Contact us today:
(847) 934-4500
tdaro@bernardandcompany.com
Contact us today:
(847) 934-4500
tdaro@bernardandcompany.com
Maintenance tips and assembly procedures on automated tools explained by Division Manager Lee Coleman
Suhner Machining recently filmed a series of maintenance tip and unit assembly videos at the company’s North American Service Center, housed on the campus of corporate headquarters in Rome, Georgia. The presentation of the procedures was done by Division Manager and longtime Suhner team leader, Lee Coleman. These “hands on” demonstrations would interest any customer or maintenance personnel currently using or planning to employ Suhner automated tools in their shop or production facility. According to Coleman, “We made these videos as the first in a series. Our goal is to help customers and trainers impart the proper procedures for maintenance and assembly of our automated drills, taps and other tools, which are used extensively in automotive and other high-volume production facilities, contract job shops and elsewhere.”
The company is planning a number of videos to assist operators and especially maintenance personnel in the proper care and handling of these high-precision automated tools, many of which typically perform thousands of operations in a single shift on the production line.
These first four new videos cover the following topics on the SPINDLEmaster Max 100:
Proximity Switch Adjustment
Spring Adjustment
General Maintenance
Flag Nut Adjustment
For more information, please contact:
Lee Coleman, Division Manager-Machining
Suhner Industrial Products Corp.
25 Anderson Road SW
Rome, GA 30161 USA
Phone: 706-235-8046
Fax: 706-235-8045
machining.us@suhner.com
…for one is silver but the other is gold. That was a song they sang in my mother’s Girl Scout Days. She rose up the ranks in Chicago to District Chairman, when I was a kid. Pioneered Operation Co-Ed, the first joint effort of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, here in Chicago. I can recall her out in a boat with a megaphone at night, chastizing the two camps who’d sneaked off to the island in the middle of the lake, where the sexes were housed on opposite shores. Pretty radical for the late 50’s. And my sister was one of the ring leaders of the secret meet-up! The event caused controversy but it worked. A life lesson I learned in my single-digit years.
Change is integral to life, and in our case, to the progress of manufacturing technology and its marketing messages and methods.
In this issue, you’ll read a column from our new social media director, Amie, who lives in Flint, MI and is the first employee I hired sight unseen. That took some adjustment, but not much, as she’s proving her worth every day. Social media has gone from a couple hours a week to full-time jobs at our agency. Another of the seven ways engineers get info to do their jobs and engage their colleagues and the supply chain.
Likewise, you’ll see Stiefelmayer lasers, with their line of machines dedicated solely to the production of motor laminations for the electric vehicle (EV) market, which is changing the landscape of an entire industry rapidly. We’ve handled several laser manufacturers in the past as clients, so we were a perfect fit for this company, who’s being represented by our “old” friends at GMTA in Ann Arbor. Get the picture?
New business is the lifeblood of any ad or PR agency (we’re both for most clients) and that’s a given. In this day of Covid, that’s also a tougher challenge than ever. One new client reached out to the media covering their world for agency recommendations and our name came up on all the lists. Kinda proud of that fact and it witnesses our expertise and 46 years as a strictly industrial agency.
We speak your language, that’s a fact.
From all of us at Bernard & Company, thanks to our old friends. Be a new one?
The bottom line, as we said back in the day…what we do works and we can prove it. That’s also a fact.
Keep the rally going,
Tim
p.s. Thanks, mom, for showing me that you can change the way two things get done and make them both better. Later on, I learned the word synergy, something our clients and we have, to the benefit of both!
All the features and reliability of Suhner technology at an affordable price,
For the OEM or end user…MADE IN AMERICA
Suhner introduces the ECONOmaster® line of drilling units, affordably priced at under $3000 for the basic unit, in stock for immediate delivery or customizable to suit the particular operation. This economical solution is ideal for multiple materials such as light metal, wood, composite, plastic and foam. Because these units are entirely produced at the Suhner factory in Rome, Georgia, response times for delivery and customized construction are minimal, according to Division Manager Lee Coleman. “We recognized the need to bring our global technology to a local level, here in America, and the ECONOmaster® is a key step in that process.” Suhner is based in Brugg, Switzerland, with plants and distribution centers worldwide.
