Wednesday, September 8, 2010
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Magazine
Fabricating & Metalworking
In the August 2010 Issue |
For More Information on Fabricating & Metalworking,
contact the Fabricating & Metalworking Staff.
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EDITOR'S FORUM
U.S. manufacturing is on the brink of a profound change in the way it conducts business. Mike Riley explains how small shops must recognize and prepare for this in order to survive and remain competitive.
CNC INSIDER
Randy Pearson of Siemens Industry shows how you can get optimum surface finish on prismatic parts or complex 3D mold contours without taking a second mortgage!
WELDING TIPS
Kevin Beardsley of Lincoln Electric examines how to weld Hardox® 400 pads to mild steel plate with hardfacing wire without cracking the weld.
THE SAFE SIDE
With so much attention focused on going green and so little definition of exactly what that means, Phil La Duke of OE Learning shows why many firms find themselves trying to do too much without really having a concrete goal in mind or the ability to commit the necessary resources to achieve their goals.
THE SKINNY ON LEAN
Last month, Rick Bohan of Chagrin River Consulting talked about the importance of lean metrics and described a process for developing them. Now he explains how to use those metrics so that they serve three larger purposes.
GOING DEEPER IN SURFACE FINISHING
When finishing decorative parts, it is no secret that high part rejection rates caused by unacceptable end-product finishes resulting from porosity can cut deeply into profits. Peter T. Gebhard of IMPCO shows how filling porosity prior to finishing dramatically reduces reject rates so that better finishes equal better bottom lines.
The art of finishing takes years of experience to perfect. John Harding of DME Company shares some basic principles and techniques of grinding, hand stoning and diamond polishing that will provide a good start.
This robotic gritblasting system from Guyson enables consistent production of a specified finish on a wide variety of complex-shaped components.
ADVANCES IN CADCAM SOFTWARE
Understanding that the fewer times a part is moved, the more accurately it can be made, Marc Freebrey explains how this tooling subcontractor used advanced CADCAM technology from Vero to formulate a standardized approach to tool manufacture – and carve out a niche position as a supplier of prototype/low volume molds.
By introducing the job group as a new structural element in a position between job list and job, Alan Levine of OPEN MIND explains how new CAM software can arrange the machining process based on the sequence of worksteps, geometries, spatial orientation, tool orientation and more, allowing the user to streamline and automate a large number of jobs or programming steps.
Here are some software systems you may have missed earlier that can improve the fabrication and machining capabilities of your shop and give you a competitive edge.
METAL FORMING & FABRICATING
With real-time Ethernet architecture and advanced software to extend the versatility of all-electric bending, new technology from Unison makes complex tube bending a Breeze.
An automated loading and parts handling system complement the state-of-the-industry laser and machine control technology from Han-Kwang USA.
WELDING
Welders and job shops alike are embracing this technology to remain competitive in a changing industry. Does pulse welding warrant all of the attention it receives? Peter Anderson of Thermadyne examines why the answer is yes.
Nick Peterson of Miller Electric explains how aluminum fabricators can look toward future growth through the adoption of pulsed MIG technology.
METAL CUTTING
About the size and length of a car wash, this is the largest double gantry 5-axis milling machine from Fidia SpA in North America. It can easily cut the entire fuselage of an F-22 Raptor fighter jet within a hair's width of tolerance. And for David Muir of Paragon D&E, it signals a return to the innovation that his grandfather was known for.
New 5-axis 3D laser cutting system from PRIMA North America achieves up to 30 percent productivity increase for automotive, applicance and aerospace part production.
This showcase of turning centers and lathes displays the latest technology to make your turning operations more competitive.
Another showcase of turning centers and lathes displays the latest technology to make your turning operations more competitive.
MEASUREMENT & INSPECTION
Ron Branch of V&M Precision Machining and Grinding explains why rapid shop floor inspection with portable CMMs is sophisticated enough to satisfy the demands of the aerospace industry, but also perfect for the small or medium machine shop.
By using the new fifth-generation CMM technology from Carl Zeiss, it is now possible to scan over interrupted contours, thus enabling the operator to obtain measuring results clearly faster and more easily.
MAINTENANCE
Colin Roberts of SKF reports how on-line monitoring is critical for the high productivity and quality achieved with multifunction machine tools used to produce engines in a Dongfeng Honda plant in China.
The story of how conveyor builder Magnetic Products helped one Midwest manufacturer overcome an unusually high drop from the pass line onto the scrap removal conveyor of its recently installed press.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & SAFETY
Strict environmental regulations require companies in Northern Europe to clean spent process water before release into rivers and sewers. Stephen Hinton shows how the Outokumpu Stainless mill in Avesta, Sweden, turned to Nordic Water for a solution that used screw dewaterers, Lamella separators and DynaSand filters.
FINISHING PASS
Workplace violence is a very real issue in this country, but not something every employer can prevent. Teresa Long of the Institute of WorkComp Professionals shows how putting a plan in place can help employers create a safer environment for employees and minimize potential workers’ compensation risks.
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