November/December 2020
Digital Issue
The Brains Behind the Brawn: It's All In the Software. Machine tools need software to bring them to life. Whether it's to design, manufacture, control, measure, monitor, analyze, automate, connect, communicate, and/or predict, programs are the key to unlocking productivity - and profitability.
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From rework and spatter to productivity and training, you might have numerous challenges you want to tackle in your manufacturing welding operation. Some common manufacturing myths may be holding you back from making the right changes — or even from knowing where improvements are needed.
In a time when finding new revenue is critical, making capital equipment more versatile can help business. There are few opportunities to affordably expand your shop’s capabilities than to start micromachining with the help of the right tools and accessories.
Whether the application is construction, shipbuilding, or general metal fabrication, using the right wheel combined with the proper technique and pressure can eliminate many issues operators face when grinding — saving time and money.
Wintriss Controls Group creates a new-product resource to share press automation and controller updates and OEE software demonstrations the company would have featured at this year’s FABTECH trade show.
Transfluid’s K series machines are robust and easier to operate, thanks to control changes that require minimal operator input and different options for sharing bending data. Reliability and durability are the priority.
With ODB++Process, Siemens expands its ODB++ data exchange format to that include process engineering as well as design and manufacturing. The ability to create an end-to-end digital thread produces a comprehensive digital twin that accelerates new product introductions and first-time-right manufacturing.
Available in two compact models, Yaskawa Motoman’s horizontally articulated SG-Series SCARA robots are highly repeatable and offer a wide variety of fieldbus connectivity options. They easily integrate with existing robotic automation and are easily redeployed.
Sciaky’s wire-based electron beam additive manufacturing (EBAM) 3D printing technology is faster, less expensive, and safer than other direct energy deposition (DED) options. Closed-loop adaptive control system ensures precision and repeatability.
NUM’s NUMcut for CNC water jet, laser, and plasma beam cutting machines increases efficiency by incorporating CAD/CAM postprocessor computing resources. Real-time analytical functions for water jets improve quality by automating cutting speed and path.
ModuleWorks’ 2020.08 CAD/CAM software includes performance- and quality- enhancing features for rotary machining, additive manufacturing, 3-axis machining, simulation, and the ModuleWorks multiaxis post processor (MultiXPost).
Jetcam’s Jetcam Orders Controller (JOC) PA simplifies order creation for single components or component assemblies stored in the company’s Expert CADCAM system. Version 3.57 brings further automation to nesting and NC code generation.
Hypertherm’s Robotmaster Version 7.3 software further streamlines offline programming by adding support for more CAD file types, additive manufacturing simulation, and post-processor enhancements for robot brands including ABB, Fanuc, and Kuka.
HGG Profiling Equipment’s UPC 450 increases prefabrication productivity by eliminating the need to cut profiles and spools by hand. The universal profiler combines stiffener cutting and 3D profile cutting with optional tube cutting in the first affordably priced machine of its kind.
Designed for drying, preheating, or any other application where a dependable source of heated air is required, Grieve’s 550-degree truck loading oven features temperature controllers with heat-sensing technology and built-in floor-level guide tracks that make truck loading easy.
Greenerd Press & Machine provides customized hydraulic presses that are flexible, productive, and reliable. As a Fanuc America system integrator, the company also configures turnkey robotic product-handling solutions.
Fictiv features enable designers and supply chain managers to see, communicate, and track progress of work by their manufacturing partners. This gives them complete confidence in quality outcomes, delivery times, and costs.
DP Technology’s Esprit CAM software program supports 3-, 4-, and 5-axis directed energy deposition (DED), a form of 3D printing that uses a focused energy source such as a laser or electron beam to melt material.
Its rack-and-pinion design gives Kalamazoo Machine Tool’s C370 cold saw the ability to effortlessly saw through heavy pieces without vibration. Ideal for applications that don’t require semiautomatic or automatic operation.
