August 2017
Digital Issue
Increasing demand to create materials into different shapes with more complex geometries makes metal forming one of the most important and competitive processes on the rapidly changing shop floor. In this issue, FM explores the competitive advantages offered by (1) new manufacturing systems for sheet metal, tube and pipe, and machining operations that can help shops effectively monetize customer demand for new shapes and sizes, and (2) new technologies that are re-shaping how shops do business to meet these and other rapid changes in demand.
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An integrated manufacturing execution system controls and records the transformation of raw materials into finished products. In the new world of connectivity and digitization, guest columnist Juan José Colás of Lantek explains how the MES has made production management the key factor in productivity and competitiveness for sheet metal fabricators, far beyond other traditional factors, such as the use of material, calculation of times and costs, elimination of paper, and faster transfer of information.
To maintain weld positions and weld in the same place every time, the MIG gun neck used in a robotic welding system must stay in its expected position as an accurate tool center point (TCP) that provides consistent repeatability from part to part. A weak neck that easily bends during routine welding can lead to problems with system accuracy over time. Here are some ways to protect, setup and maintain the neck and help ensure that your system maintains optimal TCP with minimal downtime.
Once seen as a machine that can do anything but nothing to completion, there are now countless applications where the versatile punch-laser combination machine easily outperforms a laser cutting machine when a second application is included.
Here are some of the latest advances in press brakes that can help shops increase their metal bending and forming productivity, improve quality and safety, and reduce their operating costs.
You want and need a versatile, value-focused supplier that functions as a partner and not just a vendor, serves you as an effective extension of your team, and is a critical component to your success. These insights will help you start to safeguard against potential issues that lead to unwanted costs down the road.
Roll forming high-strength steel was once a major hurdle. But now, finite element analysis shows us what happens to steel moving from one pass to another, detecting problems that lead to design changes so that we can deal with most of the roll forming process weaknesses before building the tooling.
Instead of installing a tube bending machine and then automating it via a robot, simply use the robot itself for bending by putting a bending machine into the robot’s hand. This improved automation opens up a whole new world of process benefits.
To meet higher customer expectations for faster, more flexible deliveries of vehicle frames and structures, engine cradles and other components, Deco Automotive expected their new automated pipe bending cells from Schwarze-Robitec to optimize cycle times, increase production output and reduce costs. Here’s how they got what they expected.
There is not only one correct V opening for a certain material or thickness. There are ideal V openings for different thicknesses, but the correct one is only the correct one for our specific bending process. Here’s how it works.
Some machinists go into business for themselves as a part-time hobby, while others dream of becoming an OEM supplier. Here are two shops that online manufacturing marketplace MFG.com helped to source the work they needed to get off the ground and fulfill their dreams.
An integrated manufacturing execution system controls and records the transformation of raw materials into finished products. In the new world of connectivity and digitization, guest columnist Juan José Colás of Lantek explains how the MES has made production management the key factor in productivity and competitiveness for sheet metal fabricators, far beyond other traditional factors, such as the use of material, calculation of times and costs, elimination of paper, and faster transfer of information.
Once seen as a machine that can do anything but nothing to completion, there are now countless applications where the versatile punch-laser combination machine easily outperforms a laser cutting machine when a second application is included.
By combining RF design simulation, mechanical engineering and system optimization focused on additive manufacturing, this antenna maker greatly reduces the size, weight, lead times, part count and cost, with as-good or better RF performance than conventionally manufactured systems – and creates structures that simply were not possible to produce in the past.
The leading manufacturing event on the West Coast returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 12-14 and this special Show-in-Print provides technical reviews of some of the machinery, tooling, systems and accessories that will be exhibited to help you navigate the show floor and manage your time while you’re there.
The leading manufacturing event on the West Coast returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 12-14 and this special Show-in-Print provides technical reviews of some of the machinery, tooling, systems and accessories that will be exhibited to help you navigate the show floor and manage your time while you’re there.
