a built-in air cylinder and extra-large through-hole. The full spindle bore of the lathe can be utilized for through-hole work and long jaw travels provides more clearance for through feeding pipe.