Compatible with all press brake makes and models, Cincinnati Inc.’s CI Load Calc enables operators to figure out the tonnage required to air-bend a piece of metal. The easy-to-use app provides results in both imperial or metric measurement units.
Automatic Feed’s heavy-gauge straightener processes coiled steel up to 78 inches wide and a half-inch thick at speeds of up to 150 feet per minute. The machine’s performance results in consistent quality, reliability, and accuracy.
Amada Miyachi America’s WL-300A laser workstation is a larger version of the company’s LMWS laser marker workstation. Add an optional motorized rotary axis to configure a hybrid machine that marks and welds cylindrical parts.
ABB offers the IRB 1100 robot and OmniCore controller in IP67- and IP54-rated versions featuring extra protection against water and dust. Applications include 3C polishing, wet grinding, buffing, and deburring.
MB Metal Technologies’ Sketchbook2 software greatly simplifies the process of programming the company’s benchtop, fixed-mounted, integrated, and portable dot peen marking equipment. The user sees and can easily change text and logos before marking begins.
Andreas Maier AMF marking and cleaning tools are available from Platinum Tooling Technologies. Both are mounted directly onto the machine’s spindle and can function with or without rotation.
MB Metal Technologies’ Sketchbook2 software greatly simplifies the process of programming the company’s benchtop, fixed-mounted, integrated, and portable dot peen marking equipment. The user sees and can easily change text and logos before marking begins.
Two Open Mind Technologies software products have been integrated into Tech Soft 3D’s Hoops Exchange. As a result, users can share any CAD file type without compromising product and manufacturing information (PMI) data.
NUM enhances its Flexium+ CNC software by adding noncircular grinding functionality to NUMgrind. A graphical interface backed by a comprehensive library of predefined shapes simplifies production of camshafts, punches, cams, eccentric shafts, etc.
MachineMetrics HF collects data at 1 kHz directly from a CNC machine’s controls without using sensors. The data can immediately be used as inputs to time-series or machine learning models to predict machine and tooling failures.
Heidenhain’s StateMonitor 1.3.0 software connects CNC control and PC systems, enabling manufacturers to remotely monitor equipment performance in real-time regardless of brand without having to access the cloud.
CGTech incorporated hundreds of customer-requested improvements into Version 9.1 of its Vericut CNC software. Enhancements include advancements in graphics and display controls, streamlined controls, and new visibility options.
Bourn & Koch’s MT3 increases productivity and quality. The one-and-done machine can perform grinding, milling, turning, and drilling/tapping machining operations on a workpiece in one setup.
BobCAD-CAM V33 offers more functionality than ever before. This version has 36 upgrades and enhancements affecting general CAD; BobART; general, mill, and lathe CAM; and simulation.
As a joint strike fighter (JSF) partner, Starrag Group machines help manufacture the world’s most complex military aircraft. The Droop+Rein FOGS 6-axis machining center with 300 Nm spindle rough-machines steel and titanium components using a variety of heads and performs high-speed finishing of dies.
To help develop the next-generation manufacturing workforce, FANUC’s Machining Simulation for Workforce Development software teaches users how to set up and operate three common 5-axis milling machines.
DP Technology’s ESPRIT 2020 CAM system features new or improved support for 200 different Swiss-type machine models. And with its improved CAD functions, users can better design and visualize parts before manufacturing begins.
From rework and spatter to productivity and training, you might have numerous challenges you want to tackle in your manufacturing welding operation. Some common manufacturing myths may be holding you back from making the right changes — or even from knowing where improvements are needed.
Designed for MIG, TIG and stick welding, Weldcote’s MIG 200 Striker multipurpose unit increases efficiency via a power factor corrector and digital readouts that automatically adjust operation to the power grid’s voltage.
The 28-mm PRO28 modular fixturing system from Strong Hand Tools is the only heavy-duty metric table with individual, positionable plates for unlimited vertical and horizontal welding possibilities.
Simple and efficient enough to be used by one operator, the AxSEAM semiautomated scanner for longitudinal seam weld inspection minimizes the number of adjustments required to change pipe diameters, probe separation, or scan orientation.
