General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

Titanium is the leading material for artificial knee and hip joints, but a discovery by Rice University physicists shows that the gold standard for artificial joints can be improved with the addition of some actual gold.

Sumitomo Electric Carbide Inc. has expanded its SMD replaceable-head drill line to include 12XD drills. SMD replaceable-head drills reportedly allow for deep holemaking at a lower cost because SMD users buy just one drill body to fit up to five head sizes.

With companies' demands shifting from individual machines to central systems to support many different machines, Eriez HydroFlow continues to invest in improving and simplifying the design of their Rolled Media Vacuum Filter System. These state-of-the-art filters eliminate the need for multiple filters, free up valuable floor space and impart the highest level of performance and reliability.

In virtually all technical fields, the requirements placed on the quality of individual components are increasing. As a result of this, surface-improving and geometry-improving superfinishing techniques are becoming more important. Today, even smaller suppliers must be capable of working to the finest tolerances in dimensional accuracy. The German machine manufacturer Thielenhaus Microfinish presents a range of attachments for base machines for these applications and for small batch sizes.

Thomson Industries Inc. has built upon its selection of miniature metric precision ball screws to include three common interface styles: flanged, threaded and rounded. This comprehensive offering equips customers with even more options when designing small-space applications.

Aerotech's QFOCUS QF-46 piezo nanopositioning stage series enables microscope objective and optics positioning at high-speeds with nanometer-level performance. It is available in closed-loop travels of 100 μm and 250 μm, and open-loop travels of 120 μm and 300 μm. The QF-46 is designed with next-generation optical instruments and laser machines in mind.

The Leine & Linde 1000 series rotary encoder with speed monitoring capabilities from Heidenhain is used in applications where secure speed feedback is critical to protect motors, machinery or operators from risk of failure. This is especially useful on heavy moving machinery such as hoists, lifts, cranes and mining equipment, to name a few.

Affolter Technologies SA launches a groundbreaking innovation: worm screw power skiving (WSPS). "This cutting-edge technology was developed by our engineering experts in an intensive R&D process. Worm screw power skiving allows us to finish a high-precision worm in only 6 seconds.

Penn State Behrend's new Advanced Manufacturing and Innovation Center, a $16.5 million, 60,000-sq.-ft. building, will house Penn State Behrend's mechanical engineering program, the college's largest major, in terms of enrollment, and the industrial engineering program.

Spectroline's new QUADRAN 365 NDT lamp (QDR-365SC) feature four ultra-hi-flux UV-A LEDs plus a convenient white light LED to quickly switch between fluorescent inspection and flaw location. For increased flexibility, it features a unique dual, high/low white light output control. The lamp is fully compliant with the ASTM E3022 Standard for LED UV-A lamps.

J.W. Winco Inc. offers GN 237 zinc die-cast hinges with extended hinge wing, countersunk through-holes or threaded stud type. These RoHS-compliant hinges with extended hinge wings, used when wider spacing is required on the mounting surface for the bore holes, have a compact and sturdy design.