Roush Industries optimises machine tools operations

Roush Industries, a leading automotive supplier, with a comprehensive portfolio of services has further optimized its machine tool operations using CAMWorks 2009, an intuitive solid-based CAM solution from Geometric.

Roush Industries serves an array of customers spanning automotive, aerospace, medical equipment, electronics and consumer goods industries. The range of services offered by Roush include motorsports management, product design, engineering, testing, prototype development, and manufacturing services.
The company is required to process a diverse range of parts with widely varying lot sizes, lead times, and levels of complexity through its machining operations.
To maximize its investments in machine tools, Roush Industries decided to acquire a new CAM software program that could help optimize five-axis machining. After considering a number of options, the company opted for CAMWorks. W ith CAMWorks, Roush could program a job as one operation, or, as two operations and then merge the two programs together and run them as one. This feature, combined with the company’s new hardware, has improved Roush’s machining operations by as much as 73 per cent .
http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/roush-industries-optimises-machine-tools-operations/79673/on

Machine tools, auto parts expo opens

KARACHI: As businesses remain affected due to fresh wave of terrorism in the country, Machine Tools & Automation Pakistan and Auto & Auto Parts Pakistan exhibition opened at the Karachi Expo Centre with an aim to expand the markets and generate growth.

The fifth MTAP and AAPP expo started on Thursday with participation from 30 countries. The three-day exhibition has 25 stalls representing about 100 companies from different countries.

Given the portrayal of Pakistan in the media, investors from foreign countries were really reluctant to come to Pakistan for business.

“I was extremely very afraid,” said an American businessman Jean-Claude Chalouhi. “But when I came here, I found the people very friendly and moderate, and the environment is safer than any European country,” he said. “Pakistan has great potential for business as the global economic recession has not had much of an effect here in comparison to other countries of the world,” added Chalouhi, who is a cutting tools manufacturer.

Rajesh K Jain, an investor from India, took the initiative to tackle business opportunities in Pakistan. “It was an individual initiative to come here, and I see no problem in doing business if the market allows. I also see great potential and cultural affinity here,” said he.

“However, most of the businessmen here and back in India are not aware that we can do direct business with each other,” said he.

The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry President, Abdul Majid Haji Muhammad, while inaugurating the exhibition, said that as much as the business sector is striving for growth, a few actions of the government are disturbing for the businessmen.

He said that the gas load management plan recently announced by the government will result in severe loss of industrial production.

He said that the business community will resist it to the fullest as, if implemented, it might result in negative growth of the industry and seriously affect the overall GDP. He also announced that the KCCI will organise single country exhibitions in the unexplored markets of Africa and South America early next year to familiarise and boost exports of Pakistani products in these continents.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=208172

Zimentek presents project on laying foundations for machine-tools

INVEMA, the technological unit at AFM (the Association of Spanish Machine-Tool Manufacturers), has presented the pre-dimensioning tool for laying foundations for machines, within the remit of the Zimentek project.
The demands of an increasingly more exigent market which requires large-scale machines with high performances in machining precision are not easy to meet if the rigidity of the foundations is not taken into account as a structural part of the machine. This, together with the absence of standardised methodologies to enable facilitating the client with technically proven foundation recommendations, instigated INVEMA to start drawing up the Zimentek project two years ago.
In large machines the bedplate is an element with high intrinsic flexibility that often results in unwanted deformations when there is not a suitable foundation laid. Moreover, the use of large-scale machines normally involves the machining of heavy parts and involves the presence of large-size mobile elements which, given situations of acceleration and de-acceleration, result in great forces being borne by the bedplate-foundation-floor assembly, thus leading to unacceptable levels of deformation.
In this sense, the main objective of the project was to help machine-tool manufacturers to suitably define and dimension the machines to be delivered to their customers, thus contributing to saving costs, while not reducing the rigidity of the machine or losing performance. In this way the robustness of large machines is guaranteed, reducing costs of installation and guaranteeing the suitable levelling of the machine.
A working team made up of representatives of the Etxe-tar, Ibarmia, Juaristi, Fagor Arrasate, MTorres, Nicolás Correa, Soraluce and Zayer enterprises were commissioned to define the requirements and specifications and to validate the progress of the project. Moreover, INVEMA has had the collaboration of the Tekniker technological centre, which has developed the computer tool to help carry out the pre-dimensioning of the foundations.
http://www.basqueresearch.com/berria_irakurri.asp?Berri_Kod=2448&hizk=I

Scania – where machine tool maintenance is an investment, not a cost!

Dynamate AB, the plant maintenance company for world leading truck manufacturer Scania, has implemented one of the most comprehensive and well-structured maintenance strategies in it's industry. At the heart of this programme is Renishaw's QC10 ballbar system, used to monitor the performance of over 500 large CNC machine tools.
 The radical changes Dynamate has introduced at Scania's Södertälje manufacturing plant near Stockholm have proven their worth, with massive improvements in machine accuracy and considerable increases in the capability of machines to produce accurate parts. Central to this is recognition of the importance of regularly monitoring machine performance over time within a standardised test procedure.
Scania is very keen to produce as many components as possible "in-house", the Södertälje engine plant supplying assembly operations in Sweden, Netherlands, France, Brazil and Argentina.
http://www.renishaw.com/en/scania-where-machine-tool-maintenance-is-an-investment-not-a-cost--6862

MACTECH - International Exhibition for Machine Tools, Industrial Tools, Welding & Cutting Equipment.

MACTECH 2009
The 9th International Exhibition for Machine Tools, Industrial Tools, Welding & Cutting Equipment.


FREQUENCY: Annual

SIZE OF SHOW: 12.000 M² Gross ( Expected in 2009 )

NO. OF COUNTRIES: 44 Countries ( Expected in 2009 )

NO.OF EXHIBITORS: 750 Exhibitors ( Expected in 2009 )

NO. OF VISITORS: 50.000 Visitors ( Expected in 2009 )

EXHIBIT PROFILE:
Sheet Metal Working Machines/ Metal Forming Machines/ Wire and Tube Forming Machines / Welding, Cutting Equipment, Accessories and Consumable / Milling Machines and Machining Centers / Grinding and Polishing Machines / Horizontal and Vertical Lathes / Drilling and Boring Machines / EDM and Consumable/ Honing and Lapping Machines / Hand Tools, Power Tools, Precision Tools / Pneumatic and Hydro – Pneumatic Tools / Die Casting Machines Forging Machines / Moulds and Dies/ Surface Treatment / CAD/CAM System and Software/ Robotic Process and Automation / Laser Equipments/ Measuring and Testing Equipments / Metrology Equipments / Wood Working Machines and Tools / Industrial Bearing /Airless Spray Equipment & Coating Technology / Generators Technology & Accessories / Factories Supplement.
http://news.cens.com/censv1/en/exh_inner.jsp?ED_ID=703

Machine tool industry takes a beating

Angela Peterson

Chancelor Schulze (left) and his father, Peter Schulze, owner of Performance Plus in Oshkosh, run a machine Tuesday at the Wisconsin Machine Tool Show at the Wisconsin State Fair Park Expo Center. The show runs through Thursday.

