Machining

Riten Industries is the OEM provider of dead and live centers for Mazak CNC lathes. Many are delivered with Riten centers already installed.

Owners of Hurco vertical machining centers will have the ability to transform their WinMax part programs to a 3D-printed rapid prototype directly on their CNC machines using an optional spindle-powered wireless accessory from Hurco. The 3D Print Head extrudes plastic PLA filament.

END USER: Kluba Machine LLC, (636) 390-4088. SOLUTION PROVIDER: CNC Software Inc., (800) 228-2877, www.mastercam.com. CHALLENGE: Improve cycle times and spindle uptime while maintaining part quality. SOLUTION: CAD/CAM software.

It's fitting that "Technology" is part of Indiana Technology and Manufacturing Cos.'s name. In addition to providing a full slate of machining and assembly services, ITAMCO created what it says is the first industrial Bluetooth transmitter (called iBlue) and continues to develop a broad range of manufacturing apps for mobile devices and Google Glass.

The majority of engineers I've worked with are solution seekers who usually go out of their way to make things easier for people working on their projects. However, as a result of the physical separation of engineering departments from machine shops, communication and feedback often suffer.

The aircraft industry now has the means to precisely machine multilayer material combinations. These combinations, called stack materials, include several thin layers of different materials. Aircraft skin, for example, could consist of titanium, aluminum and composite layers, according to Lee Coleman, automation division manager for Suhner Manufacturing Inc., Rome, Ga.

Ask the Grinding Doc Columnist Jeffrey Badger, Ph.D., responds to a question about the difference between "constant rpm" and "constant metal-removal rate" when it comes to grinding cams.

Value-added services shorten lead times and increase sales opportunities for parts manufacturers. The decision to bring traditionally outsourced services in-house can be an expensive and scary proposition—one with the potential to either transform a company or send it into bankruptcy. Yet that's exactly what many manufacturing companies do, and often they are pleased with the results.

As aerospace materials have evolved, machine shops have had to use new tools and technologies in order to process them. The June 2016 CTE cover story delves into delamination of composites and other workpiece problems that challenge aerospace parts makers.

Available from German Machine Tools of America (GMTA) is the laser technology of Arnold Ravensburg, a leading supplier to the German gearmaking, automotive and off-highway powertrain markets. New machines are being offered by GMTA, along with full laser integration technology through application engineering.

Okuma's VTM-1200YB multitasking CNC turning center is built to handle heavy-duty turning and cutting of large parts. The massive construction, extreme rigidity and powerful cutting capabilities of this machine make it ideal for machining large diameter workpieces, such as those in the aerospace and energy industries, according to the company.

Walter has announced the addition of the M4256, M4257 and M4258 high-performance helical milling cutters to its M4000 family. The M4000 program offers the advantages of a system insert concept that allows one insert style to be used in a variety of tools, permitting a wide array of milling operations.