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E-Z LOK to Exhibit at Fastener Fair

E-Z LOK, a leading manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood will display its products during Fastener Fair, May 22-23th at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Fastener Fair is North America’s premier trade show and conference for the fastener industry and its allied manufacturing sectors. It covers every facet of the industry from manufacturers to master distributors, equipment makers, processors, packagers, and end-users. Industries represented include advanced manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture and off-highway, appliances, automotive, construction, distribution and electronic/telecom. Additional industries are furniture, industrial machinery, maintenance, marine military and renewable energy.

The event provides a unique opportunity for attendees to network with peers, exchange ideas and establish new relationships. They can explore the latest products and technologies in the fastener industry and gain insights into emerging trends. Furthermore, expert-led sessions and workshops offer valuable insights into the latest industry developments, best practices and regulatory updates. Companies can source new suppliers, evaluate products/services and compare prices to make informed purchasing decisions. Lastly, Fastener Fair provides participants with the ability to enhance their professional skills, expand their knowledge base and stay abreast of industry trends and advancements.

Director of Sales & Marketing, Kyle Lindsly-Roach will be at the show, displaying the full line of E-Z LOK products. Emphasis will be placed on the company’s threaded inserts for metal, wood and plastic. Speaking about his hopes for the show, Lindsly-Roach said, “We are excited to be able to present our portfolio of products to a wide range of customers, including engineers, OEMs and distributors. We hope to be able to expand our customer base and industries our products are used in.”

Visit E-Z LOK at stand 542 during the show.

FREE SAMPLE ON REQUEST


For more information, please contact: 

Kyle Lindsly-Roach, Director of Sales & Marketing
E-Z LOK
240 E. Rosecrans Ave
Gardena, CA 90248
USA
Phone: 310-323-5613 x221
klindsly@ezlok.com
www.ezlok.com 

E-Z LOK is a leading manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood. Inserts for metal include solid wall and helical wire-thread inserts, while inserts for plastic feature press-in and ultrasonic/heat stake designs. Those for wood are die cast zinc alloy hex drives for softwood and brass knife threads for hardwood. A variety of kits for the above inserts are available and feature installation tools, drill bits, etc.

E-Z LOK is a third- generation family owned and operated company. Founded in 1956, it primarily sells through local, regional, and national industrial distributors.

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SIBERprotect™ delivers automatic cyber response solution for industrial OT systems

Advanced, real-time, cyber-attack response limits the impact within milliseconds at machine speed, isolates and quarantines the infected production equipment to facilitate faster resumption of normal operations

Following years of technical development and operational implementation design, Siemens introduces SIBERprotect for protection of critical infrastructure and OT systems at various industrial concerns, including power plants, water treatment facilities, all types of discrete manufacturing enterprises, military depots, data centers and control stations. SIBERprotect brings the SOAR (Security, Orchestration, Automation, Response) concept to cyber-physical systems with an OT-friendly and OT-managed methodology.

SIBERprotect can respond to and dramatically limit the impact of a cyber attack within milliseconds, resulting in the identification of the infected production equipment groups or plant networks and enabling full visibility and a fast initial response at the automation system level. This quick response leads to much easier remediation and resumption of normal operations, usually in less than a day. 

Working in conjunction with Siemens SCALANCE S industrial security appliances, SIBERprotect can securely place OT into a safe, isolated condition, after determining the credible identification of a cyber-attack through best-in-class threat detection technology, including Intrusion Detection Systems, Next Generation Firewalls, Endpoint Solutions, Threat/Risk Intelligence and other attack or intrusion detection platforms, often enhanced with AI and machine learning capabilities.  SIBERprotect then initiates a rule-based notification, network isolation and equipment management sequence to protect the selected equipment, as well as other desired response actions.  Rapid assessment and remediation can then be performed, vastly limiting the risk of additional malware contamination.  Work cells and equipment clusters can continue operation, while SIBERprotect prevents recontamination during remediation. 

SIBERprotect further provides detailed situational awareness, alerting operators to the exact nature of the threat, where it was detected in the network and a criticality level. This level of immediately available detail allows the response engine to simultaneously execute  emergency measures to alleviate predetermined worst-case scenarios. Unlike a conventional system that merely sends messages to an SOC (Security Operations Center), the SIBERprotect system is linked directly to network firewalls, automation hardware and a prioritized system of alarms to facilitate isolation of equipment and jumpstart the cyber incident response. After a thorough introduction to SIBERprotect, many automation engineers label it a cyber safety system or Cyber-SIS.

Other key features of SIBERprotect include the ability to automatically activate emergency backup equipment, interface with legacy technology such as Ethernet hubs, recover one segment or “restore all” functionality, isolate from the site IT network to prevent attack and provide all the benefits of a truly industrial solution.

