Videos

Precision is everything when it comes to manufacturing for the Oil and Gas industry. Gavin Schmitz and John Whitmore from WellHead Systems Inc. (WSI) take us behind the scenes on how their team, located in the small town of Hill City, Kansas, powers the industry with their products and Blowout Preventers (BOPs).

As a pioneer in friction stir welding (FSW) technology, Mazak MegaStir showcased its patented high-speed Instrumented Tool Holder (ITH) for friction stir welding (FSW) during Fabtech 2025. Mazak MegaStir takes the process to the next level with its fast-moving ITH that further boosts joint strength and provides practically zero part distortion. The tool holder is used in Mazak HYBRID Multi-Tasking machine operations that combine subtractive processes with that of FSW assembly/joining. This hybrid platform provides the ability to join assembly components on the same machine with the same operator and consolidates factory floor footprints while decreasing capital expenditures.

From its next generation of water jets, the OMAX Maxiem 1530X, to its latest plasma jet cutter, the XPR460 mechanized plasma cutter, Jake Brown, Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, led a Fabtech tour showcasing the new products launched throughout the company's Hypertherm Associates and OMAX product portfolio.

In an exhibit floor full of robots and robotic processes and accessories, Universal Robots made news during the Fabtech show with the addition of a collaborative robot that is fast and has a long reach. Jean-Pierre Hathout, president of Universal Robots, as well as parent company Teradyne, introduced at Fabtech the company’s newest Cobot, the UR8L. Hathout said the “L” stands for long, and the collaborative robot “brings all the qualities and the high performance” of the UR-15 platform that it introduced at the Automate show last May. The platform brings the highest speeds to the company's portfolio.

Steve Ulmer, director of sales for OMAX Corp., provided Cutting Tool Engineering with a look at two of OMAX’s latest generations of equipment during September’s Fabtech show. The machines included the new Maxiem 1530X water jet machine and the ProtoMax compact water jet. The 1530X is the next generation in water jet machining, and it's an upgrade from the Maxiem product that was released over 10 years ago. It features a completely new design with more rigid uprights, more rigid axis on the X and the Y, greater bed capacity and greater flexibility with what is in the tank. ProtoMax is a compact water jet that can be used where it is needed. All the mobile water jet requires is single-phase power, and access to water and a drain, and you can be cutting parts.

Keeping a machine running can be a challenge. An expensive challenge. At Fabtech, Olis Robotics, specialists in remote control and error recovery systems for industrial robots, partnered with Mid-Atlantic Machinery to monitor a press brake being fed by a robot from Universal Robots. Using a new App from Olis running on an over-the-counter Android smartphone, a Mid-Atlantic application engineer monitored the data to ensure the robot and press brake were operating efficiently. "To help us support our customers as efficiently as possible, we've started using an app called Olis. This is Olis right here on this tablet. We set this up on site. It has video of the cell. In this case, we have a press break tending robot. We can also see a lot of different diagnostic data of the robot. So for example, if a customer calls me and says, "Hey, the robot just ran into a protective stop," I can click under the events right here and I can click on protective stop. I can see every instance for the timestamp of all the protective stops they've gotten on the robot."

The old adage is that if it "ain't broke, don't fix it." While this has been tried and true wisdom for ages, it might be a little suspect in today's modern age, when one technology advantage can make the difference between standing apart from the competition or falling behind. That is one of the observations imparted by Visual Components, which at the recent Fabtech Show in Chicago gave Cutting Tool Engineering a "walk-through" of its newly released, highly anticipated, Visual Components 5.0 software platform.

From moving cobots to novel mobile automation solutions, Güdel Inc. highlighted two new technologies at FABTECH 2025. The equipment included the CoboMover, a 7th-axis linear track purpose-built for collaborative and lightweight robots. The CoboMover is designed to help integrators and end users expand the range of cobot and lightweight robot applications. In addition, the company showcased an air bearing track motion product. The modular track system was fitted with air bearings and used just 5 psi to levitate a track and a Fanuc robot, which weighed over 7,000 lbs., 1/2" above ground.