The ECONOmaster® drilling unit features low power and air consumption, adjustable motor housing, adjustable total stroke up to 4”, hydraulic feed control cylinder, J33 taper spindle end, 0-1/2” drill chuck, electric front & rear position limit switches, belt tensioner and chrome-plated quill. Basic unit weight is 45 lbs.
Other key features include adjustable feed stroke of ½-3”, 400 lb. thrust at 85 psi, operating pressures to 110 psi, TEFC/IP56 protection, standard 230V/460V, concentricity of .002” TIR, speed ranges to 9600 RPM and an air connection retract/advance of ¼” to 27 NPT.
ECONOmaster® drilling units can be supplied with an adjustable stand, inline vertical configuration and multiple spindle heads for medium-duty production drilling, with many other spindle options and toolholders available. Please consult the factory in Rome, Georgia.
For more information, please contact:
Lee Coleman, Division Manager-Machining
Suhner Industrial Products Corp.
25 Anderson Road SW
Rome, GA 30161 USA
Direct: 706-314-2927
Mobile: 706-409-1876
Fax: 706-235-8045
lee.coleman@suhner.com
Fast flexibility for custom tooling, easy access through cloud technology and automation are driving tool production processes
ANCA North American President Russell Riddiford recently participated in an award ceremony at ARCH Cutting Tools in Latrobe, Pennsylvania to celebrate the company’s win in the 2020 ANCA Tool of the Year competition. During this time, Russell sat down with ARCH Cutting Tools President Jeff Cederstrom to discuss the successful collaboration between both companies, as well as future trends that they see on the horizon; and how best to maximize the opportunities of these trends.
Offline and in-process solutions help to deliver speedy custom profiles and get the “first tool right”
Jeff identified the growing trend towards custom tooling. While he described ARCH as a “full-service, one-stop shop with a broad portfolio of standard tools,” he acknowledged that the company sets itself apart in the market, thanks to the breadth of their custom tooling capabilities. Many customers work with ARCH Cutting Tools, looking for custom solutions to reduce their manufacturing costs. This leads to combination tools with complex geometries. Jeff said the combination of skilled machinists, designers and technology that ANCA provides enables the process to flourish.
Recognizing the market need for adaptability to produce custom tools Russell highlighted the range of processes offered by ANCA that are targeted to increasing the “speed to get to the grinding point.” ANCA’s 3D simulation software generates a special profile offline, while the machine is still running and completing the previous jobs. The program is then downloaded to the machine, allowing ARCH to obtain better production of the first tool. ANCA offers ARCH the option to inspect their tool on the machine, using the LaserPlus System. The system measures the profile tool, automatically compensating the machine to correct any errors in geometry. Another option is to take the tool to a ZOLLER presetter, as ZOLLER is integrated with the ANCA machines on the floor. A full contour scan is performed using the ZOLLER »genius3« to identify any imperfections in the tool.
Russell sees the importance of having the “first tool right” as a critical point for production. After the pre-grind process through simulation to perfect the tool before it even gets to the machine, ANCA as the only company with a full linear motor product line, offers customers maximum accuracy, surface finish and stability throughout the grinding process. Another new technology is spindle temperature control, a software function that maintains consistent spindle temperature. Providing this stability again allows the first tool in production to be right.
ARCH Cutting Tool’s winning tool offers five separate functions demonstrating the kind of complexity that is in demand. Jeff commented that custom tooling is becoming more challenging and ANCA’s solutions offer significant benefits. Jeff noted: “Having the software so that it is user-friendly, and we can adapt to a request quickly and having not only the software but the machining technology to support it … is critical to us.”