As Chuck Tommey, a digital connectivity executive with Siemens, explains, “SIBERprotect represents the reimagining of how to do SOAR, that is, Security, Orchestration, Automation and Response, where an alert was typically sent to an SOC, then reviewed by a security analyst and addressed 30 minutes to hours after initial detection.  Meanwhile, a virus could spread throughout a line or the entire plant.  What Siemens is doing with SIBERprotect is sending the alerts directly to a PLC for instant action, based upon a predetermined priority of status and threat levels.” Tommey notes that the PLC parses the messages for its criticality level and instantly responds. (See the video below for a demonstration.)

SIBERprotect is part of the overall “Defense In Depth” suite offered by Siemens in compliance with IEC 62443, the international standard for industrial cybersecurity. 


To find out more information about SIBERprotect, please visit:

usa.siemens.com/industrial-cybersecurity

To watch an informative video and review the specifications, please visit:

https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/api/uuid:acf57762-05dd-4fec-924f-7a7bcde65b0e/di-pa-dcp-SIBERprotect.pdf

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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Guill Features New Rotary Die and Cam Lock Design at NPE

New rotary head offers a simplified design, while the cam lock will now be available on additional heads besides the Bullet

Guill Tool, the global leader in extrusion tooling, is set to unveil new, simplified designs for its cam lock feature and rotary die at NPE 2024: The Plastics Show. The show will take place May 6-10, 2024 in Orlando, Florida.

The cam lock is the same as supplied on the Bullet and will be supplied on additional heads, where applicable.  It allows quick and easy assembly and disassembly of the crosshead and eliminates the socket head caps screws.  By removing and replacing the internals, a different profile can be extruded in minutes rather than hours. Since the cam lock resets the internals in the right configuration every time, there’s far less chance of error, compared to the assembly and misalignment issues with socket set screws. The cam lock offers several features such as:  it takes only ½ turn to remove and install the deflector tip and no fastening hardware is required. Additional features include fast tool changes (threaded retaining ring for the die and threaded tip retainer), dies remove from the front and tips from the back, tooling retainers for gum space adjustment, vacuum connections, simplified cleaning and reduced downtime and operating costs.

Guill’s new rotary head is a simplified design compared to its previous models. By rotating the tooling in relation to the material flow, a rotary head increases the wall strength of an extrusion, thereby allowing a thinner wall with less material. Features include only rotating the die, randomizing any gauge bands or thickness variations and in some cases, improving material properties of the end product. Various sizes of tubing can easily be accommodated with the unique Guill cam-lock design that radically reduces set-up and changeover times. 

Extruders can realize a cost savings due to the elimination of secondary processes, cosmetic enhancement of the end product with the elimination of weld or parting lines, plus reduction or complete elimination of ovality. Typical applications for rotary heads include medical and multi-lumen tubing plus various high-end extrusions with interlocking layers or multiple striping requirements. 

Stop by booth W7051 to see these new products and more!


For more information, please contact: 

Tom Baldock, Sales Manager, Extrusion
Guill Tool & Engineering10 Pike Street
West Warwick, RI 02893
USA
Phone:  401-465-5526
tbaldock@guill.com

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ANCA’s AIMS selected as finalist for 2024 Manufacturing Leadership Council Awards

The Manufacturing Leadership Council (MLC) is the digital transformation division of the National Association of Manufacturers and, as part of its mission, annually seeks world-class manufacturing companies and key individuals who contribute to the technology. 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of this premier awards program. 

On June 5, 2024, various companies and individuals who have made significant contributions to the digital manufacturing transformation in America will be recognized and winners named throughout 9 categories.  Among the finalists for the prestigious Engineering and Production Technology award is the ANCA Integrated Manufacturing System (AIMS), a recently developed, fully automated grinding, gauging and materials handling system with workflow monitoring, full tracking and data management capability.  It allows shops and production departments to achieve a lights-out manufacturing ecosystem in coordination with company control protocols.  ANCA is an acknowledged global leader in this technology. 

The ANCA Integrated Manufacturing System (AIMS) offers an open ecosystem that aims to connectautomate and create all steps in the production of cutting tools for a broad spectrum of industrial applications, including automotive, medical, aerospace, electronics and woodworking. 

Manufacturing processes controlled by AIMS achieve higher machine utilization while maintaining consistently high tool quality. Thanks to sophisticated tool measurement and compensation strategies, scrap is reduced and costs per tool are significantly lowered. Comprehensive reporting and intelligent insights supported by machine learning provide complete visibility into all aspects of operations.

AIMS is designed as an open system and allows the integration of third-party machines and workstations, plus AGV’s for material transport. 

