March 10, 2017
CARB-I-TOOL is a premier Australian cutting tool manufacturer specialising in the production of engineering and woodworking tools for the Australian, Asian and European markets. Operating for more than 40 years, CARB-I-TOOL’s headquarters in Moorabbin, Victoria consists of a large factory, showroom and storage facility. Its tools are used in a wide range of industries including automotive, aerospace, marine and general engineering. Over the last few years, CARB-I-TOOL has seen an increase in demand for tools for the machining of plastic and composite materials. To keep pace with this demand, the company has purchased an ANCA MX7 Linear CNC tool grinder to focus on producing its range of compression routers (single and multi-flute) and other solid carbide tooling for materials such as MDF, plastic, carbon fibre, aluminium composite material, as well special tooling for exotic materials. The acquisition of the MX7 Linear complements CARB-I-TOOL’s existing MX7 machine and enables the company to make a first-hand comparison between the two different types of machines and drive systems. The MX7 Linear…
February 17, 2017
Five-axis simultaneous machining is increasingly emerging as a key technology. In addition, automation and combined milling and turning are becoming ever-more important. With nearly 4,000 duoBLOCK machines successfully sold, DMG MORI has dictated this development. The increased trend towards automation is also apparent by the increase of duoBLOCK universal machining centres with pallet changers. One of these models is the DMC 80 FD duoBLOCK, which demonstrates further enhanced flexibility and productivity while boasting improvements of 30% in its core characteristics of precision, performance and efficiency. A re-engineered machine concept The fourth-generation DMC 80 FD duoBLOCK universal machining centre has a newly developed B-axis milling head. It has an extended swivel range of 250 degrees, with a swivel of 70 degrees in the negative direction. The larger axis bearing results in a 20% increase in stiffness. The extended swivel range and reduced interference contour, in conjunction with the cable conduit integrated into the housing, enable an even wider range of customer-specific complete machining operations to be carried out. Idle times are…
February 3, 2017
The KM system from Kennametal has been a top performer in this area for over three decades, and is known throughout the industry for its high clamping strength and consistent accuracy in both spindle-mounted and static tooling applications. According to Kennametal, the bending moment of KM4X is substantially higher than any tooling interface available on the market today, superior even to its own KM design When aerospace giant Boeing came to Kennametal with a request for a heavy-duty spindle connection capable of outperforming traditional CAT and BT-style adapters, tooling engineers turned to this robust and well-established platform as a starting point. The result was a 100mm spindle connection with four ball tracks instead of two and up to 40% greater clamping force than comparably-sized KM tooling. That was 15 years ago. KM continues to thrive, and was adopted in 2008 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as ISO standard 26622. The original Boeing-inspired design has been renamed as well, and marketed for the past several years as…
January 27, 2017
A tillage system developed in the mid-north of South Australia is helping to boost the productivity of cover crop planting. The Kelly Engineering system combines a diamond-shaped tiller with an air seeder to allow the entire sowing process to be completed in one pass. The patented Diamond Harrow tillage machine, fitted with a Cover Crop Seeder, began testing in the US last month and is expected to be commercially available next year. The launch is a calculated response to the rise of planting of cover crops in the United States as farmers look to increase crop yields while reducing their reliance on pesticides and nitrogen fertilisers. The Diamond Harrow is made from Australian RHS steel, which is laser cut in Adelaide using a CNC-controlled machine enabling very specific profiles to be cut on the end sections. Plates are also laser or plasma cut for accuracy before components are MIG-welded. The diamond shape of the harrow includes a perimeter set of chains that allows the machine to pass the soil to…
January 20, 2017
Goldenfields recently moved into its new purpose-built workshop, where it has installed a mixture of existing and newly acquired equipment needed to build and maintain a huge network of reservoirs and pipelines that deliver water to customers throughout the region. Goldenfields Mechanical Co-ordinator Shane Baldry identified the need for a combination manual/CNC lathe. He worked together with the management team at Temora, along with engineers from 600 Machine Tools, to identify the right machine configuration to deal with the current and projected workload of the workshop. “We had several long-serving machines in our former workshop,” said Baldry. “And the construction of a new purpose-built facility was an appropriate time to evaluate what we were going to need in the future.” In addition to Baldry, there are three fitters and three apprentices, all needing to use a lathe at various times. This makes flexibility absolutely essential, and the new machine needed to…
January 20, 2017
Combined products and strategies address specific machining situations to provide the highest productivity. Current progress in rough milling operations, for instance, clearly illustrates the benefits of applying advanced metalworking technologies in an integrated way. Elements of the process The machine tool is the foundation of the milling process. To rough mill effectively, a machine must possess enough rigidity to resist cutting forces, as well as the capability to accelerate and decelerate axes at rates that maximise metal removal and minimise wasted time between cutting passes. Also, a powerful spindle facilitates high cutting speeds and aggressive application parameters. And finally, a machine’s CNC system must have computing power to sufficiently look ahead and meet rapidly changing demands for machining power and movement of linear and rotary axes. CAM software determines what those demands will be. In generating milling toolpaths, software developers must consider milling processes ranging from simple…
January 20, 2017