Orders coming in fits and starts

enlarge photo

Angela Peterson

These pieces of metal were cut from a laser machine during a demonstration by Northern Laser of Antigo.

more photos

Angela Peterson

These pieces of metal were cut from a laser machine during a demonstration by Northern Laser of Antigo.

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West Allis — The U.S. machine tool industry, once considered a critical link in the nation's defense system, is clinging to life after having been pummeled by the recession and foreign competition.
Prospects have improved slightly, but the business climate is still grim for companies making tools and machines used in factories. For July, sales of U.S. manufacturing technology totaled $149.5 million, up 9% from June but down 55% from July 2008, according to The Association for Manufacturing Technology in McLean, Va.
"Every tool shop that I know of has laid off people or cut their work hours," said Mike Retzer, National Tooling and Machining Association Milwaukee chapter executive.
Work comes in surges and then dries up, said Retzer, controller at Strohwig Industries in Richfield.
"We were on 32-hour weeks in July, and then all of a sudden we got orders with tight deliveries that put us on overtime. Now we are staring at the abyss again," said Retzer, one of the seminar speakers at the Wisconsin Machine Tool Show that opened Tuesday at State Fair Park and continues through Thursday.
The annual trade show features a wide range of manufacturing technologies and services, plus seminars on topics such as how to find business in the aerospace and wind-turbine industries.
Overall, the machine-tool industry has been decimated by the downturn in U.S. manufacturing. Earlier this year, orders for new machines were off about 80%, according to industry executives.
"For the next year or two, it could be more of the same: work coming in fits and starts," Retzer said Tuesday.
The credit crisis has put the brakes on capital spending. Many of the orders that machine-tool companies are receiving are for only a few pieces of equipment or spare parts.
"It's like a meal of chicken wings. There are a lot of them out there, but you don't get fat on them," said Anthony Jarc, sales engineer at Speedy Metals, an industrial metal supplier in New Berlin.
Exports that had been a bright spot in the machine-tool industry until mid 2008 have all but dried up.
The U.S. industry, once described by President Ronald Reagan as a "vital component of the U.S. defense base," pales in comparison with its past. The industry was ranked seventh in the world in output in 2008, behind Taiwan and far behind China.
Long term, a lack of fair-trade policies makes it difficult for small companies to be competitive in a global market, Retzer said.
"We are in the seventh inning of losing our manufacturing in this country if we don't rally and get Washington to understand our problems," he said.
International conglomerates such as General Electric Co. have paved the way for their suppliers to do business overseas.
"But if you want to supply them with machine tools, you have to build a plant in China," Retz said.
Earlier this year, the Association for Manufacturing Technology was losing two or three member companies per month as the companies went out of business. The trade group estimated it could lose 30% of its membership this year.
There are signs of a gradual improvement in the business climate as credit thaws and companies slowly start spending again.
"I think we have been through the worst and people are hopeful," said Juli Ikonomopoulos, general manager of Shop Talk magazine, a Dubuque, Iowa, metalworking industry publication.
Some machine-tool companies have merged with competitors, something they wouldn't have done in the past, Ikonomopoulos said.
"When we come out of this downturn, I think the industry is going to look different but will be stronger," she added.
http://www.jsonline.com/business/63647872.html

Abssac ball screws help restore machine tools

Abssac has relied on its ball screw knowledge for two pre-WWII machine tools that are being restored in a local woollen mills maintenance workshop.

After a careful measurement of the last remaining ball screw was undertaken, it was found that the ball screw was imperially sized, with a 1in diameter by 0.25in lead, Gothic arch ball screw format.

Abssac has utilised a cold rolled formed ball screw format to aid the restoration of machine tools

Abssac was able to utilise a cold rolled formed ball screw format.
The ball screws were cut to a length and then machined at the ends to allow them to fit a thrust bearing to the whole assembly.
The traditional square section nuts that were used by the old machines were replaced by adapted standard product range nuts and were chosen specifically for authenticity due to their single ball return design.
The whole assembly was then low temperature black chrome plated, which gave a corrosion-resistant, smooth and scratch-resistant surface finish, which aims to provide the machine with at least another 50 years of service.
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/abs/abs194.html

Taiwan`s Machine-tool Industry Saw Exports Down 54.7% in H1

Taiwan exported US$869.91 million worth of machine tools in the first half of 2009, down 54.7% from a year earlier, according to customs-cleared statistics compiled by the Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation (TMTF).

Of this, exports for metal-cutting machine tools amounted to US$660.75 million, down 56.8%, and that for metal-forming machine tools came to US$209.16 million, down 46.8%.

In terms of specific items, exports for machining centers amounted to US$228.07 million, down 63.6%; exports for EDMs (electric discharge machines) and laser cutting machines came to US$33.875 million, down 58.2%; that for lathes reached US$209.217 million, down 52.2%; that for drilling, boring and milling machines came to US$102.829 million, down 46.6%; that for grinding machines reached US$39.992 million, down 59.7%; and that for shaping, sawing and gearing machines reached US$46.77 million, down 49%.

In respect of export destinations, mainland China and Hong Kong together stood at the first place by absorbing US$321.87 million worth of machine tools from Taiwan in the first half of this year, down 43% year-on-year and accounting for 37% of the total exports. The second place went to the U.S. with US$78.03 million, down 53.9% and commanding 9%. Germany stood at the third place with US$45.1 million, down 57.8% and accounting for 5.2%. Other major export destinations, in descending order, were Thailand, Brazil, the Netherlands, India, Malaysia, Italy, Vietnam, Japan, France, Turkey, United Kingdom, and Indonesia.

The TMTF`s tallies also showed Taiwan imported US$158.08 million worth of machine tools in the first half of this year, down 83.5% year-on-year. Of this, imports for metal-cutting machine tools came to US$125.3 million, down 86.2%, and that for metal-forming machine tools amounted to US$32.77 million, down 30.4%.

Japan was the largest import source by exporting US$65.9 million worth of machine tools to Taiwan in the first half of this year, down 88.9% year-on-year and accounting for 41.7% of the total imports. The second place went to Germany with US$26.77 million, up 16.6% and commanding 16.9%. Italy stood at the third place with US$14.5 million, up 89.2% and accounting for 9.2%.

Exports of Taiwan-made Machine Tools in Jan.-June 2009 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-June 2008	Jan.-June 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	81,016	33,875	-58.2
Machining Centers	626,590	228,071	-63.6
Lathes	437,839	209,217	-52.2
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	192,440	102,829	-46.6
Grinding Machines	99,206	39,992	-59.7
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	91,779	46,770	-49
Presses and Shearing Machines	315,839	168,938	-46.5
Other Metal-forming Machines	76,963	40,226	-47.7
Total	1,921,672	869,918	-54.7
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

Imports of Machine Tools by Taiwan in Jan.-June 2009 by Products Unit: US$1,000
Products	Jan.-June 2008	Jan.-June 2009	Annual Change (%)
EDM, Laser-cutting Machines	749,631	38,810	-94.8
Machining Centers	26,390	14,333	-45.7
Lathes	43,235	16,508	-61.8
Drilling, Boring, Milling Machines	24,943	9,802	-60.7
Grinding Machines	48,354	32,193	-33.4
Shaping, Sawing, Gearing Machines	17,476	13,657	-21.9
Presses and Shearing Machines	42,042	26,926	-36
Other Metal-forming Machines	5,046	5,852	16
Total	957,117	158,081	-83.5
Source: Taiwan Machine Tool Foundation

http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_29075.html

Aarkstore.com - Analysis of Global Machine Tools Market

Machine Tools is a huge industry and is also fundamental for the investment goods industry as it provides the principal industrial equipment base for the manufacturing industries.

Aarkstore Enterprise

Online PR News – 17-August-2009 – "Machine Tools is a huge industry and is also fundamental for the investment goods industry as it provides the principal industrial equipment base for the manufacturing industries. Thus, in that way the global manufacturing industry relies on machine tools for its core activities. Looking at the other way, the global economic activities and global consumer spending would decide the growth of the industrial production and in turn, the use of machine tools in manufacturing. The industry, therefore, has developed a strong correlation with the global economic growth and economic activities.

The production and consumption of the machine tools is concentrated regionally. Europe and Asia Pacific dominate globally in both production and consumption of machine tools. Japan is the top producer of machine tools followed by Germany, while China comes third. On the consumption front, China leads globally followed by Germany and Japan.

There are variations in the consumption patterns. Countries like Germany and Japan are exporting majority of the machine tools they produce, whereas China’s exports are very less as it consumes most of machine tools produced. Japan’s imports are very less indicating its reliance on the domestic production, while US imports are very high.

In terms of application, automobiles are the major end users of machine tools. With the global economic slowdown, the automobiles production has been affected and so is the effect on machine tools. However, industries like electronics/electrical machinery and equipment applications are expected to experience a fast growth.

By combining SPSS Inc.’s data integration and analysis capabilities with our relevant findings, we have predicted the future growth of the industry. We employed various significant variables that have an impact on this industry and created regression models with SPSS Base to determine the future direction of the industry. Before deploying the regression model, the relationship between several independent or predictor variables and the dependent variable was analyzed using standard SPSS output, including charts, tables and tests.

This report takes a global perspective of the machine tools industry. The global market is analyzed taking into consideration three aspects - production, consumption and global trade. The main regional markets have also been analyzed. The report discusses the growth drivers and the major developments in the industry. The industry players are being profiled with a discussion of their business strategies.

http://www.onlineprnews.com/news/

4530-1250500585-aarkstorecom-analysis-of-global-machine-tools-market.html

Machine frames made easy

Applied Automation offer a comprehensive range of aluminium profiles and accessories which can be used in various applications.

Many manufacturers of special purpose machinery, in the UK, are switching over from fabricated machine frames to more flexible solutions using extruded aluminium profiles.

Applied Automation, the UK supplier for MayTec, offer a comprehensive range of aluminium profiles and accessories which can be used in various applications including machine guarding, work and assembly stations and, of course, machine frames.

For the special purpose machine manufacturer, choosing the right product and supplier for the machine frame can be as important as delivering the finished manufacturing solution to the end customer on time and to spec.

Very often the benefit of such a flexible solution can make a difference of weeks to the delivery, even with each profile system having its own characteristics or perhaps by having a "standard" machine base which can be adapted further down the machine design process.

This is one of the reasons why OpTek Systems, an Oxford based manufacturer of advanced laser processing and inspection tools, chose Applied Automation and MayTec as their preferred machine enclosure solution.

Recognising the need for a quick turn around to meet the demands of their customers, OpTek Systems have developed a range of laser micro machining systems that take advantage of the flexible and adaptable nature of such machine frames.

Due to the required precision needed for their laser micro machining systems they use a fabricated machine sub frame which supports the optical platform, then by using the MayTec profile system create a frame which allows them to "part build" the machine prior to the final specification being drawn up by their end customer, thus reducing the lead time of the machine and aiding the design cycle.

The added benefit of using this type of machine frame or enclosure is the ability to mount hardware directly onto it by utilising the T-slot built into the extrusion.

OpTek Systems do not limit their involvement to the laser micro machining system, but will also engage in the complete production process by handling the product prior to machining and also by removing the bi product of the machining process.

Where possible they aim to integrate their system into the customer's complete production line.

When asked why their chosen supplier was Applied Automation and why MayTec, Gavin Stockford, Operations Manager said "the simple assembly of the MayTec profile system is key".

"We have tried other similar systems and found that with them you either need 3 hands to assemble it or that the captive nuts do not hold in place, the MayTec solution is far easier to assemble".

In addition the ease of assembly which, incidentally, is down to the unique way in which MayTec have designed their captive nuts, Gavin was also full of praise for the design and support team at Applied Automation where his comment sums it all up.

"The team at Applied Automation know what they are at! A simple phone call detailing the problem is solved quickly due to their knowledge and experience".

This is music to the ears of the Applied Automation team who take pride in their system design and aim to exceed the expectations of the customer, offering a free system design service and able to deliver profiles from stock, all aid their goal.

Principal Sales Consultant at OpTek System, Mr Gideon Foster-Turner commented that "off the shelf components allow a more competitive solution, and having a standard platform ensures a bespoke machine can be housed within, improving our delivery times".

OpTek Systems have success across many industries and covering many applications with their laser production solutions including fuel injectors, aerosol manufacture and the processing of optical fibre terminations.

http://www.buildingtalk.com/news/apd/apd101.html

vRanger Pro 4.0 has been redesigned with broader virtual machine data protections built into it.

Vizioncore, an independent supplier of virtual machine management tools, has launched version 4.0 of its vRanger Pro, now call vRanger Pro Data Protection Platform. The former backup and recovery tool has been redesigned with broader virtual machine data protections built into it.

The vRanger product serves as a backup system in VMware's ESX Server environments. In version 4.0., Vizioncore has made virtual machine backup a direct-to-target operation. No proxy middleware sits between the virtual machine host and the backup storage medium, regardless of whether it is local or remote. Rather, a full-image backup of a virtual machine is executed directly to storage, and can be stored in either Windows SFTP file repository or a Linux CIFS file repository.

Backed up virtual machines may then be recovered over multiple protocols and restored in different ways. The full image can be restored on a virtualized host, or individual files that made up the virtual machine, such as the operating system or the application file, can be restored independently, said Chris Akerberg, COO of Vizioncore.

