Metal Forming & Fabricating
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GOING THE DISTANCE
Finding a handheld angle grinder that can take a daily beating and still deliver over the long haul can be a challenge for today?s metal fabrication shops. Contracting Engineering Consultants, Inc. discovers a potential answer in a new angle grinder from Fein Power Tools, Inc..
Unemployment to Stay Above 10% in 2010
The economy continues to bleed jobs, even as GDP rebounds. Professor Peter Morici examines how employment may be a lagging indicator, but job losses should have abated by now even if a lot of new jobs are not being added.
NEW PLASMA CUTTING TECHNOLOGY TAKES CARE OF THE ‘HOLE’ ISSUE
Users of mechanized plasma cutting for plate in the gauge to 1 in thick range can now benefit from a major technological breakthrough. Improved plasma bolt hole cutting can now produce holes that rival drilled holes and plate laser cut holes — at the speed and operating cost of plasma!
CABLES, HOSES, AND AUTOMATION
Check out why this builder of automated fabricating and metalworking systems uses reinforced plastic cable carriers to guide and protect the moving cables and hoses in its multi-axis robots and press-transfer lines, its factory-automation equipment and its gantry robots.
SEE THE LIGHT: REINVENTING THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
A Paradigm Shift: Still inspecting the finished part? Think again. New process variation monitoring systems focus on preventing errors ? rather than detecting them after they occur ? by refining and improving the manufacturing process itself.
SEE THE LIGHT: SUPER QUENCHING
Operating Inside A Vacuum: The cooling process is critical to manufacturing powdered metal products because it alters the metallurgical properties of the metal as it hardens. This subcontractor helped a new concept in vacuum furnaces take rapid cooling to a new level of precision ? another example of high tech opportunities available to contract manufacturers.
SEE THE LIGHT: THE EMERGING ROLE OF ALUMINUM IN SOLAR POWER
Another Sustainable Alternative Is Generating More Than Just Energy: The growing use of aluminum support structures in concentrated solar power energy generating facilities offers new business opportunities for contract manufacturers.
SHOWTIME: FABTECH
Over 1,000 exhibitors, 35,000 attendees and live demos of metal forming, fabricating, tube and pipe, stamping, lasers, thermal spray and welding equipment. McCormick Place, Chicago, November 15-18. If you can’t make it, don?t miss our Show-in-Print.
A NEW ROLE FOR MICROALLOYED STEELS
Adding Economic Value: Michael Korchynsky of U.S. Vanadium Corporation shows how replacing cheaper carbon steels with microalloyed high-strength steels allowed automakers to reduce the weight of an auto body at the same or at potentially lower costs, and how those same economic principles apply to other applications.
SHEET METAL: SHAVING A PUNCHED WORKPIECE
Dr. Vukota Boljanovic examines the engineering of the shaving process and how it is used to clean holes in a blanked and punched workpiece.
INNOVATIVE SHOT PEENING SOLUTIONS FOR AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
Aircraft components often require shot peening to strengthen the material, reduce surface variations and increase expectant life. Kumar Balan of Wheelabrator explores how they helped Skills Inc. develop an effective peening solution for the components they supply to Boeing.
HEAT TREATING ALUMINUM FOR THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
Jim Lucas of Wisconsin Oven looks at a new horizontal solution treat system developed to heat treat aluminum and increase the alloy?s overall tensile strength for demanding aerospace applications.
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