Product News

Walter has introduced a new version of its Walter Prototyp Proto▪maxST high-performance, solid-carbide milling tool designed for optimal performance on steel with secondary applications in stainless steel. This new entry in the Walter Prototyp lineup is called the Proto·maxST Z-5, available with the same tough yet wear-resistant TAZ coating that is offered in the original 3- and 4-flute variations of the Proto·maxST.

Gleason Corp. introduces its latest innovation, the 500CB cutter build inspection machine. The 500CB delivers more accurate and highly automated build, truing and inspection of all types of stick-blade bevel gear cutters.

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence launched its latest system software release and a new Ethernet Real Time Feature Pack (RTFP) for the Leica Absolute Tracker AT960 and AT930. This combination delivers a 7DOF measurement solution designed to empower Factory of the Future applications, such as laser tracker-based machine control and robotic guidance.

EcoLine cutting fluid from Cortec Corp. retains its integrity after numerous freezing and thawing cycles, according to stability tests conducted at the company’s laboratory. The fluid was tested for reduction in product effectiveness and observed for changes in thickness and odor, as well as other abnormalities.

JETCAM announced the launch of Version 19 of its Expert CADCAM and nesting software, featuring several major new features and hundreds of improvements across the software. Several features focus around nesting. Multi-sheet nesting takes advantage of JETCAM’s powerful high-performance nesting module to nest parts across multiple sheets at a time, drastically improving overall material efficiency while taking less time to generate the nests.

The Tracer Vx-105XL bar feeder from CNC Indexing & Feeding Technologies can handle bars up to 4 1/8" (104.775mm) in diameter and up to 72" (1,828.8mm) long. The bar feeder’s magazine rack accommodates up to five 4 1/8"-dia. bars.

CECOR heavy-duty carts can be fitted with frames that allow users to dump loads from a forklift or hook hoist. The frame is secured to the cart with trunnion pins, which can be adjusted to accommodate loads that range from light and bulky to heavy and dense.

Microlution Inc., Chicago, recently introduced its MR-4 Precision Micro Lathe turning platform that reportedly offers positional accuracy of +/-0.00004" (1µm), maximum acceleration better than 2g, spindle speeds up to 15,000 rpm, tooling speeds up to 30,000 rpm and torque up to 6 Nm (S1), according to the company's website.

Rugged enough for use with virtually all materials, Carmex’s new Mini Chamfer tools are the ideal solution for
deburring, back chamfering and grooving operations. Designed with spiral flutes for smoother cutting action, the tools offer double-side cutting and are available in both long-reach 45-degree and 150-degree configurations.

Meister Abrasives USA, Inc. has introduced a new generation of cDD Diamond Dressers that deliver certified tool radius tolerances, which are essential for most demanding microprecision grinding applications. The radius form tolerance of these new microprecision diamond dressers can be certified accurate to within 2μm (+/-0.001mm) if the application requires.

Drilling and threading with the same tool? Even in working depth up to 3 diameters? Yes it is possible, thanks to the new DC Swiss circular thread milling cutter from Mikron Tools with internal coolant starting from 3mm (0.12”).

BIG KAISER introduces the Mega Perfect Grip from BIG Daishowa, a simple to handle, heavy-duty milling chuck for heat-resistant superalloys (HRSA) that eliminates endmill pullout under heavy torque loads. For manufacturers using milling chucks, pullout is a major issue, particularly when machining HRSAs, such as titanium or Inconel.

Wohlhaupter Corp. has upgraded its popular 019 boring head and made it “digital ready.” The VarioBore head can be ordered with or without a docking port and associated internal electronics to accommodate the new Universal Digital Readout Module.

Mitsui Seiki USA Inc. announces a new series of large, highly accurate CNC jig mills for producing mold bases, mold plates, precision hot runners, progressive and transfer dies, and other jig boring and milling applications. The fixed cross-rail, massive ram design of the J1620 and J1620X machines provides a straightness accuracy in X and Y axes better than 10 microns, according to the company.

Saint-Gobain Abrasives has introduced Norton QUANTUM3 (NQ3) depressed-center grinding wheels. Featuring a proprietary grain along with a tough bond system that contains a unique combination of fillers and bonding agents that reportedly allow for much better mix quality in manufacturing, NQ3 provides substantially faster grinding for more metal removal and longer wheel life, with less operator fatigue, to significantly increase grinding output. Test results conducted with NQ3 and competitive wheels revealed that NQ3 removed almost twice the amount of carbon steel at five minute intervals.

Addressing the need for a fast, precise and affordable CNC for complex machining applications, Mitsubishi Electric Automation Inc. offers the M800 and M80 series CNC and components. The M800 is a high-grade CNC for high-speed, high-accuracy machining and multiaxis, multipart system control and features a fast CNC, while the M80 provides high productivity and easy operability.

The Digital Module from Wohlhaupter Corp. can be used with the company’s recently updated 019 boring head (VarioBore), which can be ordered with a docking port and associated internal electronics.

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.

FANUC America Corp. has released the new FANUC CNC simulator, bringing the popular CNC to the classroom and providing students with exposure to FANUC CNCs without the need for a full mill or lathe. The FANUC CNC simulator is based on the FANUC series 0i - Model F platform and can be operated in either milling or turning configurations. Students can program the simulator as a 3-axis mill or a 2-axis/1-spindle turning system.

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.