Automation & Controls

Vortec's new Dual Action Personal Air Conditioner (PAC) is meant for employees working in extreme temperatures, and is said to result in increased productivity, according to a news release from ITW Vortec.

Renishaw extends the product line, and the height, of its Equator gaging system with the new Equator 300 Extended Height comparative gage.

Lightweight and easy-to-program robotic arms.

Strothmann has installed a complete handling system for high-capacity suction presses all the way from blank loading through to end-of-line parts removal at the production site of a major car company.

END USER: K-Fab Inc., (408) 727-5311, www.k-fabinc.com. CHALLENGE: Increase spindle utilization for a vertical machining center while reducing labor requirements. SOLUTION: A nonrobotic automation system for VMCs. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Simons Design Innovation, (408) 398-3296, www.simonsdesigninnovation.com

The new ND 120 QUADRA-CHEK metrology digital readout (DRO) from HEIDENHAIN is designed specifically for manual measuring machines such as optical comparators and measuring microscopes.

FANUC FA America introduces the new Panel i 19" industrial PC utilizing a color LCD display with new touch panel.

igus' new cable management solution is called Liftband, a modular chain strip designed for extremely high vertical travel applications in which space is limited.

Perplexed by the lack of automation for vertical machining centers, Steve Simons, president of Simons Design Innovation, decided to do something about it.

Automated parts handling with robotic work cells is an affordable option for job shops and other parts manufacturers.

END USER: Kennametal Inc., (800) 446-7738, www.kennametal.com. CHALLENGE: Reduce lead times, manufacturing footprint and costs when making toolholders. SOLUTION: Work cells employing advanced multitask machine tools. SOLUTION PROVIDER: Methods Machine Tools Inc., (877) 668-4262, www.methodsmachine.com

Talking Shop article as published in the July 2012 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering.