General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

Aerotech's HexGen hexapods represent a significant advance in six-degree-of-freedom positioning performance. The HEX500-350HL high-load, precision hexapod is ideal for applications in X-ray diffraction, sensor testing and high-force device manipulation.

Eriez introduces a rare earth roll conveyor that allows customers to reliably recover and concentrate stainless steel from one of two material streams: "Zurik" conductive fraction from a fines -1" sensor sorting machine or waste fraction (drops) from a fines -1" eddy current separator.

Solar Manufacturing, Souderton, Penn., recently appointed John Oakes as the company's new sales representative for the Northeast U.S. region, according to a Feb. 17 news release. Oakes will focus on vacuum furnace sales in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

The Hurco VMX42i is equipped with UltiMotion, a patented motion control system invented by Hurco. This technology reduces cycle time up to 30 percent while providing superb surface finish quality, according to the company. UltiMotion uses advanced software algorithms for motion planning instead of conventional hardware, which means it optimizes look-ahead, up to 10,000 blocks.

BIG KAISER Precision Tooling, Hoffman Estates, Ill., recently welcomed Pierre Bruyere to the company's Rep network for select provinces in Eastern Canada. He has been tasked with managing distributor relationships and sales efforts with customers in Quebec, Newfoundland & Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

Alfa Tools offers Blitz Nitride jobber drills for heavy-duty production work, as well as tough maintenance (MRO) applications. These extra heavy-duty drills can tackle applications in the widest range of materials, including mild steel, stainless steel, titanium and nickel alloy steels, as well as nonferrous materials.

In a February report that seeks to add some context to manufacturing's role within the U.S. economy, the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation Foundation (MAPI), Arlington, Va., suggested that the manufacturing value chain accounts for about one-third of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and employment.

When material savings are a requirement due to machining expensive materials, large batch productions or both, it is essential to use the thinnest insert width possible. CoroCut QD dedicated parting off and deep grooving tools from Sandvik Coromant Co. are available in small insert widths with internal high-pressure coolant to help customers realize production efficiency.

Much like its predecessor, the EROWA Robot Compact 80 has a small footprint (less than 22 sq. ft.) and can load two machines, but a number of upgrades reportedly has made it an ideal solution for tool and mold making.

Taurus Tool & Engineering is manufacturing new lines of drills and countersinks to support the aerospace industry. Each tool is designed with a specific flute geometry for increased chip flow and minimal exit burrs, as well as to prevent any swirl marks on aluminum skins.

The smallest clamping range yet from BIG Daishowa is the Super Slim 3S hydraulic chuck is intended for extremely repeatable high-precision microdrilling and microendmilling in the most challenging work envelopes thanks to its slim nose and tapered body.

Allied Machine & Engineering Corp. offers a complete range of coolant-through thread mills that are ideal for blind-hole applications. Allied's coolant-through threadmills significantly improve chip evacuation when threading blind-holes, according to the company.