Maximum Metal Removal, SERIOUS SAVINGS

When surface finish, diameter, straightness, or roundness requirements are closer than traditional drilling operations can produce, it may be necessary to add a drill, endmill or single-point boring tool to the operation, often at the expense of poor chip control.

Achieve next-level precision in your turning applications with Tungaloy’s Non-Ferrous Application Series. Engineered with ultra-fine-grained PCD-tipped inserts, this series delivers unmatched edge sharpness, exceptional wear resistance, and flawless surface finishes even at high cutting speeds. Its advanced 3D chipbreaker geometry ensures stable chip control from roughing to finishing. Whether you're machining aluminum, acrylic, or other non-ferrous materials, this series offers the performance you need to enhance productivity and maintain consistent high-quality results.

Will, Aaron and Dennis sit down and enjoy a glass of bourbon while discussing the milling operations for the Vargus Pump Shaft Project.

The RF 100 Sharp is a high-performance carbide milling cutter designed specifically for machining soft, tough, and high-alloy materials. Engineered with advanced geometry and precision cutting edges, it ensures smooth, efficient material removal with minimal cutting forces. This results in excellent surface finishes and extended tool life, even under demanding conditions. The RF 100 Sharp delivers reliable performance across a wide range of applications, making it an ideal choice for industries requiring accuracy, speed, and durability. Whether for finishing or general milling tasks, it provides optimal results while reducing tool wear and maximizing productivity in challenging machining environments.

Unlock faster cycle times, outstanding metal removal rates without clogging, and fewer tool changes with the POW•R•FEED M935 end mill from IMCO.

In this episode, Will Nash and Aaron Kolb discuss the pump shaft machining project—executed with Vargus tooling and filmed start to finish at Harper College. From part print review and tooling selection, to programming in hyperMILL® from OPEN MIND, setup, running the first piece, and final inspection with Bruker alicona, the conversation takes you inside the process. This is Part 1 of our Vargus story, focused on lathe operations.

Engineered for aluminum, STREAKERS M213 end mills deliver fast, free-cutting performance—even during aggressive moves like ramping and plunging. These tools are built for high metal removal and consistent part quality. Now through 9/30/25: The more you buy, the more you save!

Maximize machine uptime by streamlining tool setups offline. Manual tool setups are time consuming, inefficient, and a thing of the past. Today’s most efficient shops integrate a presetter to maximize uptime, boost accuracy, ensure consistency, and improve overall machining efficiency - for both mills and lathes. Elbo Controlli Nikken presetters by Lyndex-Nikken provide rock solid precision, making them ideal for workshop environments.

Tungaloy-NTK is proud to share the story of Ryan Stickle, owner of KPG Machine located in Danielson, Connecticut. Ryan explores his team’s dedication towards aerospace machining, and how both quality and efficiency make all the difference. At KPG Machine, heat-resistant alloys such as nickel-based and cobalt-based alloys are processed using Tungaloy’s grade AH8015. This video showcases the performance of AH8015 from a real-world perspective and shares the owner’s passion for making things that drive the company forward.

Preventing tool breakage during machining is a significant challenge, leading to tool holder failures and costly replacements. Iscar’s CER-M-TURN system addresses this by allowing the replacement of only the affected cartridge when an insert breaks, rather than the entire tool holder. This cost-effective solution ensures compatibility with various cartridges.

The system features four coolant inlets: two on the upper jaw and two on the lower jaw, directing coolant precisely to the cutting edge. An enhanced clamping mechanism also helps prevent the rotation or breakage of brittle ceramic, CBN, or PCD inserts, ensuring optimal performance and longevity.

Produced by CemeCon, this five-minute video offers a visual overview of the pre-treatment, coating and post-treatment steps the company takes to apply a PVD coating to tools using its high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS) method. (No audio.)