The launch of the two new vehicles bolsters Hubtex’s portfolio by adding modular multidirectional sideloaders in the entry-level pricing bracket. Boasting a spacious driver’s cabin, a multifunction joystick, a next-generation info display and easy battery replacement, MaxX and FluX are ergonomically designed for both indoor and outdoor use. With FluX, Hubtex has developed a multidirectional counterbalance forklift featuring patented steering technology. The vehicle is available in two load-capacity classes – 3,000kg and 4,000kg – with a 48-volt power system and four-wheel chassis. It can be deployed as both a front and sideloader. It is especially suited to transporting both palettes and long objects. In addition to a very high speed of up to 12kph, Hubtex’s patented HX steering system also delivers major benefits. Thanks to the steering system installed as standard for the first time, the FluX can swiftly switch from travelling forwards to sideways without stopping, in a way that causes minimum wear and tear to the vehicle. Depending on how it is deployed, users can save a substantial amount of time, especially when the vehicle is…
January 13, 2017
Six of the seven sub-indexes in the Australian PMI improved from November, headed by a surge in exports (up 12.6 points to 68.5) and strong expansions in new orders (up 1.1 points to 60.6) and sales (up 5.3 points to 58.8). Employment slipped in December (down 4.9 points to 47.4), in line with recently weaker jobs growth. Five of the eight manufacturing sub-sectors expanded in December (that is, above 50 points in three-month moving averages), with food and beverages (up 0.6 points to 57.1) and petroleum & chemical products (down 0.6 points to 56.5) continuing to perform solidly. Machinery & equipment (up 0.1 points to 55.0) is showing signs of continued resilience, while non-metallic mineral products bounced back to expansionary conditions (up 7.1 points to 57.9). “Despite a small fall in sector-wide employment in December, manufacturing production, sales, exports, and new orders all grew strongly in the month, providing a running…
January 13, 2017
I had the good fortune to start my career in a major global corporation. In my case, it wasn’t Toyota, but the German chemical giant Hoechst AG. When I look around the TXM team, I see successful professionals who all started their careers with leading global companies such as Boeing, Ford, Autoliv, Toyota and GM. So what is it that makes the really great companies so successful? What enables them to grow and grow? The answer, of course, is their people. A few years ago I saw a speech by John P Duddy, the President of Boeing Aerostructures Australia. One statement he made particularly caught my attention. He was coming to the end of his tenure in Australia, but stated that this change would not affect the business as his replacement would be “another Boeing person”. What he meant (or what I took him to mean) is that his replacement…
November 25, 2016
K-TIG not only leads the way for environmental sustainability within the welding industry – its state-of-the-art technology and process is proven to reduce welding and fabricating costs by an average of 80%. Developed by the CSIRO, K-TIG is a high speed, single-pass, full-penetration welding technology that eliminates the need for wire, edge-bevelling or skilled operators. K-TIG, or Keyhole TIG (tungsten inert gas), is a variant of gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). K-TIG operates exceptionally well across a large array of applications, demonstrating working speeds up to 100 times faster than conventional welding technologies like TIG/GTAW. K-TIG’s stable keyhole penetrates materials up to 16mm in thickness with a fraction of the maintenance requirement of other processes. The technology has eclipsed past technologies through massive reductions in gas and power usage, and through single-pass welds, which eliminate, or significantly reduce, grinding and reworking at a faction of the price of laser systems. According to…
November 25, 2016
Since the day some ingenious machine tool engineer first mounted a metal tube on an engine lathe, machinists have been looking for a better way to cut off parts. From hand-ground bits to high speed steel blades to indexable carbide inserts, cut-off tool technology has continued to improve over the years, increasing metal-cutting efficiency and lowering operational expenses along the way. One large step in that evolution came with the development in recent years of multi-purpose cut-off tools able to switch hit as grooving, turning, and profiling tools, giving manufacturing companies the ability to simplify setups and shorten production cycles, and in some cases keep fewer tools in the crib. One such company is EMC Precision, a family-owned and operated precision machining job shop headquartered in Elyria, Ohio. Since 1925, EMC has provided prototype to production machining and value-added services to a range of industries including fluid management, hydraulic fluid & power, automotive, recreational, and other OEMs. Ian Dotson, manufacturing engineer at EMC’s facility in Sheridan, Indiana, says…
November 25, 2016
In workshops with turning machines such as lathes and machine centres, one of the most dangerous risks is that the workpiece may not be firmly held by the chuck. Worldwide, there have been a number of horrendous accidents because the grip of the chuck was not checked before machining commenced. “We are glad – and relieved – to see that this century-old problem has now been overcome,” says Cliff Purser, Asia-Pacific Managing Director of Sydney-based 600 Machine Tools. “Our parent company in the UK, the 600 Group, has launched yet another innovative product that underscores its global reputation for safety.” Suitable for use on all makes of chuck, the Gripsafe gripmeter has been developed to help customers comply with health and safety legislation, enabling them to ensure that their chucks remain fit…
November 18, 2016
Additive manufacturing has moved beyond prototyping. The current state of 3D printing systems, materials and parts-on-demand providers makes 3D printing jigs and fixtures and other manufacturing applications practical and accessible to manufacturers. Mainstream manufacturers are wise to seize on the economic and efficiency advantages offered by this technology, as well as the new possibilities it opens. New possibilities are born of new capabilities. The ability to dramatically lower production times and costs on complex, low-volume components, often while increasing functionality, is a game changer. What’s at stake for manufacturers are the prospects to improve current operational efficiencies and reduce costs, as well as capitalise on new product and market opportunities. Ultimately, 3D printing may enable strategic initiatives that change manufacturing and business models, and provide disruptive competitive advantages. Underlying the operational value of 3D printing are new ways to mitigate risks inherent in traditional manufacturing: Product and production risk due to imperfectly designed parts. Missed opportunities to supply new products to customers due to delays using traditional processes. Missed opportunities to innovate parts and Products using new design…