Jeff’s company recently launched a program called “Hot Shop” to showcase their speed from production to delivery. If a customer needs a custom tool quickly, ARCH can produce any geometry of a solid carbide round tool and have it delivered within one week. Jeff explained: “Having equipment that is nimble and fast on the floor enables (this speed)”.
Connected machines and integrated automation
ARCH has developed a web portal called “ARCH Specials.” Customers can download drawings, a DFX file or use pulldown menus on the company website, or talk to engineers to generate a fast RFQ for application specific custom tools.
Online capabilities and cloud technology are a growing trend. ANCA can network all machines through their Management Suite software, allowing users to replicate and download files from anywhere in the country, such as across ARCH’s multiple facilities. Additionally, users can monitor real-time performance of their machines to schedule and maintain the machines, as well as predict maintenance requirements to minimize downtime.
Both Cederstrom and Riddiford identified automation as another rising trend. From customers looking for more output, better quality and more productivity, to the social distancing requirements of COVID, to the gap in skilled labor; increased automation provides a solution to these challenges. To this end ANCA has developed AIMS (ANCA Integrated Manufacturing System). Russell explains: “This is the ability to bring a stock piece of carbide at the front end and at the back end have a finished tool…without manual or operator input throughout the process. This allows end-to-end grinding.” Adding to ANCA’s product range is automated laser etching with the AutoMarkX, which fits with AIMS to complete the process. Russell added: “Some people might think of it as the future, but AIMS is here today.”
To see the discussion between Russell and Jeff, please see the video below:
For further information, please contact:
Johanna Boland
Group PR and Communications Manager, ANCA
M: +61 407799779
Johanna.Boland@anca.com
ANCA is a market leading manufacturer of CNC grinding machines. It was founded in 1974 in Melbourne, Australia where the company still has its global headquarters. ANCA has offices in the UK, Germany, China, Thailand, India, Japan, Brazil and the USA as well as a comprehensive network of representatives and agents worldwide.
ANCA CNC grinders are used for manufacturing precision cutting tools and components across a diverse range of competitive industries including cutting tool manufacture, automotive, aerospace, electronics and medical.
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Comprised of the drive, motor and gear box, this new distributed drive system is available as a complete solution for motor-mounted and wall-mounted horizontal motion control conveyor applications.
With its new Sinamics G115D, Siemens is introducing a new, compact and powerful drive system specifically designed for horizontal conveyor applications. The drive system comprises the motor, drive and gearbox in one unit and is offered in two versions — wall-mounted and motor-mounted.
The Sinamics G115D drive system is characterized by a robust design with a high IP protection class (up to IP66 / UL Type 4X) and is suitable for use in harsh environments. Thanks to its compact dimensions, the Sinamics G115D can be easily installed in confined areas. The drive system can also be operated reliably over a wide temperature range of -30 to 55 degrees Celsius (-22 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit), enabling operation in deep freezing applications.
Sinamics G115D is suitable for applications in intra-logistics and airports, as well as in the automotive and food and beverage industries. Its power ranges from 0.37 to 7.5 kilowatts
(1/2 to 10 hp) for wall-mount applications and 0.37 to 4 kilowatts (1/2 to 5 hp) for motor-mounted applications. The drive system can be put into operation quickly and easily with comprehensive integration into the Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) portal including Startdrive commissioning software or the Sinamics Smart Access Module (SAM) web-server for Wi-Fi setup and diagnostics.
To be prepared for digital transformation and to enable cloud-based analysis, Sinamics G115D is integrated into the entire MindConnect portfolio and is compatible with MindSphere applications such as Analyze MyDrives.
Thanks to Profisafe, the Sinamics G115D has Safety Integrated in the form of STO (Safe Torque Off) SIL2, which standardizes and facilitates the certification process. For flexibility in terms of installation, service and maintenance, the solution is equipped with a plug-in connector and flexible connection possibilities. The device is particularly suitable for interaction with Simatic controllers such as the Simatic S7-1200 or Simatic ET200 for motion control.
