Machine Tool Attachments & Accessories

Vertical machining centers are machine shop mainstays, owing in no small part to their versatility, small footprint and relatively low cost. However, in high-volume environments, they tend to lag behind their horizontal counterparts. Fortunately, a pallet system provides a fairly simple fix.

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.

Optimal use of installation space, light weight and high stability—these are just some of the benefits of the E4.1L energy chain from igus, which is now available in new heights and widths from stock. Compared to the E4.1, weight can be reduced by 30 percent, with this light version, meaning that the chain is well suited to highly dynamic applications.

Dialight launched enterprise software called DACS, the Dialight Architecture Control System, control platform that allows for commissioning, grouping and scheduling of the lights and sensors to control, monitor and manage lighting at the fixture, zone, facility and enterprise-wide level with a simple and secure dashboard interface.

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.

Suhner Industrial Products Corp., Automation Div., introduces the BEX8, a high-speed machining block spindle capable of maintaining rigidity, precision and reliable performance at high-speed operations up to 25,000 rpm.

In a move aimed at providing improved sales and service support as well as new and innovative products, NTC Laser will join Komatsu America Industries LLC as of April 1, sources at both companies reported in a joint news release issued today.

Aerotech's HexGen hexapods represent a significant advance in six-degree-of-freedom positioning performance. The HEX500-350HL high-load, precision hexapod is ideal for applications in X-ray diffraction, sensor testing and high-force device manipulation.

ITI Tooling Co. Inc.'s ATC series of Electro-spindles with a built-in multistation tool carrier have been developed specifically to gain the optimal performance on production machines and robots when multiple operations or redundant tooling is required.

Koma Precision Inc. offers custom-designed angle heads manufactured by Alberti. These special application heads fit all industries across the board. Fixed angle heads, offset angle heads, multiple-output heads and long-reach angle heads are just some examples of Alberti's design and manufacturing capabilities.

HEIDENHAIN is meeting the market demand for high-speed, high-resolution modular rotary encoders for motion feedback with the launch of the ERO 2000 series encoder. According to the company, the encoders' special properties are that they have a compact design, excellent signal quality and, therefore, high interpolation rates, as well as excellent thermal position stability.

Particularly long, slender extensions often have a tendency to bend and vibrate. Whennmachining long overhangs in hard to reach areas such as deep cavities, the VIbration DAmpingnTechnology, VIDAT, from Bilz Tool Co. Inc. can be used.