Machining

According to Autonetics LLC, automated gaging units (AGUs) for threads are hot. The Cary, N.C.-based AGU manufacturer reported that it shipped 10 systems in the third quarter of last year to U.S. pipe mills that produce oil country tubular goods.

It's been a long crusade for many manufacturers: the battle against an out-of-date public perception of manufacturing as dirty, repetitive work that's possibly unsafe and probably a dead-end career path. Two recent surveys show that there's still a lot of work to do in dispelling that myth, while a third survey is more upbeat.

Working in the bleak midwinter while the metalcutting sector transitions through a downturn sounds like a recipe for the blues. But it doesn't have to be. When things are a bit slow, it can be a good time to do some housekeeping and other chores around the shop that get put on the backburner during more active times.

Amacoil-Uhing Model RG linear drives now feature an option for fine adjustment of maximum travel distance. On the standard Amacoil-Uhing drive assembly, the end stops limiting travel distance are set by hand. With the new option, the end stops ride on threaded rods with control knobs on both ends.

The Hoffmann Group offers a universal milling cutter for cutting steel from the MasterSteel product range. The GARANT MasterSteel PickPocket is for all milling disciplines.

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence announced its new laser scanning technology is available for the portable Romer Absolute Arm with Integrated Scanner (SI) series. The RS4 scanner offers new optics and electronics, delivering a major performance leap with a scan rate nearly 60 percent faster than the previous model.

With the SCHUNK TENDO Slim 4ax hydraulic expansion toolholder, it is possible to combine the complete outside geometry of heat shrinking mountings with SCHUNK hydraulic expansion technology. The slim mounting makes it suitable for use in series production, particularly in the automotive industry.

In recent years the manufacturing world has seen numerous hybrid additive-subtractive machines. These generally are in the form of a 3D printing head combined with a CNC machining center: the additive is added. But creative additive enthusiast Thomas Sanladerer has come at the idea from the opposite direction: he has started with a 3D printer and transformed it to be able to function as a CNC mill.

The large Powermill machining center from Mecof, part of EMCO Group, provides users precision, high dynamics, operational flexibility, and cost-effectiveness in a massive travelling gantry 5-axis milling center. Powermill with its moving bridge structure, permits loading of large, heavy workpieces on the stationary work table from overhead or from either end of the machine, making it ideal for handling aerospace components.

Controx-Neuhauser presents a full line of standard saw blades and side chip clearance saws suitable for a wide range of precision cutting applications. Available in U.S. Imperial dimensions with diameters from 1" to 8" and metric dimensions from 20mm to 250mm, with fine, medium and coarse tooth pitch to suit application requirements.

BIG KAISER offers a mobile app to support boring operations. Leveraging the precision of BIG KAISER tooling through remote real-time information access further improves productivity and control on the factory floor.

From accepting and programming any CAD file to Dynamic roughing and precision finishing, Mastercam 2017 Lathe gives you a variety of techniques to turn all of your parts exactly as you need them. Mastercam 2017 Lathe features a new Chip Break option, TNRC Control and Stock Model Enhancements.