Siemens offers warranty extensions for Sinamics G115D through its Service Protect package. As part of this service package, an additional one or two-year warranty extension may be purchased for failure coverage. The package offers simplified processing under normal warranty conditions for the extended period.
For more information regarding Sinamics G115D, please visit:
usa.siemens.com/sinamics-g115d
For specific product information and inquiries, send an e-mail to: mc.us@siemens.com
Siemens Digital Industries (DI) is an innovation leader in automation and digitalization. Closely collaborating with partners and customers, DI drives the digital transformation in the process and discrete industries. With its Digital Enterprise portfolio, DI provides companies of all sizes with an end-to-end set of products, solutions and services to integrate and digitalize the entire value chain. Optimized for the specific needs of each industry, DI’s unique portfolio supports customers to achieve greater productivity and flexibility. DI is constantly adding innovations to its portfolio to integrate cutting-edge future technologies. Siemens Digital Industries has its global headquarters in Nuremberg, Germany, and has around 75,000 employees internationally.
Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG, a global powerhouse focusing on the areas of power generation and distribution, intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems, and automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries. Through the separately managed company Siemens Mobility, a leading supplier of smart mobility solutions for rail and road transport, Siemens is shaping the world market for passenger and freight services. Due to its majority stakes in the publicly listed companies Siemens Healthineers AG and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Siemens is also a world-leading supplier of medical technology and digital healthcare services as well as environmentally friendly solutions for onshore and offshore wind power generation. For more than 160 years, the company has innovated and invented technologies to support American industry spanning manufacturing, energy, healthcare and infrastructure. In fiscal 2018, Siemens USA reported revenue of $23.7 billion, including $5.0 billion in exports, and employs approximately 50,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
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The German press manufacturer Schuler has numerous manufacturing and service locations worldwide. This ensures that customers can receive fast and efficient support from local Schuler employees. In the Americas, for example, there are sites in the USA, Mexico, and Brazil, ready to support one of the company’s latest innovations: the Laser Blanking Line.
Laser blanking makes it possible to manufacture blanks completely without dies. Instead of using presses or shears, the geometries are cut by two or three high-precision laser heads. This has several advantages: no dies, die change, die storage or die maintenance, but also no costly press foundation and no loop pit. The technological development of laser performance, combined with intelligent line automation, enables Schuler to achieve cutting speeds of up to 100 meters per minute (approx. 328 ft/min).
The design of a Laser Blanking Line is very similar to a conventional press cutting line. “Simply said, the press is only replaced by a laser cell,” explains Oswald Schoenberger, Product Manager for Laser Blanking Lines. “Operators who already have experience with conventional blanking lines can learn to handle the system very quickly, but even the ones without blanking experience the system can be operated intuitively and reliably after completing our training program,” he continues.
Programming the lasers also requires no process know-how thanks to LBL Studio. The offline program is so intelligent that cutting contours for new parts are automatically created based on CAD files. The optimal cutting distribution of the lasers is taken into account and reliable predictions about the output can be calculated in advance. Of course, changes can be made manually at any time.
With several lines around the world and production experience since 2012, Schuler is by far the leader in terms of laser blanking lines. “This is also related to our strong local service,” explains Telvi Zanin, Vice President of Service. In addition to Europe and Asia, Schuler also has long established service and manufacturing locations in North America. Schuler Inc. was founded in 1978 in Columbus, Ohio, and now has its headquarters close to Detroit in Canton, Michigan.
