THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD PART (PART TWO)
Tomorrow is Here: Mike Riley reports on how EBDM could be the mother lode that Uncle Sam is searching for to improve the value of the F-35 fighter while other additive technologies are making impacts in medicine, in electronics, in the arts, and even in the home.
EASY OPERATOR PROGRAMMING . . . YES, I SAID EASY!
Randy Pearson of Siemens Industry explains why less time needed for operators to program at the machine means more uptime on the machine.
WHAT IS COMMERCIAL GRADE DEDICATION AND WHEN IS IT REQUIRED FOR NUCLEAR GRADE WELDING CONSUMABLES?
Regis Geisler of Lincoln Electric explains how a supplier of nuclear-grade welding consumables can know whether or not they are in compliance with Title 10 and the requirements of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF AN ERGONOMIST
Utility Player: Phil La Duke of Rockford Greene International explores how human factors engineering is used to find the perfect balance of the concurrent priorities between manual labor productivity and worker health and safety.
STEEL CUTTING N2 VS. O2: TO USE OR NOT TO USE, THAT IS THE QUESTION
Shane Simpson of TRUMPF examines why your overall costs are determined by time and secondary operations when cutting with nitrogen assist, and why N2 cutting of gage material should be done on a solid state laser if or a high powered CO2 laser.
PUTTING MORE PULL INTO YOUR MARKETING AND SALES
Stop Pushing and Start Pulling: When it comes to sales, push is the problem, perhaps the biggest problem those in sales face today. John Graham of Graham Communications explains why and shares six important ways to pull customers to you.
ACQUIRING A SECOND-HAND LASER: GAS AND EQUIPMENT SAVVY ARE REQUIRED FOR HASSLE-FREE SET UP
A factory-reconditioned or second-hand laser is a good way to increase shop productivity at a fraction of the cost of a new machine. John Karpus of CONCOA shares some principles and pointers into the purchase and installation of a second-hand laser that, when incorporated, should assist you in achieving first-class efficiency and operation.
ACHIEVING GREATER PRODUCTIVITY WITH MODERN LASER CUTTING SYSTEMS
Frank Arteaga of Bystronic explains how new laser cutting systems address the inefficiencies of older systems and offer much higher competitive value and throughput than the older systems on the market today. He also shows how adding full automation can enable you to take advantage of off shifts and weekend operations to meet the demands of your customers.
LESSONS LEARNED IN CONVERTING MACHINED PARTS TO STAMPED PARTS
During the process of converting fully machined parts to stamped parts with machined features, the lessons learned by medical device manufacturers Aragon Surgical and Avantis Medical Systems and firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson show how each step plays an important role in moving a part from concept to completion at the blazing speeds now considered normal at Connecticut Spring & Stamping.
WATER INJECTION PLASMA CUTTING REDUCES COSTS FOR JACQUET
Jacquet Metals, a fabricator of stainless steel and nickel alloy plates and parts recently purchased upgrades from ESAB to four plasma cutting machines to cut rings, discs, and shapes with clean cuts and high edge quality for metal distributors, fabricators in the chemical and petrochemical processing industries, the power generation industry and water waste treatment facilities.
SWEETEN YOUR BOTTOM LINE: WAYS TO DO MORE WITH LESS
Small changes in sawing can yield significant time and cost savings. Dale Petts of Simonds International shares some ways to avoid unnecessary expenses by understanding the true cost of your operation.
SMART VOLTAGE HEIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR PLASMA ARC CUTTING
This new system from ESAB integrates arc voltage height control, Z-axis motion control, and complete plasma process control to lead the way to higher productivity and lowest overall cost-per-part.
NEW PRECISION HOLE TECHNOLOGY™ FOR PLASMA CUTTING MACHINES
This new system, which is available on new ESAB cutting machines and retrofits on many existing ESAB machines in the field, uses the best hole cutting techniques in the new Columbus.NET programming software to take advantage of the advanced gas control capabilities in m3 Plasma™ systems. The new technology also utilizes a unique encoder-based height control and the VISION 5x series of CNCs.
Brooklyn Iron Works had tried MIG consumables from Bernard years before and didn’t think they were the right fit for their application. But, after keeping an open mind and agreeing to a second trial, their reduced downtime and costs eventually led the structural fabricator to convert all of their MIG guns and consumables over to Bernard.
COMPLEMENTARY CUTTING: EVALUATING AUTOMATED PLASMA & OXY-FUEL PROCESSES
Each process has clear-cut advantages, but John Henderson and Dirk Ott of Victor Technologies explore where the real difference lies: in the major cost influences of equipment, consumables, cutting speed, installation, maintenance and cut quality.
Safety in Gas Welding and Cutting:
Protecting Against Fumes, Heat and Noise
Safety precautions when working with gases and regulators are not the only potential health hazards in the welding environment. Paul Mercuri of ESAB explains why a careful welder must also consider the effects of fumes, heat rays/sparks and noise on individual health and the working environment.
SAFETY IN GAS WELDING & CUTTING – USING CAUTION WITH GASES CAN SAVE LIVES
Gas welding, cutting and heating apparatus are extremely useful tools for a variety of work and hobby applications. But Paul Mercuri of ESAB explains why any procedure that uses oxygen or other flammable gases in the presence of flame carries significant risks. He warns that every worker, from beginner to seasoned professional, needs to be constantly mindful of safety precautions.
TAPE LAYING, FIBER PLACEMENT AND THE CNC
The composite manufacture of aircraft parts requires an integrated, tailored process chain. This is the main reason many of the supply system partners in the aerospace industry prefer to rely on CNC machine automation solutions. The CNC functionality of the Sinumerik 840D from Siemens Industry guarantees controlled, stable processes.
Again and again, deburring causes the economic viability of an entire optimized machining process to decline because this operation has not been included in the process stream from the start. But not any more. Oliver Hagenlocher of EMAG explains how a new electro-chemical machining process is changing all of that.
The industry’s first high performance general purpose tap from Emuge scores big with Bayside Machine Corporation, a machine shop that serves the paper, painting and food markets.
HOW NEW SPINDLE CONNECTION MAXIMIZES METAL REMOVAL
From Weakest Link to Machining Superstar: The new KM4X™ design from Kennametal can perform from low-speed/high torque to high-speed/low torque when milling, drilling, and turning a wide range of materials to get the absolute most out of your production equipment.
A HUGE LEAP FORWARD IN DRILLING STEEL
Christer Richt of Sandvik Coromant examines how a new innovative cutting tool concept elevates hole-making performance in steel.
SHOP THINKS OUTSIDE THE CUTTING TOOL BOX
Bradley’s is one shop that refuses to limit its part processing capabilities by using a cutting tool only for its intended machining operation. Working with Seco Tools, the shop always considers how a tool might apply to other cutting procedures – with some pretty dramatic results.
A staple in machine shops across the industry, 798 Electronic Slide Calipers from The L. S. Starrett Company remain among the top instruments in measurement and inspection value. Here’s why.
Built upon the proven oil shear technology, the innovative design of the MagnaShear™ Motor Brake from Force Control Industries is ideal for use on cranes, hoists, winches and other overhead material handling applications because it lasts longer than conventional brakes, and requires virtually no maintenance.