In addition, vRanger Pro includes a Smart Backup Manager management console that lets an administrator start, stop, disable or edit a backup procedure while it is running. It can also direct that simultaneous backups occur across a set of ESX Servers or through multiple VMware Virtual Centers, each of which manages a set of ESX Server hosts.

Backups may be full image, or capture the combined operating system and application, along with data in a virtual machine; incremental or a backup of everything that's occurred since a previous backup; or differential, capturing only the changes in files and data since the previous backup, Akerberg said. Such fine-grained tools are needed in virtualized environments to allow administrators "to take full control of their virtual infrastructures for greater levels of efficiency," Akerberg said in the announcement Tuesday.

Vizioncore produces a suite of tools, such as vControl and vFoglight, for monitoring and managing ESX Server virtual machines. Its vConverter tool can translate virtual files between VMware, Microsoft Hyper-V, Virtual Iron's open source Xen-based hypervisor and Citrix Systems XenServer.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/software/server_virtualization/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=218401370

Machine tool consumption in April down 77.7% vs. 2008

April U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $97.04 million, according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association, in a report released on June 8. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was down 41.5 percent from March and down 77.7% from the total of $435.34 million reported for April 2008. With a year-to-date total of $497.40 million, 2009 is down 70.7% compared with 2008.

These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.

“Industry executives have speculated whether we have reached the bottom of this current economic downturn,” said AMT president Douglas K. Woods. “The 41 percent drop in April orders from March levels and the Chapter 11 filings of GM and Chrysler eliminated any doubt that we still have a couple of rough months ahead. Accessible credit is the key to a viable manufacturing technology industry surviving this recession. Congress has provided the loan guarantees but they need to change the criteria for making loans before their efforts will result in cash flowing back into the system.”

The United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) report, jointly compiled by the two trade associations representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. manufacturing technology consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.

Northeast Region
Northeast Region manufacturing technology consumption in April totaled $17.62 million, 41.8% less than March’s $30.28 million and 67.4% below the total for last April. With a year-to-date total of $93.95 million, 2009 is down 61.0% when compared with 2008 at the same time.

Southern Region
At $12.64 million, April manufacturing technology consumption in the Southern Region was down 31.6% from the $18.49 million total for March and down 75.8% when compared with April 2008. The $66.80 million year-to-date total is 76.6% less than the comparable figure for 2008.

Midwest Region
April manufacturing technology consumption in the Midwest Region totaled $30.95 million, 41.9% less than the $53.28 million tally for March and off 81.7% when compared with last April. The $151.22 million year-to-date total is down 73.9% when compared with the same period in 2008.

Central Region
Central Region manufacturing technology consumption in April stood at $23.09 million, down 49.4% from the $45.65 million March total, and 75.1% lower than the total for April a year ago. At $123.45 million, 2009 year-to-date is off 68.2% when compared with last year at the same time.

Western Region
With a $12.74 million total, April manufacturing technology consumption in the Western Region was down 29.9% when compared with the $18.17 million March figure, and down 81.1% when compared with April 2008. The year-to-date total of $61.98 million represents a 69.8% drop from the comparable figure for 2008.
http://www.reliableplant.com/article.aspx?articleid=18084&pagetitle=Machine+tool+consumption+in+April+down+77.7%25+vs.+2008

LUTZ: Named President of Mittler Bros. Machine & Tool Inc

Mittler Bros. Machine & Tool Inc., a leading supplier of professional fabrication tools and special industrial machinery, today announced the appointment of Jay H. Lutz to the position of President effective immediately.

"Over the past 3 years I've worked with Jay on several technical and business projects. His well considered guidance convinced me to proceed with this growth focused appointment." said Mike Mittler, founder of Mittler Bros. Machine & Tool. "As we leverage that growth, we will look to his leadership to help us take the Company to the next level."

In his new role as president, Mr. Lutz will oversee all sales, marketing, manufacturing and customer facing activities for the company. A native of St. Louis, MO, Mr. Lutz advanced through progressively more responsible technical and managerial positions at leading brake systems and vehicle testing automotive companies. Most recently he served as Chief Operating Officer of Smithers Scientific Corporation in Akron, OH. Mr. Lutz holds a BSME from Missouri University and an MBA from Indiana University.
http://www.truckseries.com/cgi-script/NCTS_09/articles/000006/000613.htm

US CNC machine tool consumption improves

The purchase of CNC machine tools in the US, such as sliding head CNC lathes and turning centres, has recorded a rise for the second straight month.

According to the United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption Report issued on Monday by the American Machine Tool Distributors Association (AMTDA), March sales of precision engineering equipment rose by 22.3 per cent in February.

The rise shows a trend which may be reflected around the world, with more industries looking to the sector as a solution to increasingly complex manufacturing jobs which require computer-aided construction.

President of the AMTDA Peter Borden said of the figures: "We are pleased that the monthly totals have continued to increase since the historic lows that we saw in January.

"This bounce may have been due to year-end inventory sales by some of the large importers, so the next quarter will tell us if we have, indeed, 'bottomed out' as we hope."

The AMTDA has represented the industry since 1925, with 250 machine tool distributors falling under its jurisdiction.

If you're searching for milling machines compare 1000s here on MTD.ADNFCR-1982-ID-19182791-ADNFCR
http://www.machinetooldirect.co.uk/machine-tool-news/US-CNC-machine-tool-consumption-improves-2009-5-22.asp

U.S. machine tool consumption up 22.3% vs. February

March U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $162.94 million, according to AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association, and AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology in a report released on May 11. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was up 22.3 percent from February but down 71.9 percent from the total of $579.73 million reported for March 2008. With a year-to-date total of $397.56 million, 2009 is down 68.6 percent compared with 2008.

These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.

“We are pleased that the monthly totals have continued to increase since the historic lows that we saw in January,” said AMTDA president Peter Borden. “This bounce may have been due to year-end inventory sales by some of the large importers, so the next quarter will tell us if we have, indeed, ‘bottomed out’ as we hope. The forecasts for the remainder of 2009 warn that sales will be at least 50 percent below 2008 levels, which we are now approaching; so anything above that will be a plus.”

The United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) report, jointly compiled by the two trade associations representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. manufacturing technology consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.

Northeast Region
At $29.66 million, March manufacturing technology consumption in the Northeast Region was up 8.7 percent from the $27.29 million total for February but down 61.1 percent when compared with March 2008. The $75.71 million year-to-date total is 59.5 percent less than the comparable figure for 2008.

Southern Region
March manufacturing technology consumption in the Southern Region totaled $18.49 million, 12.4 percent less than the $21.11 million tally for February and off 85.5 percent when compared with last March. The $54.15 million year-to-date total is down 76.8 percent when compared with the same period in 2008.