“With our team of 80 qualified service employees we are ready to provide high quality technical support to all our customers in North America”, says Telvi. A team from the U.S. has been sent to the product centers in Europe to join the in-house assembly where they can learn firsthand the laser blanking technology. “Our trained employees can thus react quickly and provide optimal on-site service”, says Telvi. “In addition, remote service like with Schuler Connect offers the possibility of immediate assistance from our headquarters in Canton, Michigan or from our experts in Germany if required – for established products as well as for innovations such as the Laser Blanking Line.”
www.schulergroup.com/laserblanking
About the Schuler Group – www.schulergroup.com
Schuler offers customized cutting-edge technology in all areas of forming—from the networked press to press shop planning. In addition to presses, our products include automation and software solutions, dies, process know-how and service for the entire metalworking industry. Our customers include automobile manufacturers and automotive suppliers, as well as companies in the forging, household appliance and electrical engineering industries. Presses from the Schuler Group mint coins for more than 180 countries. When it comes to the digital transformation of forming technology, we support our customers worldwide as a supplier of innovative system solutions. Founded in 1839 at our headquarters in Göppingen, Germany, Schuler AG has approx. 5,000 employees at production sites in Europe, China and the Americas, as well as service companies in more than 40 countries. The company is majority-owned by the Austrian ANDRITZ Group.
For further information on Schuler Inc., North America, please contact:
Guido Broder, Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Schuler Incorporated
7145 Commerce Blvd.
Canton, MI 48187 USA
734-207-7200
Guido.Broder@schulergroup.com
Exact Metrology, a comprehensive 3D metrology service provider and hardware sales company, is proud to be a part of the restoration of Cincinnati Music Hall’s sandstone ornaments in Cincinnati, Ohio. The restoration includes ten finials atop gables and a sandstone lyre.
This project was undertaken by Friends of Music Hall, a volunteer-driven organization whose mission is to preserve, improve, promote and provide education about Cincinnati Music Hall, a National Historic Landmark. Thea Tjepkema, board member and historic preservationist is leading this restoration project on behalf of the Friends of Music Hall.
When the architect Samuel Hannaford designed Cincinnati Music Hall in the High Victorian Gothic style, he included a Gothic fleuron, or finial, on each of the eleven gables. Over the past 140 years, the original carved sandstone has deteriorated to the point that only portions of these important decorative elements remain.
Exact Metrology scanned the extant ornament pieces using the Artec 3D Leo scanner in HD mode. Produced by Artec 3D, a world-renowned developer and manufacturer of professional 3D scanners and software, Artec 3D LEO has a 3D reconstruction rate of 80 frames per second. This makes it the fastest professional scanner on the market. With its large field of view, Artec LEO can scan and process large objects and scenes quickly and accurately. In addition, the scanner features data acquisition up to 4 million points/second, with a working range of .35-1.2 m. The 3D resolution on this scanner is up to .5 mm and 3D point accuracy up to .1mm. Artec LEO can scan in sunlight, as well as capture dark and shiny objects. It uses advanced hybrid technology and texture tracking, so users can point at an object and shoot without needing to stick targets. With no need to connect to a computer or to plug in to a main power source, users can hold the scanner and walk around freely, scanning without the worry of wires or additional equipment.
Arya Design, a Cincinnati based custom casting company, specializing in historic restoration and architectural products, used Exact Metrology’s scanned images to create complete 3D models of the finials and lyre.
The company focuses on custom mold making with exact parameters to meet the design and color that was once there. Their proprietary formulas increase overall compression strength, while replicating the look and feel of historic carved stone. Arya also makes additional architectural cast pieces for new construction for the exterior and interior of commercial and residential buildings.
Chris Lafferty of Exact Metrology commented on this project saying, “Exact Metrology used a handheld Artec LEO 3D scanner with high definition software to capture images of Cincinnati Music Hall’s sandstone ornamentation. Pointing the scanner at the existing finials and lyre, it used a grid of structured light technology to document their shape. Light bounced back at three million points per second, documenting even the chisel marks.”
Chris Rose of Arya Design concluded, “We are proud to partner with the Friends of Music Hall in creating the pieces needed as the literal “crown jewels” of an amazing historic preservation project.”
Exact Metrology is ISO, AS9100 Certified as well as FFL and ITAR Registered.
