General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

No. 1041 is a 1,400° F (760° C) inert atmosphere tempering furnace from Grieve, currently used for heat treating at the customer's facility. Workspace dimensions of this oven measure 48" W x 72" D x 48" H. 120 KW are installed in nickel-chrome wire coils supported by a stainless steel frame, while a 9,600-cfm, heat-resistant alloy recirculating blower powered by a 15-hp motor provides vertical upward airflow.

Wiha Tools Monticello has introduced new Cushion Grip Ultra Drivers. The company says they are ultralight, ultracompact and ultra fast. The high-quality drivers include 13 double-end, exact-fit precision bits. That makes 26 assorted tip sizes to choose from.

BIG KAISER has launched the HMCJ, a super-slim milling chuck with peripheral coolant supply, designed to support heavy-duty and finish endmilling tasks with power and precision using Ø1/2" or Ø12mm cutters. The newest, slimmer member of the Hi-Power Milling Chuck (HMC) family features a clamping bore with fine slots surrounded by hundreds of needle bearings, which ensures concentric, precise and smooth clamping when the nut is tightened.

The Kanefusa single use saw blade technology is reportedly superior to other sawing concepts both in economical and environmental perspectives. The FM (Ferro Max) cold saw blades (single use) cut on average three times faster than a conventional bandsaw or metal saw, which means one machine can do the job of three, reducing power consumption, exhaust emission and mist oil in the air and floor space, all good for the environment.

Dialight launched its new high-visibility 670 series LED panel-mount indicators, providing a range of sizes and operating voltage in high-durability housings. Offering high-intensity daylight visibility hundreds of times brighter than its 600 series predecessor, the 670 series is ideal for main and remote power, status, maintenance, warning and instrumentation indication for front-panel mounting in hole sizes from 5mm to 16mm.

The Quaker Chemical Corp., Conshohocken, Penn., acquired Lubricor Inc., a Canadian metalworking fluids manufacturer, in a deal announced Dec. 1. Lubricor, which manufactures and markets value-added metalworking products such as synthetic and semi-synthetic coolants, hydroforming fluid, and stamping products, sells directly to primarily Tier 1 and Tier 2 automotive suppliers in North American, according to a Quaker news release.

A partnership between AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, McLean, Va., and the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) is expected to increase access to apprenticeships and assist employers in developing new programs that reach diverse talent pools, according an AMT news release issued Nov. 15.

The Associated Press is reporting that air-conditioner manufacturer Carrier Corp. has reached a deal with President-elect Donald Trump to keep nearly 1,000 jobs in Indiana. Last February the company had said it would close the Indianapolis plant, lay off its 1,400 workers there and relocate the work to Mexico.

The Janesville, Wis., micromanufacturer Performance Micro Tool is part of a Janesville Gazette feature on local companies increasing their use of automation. The article notes that a recent source of revenue for the company is a tool contract with a company that makes the tiny housings in credit cards that hold those now-ubiquitous micro chips.

In a guest editorial, CEO and author Steven L. Blue argues that "Smart manufacturing should start with people, not machines" and that companies should "start by building a workforce that is engaged, enlightened, and empowered. A workforce that trusts in its leadership."

Could it really happen? An unnamed source tells Nikkei Asian Review that iPhone maker Apple has asked two Taiwan-based iPhone assemblers, Foxconn and Pegatron, to examine the feasability of manufacturing the devices in the U.S.

Mencom announces new rectangular hoods that will meet the requirements of the wiring market. The new hoods named BIG series, feature larger dimensions than the standard hoods, provide additional space, and accommodate larger sizes of cables and additional entry holes.