Industry News

Methods Machine Tools Inc., a supplier of machine tools, automation and accessories, announced it is hosting Metal Storm 2014, an open house event taking place June 11-12, 2014 at the company's recently-renovated headquarters and corporate technology center at 71 Union Avenue, Sudbury, Mass. Metal Storm 2014 will feature over 50 machines under power. Attendees are also invited to participate in technical seminars conducted throughout the event by manufacturing industry experts in automotive, aerospace, automation and more. 

EMAG LLC, a Farmington Hills, Mich.-based machine tool supplier, has launched an apprentice training program to encourage continuing growth in Michigan's mechatronics manufacturing industry and ensure an advanced workforce to close the sector's skills gap. Developed in conjunction with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Oakland Community College and Henry Ford Community College, the program offers high-school graduates a career in machine mechatronics, a discipline incorporating electrical, electronic and mechanical studies, providing all graduates an advanced associate's degree.

Machine tool manufacturer SMTCL-Americas will hold a "March Machine Madness" open house event on March 20, 2014 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at its  City of Industry, Calif. technical center at 17038 E. Gale Ave. Various experts will host seminars on robotics and automation, 5-axis machining, titanium machining, new developments in CAD software and innovations in tooling.

Absolute Machine Tools Inc. is hosting a "Discovery Day" at its new Midwest Technical Center in Elgin, Ill., on April 9 from 10:00 am until 7:00 pm. New machine tool technologies from Nexturn, Precihole, Accutex EDM, Tongtai, Johnford and Fanuc Automation, among others, will be introduced. A complimentary lunch will be served courtesy of Elgin's Portillo's Hot Dogs Inc.

CNC machine tool manufacturer Rollomatic Inc., Mundelein, Ill., is exhibiting several new products during the GrindTec show in Augsburg, Germany, to be held March 19-22, 2014. One product on display is the GrindSmart 6-axis CNC grinder that is furnished with a traveling work head that can produce drills with a flute length up to 12". In addition, other solid-carbide drills and high-performance endmills can be manufactured. Features include a camera to locate coolant holes and a 6-station wheel and nozzle changer. 

Sharpening diamond-tipped and solid carbide rotary tools will be the focal point of Vollmer's display at Stand 1017 at the GrindTec 2014 international grinding technology trade fair, to be held March 19 to 22 in Augsburg, Germany. The grinding and erosion machine company will demo its new VGrind 160 grinding center, the company's first for processing carbide rotary tools.

In April 2014, igus Inc., East Providence, R.I., will hold its  biannual vector awards ceremony. The vector awards aim to recognize the most creative applications of the igus Energy Chain Systems. Participants can apply online to present their idea to the panel of judges, with the first, second and third prizes being awarded at the Hannover Trade Fair in Germany. 

Absolute Machine Tools Inc., Lorain, Ohio, has launched a new version of its website. The site provides descriptions, specifications and application information for the company's offerings of turning, milling, deep hole and gun barrel drilling machines and EDMs from OEMs including AccuteX, You Ji, Johnford, Tongtai, Nexturn, and Precihole. 

United Grinding North America, the Miamisburg, Ohio-based provider of cylindrical grinding machine tools, has scheduled a six-city demonstration tour of the United States, as well as two open house events in Canada and Mexico, to demonstrate its STUDER S11 production workpiece.

On Jan. 1, 2014, GF AgieCharmilles, Geneva, Switzerland, will become GF Machining Solutions, underscoring the fact that parent company Georg Fischer AG (GF) is a unified company with three divisions. Along with the name change, a new design style on the GF Machining Solutions Web site and sales literature will be gradually implemented, according to the company. GF AgieCharmille's U.S. operation is based in Lincolnshire, Ill. 

Threading and grooving toolmaker Tool-Flo Manufacturing, Houston, has added polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and polycrystalline cubic boron nitride (PCBN) tools to its product line. The ultrahard materials allow for longer tool life when cutting abrasive materials such as graphite, hard rubber, plastics, carbon, fiberglass components, ceramics, wood, copper, bronze, brass and aluminum alloys, and permit higher removal rates and faster cycle times. 

Okuma America Corp.'s Technology Showcase event, held December 10-12, 2013 in Charlotte, N.C., was the company's largest to date, both in attendance and the number of CNC machines shown, according to the company. Held annually, the event is designed to give attendees the opportunity to see and gain hands-on experience with Okuma's latest technology and discuss their individual needs with a variety of industry experts. 

Liberty Hall Capital Partners, a New York, N.Y.-based private equity firm focused exclusively on the global aerospace and defense industry, announced the acquisition of Tulsa, Okla.'s Precise Machining & Manufacturing, a Tier II supplier of machined parts, kits and assemblies and processing services to the aerospace industry.

Machine tool manufacturer DMG MORI Manufacturing hosted its inaugural Manufacturing Days event, holding an open house at its Davis, Calif.,factory. The 4-day open house provided more than 1,300 attendees with a look into the 200,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing facility, as well as educational seminars and live cutting demos. 

United Grinding North America, Inc. welcomes manufacturers to its Fredericksburg, Va., facility on Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to experience the latest technology and trends in PCD tool manufacturing, featuring live demonstrations from its WALTER and EWAG brands.  

Okuma America Corp holds the 2013 Technology Showcase event on Dec. 10-12, 2013, in Charlotte N.C. The event gives attendees the opportunity to witness the latest technology via hands-on demonstrations, and allows them to learn how this new technology can be applied to their specific manufacturing challenges.

E. Zoller GmbH & Co. KG, Pleidelsheim, Germany, has partnered with Machining Cloud GmbH, Stans, Switzerland, on the new Machining Cloud Intelligent Manufacturing application, a platform that offers applications, resources, services and information from a centralized database. Machining Cloud can advise parts manufacturers regarding best practices specific to each manufacturing process, according to the company.

OMAX Corp. has integrated a company-wide custom-designed automated management system. This system, developed in house by OMAX, helps eliminate bottlenecks, provides active real-time measurable data and makes it possible to quickly adjust to fluctuating production schedules.

What is run-out? Run out is differences or variations in the diameter of a cutting tool at certain points along the outside edge while the tool is rotating. When an end mill is in rotation it is important that each tooth hits at the exact same spot along the work piece.  If one tooth is hitting the work piece more than the others then that tooth is doing the bulk of the work.  This will cause the end mill to wear and breakdown more quickly. 

Three related manufacturing companies have launched new Web sites. Contour Precision Group, a manufacturer of complex prismatic parts; Huffman LLC, a builder of profile grinding machines, laser powder fusion cladding and welding machines and waterjet machines; and Springfield Manufacturing LLC, a provider of advanced manufacturing solutions, are all based in Clover, S.C.