General Shop Equipment & Supplies

The most-recent trends in inspection technology include using powerful 3D software to compare the part to its CAD rendering, inspecting the part in-process—without having to take it out of the production line or cell—and, as much as possible, automating the inspection process.

Invited to join a 3-year academic project, a grinding wheel manufacturer turned to the Grinding Doc to determine whether such projects are worth the money and, more importantly, the time. For its part, the company is interested in evaluating its bond formulations.

Most folks who run an engine lathe often work on the ends of long shafts, or rods, that protrude unsupported out of the headstock. Depending on the shaft diameter and how much unsupported length sticks out, this operation can be dangerous because of the high potential for shaft whip. However, with the proper tooling, this operation is a cinch to perform safely.

One requirement of precision wheel manufacturing is secure, accurate workholding. But Jay Duerr, president of LMC Workholding Inc., Logansport, Ind., said it goes much further than that. "The biggest requirement in this industry is good customer support."

Machine tool builder Zimmermann Inc., Wixom, Mich., the U.S. arm of Neuhausen, Germany-headquartered Zimmermann GmbH, specializes in very large machine tool installations. The company offers milling machines with working ranges from 2.5m to 30m (8.2' to 98.4') along the X-axis and from 3m to 6m (9.8' to 19.7') along the Y-axis.

Colson Group USA, a manufacturer of casters, wheels and other mobility products, continues to make significant investments to its production and distribution operations while reshoring some manufacturing.

Some might argue that edge finders, center finders and wigglers, which have been used for decades to touch off workpieces during machine setup, are a bit too analog for today's digital world.

CNC Software Inc., developers of Mastercam, in partnership with Sandvik Coromant, announces the integration of Sandvik Coromant CoroPlus ToolLibrary into the new release of Mastercam 2018. The integration of the CoroPlus ToolLibrary allows Mastercam customers to save significant time searching for desired tools and building 3D tool assemblies that can be brought directly into Mastercam via the ISO 13399 data format.

The increasing complexity of modern tool, die, mold and medical part designs call for a new level of 5-axis machine performance. The Makino D200Z 5-axis vertical machining center reportedly answers these challenges by combining the quickness of machine movements and accuracies with the latest software developments for high-precision, high-speed motion control.

The DeHoff BTA/STS 2084 is designed for drilling on-center holes using the BTA/STS process. It is being utilized to manufacture drive shafts for helicopter tail rotors.

Contrary to public perception, U.S. manufacturing and logistics industries experienced dramatic growth over thepast generation, says a new report from Ball State University. U.S. manufacturing production grew 11 percent since the dot.com bust (2000-03) and the ensuing economic turbulence of the 2001 and 2007-09 recessions.

Kitagawa NorthTech Inc. introduces a new series of grinding steady rests. The grinding steady rests feature two models supported with turnkey design, build and installation capabilities dedicated to grinding applications. The new fully retracting KRGU steady rests and GHS steady rests are suitable for grinding camshafts, crankshafts and other cylindrical applications where accuracy and repeatability are essential.