Auto Air Gun Activation

Here is another cool trick: If your machine has an auto air gun option installed, you don’t necessarily have to activate it with an M code. For manual activation, simply press the shift key followed by the coolant key, but make sure SHIFT actually appears on the screen before pressing coolant, unless you need to wash up, because that’s what you will be doing if you accidentally activate the coolant pump!

Search for Part of a Code in a Program

Did you know that you can search for a G or M code (or part of a code) in a program by entering an alphanumeric value and pressing the up or down arrow?

“Down” will search from the current point in the program toward the end, while up will search back to the beginning. For example, if you want to find the next coolant command in a program, you can enter M8 and push the down arrow. To find the next M code, no matter if it is an M8 or another M code, just press M and the down arrow, and the cursor will jump to the next M.

Haas Automation Records Best Quarter Since 2008, Doubles Production

Haas Automation, Inc. (Oxnard, CA) reports its 4th-quarter 2010 revenues were up 118% over 1st-quarter 2010, and that the company more than doubled production in 2010 to meet growing demand for its products.

“We closed out 2010 with our best quarter since 2008,” said Haas General Manager Bob Murray, “both for orders and for revenue. We saw a steady increase in demand last year, with each month better than the previous month. December was our best month since June 2008, with orders up 150% and revenue up 96%, year over year. We see that trend continuing in 2011.

“We also more than doubled our production during 2010,” Murray added, “and we’ll continue ramping up to meet the growing demand, as shops worldwide invest in Haas equipment in response to the improving economy.”

International Markets Growing

Sixty percent of the Haas machines sold in 2010 went to international markets, noted Murray. Haas sales in Russia increased more than 120 percent, and sales in India grew by a remarkable 107 percent. In China, Haas sales expanded by 68 percent, and sales in Latin America increased by 65 percent.

“It was good year,” continued Mr. Murray. “We saw growth in all regions, especially internationally. We’ll continue investing in our growing international markets to ensure that all Haas customers receive the high-quality products and world-class service they deserve.”

All Haas products are built in the company’s 1-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Southern California, and distributed worldwide through a global network of Haas Factory Outlets (HFOs) that provide the industry’s best sales, service and support.

For more information about Haas Automation and Haas products, call 800-331-6746, or visit www.HaasCNC.com.

HaasTec 2011: Your once-in-a-decade chance at an inside look!

We don’t do it often, but when we do, we do it big!  Attend HaasTec on March 10-12 in Oxnard, California and enjoy rare insider access to all of the latest Haas CNC technology – up close and in great detail:

• New technologies, including the DT-1 Drill/Tap Center , ST-10 CNC Lathe , and DS-30SSY Dual-Spindle Turning Center

• Vendor exhibits covering tooling, probing, software and more

• 20 machine demos

• Guided factory tours

• Special catered lunch

Download and Print event info here: HaasTec 2011

Haas Automation – The New 2010 ST-Series

In this video installment, Jeff Law from Haas Automation introduces the new 2010 ST-series turning centers. The ST machines are the culmination of 15 years of continuous development of the SL-series lathes. They offer the most performance for the money and the best value of any turning center on the market today. As Jeff explains, in this new series, the castings are new from the ground up. The tailstock is stouter for increased rigidity and better damping. Many improvements have also been implemented to cut down shipping time and accelerate machine installation. Watch for more features below.

ISCAR Chip-Splitting Inserts Tame Aluminum Rough Milling

“ISCAR’s new HM90 APCR 220605-CS grooved inserts put an end to chip jamming problems in rough milling of aluminum, where chips can pile up like snowballs,” said a spokesperson. “They are a part of ISCAR’s growing HELIALU HM90 line of inserts tailored specifically for aluminum milling.

“With two grooves pressed into each polished cutting face, the inserts split aluminum chips into a manageable size for easy, reliable evacuation despite the application’s characteristic high chip volume.