Midwest Region
Midwest Region manufacturing technology consumption in March rose to $51.79 million, 33.0 percent higher than the $38.93 million February total, but 71.8 percent lower than the total for March a year ago. At $118.78 million, 2009 year-to-date is off 71.1 percent when compared with last year at the same time.

Central Region
With a $44.36 million total, March manufacturing technology consumption in the Central Region was up 47.2 percent when compared with the $30.13 million February figure, but down 65.3 percent when compared with March 2008. The year-to-date total of $99.11 million represents a 66.4 percent drop from the comparable figure for 2008.

Western Region
Western Region manufacturing technology consumption in March totaled $18.65 million, 18.6 percent above February’s $15.73 million but 71.0 percent below the total for last March. With a year-to-date total of $49.80 million, 2009 is down 63.9 percent when compared with 2008 at the same time.
http://www.reliableplant.com/article.aspx?articleid=17534&pagetitle=U.S.+machine+tool+consumption+up+22.3%25+vs.+February

Fanuc parts & CNC monitors to the machine tools industry.

DNC Electronics Ltd. Based in Swindon, England is the premier CNC Electronic specialist’s sourcing the CNC machine tools industry of Europe, Africa and the world via its agents for the last 15 years. The updated info site www.dnc-electronics.co.uk informs customers on products and services, which are not available in an online store format – due to the cost saving services such as exchange spare parts, and the technical aspect of each interaction.

Supplying England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Switzerland, Poland, Greece, Morocco, Egypt, Israel, UAE, South Africa, and Portugal with Fanuc & GE Fanuc CNC parts, as well as CNC Monitors and Power Transistors for GE, Mazak, Mitsubishi, Mazatrol, Heidenhain, Siemens, Hitachi, Toshiba, Fuji, Yaskawa, Num and many more. CNC electronic products and services (mainly Fanuc) used in many industries, including automobile, aerospace, automation, telecoms, transportation, and other manufacturing dependant on CNC machine tools.

DNC Electronics Ltd can ship CNC parts anywhere in the world via customers need for either the quickest or cheapest delivery. Many types of services are offered for faulty part replacement on CNC machine tools; including service exchange (new or used), new parts, used surplus spare parts, fault diagnosis and testing and lastly comprehensive repair facilities.

DNC Electronics Ltd is the Fanuc Specialists for the machine tools industry worldwide – capable of offering massive repair facilities and expertise. Each of the senior engineers has 11+ years experience working on only Fanuc systems, Fanuc drives, Fanuc motors and Fanuc monitors. Our Fanuc drive amplifier engineers know all of the major Fanuc drive series including DC axis, AC servo and spindle drives, Fanuc alpha modules and units, Fanuc Beta drives and high voltage Fanuc amplifiers and drive control boards and PCB’s. Our Fanuc systems engineers have been working with Control 0, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 15, 16, 18, 21, on Fanuc main / master boards, power supply units, graphics, axis, SMD, I/O, memory bubble, keyboard, MDI/CRT, MDI/LCD, MDI/PDP, operator panels and control units; while working closely with the drive engineers and our CNC monitor builders whom build replacements for over 20+ Fanuc monitor displays. Lastly our Fanuc motor engineer – whom has 1000’s of Fanuc motors available, either as DC M series axis motors, AC, AC S series servo’s, Alpha model servo’s and Fanuc AC spindle motors. All of our Fanuc based staff work harmoniously to bring a level of professionalism and dedication to the provision of excellent quality and very well priced Fanuc parts to customer’s machine tools.

DNC Electronics Ltd maintains the customer to be the most important part of the business. Strives to develop an ongoing business relationship. Being a multi-lingual company with differing levels of fluency in English (Fluent - Technical), François (Semi-Technical), Espanola (Fluent - Technical), German (Basic). Continually improving capabilities in support of Fanuc parts, while furthering research and development into Siemens, Mitsubishi and other CNC electronics on CNC machine tools.
http://www.prurgent.com/2009-05-01/pressrelease37680.htm

HPC cutting tool improves manufacturing capacity

volume part that was proving difficult to machine and as a result was subcontracted by IMS.

When the volumes were increased, the subcontractor demanded an increase per part.

The result was that it was brought back in house, the tooling technology was revisited and by working with WNT (UK) the cycle time on these parts was reduced by 66 per cent.

This one-time problem component is now a profitable part for the business.

Smith said: 'Not only is the performance of the HPC cutter exceptional but the fact that it is available with such a wide range of corner radii is resulting in major savings.

'Corner radii are very specific in the aerospace sector as they are fracture points.

'This meant we were spending a large amount on having cutters ground with specific corner radii.

'Now, with HPC we can get standard cutters that match our requirements, with the added advantage of being able to achieve tolerance and surface finish with a single pass, which has reduced tooling costs as only one cutter is required.

'This is on top of the cycle time savings that range from 33 to 50 per cent.'
Another typical application is an aviation-grade steel component that has an observation window machined into it.

Due to the interrupted cut, IMS used to require a total of two tools and five passes to machine this feature.

Now, by using an HPC cutter with the correct corner radius, this operation is achieved in a single pass at higher feed rates, resulting in a cycle time reduction from five minutes down to 42 seconds.

Along with the increased productivity also came increased tool life, with the HPC cutter machining more than 250 parts before it required changing compared with only 40 parts from the previous tools.

This equates to a saving in tooling costs of around GBP900 over 250 parts.

To keep this cutting-tool technology under control, IMS has taken the next step and installed a WNT Toolomat tool-vending system.

Previously the company had operated a conventional consignment stock system but this was not monitored or controlled very well.

Smith said: 'Switching to the Toolomat system we are now fully in control of tool usage.

'The system is secure, and we always have the right tools in stock but we are only invoiced on what is dispensed.'
Of particular value to IMS is the regular reporting that is provided by the system, which allows close monitoring of tool usage.

When workloads change it enables WNT (UK) to react and adjust stock levels as and when required.

The system can also be tailored to suit an individual company's requirements as far as dispensing tools and reporting are concerned.

Individual machines, operators or components can be tracked to highlight any patterns of usage that may emerge.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/wnt/wnt218.html

Outsourcing Machine Tool Maintenance

HydraForce Inc. started with a question: "Is our forte operating machine tools for maximum return or maintaining and repairing them?" At issue was the search for better resource utilization, explains Chris O'Bryan, HydraForce maintenance director. The company is a manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves, electro-hydraulic controls and custom integrated circuit manifolds designed for broad application in snowplows, Bobcat tractors, bulldozers, road pavers and transmissions. With a nearly 30 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), the company's small maintenance staff was stretched across multiple expanding facilities and an increasing number of machines performing a multitude of functions. Unwilling to compromise its stringent quality standards with tolerances in the millionths of an inch, the company turned to Sunnen Products Co., its primary machine tool manufacturer/supplier.

Adds O'Bryan: "Once we made the decision to outsource the Preventive Maintenance (PM) program, we were able to refocus on meeting the growing product demands. There was no question the machine tool supplier could deliver because they're the ones who built our 28 honing machines."