Exact Metrology, with facilities in Cincinnati, Ohio, Moline, Illinois and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, plus affiliated offices throughout the country, is a comprehensive metrology services provider, offering customers 3D and CT scanning, reverse engineering, quality inspection, product development and 2D drawings. The company also provides turnkey metrology solutions, including equipment sales and lease/rental arrangements.
For more information, please contact:
EXACT METROLOGY, INC.
Steve Young
11575 Goldcoast Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45249
Local: 513.831.6620
Toll Free: 866.722.2600
www.exactmetrology.com
stevey@exactmetrology.com
Gear ratios of 1:2, 1:3, & 1:4 with RPM max of 48,000
Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc., the exclusive importer of Heimatec live tools, angle heads, and multiple spindle heads, offers immediate delivery on a variety of speeders for all popular live tool lathes. Platinum Tooling, headquartered in Prospect Heights, Illinois, serves the North American Market.
These speed multipliers are available for working the OD or Face of the workpiece, with either external or internal coolant design, and mounting configurations to suit virtually any machine tool set-up, including all VDI, BMT, and a variety of Swiss style machines.
Speed multipliers for all BMT turrets including Doosan, Haas, Miyano, and Nakamura as well as many Citizen models are now in stock in Illinois with others available from factory stock for short lead times.
According to Platinum Tooling President Preben Hansen, “As our presence in the American machine tool market continues to expand, so does our product line. These speed multipliers offer the customer a way to enhance their machine tool capabilities and increase production. These tools are available through Platinum Tooling’s extensive network of distributors and sales reps across North America.”
For further information and literature, or to arrange a demo on these products, please contact:
Preben Hansen, President
PLATINUM TOOLING TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
16 E. Piper Lane Suite 128
Prospect Heights, IL 60070
Phone: 847-749-0633
Fax: 847-749-2445
email: phansen@platinumtooling.com
Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc. in Prospect Heights, IL, near Chicago, serves its growing North American customer base with an extensive inventory of machine tool accessories. Its experienced staff is dedicated to providing the most innovative tooling and technology. Platinum Tooling Technologies, Inc. serves the auto, aero, medical, woodworking, composites and other industries, as well as an ever-increasing number of machine tool OEMs worldwide, through its network of manufacturers’ representatives. Platinum Tooling is the exclusive importer of Heimatec, Henninger, Tecnicrafts, and AMF tooling for North America.
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The Foundry Educational Foundation (FEF) is preparing an exciting event for its students, alumni and interested parties. The FEF Alumni/Ambassador Committee will host the first annual Virtual Fitness Challenge from April 1 to April 15. Participants can sign up as a team (maximum number of 6) representing a company, a college or just a group of friends. All FEF alumni, current students, professors, friends and friends of friends are welcome. The goal of each team is 300 miles, whether it is running, walking, rowing, biking, swimming, even walking on the foundry floor.
The cost is $34 per person and $8 for current students. All funds raised will go to the FEF student scholarship fund, ensuring ongoing support for all students. All who participate will receive a medal. First and second place prizes will be awarded to the team with the most miles. First place prizes will also go to the individual with the most miles and the team that raises the most funds.
This is a great opportunity not only to help FEF students but also to enjoy some friendly competition, engage in fitness activities and earn a participation medal.
To register please go to https://runsignup.com/Race/IL/Schaumburg/FEFFitnessChallenge
If you wish to donate but not participate, please click here https://runsignup.com/Race/Donate/IL/Schaumburg/FEFFitnessChallenge
If you would like to purchase a T-shirt, click https://www.feffitnesschallenge.com/
For more information, please contact:
Brian Lewis
Executive Director
Foundry Educational Foundation
Phone: (847) 490-9200
brian@fefinc.org
www.fefinc.org
Guill’s Chief Engineer, Denis Finn, provides this helpful glossary of useful terms, used in the extrusion business worldwide. He would appreciate any feedback.
For more information, please contact:
Denis Finn
Guill Tool & Engineering
10 Pike Street
West Warwick, RI 02893
(401) 823-7600
www.guill.com
dfinn@guill.com