“The 22 mm inserts, each with two edges, are designed to optimize metal removal over the full range of aluminum roughing conditions, from high power/low speed to high power/high speed. They work especially well with ISCAR’s new HM90 EAL/FAL…22 aluminum rough milling cutters. Besides reliably clearing chips, the inserts conserve power and reduce chatter in long-overhang setups.

“The inserts feature a cavity on the bottom to ensure correct mounting in cutter chip pockets equipped with standard spring pins. For optimum chip control, ISCAR recommends using the HM90 APCR chip-splitting insert only in cutters with an even number of flutes.”

For more information contact:

ISCAR Metals, Inc.
300 Westway Place
Arlington, TX 76018
817-258-3200
Fax: 817-258-3221
info@iscarmetals.com

Popularity: 39%

FEELER FTC-20 – Turn, Bore, Mill and Tap in one set up

Cincinnati, OH – GBI Cincinnati, an industry leader in supplying machine tool technology, has built a reputation on providing customer-driven solutions to a broad array of precision turned-part challenges. Feeler FTC-20 CNC lathes are yet another step in providing these solutions ever more flexibly and are ideal for mixed volume, short run operations as well as dedicated high-volume applications.

With a maximum turning diameter of 343 mm and a maximum swing of 560 mm, the FTC-20 combines high performance turning and large machining capacity within a compact 2.63 m x 1.54 m space-saving footprint. Rapid traverse rates of 24 m/min (X- and Z-axis) mean accelerated machine cycle times and reduced non-cut time, which increases overall throughput. An automatic 12-station bi-directional slotted disc-type turret offers a fast 0.3 sec tool indexing time (1.2 sec 180° index optional) for use with L.H or R.H. OD toolholders.

A high-torque 18.5 kW Fanuc spindle motor with a variable speed drive permits full horsepower at low spindle speeds. The A2-6 spindle nose has a through hole of 51 mm and a speed range up to 4,500 RPM. The specially designed headstock eliminates heat from the spindle bearings, prolonging the life of bearings and ensuring spindle reliability.

To assure the rigidity required for heavy-duty cutting, the spindle is supported by angular contact ball bearings at the nose and a double-row of cylindrical roller bearings at the rear. The spindle cartridge is lubricated for life, and the special designed headstock eliminates the need for oil recirculation or systems to maintain spindle temperature, thus offering years of reliable performance with reduced operating and maintenance costs.

A rigid hydraulic tailstock has a quill diameter of 65 mm, a stroke of 90 mm, an MT4 center taper and a thrust of 400 kgf.

An automated lubrication system, a complete coolant system and splashguards with overlapping doors are standard.

The Fanuc 0i-TC features the latest technological advancements in a uniquely small space. The control panel includes an 8.4″ color LCD and full keyboard conveniently positioned on a swivel for ease of operation. Fanuc CNCs and associated spindle and servo drives have an exceptional reputation for reliability. For example, according to Fanuc, sub-system failures per month are nearly unheard of – 0.00495 on the CNC, 0.00099 on the servo drive and 0.00376 on the spindle drive.

Feeler software in the 0i-TC is ideal for operators with varying levels of CNC experience, as it simplifies the transition from manual programming to G code programming. As the operator’s skill level rises and/or part geometry complexity increases, the operator can easily move through various levels of part programming generation. The 0i-TC can be programmed offline or online, allowing the use of standard G code features available from Fanuc.

GBI Cincinnati is the exclusive United States distributor for Fair Friend Group’s Feeler line of machine tools. Fair Friend Group is the number one producer of CNC machine tools in Taiwan and China and one of the largest in the world, producing over 6,000 units per year.

Fair Friend Group’s Feeler division is committed to continual advancements in machine tool technology. Research and development make up one-third of the total workforce, with 4% of Feeler’s annual revenue reinvested in R&D.