Looking back over the five years since outsourcing maintenance, O'Bryan refers to satisfying results. He reports stocking fewer parts due to efficient supplier responsiveness and lower costs when repair parts are required. "Our downtime has been cut by 33 percent, but our machines rarely go down anymore. With five thorough service visits a year, most problems are detected and fixed before a part ever fails."

Those outcomes mirror the expectations of Sun Hydraulics, a manufacturer of high-performance hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds used in lifts, ladders, motors and payload equipment for tractors.

While a service contract can have a definite customer advantage, it also benefits the machine tool builder, says Wes McCullough, field service manager, Sunnen Products Co.

Sun was challenged with scaling up production based upon strong year-over-year sales. Sun's managers wanted resources focused on production, especially given its demanding quality and tolerance requirements, honing hydraulic valve surfaces to millionths of an inch.

The decision point came when a 12th honing machine was added, says Sun's Mike Smith, honing team leader. He says two considerations led to outsourcing maintenance: "What business are we in and what do our customers come here to buy?"

"That evaluation led to a breakthrough decision to implement a service contract to give us the cost savings we wanted across labor and inventory, as well as the equipment utilization needed on our two shifts."

The result: a broad-based payout.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/hae/hae000.html

Outsourcing Machine Tool Maintenance

HydraForce Inc. started with a question: "Is our forte operating machine tools for maximum return or maintaining and repairing them?" At issue was the search for better resource utilization, explains Chris O'Bryan, HydraForce maintenance director. The company is a manufacturer of hydraulic cartridge valves, electro-hydraulic controls and custom integrated circuit manifolds designed for broad application in snowplows, Bobcat tractors, bulldozers, road pavers and transmissions. With a nearly 30 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR), the company's small maintenance staff was stretched across multiple expanding facilities and an increasing number of machines performing a multitude of functions. Unwilling to compromise its stringent quality standards with tolerances in the millionths of an inch, the company turned to Sunnen Products Co., its primary machine tool manufacturer/supplier.

Adds O'Bryan: "Once we made the decision to outsource the Preventive Maintenance (PM) program, we were able to refocus on meeting the growing product demands. There was no question the machine tool supplier could deliver because they're the ones who built our 28 honing machines."

Looking back over the five years since outsourcing maintenance, O'Bryan refers to satisfying results. He reports stocking fewer parts due to efficient supplier responsiveness and lower costs when repair parts are required. "Our downtime has been cut by 33 percent, but our machines rarely go down anymore. With five thorough service visits a year, most problems are detected and fixed before a part ever fails."

Those outcomes mirror the expectations of Sun Hydraulics, a manufacturer of high-performance hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds used in lifts, ladders, motors and payload equipment for tractors.

While a service contract can have a definite customer advantage, it also benefits the machine tool builder, says Wes McCullough, field service manager, Sunnen Products Co.

Sun was challenged with scaling up production based upon strong year-over-year sales. Sun's managers wanted resources focused on production, especially given its demanding quality and tolerance requirements, honing hydraulic valve surfaces to millionths of an inch.

The decision point came when a 12th honing machine was added, says Sun's Mike Smith, honing team leader. He says two considerations led to outsourcing maintenance: "What business are we in and what do our customers come here to buy?"

"That evaluation led to a breakthrough decision to implement a service contract to give us the cost savings we wanted across labor and inventory, as well as the equipment utilization needed on our two shifts."

The result: a broad-based payout.

http://www.manufacturingtalk.com/news/hae/hae000.html

Tools - Machine Tools

The definition of a machine tool, if you look in the dictionary, is a powered machine used for cutting or shaping or finishing metals or other materials. This actually applies to a wide variety of tools such as a broach, drill, gear shaper, hobbing machine, lathe, milling machine, shaper, and grinder.

Of course this definition doesn't really describe the usefulness of these type of tools. So we'll try to do just that in this article.

Most machine tools, also by definition, are tools that are tools that use a power source. In other words, not operated manually. But there are some tools that are considered machine tools that are operated by hand.

The first, what were considered machine tools, were actually made for the purpose of making other tools. These tools removed the human element from the process of stamping these tools by hand. Instead they were now stamped by machines.

The first lathe machine tools were invented in 1751 by Jacques de Vaucanson. He was the very first to mount the cutting instrument of the tool on a mechanically adjustable head. This took the tool out of the hands of the operator.

Machine tools can actually be powered by a number of sources. Aside from human and animal power, the energy for these tools can be captured from waterwheels and steam engines, in the early days, and finally electricity today. The Industrial Revolution had a huge impact on the progress made with machine tools.

Machine tools can be manually operated or automatically controlled. The very early machine tools used flywheels to stabilize their motion. They also had complex systems of gears and levers to control the machine and whatever piece it was that it was working on.

After World War II a new advanced machine was made called the numerical control machine. This machine used a series of numbers punched on paper tape or punch cards that controlled their motion.

In the 1960s, computers were then added to the function of making these machines work. These computers gave more flexibility to the process. These machines became known as computer numerical control machines and they could repeat the same set of instructions over and over similar to an assembly line. These machines could produce pieces that were much more complex than anything produced by even the most skilled tool operator.

It wasn't long before these machines could automatically change the cutting and shaping tools that were being used in the process. To give an example, a drill machine might contain a magazine or cartridge with a number of drill bits. These bits could be used for producing holes of different sizes. Before it was automated, operators would have to manually change the bit in order to drill a different size hole. Today, we have the technology to create a machine that can alternate the drill bits by computer program control.

The truth is, without machine tools, many of the things that we are able to make today would be either tool difficult, too costly or simply impossible to make.

http://ezinearticles.com/?Tools---Machine-Tools&id=172993

Space saving bearing for compact machine tool

Deliberately restricting the size of component that its VECTOR machine handles was a shrewd move for Colchester-based Curtis Machine Tools.

It has effectively cornered the market in small parts grinding by creating a highly efficient and compact machine, with short distances between grinding and loading, to cut cycle times. In particular, the VECTOR machine is now seen as an automotive industry standard but it is also being used for applications such as cutting parts of power tools.

Now with even greater focus on minimising unit costs Curtis has introduced a variant to its highly successful VECTOR series. For very high volume production the VECTOR can be specified with a twin spindle workhead which allows concurrent loading and grinding. It also makes a range of other applications available including in-cycle gauging.

At the end of the grinding cycle the workhead drum rotates through 180° alternating the positions of the two spindles. Critical elements of this mechanism are KAYDON® thin section bearings. “We needed a precise, low friction bearing that occupied minimum space but was still stiff,” explained Chairman Rick Curtis. “The KAYDON® bearing was ideal and gives us accuracy better than 1 micron.”

