RESISTANCE SPOT WELDING OF ALUMINIUM MOVES TO PRODUCTION LINE

Georg Fischer Automotive uses an innovative resistance spot-welding process from Fronius to join die-cast aluminium parts in the vehicle door-frame on the Porsche Panamera.

JOB SHOP GETS A SQUARE DEAL WITH METAL-CORED WIRE

By coverting to metal-cored wire from Hobart Brothers as part of its continuous improvement process, full-service job shop Square Deal Machining has improved its productivity by 30 percent to 40 percent as a result of having faster, cleaner welds.

A PERFORATION PRIMER: FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS OF METAL PUNCHING

Keith Zinn of Industrial Perforators Association outlines the various functions of perforated metals, the impact of punching on a metal’s properties and the difficulties of punching for a non-expert.

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING AN IRONWORKER

As versatile as the ironworker is, it is still possible to purchase the wrong machine – or at least not the best one – for your application. Mike Albrecht of Scotchman Industries explains why careful examination of these factors will prevent that from happening.

ROBOTIC WORK CELLS HELP DIVERSIFY BUSINESS

Kevin Summers of Miller Welding Automation shows how contract manufacturer K-zell Metals can diversify and compete against global competition by bidding and planning fabrication work more aggressively with its increased capabilities and automation flexibility.

FASTER INSPECTION FEEDBACK IMPROVES PART QUALITY

Let the Good Times Roll: At the Maryville plant of Kawasaki, Renishaw 5-axis scanning probes now collect data and reduce feedback to machining cells from hours to minutes and may ultimately eliminate the inspection systems for gears and cam lifts.

  • WEB EXCLUSIVES

  • The vertical turning center at Helac does heavy metal removal on the tube-shaped housings used for many actuator models by utilizing a 3-pallet pool of queued work to stay in production during much of the 80+ hour workweek. Workpieces are DOM tubing and alloy steel weighing 60 lb to 500 lb. The tube style parts have welded steel flanges on each end and some have off-center plates on the sides. These are mounted on an angle plate that has half-rounds to locate off the OD of the tube.(Click on photo to enlarge it)

    RETROFIT TRANSFORMS MACHINE PRODUCTIVITY

    More Power to You: When Helec Corporation retrofitted a workhorse MAG turning center with a new Fanuc CNC and AC digital axis drives/motors and spindle, it utterly brought new life to the entire shop floor.