Utilizing only leading edge technology, each Feeler machine is designed and analyzed using advanced Finite Element Analysis (FEA) for dynamic simulation and structural analysis. All Feeler machines are laser calibrated and inspected to JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) to ensure the final product is of the absolute finest quality.

Feeler is committed to providing the best quality machines at the lowest possible cost. Its significant purchasing power combined with advanced, integrated manufacturing facilities enable Feeler to build machines and assemblies at lower costs and drive “global competitiveness”. Master distributor GBI in Cincinnati, Ohio provides an unparalleled degree of training, service and support for all Feeler machine tool products in the USA.

For more information, contact GBI Cincinnati, Inc, 6899 Steger Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45237. Tel: 513/841-8684. Fax: 513/841-7381. Web: www.gbicincinnati.com. E-mail: info@gbicincinnati.com

The FTC-20 Series of turning centers offers turning, boring, milling and tapping – all in one setup. The FTC-20 Series is designed to fit the needs of mid- and high-volume production, offering flexibility with consistent accuracy from the first to the last part.

Contacts:

Marketing:
Robin Bergstrom
USA
Phone: 859-689-9551

General Information:
Kevin Bevan
USA
Phone: 513-841-8684

Popularity: 25%

Valenite Grade VP8525 for Stainless Steel

Popularity: 27%

Machining Cast Iron with CBN

CBN can provide a cost effective and highly productive alternative to hard metal or ceramic cutting tools for the machining of cast irons. In general terms, the following factors should be considered when applying CBN to an iron component:

Cast iron is not generally very hard (less than HRc.30) but tends to be abrasive. CBN is therefore employed because of its abrasive resistance. Unless the iron has been chilled or deliberately heat treated, the cutting action will be such that the CBN will not be required to anneal the material being cut in the shear zone. Grey cast irons are often fully pearlitic in structure – Grade 14 & 17 are common. In this case, the best results are gained using DR – 100/80 at surface speeds above 400 m/min. if the machine tool or component limit the speed available to less than 400 m/min, DR – 50 becomes more cost effective.

Tool life and component quality improvements are often dramatic and more than justify the increased cost of the CBN tools. if the grey cast iron is not fully pearlitic and more free ferrite is present within the structure, the machinability of the iron becomes more difficult to predict. As the level of “soft and sticky” ferrite increases, the tool is more likely to suffer adhesion pick up which will alter the cutting action, resulting in premature wear of the tool. DR-50 becomes more likely to provide good results as the level of free ferrite increases and a short trial will soon determine the most suitable PCBN material.

Fully ferritic grey cast irons are not generally cost effective PCBN applications. S.G. irons are generally soft (less than HRc.30 ) and fully ferritic. PCBN is therefore not generally as efficient as other cuttingtool materials. There has, however, been a tendency to produce S.G. irons (nodular irons) with a pearlitic structure. This has resulted in some nominally S.G. irons machining surprisingly well with PCBN, DR-50 tending to be more successful. Low alloy irons commonly used in the automotive industry can be machined with CBN, but the performance is again dependant on the level of free ferrite in the structure of the iron.

Hardened irons, either heat treated or alloyed and heat treated, are machined in the same manner as hardened steels and are therefore more predictable. Cutting speeds recommended are lower – less than 200 m/min. It must be remembered that cast iron of a given specification produced by a foundry on one day may have a different machinabilty to that produced the next day. Once the benefits of machining with CBN have been determined, it may be considered worthwhile ensuring that castings supplied to the machine shop have a suitable microstructure to guarantee consistent PCBN tool performance. if the structure or grade of cast iron is unknown, a simple trial will soon determine the suitability of PCBN as a cutting tool.

You can find inserts for cast iron at David Richards Engineering Limited http://www.dreng.co.uk

Popularity: 25%

New steel machining grade UE6105

New Steel Machining Grade UE6105

231 inserts available with 2 in 1 coating technology for finish machining steels.

Popularity: 21%