The leading manufacturing event on the West Coast returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 12-14 and this special Show-in-Print provides technical reviews of some of the machinery, tooling, systems and accessories that will be exhibited to help you navigate the show floor and manage your time while you’re there.
The leading manufacturing event on the West Coast returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center on September 12-14 and this special Show-in-Print provides technical reviews of some of the machinery, tooling, systems and accessories that will be exhibited to help you navigate the show floor and manage your time while you’re there.
Here are some of the latest advances in welding and plasma cutting equipment, fixturing, materials and PPE that can help welding operators increase their productivity, improve quality and safety, and reduce their operating costs in the fabrication of large, heavy, robust parts.
Whether structural steel welding is taking place in an indoor shop setting or outdoors in the field is a factor that either introduces or eliminates a host of elements, including wind, the enemy of shielding gas and the welding processes that rely on it. Here are some insights to help you choose the right structural steel fabrication process for a field application or for shop welding.
Effective weld purging can only be achieved by making sure that any residual oxygen is displaced from the purge zone prior to and during welding to prevent significant loss of corrosion resistance and a reduction in joint strength. Here are some insights on how to properly conduct and monitor this process to ensure compliance.
To maintain weld positions and weld in the same place every time, the MIG gun neck used in a robotic welding system must stay in its expected position as an accurate tool center point (TCP) that provides consistent repeatability from part to part. A weak neck that easily bends during routine welding can lead to problems with system accuracy over time. Here are some ways to protect, setup and maintain the neck and help ensure that your system maintains optimal TCP with minimal downtime.
With its low melting point, the presence of an oxide layer on its surface, prone to burn-through with a difficult-to-control weld pool, aluminum can be somewhat tricky. Here are some insights that will provide you with the best course of action to take for making a repair.
Here are some of the latest advances in indoor air quality that can promote employee safety and comfort, increase shop productivity, and reduce operating expenses.
Job shops and other metalworking facilities affected by this standard must comply with most of the requirements by March 12, 2018 – they have less than two years to provide any required change rooms and showers and three years to implement engineering controls. Here’s why dust, mist and fume collectors are the best strategy to protect workers from the devastating pulmonary diseases associated with beryllium exposure.
Among its directives, NFPA 652 outlines deadlines for sampling and analysis to identify potential risk areas for dust explosions in industrial facilities. The spotlight now turns to mitigation equipment.
Optical Comparator fixturing from R&R Fixtures allows full capacity to position, stabilize and inspect a part with complete access and viewing circumference around the part.
When Pilatus Aircraft installed new manufacturing systems for machining structural parts made of aluminum, they relied on tool holders and shrinking and balancing machines from Haimer to achieve the desired surface quality and precision during high speed milling operations.
It all began with “Scuffgate,” a small chamfered edge that became a critical priority and evolved into a growing demand for fine finishes and feel in a world of myriad applications that only precision chamfering can deliver.
Here are some basic rules to follow for safely operating right-angle grinders, flap discs, die grinders and cutoff wheels, or other handheld tools and accessories. That’s not all: you’ll save some time and money too.
The Quality Inspection Suite from Verisurf Software combines application modules that are configured into an efficient quality inspection and reporting system.
The Digital Depth Gage MarCal 30 EWR, MarCal Specialty Caliper 16 EWR and Universal Caliper 16 EWR from Mahr Federal provide wireless data transmission of measuring distance between bores and grooves and stepped workpieces.
Here are some of the latest systems in metrology that can help shops increase their measurement accuracy and productivity of large-scale parts and reduce their inspection costs.
You want and need a versatile, value-focused supplier that functions as a partner and not just a vendor, serves you as an effective extension of your team, and is a critical component to your success. These insights will help you start to safeguard against potential issues that lead to unwanted costs down the road.
When Pilatus Aircraft installed new manufacturing systems for machining structural parts made of aluminum, they relied on tool holders and shrinking and balancing machines from Haimer to achieve the desired surface quality and precision during high speed milling operations.
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