HVOF Coating Puts Grinding Machines to the Test August 2, 2016 Manufacturers continually seek ways to make their products stronger and last longer. High Velocity Oxygen Fuel (HVOF) spray coatings help achieve those goals. However, grinding the coatings can be a challenge.
Lifting Devices Reduce Incubator Assembly Labor June 15, 2016 Thermo Fisher Scientific, a leading manufacturer of laboratory technology, designed new incubators to cultivate human and animal cells. With 55,000 employees worldwide and group sales of $17 billion, Thermo Fisher Scientific is one of the world’s largest providers of laboratory and analysis technology. The company headquarters are located in Waltham, MA, near Boston.
Plastic Injection Molder Turns to Gun Making October 1, 2015 In 2006, Jim Pontillo, founder of TRA Medical Inc. (Placentia, CA), saw two distinct trends: his medical mold-making workload was diminishing and demand for guns and gun components was rising. Sizing up TRA Medical’s core competencies, Pontillo saw an opportunity for growth in the development and production of 9-mm handguns. Today, these guns are branded and sold under their own brand FMK Firearms, which is a stand-alone business.
DIY: Creating Through-Tool Coolant Capability June 1, 2015 New retrofit systems make it possible to quickly, easily and cost effectively transform the standard external-coolant live tooling heads on turning machine turrets into those with through-tool-coolant capability. And shops that have done the retrofit are experiencing longer tool life, more efficient chip control and less heat generation.
New Technology in CNC Automatic Lathes Drives Higher Productivity May 1, 2014 A fully programmable B axis is the latest advanced technology for Swiss machines.
Faucet Parts Gush from Multistation Center November 1, 2013 A manufacturing engineer’s open mind, common sense and eclectic background in business have transformed the way parts are machined at the Guadalajara, Mexico, plant of plumbing fixture leader URREA Group.
Automating the Grinding Process June 1, 2013 Whether the process is cylindrical or profile grinding, automation, which can increase cycle time, throughput, consistency of part quality and taking real-time in-process measurements, is once again in demand. The reasons can be found in the benefits found in typical applications and the innovative and effective forms of automation available from machine builders like United Grinding Technologies Inc. (UGT; Miamisburg, OH), and their automation integrator of choice, Matrix Design Inc. (Elgin, IL).
Dunnage: Often Ignored, Always Important October 1, 2012 Dunnage used to ship and process automotive parts on the shop floor is a key component in the overall manufacturing process, yet it is often overlooked when companies are working to make lines lean and green. Today, it is important that manufacturers know that most dunnage used to transport parts from start to finish can be reused for the lifetime of production.
Drilling Difficult Materials January 1, 2012 Drilling a hole to required specification in production drilling can be challenging when the workpiece material is especially difficult-to-machine.
Masters of Manufacturing: Herbert B. Voelcker July 1, 2009 A self-described “river rat” during his teenage years, Herbert B. Voelcker grew up in the small town of Tonawanda, NY, just north of Buffalo, where as a young man he grew to love the water, boats, and steam engines. His early fascination with how things worked eventually led him to study mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge, MA), and to embark later on a greatly varied technical career highlighted by his research into the mathematical foundations for 3-D solid modeling.
