General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

Mencom's entry-level DIN-rail-mount unmanaged Ethernet switches offer a reliable, robust, and cost-effective solution to most of the simple network topologies. With IP30 rating, all of the unmanaged switches are certified for Industrial EMC (EN61000-6-4 and EN61000-6-2), and support redundant power-input for enhanced safety that can be connected simultaneously to a wide range of DC power sources.

HEIDENHAIN Corp. has partnered with Applied Motion Products Inc. in the development of their StepSERVO integrated motors for high-performance motion control applications. Utilizing's HEIDENHAIN's RENCO-brand RCML 15 rotary encoder inside, StepSERVO reportedly offers the next evolution in step motor technology, combining the high-torque capabilities of step motors with the closed-loop dynamic control of servo systems.

SICK is opening up the HIPERFACE DSL interface and, in doing so, is making the technology available to all users. The market is now set to be provided with yet more extensive solutions. Manufacturers of servo drive technology will benefit from an enhanced product portfolio and gain the security of working with an open and established interface.

According to MTD Micro Molding, nothing is more frustrating for micropart designers than to spend countless hours on a new drawing, only to get to the manufacturing phase and find out they need to make significant revisions or compromises. Their tooling department provides eight recommendations to help improve the manufacturability of your next micropart design.

The K2D-KeyToData GmbH (K2D) now offers free test trials of the quality management software InspectionXpert. The trial version will open all available file formats, is fully functional and runs without restrictions for 15 days.

Klüber Lubrication provides BARRIERTA K greases for automotive, electrical and precision engineering applications. These greases are based on perfluorinated polyether oil (PFPE) to provide a long component life over a wide service temperature range.

In 2016, Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. installed new manufacturing systems for machining structural parts made of aluminum. To achieve the desired surface quality and precision during high-speed milling operations, the aircraft manufacturer continuously relies on the solutions provided by Haimer: a large selection of toolholders and the corresponding shrinking and balancing machines.

MBFZ toolcraft GmbH reports that 3D printing is developing at an increasingly rapid pace. While plastic parts can already be 3D printed on home printers, metal 3D printing remains in the hands of innovative industrial companies. Here, the transition has already been made from rapid prototyping to rapid manufacturing. Both the ability to produce titanium bone implants and the growing interest in the technology shown by politicians are clear indications that the manufacturing method is ready to be used for series production. To improve its additive manufacturing processes, toolcraft has invested in new laser melting machines from TRUMPF.

Emuge Corp. has announced the expansion of its MultiTAP line, high-performance taps designed to cut a range of materials, including carbon steel, steel alloys, stainless steel, aluminum, cast iron, copper, brass and bronze. With 87 new SKUs, the Emuge MultiTAP line comprises an expansive offering of both regular and extended-length spiral-point and spiral-flute taps, as well as roll form taps.

Mastercam, a global partner of WorldSkills, is the official supplier to the four machining competitions at WorldSkills 2017: CNC Turning, CNC Milling, Plastic Die Engineering, and the Manufacturing Team Challenge. The Manufacturing Challenge requires the teams to use Mastercam to produce parts on turning and milling machines that may be assembled together to produce a workable product.

LACH DIAMOND says its newly developed PCD twist drill type PS saves up to 75 percent of time by reducing three previously necessary steps to one process. The new PCD twist drill completes piloting, drilling and reaming all in one "shot."

FUJITSU GLOVIA Inc. says its hybrid ERP strategy enables manufacturers to more quickly, easily and inexpensively make production line changes, expand manufacturing capabilities, add new facilities or implement lean manufacturing while continuing to benefit from the operational strengths of their SAP ERP systems. GLOVIA G2 manufacturing ERP software has been designed to be fully SAP-compatible, providing manufacturers the opportunity to incorporate a system with enhanced manufacturing ERP capabilities without disrupting corporate use of SAP for financial and human resource functions.