A wire race bearing was considered but although it satisfied the low weight need and was attractively priced the running accuracy was not adequate. This is a very important factor as final component accuracy and the consistent quality of a batch of components is determined by the consistent positioning accuracy of the workhead.

Ultimately Curtis Machine Tools designers Roger Marriott and Sarah Allard chose a precision class 3 KAYDON® four-point contact bearing and a radial contact bearing for this application. This is a classic combination selected by designers seeking dependable performance. Pre-load on the bearings is factory-set, minimising assembly time and assuring its consistency.

The KAYDON® four-point contact bearing can accept a combination of radial, thrust and moment loads. This is thanks to the unusual geometry of the ball grooves that creates a ‘gothic arch’ configuration making it possible for two grooves to contact the ball at four points.

High thrust and moment capacity is obtained in a four-point contact ball bearing by its deep raceway grooves. These allow high initial contact angles between the balls and raceways and increase the thrust and moment capacity. The deep grooves also accommodate the contact angle increase which results from ring stretch and ball deflection under load.

The company who Curtis Machine Tools turned to who provided the best bearing solution was R.A. Rodriguez. Factory representatives for KAYDON® Corporation for more than forty years, this Letchworth based supplier of precision engineering components has extensive applications knowledge. Rick Curtis concluded, “R. A. Rodriguez fully understood what we needed to achieve and have supplied a quality product that is working well in the field.”

http://www.approvedbusiness.co.uk/ViewArticle_2233.aspx

Machine tool cabinet

THE Actistor AN Series of machine tool and parts holding cabinetware have been designed to ensure drill bits, milling heads and other components are always on hand.

The Series includes metal cabinets, cupboards, drawers, portable trolleys and toolholder bushings in a comprehensive range of sizes and configurations.

Cabinets and cupboards can be fitted with a variety of options to suit the needs of the job including fixed or movable shelves, drawers, toolholders, sliding or normal doors, and space-saving vertical roller doors.

The cabinets have locking doors and are ready to be fastened to the ground, as safety rules require.

The Actistor toolholder trolley is a boon for the workplace where the tools must come to the job. The perforated sheetmetal walls of the trolley allow for flexibility in the placement of tool-carrier and bushing-holder frames.

The trolley has two fixed-direction wheels and two multi-direction wheels with brakes. Other features include a matted horizontal surface for tool placement and a pocket for work plans.

For more modest workplace needs, a metal toolholder that sits on a bench or a cabinet is available. The holder is ready for the insertion of three rows of bushing tool-holders.
http://www.manmonthly.com.au/Article/Machine-tool-cabinet/474229.aspx

Monitoring for machine tools

Predator machine monitoring and data collection software from Shop Floor Automations supports real-time machine monitoring for all Haas CNCs with version 11 or newer firmware. No third party hardware is required because the software uses the RS-232 port, which communicates NC programs to the machine.

The real-time monitoring provides automatic idle time; cycle time; machine alarm; and feed hold status. As an option, a user can be automatically logged on and off when the machine is powered on or off. A real-time dashboard provides information about what is happening out on the shop floor via LCD or plasma monitors. The software will support from 1 to 256 machines simultaneously and runs under Microsoft SQL or an Oracle database.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3101/is_2_81/ai_n27925714?tag=content;col1

US Dec machine tool demand off from Nov, year ago

WASHINGTON, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Demand for the machine tools that shape metal for products such as car engines and refrigerators fell in December from November and also from a year earlier, two groups said in a joint report on Sunday.

U.S. December machine tool demand fell 2.2 percent to $194.01 million from $198.35 million in November, the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association (AMTDA) and the Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) said in a joint report.

December demand plunged 53.8 percent from $419.80 million a year earlier in December 2007.

November demand was revised upward, initially estimated at $185.57 million.

In 2008, demand for machine tools, which gives a sense of the pace of manufacturing, stood at $4.212 billion, down 2.4 percent from $4.315 billion in 2007.

"The declines in November and December clearly reflect the impact of financial upheaval this past fall on our industry," AMT President Robert Simpson said in a statement.

"The administration has to get the manufacturing sector on the top of its agenda as manufacturing creates the wealth we need to balance our global debt," Simpson added.

December demand for machine tools rose, from a month earlier, in all regions included in the report except the Midwest, which typically is the region with the most orders for machine tools.

The data showed demand jumped 40.2 percent in the West, 30.4 percent in the Northeast, 9.1 percent in the South and 4.7 percent in the Central region. It dropped 38.2 percent in the Midwest.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/marketsNewsUS/idUKN0845462220090208

Shenyang Machine Tool 08 Export Rose 24.7%

SYAMF | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Shenyang Machine Tool Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 000410) made a cheerful performance in 2008, and its total export value hiked 24.7% from a year earlier to USD 187 million, according to the Shenyang Municipal Bureau Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation.
The company aggregately achieved export value of numerical control machine tools of USD 92.81 million, with a 26% growth. Last year, its total output value rose 10% year over year to USD 11.55 billion, of which USD 6.24 billion came from its numerical control machine tool business.

Meanwhile, Shenyang Machine Tool witnessed a 97.7% sales-output ratio, increasing 1.4 percentage points from the prior year, and the sales-output ratio of its numerical control machine tool operation leaped 3.0 percentage points to 97.6%.

In the entire 2008, the machine tools manufacturer made a CNY 575 million investment in R&D, rising 9% from a year ago and accounting for 5% of its total sales value. Up to CNY 523 million was pumped into the development of numerical control machine tools.
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2178452/

Machine Tool Consumption Down 2.4% In 2008

December U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $194.01 million, according to AMT - the Association for Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors’ Association. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was down 2.2% from November, and down 53.8% from the total of $419.80 million reported for December 2007. With a year-to-date total of $4,211.79 million, 2008 is down 2.4% compared with 2007.

These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.

“The 2008 Stimulus Package and the International Manufacturing Technology Show in September were expected to pull orders out of 2009 and place them in 2008,” said Robert K. Simpson, AMT President. “However, the declines in November and December clearly reflect the impact of financial upheaval this past fall on our industry. The Administration has to get the manufacturing sector on the top of its agenda as manufacturing creates the wealth we need to balance our global debt.”

The United States Manufacturing Technology Consumption (USMTC) report, jointly compiled by the two trade associations representing the production and distribution of manufacturing technology, provides regional and national U.S. consumption data of domestic and imported machine tools and related equipment. Analysis of manufacturing technology consumption provides a reliable leading economic indicator as manufacturing industries invest in capital metalworking equipment to increase capacity and improve productivity.

U.S. manufacturing technology consumption is also reported on a regional basis for five geographic breakdowns of the United States.

Northeast Region
Manufacturing technology consumption totaled $46.09 million in December, up 30.4% when compared with November’s $35.36 million, but down 19.1% when compared with December 2007. At $632.99 million, the 2008 year-to-date total is 4.6% less than the comparable figure for 2007.

