#TECH BRIEF

Automotive

Automated High-Production Welding of EV Rotor Shafts

This cell is able to perform joining, preheating and welding operations for rotor shafts used in electric vehicles.

Derek Korn
Editor-in-Chief, Production Machining magazine

Automated High-Production Welding of EV Rotor Shafts image
Workholding

The Value of Auto Adjust Magazine Bar Feeders

This bar feeder is designed to offer the flexibility to enable CNC turning centers to perform short-run work that would otherwise require frequent setups over a range of barstock diameters.

Is it Time to Update Your Scrap Processing Equipment?

Metalworking companies that are thinking about updating their metal scrap processing equipment have a lot to consider especially with how frequently production takes priority over waste management.

Medical

The Value of Mass Finishing, Shot Blasting for Aerospace and Medical Applications

The choice between mass finishing and shot blasting for CNC-machined parts depends on the specific requirements of the application.

Measurement

The Value of CMM Controller Retrofits

In this case, new controllers for two coordinate measuring machines — one 26 years old — with new programming software offers the possibility to enable multisensor inspection of critical, turned aerospace components.

Cutting Tools

Addressing Micro-Boring Challenges

This boring bar/tool holding system for Swiss-type lathes is said to offer high rigidity and positioning repeatability. In addition, the boring bars can be changed out using no hand tools.

Horizontal & Vertical Lathes

Robotic Automation Options for Vertical Turning Centers

Custom robotic machine tending systems designed for specific high-volume machining applications can yield significant productivity and product flow benefits.

Buffoli Rotary Transfer Machines
CNC & Machine Controls

Standard Control Functions with Swiss-Types in Mind

Features in this line of machine-specific CNCs assist setups, offer synchronized movement commands and provide other standard, not optional, capabilities to streamline Swiss-type programming.

Derek Korn
Editor-in-Chief, Production Machining magazine

Standard Control Functions with Swiss-Types in Mind image
Cutting Tools

Parting Off: The Case for Standardizing on Sawing

The value of rotary saw cutting for parting off operations could boil down to simple economics paired with process efficiency gains.

Swiss-Types

Does a Scanning Probe Make Sense on a Swiss-Type?

Swiss-types have limited tooling capacity, but there can be advantages to giving up some of that capacity to take advantage of a touch probe — in fact, a scanning probe — to enable in-process part measurements.

Workholding

Bar Feeder Designed with Swiss-Types in Mind

New technology enables this bar feeder to fully support the bar pusher and stock from inside the unit all the way to the spindle of a sliding headstock lathe.

Tooling

German Project Yields Three New Medical Machining Processes

Recent research has resulted in a new mix of high-speed turn whirl milling, polygon turning and rotational turning for manufacturing medical bone screws and out-of-round nails.

Transfer Machines

CNC Rotary Transfer Machine Features Ballscrew Electromechanical Tooling Units

A CNC rotary transfer machine, a newly developed machine platform, is said to offer high rigidity, flexibility and accuracy for a range of high-volume, precision-machining applications.

Cutting Tools

Reaming as an Alternative to Single-Point Boring

Using slip yokes as an example, reaming through holes can be more efficient and effective than single-point boring operations.

EZ BAR Series
Automation & Robots

4 Bright Ideas for Effective Lights-Out Machining

Adopting lights-out machining involves considerations when a machine shop decides to move forward with the process. Here are some tips to a successful implementation.


4 Bright Ideas for Effective Lights-Out Machining image

The Case for Higher-Performing Metalworking Fluids

Machine shops have the opportunity to enhance their profitability by choosing the proper metalworking fluids for each machining application.

Cutting Tools

The Value of Tool Monitoring on Rotary Transfer Machines

By using a tool monitoring system, shops can save costs associated with machine maintenance and downtime for tool changes while increasing cutting performance.

Cutting Tools

The Value of CAD/CAM and Cutting Tool Manufacturers Working Together

Overall machining efficiency can be increased when software and tooling companies combine to tackle machining challenges.

Measurement

Streamlining Part Measurement, Data Collection Processes

When collecting measurement data automatically with a wireless data collection system, manual errors can be eliminated ensuring data accuracy and traceability.

Measurement

The Advantages of Automated Shopfloor Gaging

This “parallel kinematic” gage offers the opportunity to automate and improve machining process control for shops endeavoring to move from sample inspection to 100% inspection.

Automation & Robots

Automating Cutting Fluid Management

Automation can amplify the benefits of cutting fluid management while reducing the maintenance burden on shopfloor employees.

Star Swiss-type automatic lathes
Workholding

When to Use a Diaphragm Chuck

The accuracy and repeatability of these chucks make them well suited for a number of workholding applications, including turning and grinding.

Derek Korn
Editor-in-Chief, Production Machining magazine

When to Use a Diaphragm Chuck image
Automation & Robots

Using the Toolchanger to Automate Production

Taking advantage of a feature that’s already on the machine tool, Lang’s Haubex system uses the toolchanger to move and store parts, making it an easy-to-use and cost-effective automation solution.

Automation & Robots

Replace Repetitive Measurement With DIY Robotic Automation

After minimal training, a shop can learn how to use this robotic inspection system configured for a shopfloor application to supersede repetitive, time-consuming, high-mix gaging processes. It can then be redeployed for another application somewhere else in the facility.

Single & Multi-Spindles

Video: Using AR for Remote Machine Tool Troubleshooting

Augmented reality can enable service engineers to help machine shops identify and possibly remedy issues with their machines remotely, perhaps eliminating the time and cost of an on-site diagnostic and maintenance visit.

Cutting Tools

Tooling Considerations for Parting Off, Grooving

Geometry, coatings and tool holders all play a big role in the effectiveness of parting off and grooving operations on CNC turning centers.

Grinding

Grinding Options for Dental Burrs and Rotary Instruments

Equipment to grind dental burrs continues to evolve. Here are five options for grinding these types of workpieces.

Toolholders

Tips for Choosing the Right Toolholder for High-Speed Machining

Here is some advice for shops hoping to maximize their efficiency performing high-speed milling operations.

View All #tech brief Articles
Horn USA