Miller Electric’s Trailblazer and Big Blue welder/generators are available with Wireless Interface Control. The option gives operators the power to control the units remotely from the palm of their hands.
Delivering 9.5 kW of consistent current via its AC generator, Lincoln Electric’s Ranger 260MPX welder/generator reliably powers auxiliary tools and equipment including sensitive electronics like laptops.
Koike Aronson’s multifunctional IK-12 NEXT is capable of plasma and oxy-fuel cutting as well as general welding and pendulum weave welding. Even inexperienced operators can achieve consistent high-quality results.
Multiple workers and Fronius equipment can be monitored singly and in the aggregate when networked with the company’s WeldCube Premium software. The program provides easily accessible data documentation and analysis via a central database.
As ESAB consolidates products into four major categories, the company opens a Configuration Center to provide build-to-order services for its line of Gas Control Equipment (GCE) products.
According to testing by a heavy equipment manufacturer, Daubert Cromwell’s ready-to-use Nox-Rust 5400 rust-prevention coating doesn’t compromise weld quality or contribute to hydrogen-induced cracking.
Inverter technology with pulse-width modulation (PWM) enables Amada Weld Tech’s MIB-300A and MIB-600A power sources to provide better control than standard AC welders.
Welding mistakes on an oil-and-gas worksite can endanger welders and inspection personnel. To increase productivity and safety and reduce costs, educate them on how to assess the materials they’ll be using before work begins in the field.
Addressing poor weld quality, failures, and rework takes longer and costs more to resolve as a part moves through the welding process. Follow these seven rules of thumb to enhance your operation’s throughput.
Robotic welding is no longer just for low-mix, high-volume production. Robot manufacturers are using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to develop “smart” systems that quickly and easily handle both programming and welding.
At 452 square feet, Kemper’s WallMaster offers the largest filter surface in entry-level wall-mounted units. The fume extraction unit is easy to combine with collection devices from various manufacturers, and can be retrofit in existing extraction technology.
Zeller + Gmelin’s Zubora 30 FD provides excellent drainage with minimal copper release, making the cooling lubricant ideal for machining sensitive copper and aluminum alloys.
Water-, solvent-, and chemical-resistant Walk-A-Sured Water Clear Heavyduty 20 from Wooster Products contains polymer grit that adds long-lasting traction to concrete and other floor surfaces in machining and other liquid-prone areas.
WD-40’s Specialist line of more than 20 rust-management solutions includes Gel Lube. The no-drip formula is designed to stick to moving metal surfaces such as gears, bearings, cables, chains, and rollers.
Transor Filter USA shipped a specially designed V-18 Series modular filter to a prominent aerospace contractor. The V-18 unit will furnish multiple EDMs with a continuous supply of chilled, temperature-controlled oil required for intricate and precision applications.
Cortec’s EcoShield VpCI-226 film and bags replace conventional rust preventatives such as oil and desiccants. The vapor phase corrosion inhibitor (VpCI) saves time and hassle by eliminating degreasing and/or coating removal.
Siemens’ Simatic real-time locating systems (RTLS) combine wireless communications with digital twinning software to simulate and manage employee exposure risks while promoting productivity. Most manufacturers see results in one to two weeks.
Rite-Hite’s global wheel chock (GWC) combines ultrasonic sensors with a safe and dependable communication system to keep employees safe. Manually positioned extra-long footbed maintains continuous downward force on tires to reduce the potential for movement during loading and unloading.
At 452 square feet, Kemper’s WallMaster offers the largest filter surface in entry-level wall-mounted units. The fume extraction unit is easy to combine with collection devices from various manufacturers, and can be retrofit in existing extraction technology.
More than 1.7 billion people – 80% of the world’s workforce – have jobs that don’t involve sitting at a desk. The Beekeeper platform ensures companies effectively communicate with employees who aren’t otherwise connected on email or company devices.
