Machine Tool Attachments & Accessories

The U.S. manufacturing industry is rushing to embrace technology as a critical part of its processes and plans to make new technological investments in 2017, but barriers to Industry 4.0 adoption still exist, according to Automation Alley's 2017 Technology Industry Report. According to the report, 85% of national manufacturing executives said their company plans to increase budgets for technological advancements; nearly a third of them plan to increase their budgets by 10% to 15%.

When purchasing consumer products, most of us quickly decide to pass on extended warranties. But extended machine tool warranties may merit more careful consideration, according to the Machine Technology column in the March 2017 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine.

Thomson Industries Inc. offers users of its industry leading PC series precision linear actuators an optional, pre-mounted and pre-tested servomotor. Bundling linear actuators with servomotors simplifies ordering, reduces the need for additional validation after installation, increases reliability, and reduces the total cost of owning and operating an actuator system, according to the company.

IBAG North America announces the new 25mm back working spindle specially designed for Star Swiss-type machines that features 60,000 rpm with grease-packed lubrication and 80,000 rpm with oil mist lubrication. This new HSC (High Speed Cutting) motor spindle is designed for machining applications involving micro milling and drilling tools, as well as engraving and fine milling.

Dorner's new 2200 series Precision Move conveyor is engineered for accurate movement of product at specific times, distances and intervals that are critical for components in the manufacturing and packaging processes of small- to medium-sized parts. Precision Move gives greater product control and accuracy to automated applications, including machine integration, robotic pick-n-place, precision indexing, accurate part positioning, timed conveying, vision inspection and part handling.

According to newly released figures by industry analyst EDA, new machine tool equipment sales jumped from 1,288 units in November 2016 to 1,744 in December—its highest number of the year and just slightly under 2015's highest monthly number of 1,825 units, also in December. Used machine tool equipment sales also jumped at the end of 2016, from 762 units in November to 1,241 in December. That's still well below its 2015 peak month of 1,637 units sold in October of that year.

J.W. Winco Inc. offers GN 2280 bull's-eye levels, adjustable, with mounting threads. The GN 2280 bull's-eye levels, which are RoHS compliant, are used to check the horizontal position of jigs, machines, devices, appliances and instruments.

Aerotech's HexGen hexapods represent a significant advance in six-degree-of-freedom positioning performance. The newest member of the HexGen family, the HEX300-230HL, is targeted at medium-load, ultraprecision applications ranging from sensor testing to synchrotron sample manipulation.

Jergens Inc. introduces its new forged line of center pull hoist rings to expand the company's range of lifting products. The compact, high strength construction delivers reliable performance, economy and is ideal for OEM and industrial use.

The Illinois Lock Co. RapidCam spring bolt cam adapter replaces the flat steel cam used on traditional cam locks with a glass-filled Nylon 66 latch. The spring-loaded latch features an angled design, so that when in locked position, closing action simply moves the latch down, avoiding damage, then immediately moves it back into locked position.

HEIDENHAIN's popular TNC 640 mill-turn control is now available with an exciting new option, a 3D Probing cycle, called Cycle 444. Already equipped with both manual and automatic probing cycles for datum setting, workpiece alignment and inspection, the TNC 640 offers this additional 3D probing cycle to meet manufacturers' increased requirements for automation and advanced probing routines that inspect free form surfaces where measurement positions are often difficult to capture.

GTI Predictive Technology announces the next generation USB digital accelerometer. This product reportedly provides a major leap forward from other USB accelerometers in the market.