There’s a problem here. This photo is from an assembly workstation in a mid size shop. A magnetic bar holds essential tools. The problem is that it is the ONLY magnetic bar in the area and if there’s a tool missing, then there’s a drawn out search for that one tool to complete the job. [...]
Lexair’s modular CIVI Rail workholding system boosts the productivity, accuracy and repeatability of horizontal machining centers, providing multi-part clamping in virtually limitless configurations on tombstones and trunnions. A unique V-jaw design pulls parts down against the parallels and a 60-degree angle on serrations provide more clamping surface for a sure hold on high-value parts. CIVI [...]
Since its launch in 2009, Kickstarter has provided an instant a preemptive marketplace for projects to raise capital through individual investors. The practice is known as “crowdfunding”. This is HUGE for machinists. We’ve all seen good ideas floating around the shop but the two biggest hurdles to turning an idea into a product has been [...]
We all have computers that need to talk to machines. Modern machinery uses USB sticks or Ethernet for communication. For older machines or for moldmakers who require a dripfeed of G-code, we set out to find DNC software with the best performance to value ratio. The short list of results are in… We tested multiple [...]
**UPDATED POST** We’re adding more apps at the bottom! Seems like every pocket these days has a smart phone in it. Machinists are no exception. Here’s our short list of recommended Android apps for machinists in no particular order: Hobby Machinist Calculator Developer: My Hobby The strength of this app is it’s simplicity. It has [...]
Gibbs and Associates, developer of GibbsCAM® software, introduces the GibbsCAM Student Edition as well as a new on-line Student Store to provide student resource materials. The Student Edition, which complements the GibbsCAM Classroom Edition, is available immediately to NC programming or machining students of high schools, technical schools, colleges and universities already using GibbsCAM in [...]
Planet Products Corporations announces the ProHold Series 6” hydraulic self-centering vise. This vise is a fully hydraulic double acting type with a total stroke of 4.25” and 11,000 lbs of clamping force at 3800 lbs of hydraulic pressure. The double acting vise permits either OD and ID self centering clamping with no modification, and the [...]
We all know about vertical and horizontal machining centers, but the newest innovation from Haas Automation is their Universal Machining Center know as the UMC-750. The machine is a 5-axis 40-taper vertical machining center with an integrated dual-axis trunnion table with travels of 30″ x 20″ x 20″. The UMC-750’s dual-axis trunnion table can position [...]
In this photo you see three bars of extruded aluminum waiting to be sawed together. Notice the different bars marked with a straight line, a squiggly line and no line. Why? Because not all extrusions arrive with the same exact width and this can create a big problem when holding multiple parts in a vise. [...]
Last year we ran a test on the SUPERMILL TOMCAT 5 cutter since it touted feeds and speeds in steel that are normally reserved for aluminum. You can see that review on machining steel with aluminum feedrates here. Since that review, we did a 6 month follow up with the test shop and we’re here [...]
