Machining

I'm thankful to share that our machining business has picked up and we're running near capacity. I can't get overly optimistic just yet, but good news nonetheless. We haven't required new equipment, new employees or a second shift, but that could change if business continues at this pace or improves.

If you're shopping for a Swiss-style CNC lathe, the available options and machine configurations are truly staggering. Spindle speeds that compete with many machining centers, convertible spindles that turn a sliding-headstock machine into a chucker, thread whirling capabilities, laser cutting heads and enough axis letters to become the next Words With Friends champion.

When it comes to highly accurate machining technology, jig boring is better. So say proponents of the century-old machining technique. In the early part of the last century, jig boring started as a better way to make holes. But the technology has since evolved into a more-versatile machining option.

J.W. Winco Inc. offers GN 253 vibration/shock absorption mounts in inch and metric sizes. These RoHS-compliant mounts are also known as shock absorbing mounts, vibration mounts, antivibration mounts, vibration bobbins or rubber bumpers.

Heimatec announced that it will offer custom-designed and special tooling, in addition to its standard tooling line. Heimatec will design and build custom tools to suit specific requirements for all CNC lathes, regardless of application, brand or size.

PFERD INC. says its latest depressed-center grinding wheels feature an advanced pure ceramic-oxide grain that delivers excellent stock-removal rates, long service life and cost-cutting performance. Ideally suited for working with steel and stainless steel, the new wheels, designated CO 24 Q SG, have a hardness grade Q and excel at a variety of applications, including weld grinding, chamfering, deburring and surface grinding.

Chemetall introduces high-performance glass grinding and drilling coolants. Acecool 5679 increases glass grinding and drilling processing speeds while reducing the amount of dressings. The result is increased output of glass parts at low coolant concentrations without burning and greater tool life, according to the company.

The new UBT-T4 universal single-roll burnishing tool from Cogsdill Tool Products Inc. offers a compact design for use where limited space is available. This turning-holder-style tool is designed for, but not limited to, use on multispindle automatic and screw machines.

With trochoidal milling, significant improvements in terms of tool costs, clamping, processing times and load on the machine components can be achieved in many applications compared to conventional milling. For this milling technique, MAPAL has expanded its OptiMill product range by adding mills for the machining of titanium and high-alloy steels, as well as for hard machining.

New to the GMSi Group Inc. product line is a 4-axis CNC saw grinder for HSS saw blades. The new EMA-500 has six programs for grinding the following teeth forms: "A", "BW", "CW", "ECO", "F" and "O."

Palmgren says its Powergrind XP bench grinders provide more horsepower, torque and value-added features. They are designed for heavy-duty use and long duty cycles.

Mitutoyo America Corp. announces the release of the new TM microscope series, with enhanced features and ergonomic design. Mitutoyo TM series is a toolmakers' microscope well-suited for measuring dimensions and angles of machined metals.