Sandvik Coromant’s CoroDrill 860 – with GM geometry – drills a greater range of materials and applications and lasts much longer than its predecessor, the R840. Suitable for the automotive, general machinery, and oil-and-gas industries, where hole quality is critical.
The Seco Assistant app by Seco Tools features a machining calculator that provides turning, milling, and hole making data, including feeds, speeds, and material-removal rates, for any brand to help you identify the appropriate tooling option and cutting strategy for a job.
Equipped with a sensor, battery, and transmitting unit, Schunk’s iTENDO toolholder is a closed-loop data acquisition tool that securely gathers and shares process data that operators can immediately react to.
Andreas Maier AMF marking and cleaning tools are available from Platinum Tooling Technologies. Both are mounted directly onto the machine’s spindle and can function with or without rotation.
NUM launches form compensation option for Numroto tool grinding software. Compared to most competitive products on the market, the software provides a much more direct and efficient path between tool design, manufacture, and verification. NUM’s new form compensation option is compatible with Numroto version 4.1.2 or later.
Kennametal’s flat-bottom FEG insert for the KenTIP FS modular drill series eliminates end milling operations and completes a task in a single operation, saving time and tooling costs. Applicable in steel, cast iron, and stainless steels.
Use Dynabrade’s Dynastraight hand-held abrasive tools for removal and finishing tasks on a wide variety of materials. A muffler reduces noise levels in the workplace.
Reaching tough weldments on a homemade fixture can force welders to climb ladders, crawl around on the floor, manually move heavy parts, or engineer other risky access solutions. Bluco’s modular fixturing provides the flexibility they need to safely solve difficult welding challenges.
Bilsing Automation’s lightweight but extremely strong carbon fiber (CF) T-beams for high-speed tandem presses increase productivity by enabling automotive manufacturers to handle multiple parts from a single stamping die. They adapt to any robotic application.
The 28-mm PRO28 modular fixturing system from Strong Hand Tools is the only heavy-duty metric table with individual, positionable plates for unlimited vertical and horizontal welding possibilities.
In a time when finding new revenue is critical, making capital equipment more versatile can help business. There are few opportunities to affordably expand your shop’s capabilities than to start micromachining with the help of the right tools and accessories.
Whether the application is construction, shipbuilding, or general metal fabrication, using the right wheel combined with the proper technique and pressure can eliminate many issues operators face when grinding — saving time and money.
The only end-to-end inspection software dedicated to model-based definition (MBD) and built on a CAD/CAM platform, Verisurf 2020 enhances reverse engineering with a surface modeling option and other practical features.
The 733.1 outside micrometer is one of more than 100 new hand-held measuring tools from L.S. Starrett. The products feature enhanced electronics, ergonomic design, larger readout display, and longer battery life thanks to auto-shutoff.
The latest version of Renishaw’s 3D fixture-modelling software creates a metrology setup around a CAD model of an inspected part. With FixtureBuilder 8.0, users don’t need a coordinate measuring machine or other inspection device to confirm accuracy.
OnRobot’s updated Eyes robot vision system sorts, inspects, and picks-and-places parts using color and contour – what the company calls one-shot detection – instead of workpiece teaching, greatly reducing cycle times and easing the programming process.
Mitutoyo America’s HR-600 does both Rockwell hardness testing and Light Force Brinell testing, expanding the range of available measurements. It’s the company’s first hardness tester with a moving head.
The 4.3-inch IPC4 operator panel for Marposs’ Artis Genior monitoring systems is preconfigured with visualization software to serve as a user interface for the Artis GEMCMS02 for collision detection or the Gemtmuro for monitoring toolholder runout.
Mahr’s portable MarSurf M 310 offers features that were previously available only in PC-based systems. Features including automatic creation of measuring reports in PDF format, integration of a barcode or data matrix scanner, and printing reports to letter size paper are all standard.
Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence’s TubeShaper v2 software is available via an offline license that enables engineers and designers to work on projects separately from operators measuring tubes on the shop floor. More tasks can run concurrently, saving time and averting bottlenecks.
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