Southern Region
December manufacturing technology consumption in the Southern Region totaled $31.96 million, up 9.1% when compared with November’s $29.28 million, but down 45.8% when compared with the total for December a year ago. At $632.40 million, the year-to-date total is up 13.2% when compared with 2007 at the same time.

Midwest Region
Manufacturing technology consumption in the Midwest Region in December stood at $43.94 million, down 38.2% when compared with November’s $71.08 million and 73.0% less than the total for December a year ago. The $1,402.36 million year-to-date total is 2.5% less than the comparable figure for 2007.

Central Region
At $46.57 million, December manufacturing technology consumption in the Central Region was 4.7% above the November total of $44.48 million but 45.7% less than in December 2007. With a year-to-date total of $1,045.04 million, 2008 is down 3.2% when compared with 2007 at the same time.

Western Region
Western Region manufacturing technology consumption in December totaled $25.46 million, 40.2% more than the $18.15 million tallied in November but down 53.9% when compared with last December. At $499.00 million, the 2008 year-to-date total is 13.1% below the comparable figure a year ago.

http://www.mdm.com/issues/1_1/breaking-news/6162-1.html

Machine tools to go

A utility company orders 500 wind towers for a wind-power farm: Each tower consists of three or four monstrous sections with welded flanges used for on-site assembly.

The tower sections arrive, and workers discover that heat from the welding process has distorted the flanges. They now are out of spec, making it impossible to erect the towers. The sections have to be sent back to be re-machined.

A coal-fired power-generation plant faces an emergency situation:

It has a high-pressure valve that regulates 3,000 psi, 1,000-degree steam that needs to be repaired. To make the repair would require shutting down power generation, cutting the large valve away from its pipes, shipping it to a shop for machining, putting it back in place, then stress relieving it and X-ray inspecting the welds used to secure it in place.

Considering the amount of downtime that these repairs require, money can be saved by being able to make the repairs on-site. Rather than disassembling components and shipping them off to be machined, the machine tools that are needed for the job would come to the components.

Climax Portable Machine Tools Inc., with facilities in Newberg, Ore., and Duren, Germany, provides on-site machining capability for jobs such as these, and it is considered a pioneer in portable machine tools.

The company offers standard models and machines that are specially built for customer applications. It also rents out its portable machine tools from locations worldwide.

Portable machine tools have gained popularity for maintenance, repair and upgrade work of premachined components in the power generation — nuclear, wind, fossil fuel, and hydro — shipbuilding, service and engineering, and heavy construction industries. And for these industries, Climax Portable Machine Tools builds portable boring machines, flange facers, autobore welders, circular mills, keyway cutting mills, 3-axis mills, valve repair machines, and lathes — all of which can be found working everywhere from nuclear power plants and coal-fired power plants to wind tower sites and shipbuilding yards to bridges and dams.

Ideal workpiece candidates for portable machining are those that are too big to move or disassemble from their mating components. When it comes to portable machine tools, the bigger and bulkier the workpiece the better.

Unlike traditional machine tools that get their rigidity from their bases, portable machine tools get rigidity from the weight and heft of the components they are working on. Engineers at Climax Portable Machine Tools develop fixtures that allow users to anchor the machines to the workpieces.

Portable lathes, for example, operate by attaching to the end of the shaft to be machined. Then, the entire lathe rotates around the shaft for the machining operation. For a portable boring machine, the engineers designed a special fixture that attaches it to the curved surface of a steam generator in a nuclear power plant.

In addition to rigidity, portable machines must be just as, or even more, accurate, in some instances, as their traditional stationary counterparts.

For example, the CM6000 circular mill from Climax Portable Machine Tools can machine wind tower flanges in the field and hold a flatness tolerance of 0.002 in. over a 16.5-ft-diameter flange while generating a surface finish of 60 Rms.

Climax Portable Machine Tools also applies CNC to its portable machines when they are used in areas where a live operator cannot be. It is not safe for a human to be inside a nuclear power reactor. So the company adapts a remote control console to the portable machine that operates its servomotors with pre-programmed commands.

Portable machines are powered by electricity, hydraulics or pneumatics. Portable generators provide on-site power for electric motors and hydraulic power units when direct power is not available, and pneumatic power is used in volatile environments such as at an oil and gas refinery where there is the potential for explosions.

http://www.americanmachinist.com/304/Issue/Article/False/83648/Issue

WNC receives gift of new machinery for machine tool technology program

Western Nevada College machine tool technology students may not realize it, but they just got a Christmas present that will help them learn with the latest technology for automotive machining.

Thanks to a $182,000 federal grant through the Carl Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act, the college was able to purchase two computer-guided machine tools: a milling center and honing device.

"These are the first two machines of this type in Nevada, and the only ones being used in a teaching setting in Nevada or Northern California," instructor Paul Eastwood said.

Made by Rottler Manufacturing Company, Eastwood said he believes that the new machines will enhance student learning in machine tool and automotive technology at the college.

"The Rottler machines are used for restoring engine blocks, boring out cylinders, honing cylinders and resurfacing the heads of engine blocks. With tolerances to one ten-thousandth of an inch, they can also bore out a perfect alignment for crankshafts and camshafts," he said.

Eastwood said there is a huge interest in cars and rebuilding engines in this area, and the new machine tools provide students the ability to learn on the latest equipment.

"The Rottler tools are a nice complement to our other machinery. Students learn on our manually operated devices and then move up to computer controlled machines, and now we can offer them the very latest in machine technology," Eastwood said.

'Impressions of the Earth' shown

Western Nevada College Gallery in opens the spring semester Jan. 20, with a new show, "Impressions of the Earth," by WNC Fallon Art Professor Gil Martin. An artist's reception will be Feb. 4, from 4:30-6:30 p.m., for students, faculty and the community. The exhibit will continue through Feb. 20.

Gallery hours are weekdays, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and weekends, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

http://www.rgj.com/article/20090116/CARSON/901160304/1003

Falling Orders for Machine Tools Trouble Japan

TOKYO -- Japanese machine-tool orders marked their largest drop in more than two decades last month, suggesting that shrinking capital investment may deal a further blow to Japan's recession-hit economy in the months ahead.

Machine-tool orders fell 71.9% year-to-year in December, following November's 62.1% drop, preliminary data from the Japan Machine Tool Builders' Association showed. Machine-tool orders totaled 36.7 billion yen ($411.8 million) in December.

Machine-tool orders are considered a leading indicator of capital investment, and December's plunge suggests companies are cautious about increasing capacity as demand shrinks at home and abroad.

This is particularly significant for Japan -- home to three of the world's top four machine-tool makers by sales -- and means the economy may continue deteriorating into 2009.

Japan's GDP is expected to contract by nearly 1.3% in the year through March 31 and by 1.2% in the following year, according to a survey of economists by the Economic Planning Association, a think tank related to the Cabinet Office.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123196408029182597.html?mod=googlenews_wsj