General Machining & Manufacturing Processes

TechFab, Montreal-East, Quebec, officially joined the KOMET SERVICE network with an open-house event and cocktail party for customers, business relations and city officials on Dec. 5, 2013. The company is now certified by Germany-based KOMET GROUP for the refurbishment, re-grinding and manufacture of solid carbide tools.

Use of 3-D printing for the production of parts for final products continues to follow a decade-long growth trend. According to Wohlers Report 2013, final-part production rose to 28.3 percent of the $2.2 billion spent last year on 3-D printing products and services worldwide. In 2003, it represented only 3.9 percent of revenues, as shown in the accompanying chart.

Rosler announces its R-SF line of efficient mini-drag machines.

Northfield Precision Instrument Corp. introduces its Model 1000 Sliding Jaw air chuck.

Fives Cinetic has launched a line of CITCO/Gardner high-performance PCD-tipped drills, which are available in a diameter range from 1.5mm to 19mm. The drills, with a tungsten carbide body and solid PCD drill point, maintain both strength and accuracy when drilling composites and non-ferrous materials, according to the company. The tools' cutting edges stay sharp longer than conventional tools that tend to wear easily when machining tough, abrasive materials.

hyperMILL has enhanced the implementation of technology macros from only containing static processing steps to include intelligent macros.

Renishaw's Equator comparative gauging system now includes new process monitoring software that displays measurement results of inspected features, as well as the measurement history of each feature, instantly via a monitoring window added to the shop-floor user interface.

J.W. Winco Inc. offers GN 440.6 Stainless Steel Leveling Feet with Fixing Lug with Tapped Socket, With Plastic Base Cap or Rubber Pad, in inch and metric sizes.

Danray Products LLC has introduced 12", 18" and 24" steel lathe chuck shields for lathes or similar machines.

GTI has released its precision laser alignment system for iPad.

The new 430 BeamDirector from Prima Power Laserdyne is available with a newly developed right angle nozzle which is used for close in cutting, welding and drilling.