AIMS Connect
Connects all operations that are carried out to manufacture cutting tools. The central AIMS server controls compliance with the processes that a tool passes through during its manufacture. It checks whether the various process steps are being carried out and takes action if the process is not being executed to preset standards. An information system guides employees to carry out manual process steps.

AIMS Automate
Automation of connected operations through the use of robots such as AMR for transfer or cobots for palletizing tools. A self-optimizing job scheduler ensures an ideal supply of pallets to the machines or provides individual tools for measurement.

AIMS Create
Create individual and customized workflow for the tool, based on linked operations. Workflows and processes can be described and stored with ISA-95 compliant recipes. Job orders are transferred to production via the link to recipes and the creation of work requests. Work cells, work units and assets are managed just as easily as grinding programs and grinding wheels. AIMS Create provides the cockpit for creating processes. Thanks to the state-of-the-art web application, this can be done on almost all smart devices and computers.

ANCA president for North America, Russell Riddiford, comments, “ANCA is very proud to be in the running for this award from the MLC.  We support the digital transformation effort in both our machine building and motion control operations, as we seek to provide our customers the machines and software needed to move their companies in this exciting new direction, within industries of all kinds.” 

The 2024 MLC Awards feature nine categories to recognize company achievements in AI and Machine Learning; Collaborative Ecosystems; Digital Network Connectivity; Digital Supply Chains; Engineering and Production Technology (the category in which AIMS is a finalist); Enterprise Integration and Technology; Operational Excellence; Sustainability and Circular Economy; plus Transformational Business Cultures.  Additionally, individuals are entered into the Transformation Leadership and Next-Generation Leadership categories.  The finalists represent a cross-section of industries, comprising global multi-nationals and start-up companies.  The awards are judged by distinguished individuals from across many industrial sectors. 

ANCA is based in Melbourne, Australia with its North American headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, where it operates a full tech center, including machines and training for its customers. 


For further information, please contact:

Amanda Bakun
Marketing & Communications Manager – Americas
248-497-1168
amanda.bakun@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, Korea 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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Guill Hires New Rep Organization & Promotes Rob Peters to General Manager

The company will offer sales support throughout Europe, while Padraic Lunn continues to represent Guill in the UK

Guill Tool, the global leader in extrusion tooling, recently announced EuroDev as their new European sales representative company. They will offer the full line of Guill products across Europe, excluding the UK.

Since its establishment in 1996, EuroDev has been the preferred business development partner of more than 500 North American firms. Their team consists of over 75 highly skilled multilingual professionals whose aim is to help North American companies map out expansion strategies in an increasingly complex marketplace. The company’s sales outsourcing includes market research, entry strategy, lead generation and sales.

Rob Peters

Padraic Lunn has worked since 1990 in the medical device extrusion industry in Ireland. With more than 16 years in precision extrusion, Padraic Lunn Enterprises Ltd offers a full range of extrusion machinery and consultancy for all extrusion processes with a strong emphasis on tubing, wire, pipe and profile applications. The firm represents extrusion equipment companies in the UK, Ireland and other parts of Europe. Furthermore, Padraic provides customized extrusion training programs which are based on a customer’s specific process requirements.

In other news at Guill, Rob Peters has been promoted to General Manager. Rob is a graduate of Cornell University, obtaining his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering. He has worked for a 8 years at Guill, starting off as an R&D Manager, transitioning to Business Intelligence/R&D Manager, then Director of Technology.  Rob is now responsible for various operations at Guill and reports directly to company ownership.


For more information, please contact: 

Tom Baldock, Sales Manager, Extrusion
Guill Tool & Engineering
10 Pike Street
West Warwick, RI 02893
USA
Phone:  401-465-5526
tbaldock@guill.com

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E-Z LOK Threaded Inserts for Hardwood

E-Z LOK, a leading manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood is now offering E-Z™ Knife brass and stainless steel threaded inserts for wood.

Suited for use in hardwoods like oak, cherry and maple, these inserts are ideal wherever assembly or disassembly could cause thread erosion or stripping. E-Z Knife™ threaded inserts use a proprietary external “knife” thread to slice into the wood and provide superior holding power.  They are most often machined out of brass when internal thread sizes range from #4 to ⅜ or M3 to M8. Notable features include superior hardwood holding power with sizes available in inch (coarse/fine) and metric. The inserts easily install with a bolt/jam nut or optional drive tool.

Brass inserts are ideal for furniture, cabinetry and partitions, while stainless steel is used in marine applications. Several industries including shipping containers, outdoor furniture and storm shutters use either.

E-Z™ Knife threaded inserts and thread repair kits provide an easy solution for adding machine threads to hard woods. They can also be used for softwood, but they are not recommended for plywood. A proprietary external thread for superior holding power is used by these inserts.

FREE SAMPLE ON REQUEST

CAD files on this product can be downloaded in over 100 file formats from the E-Z LOK website at https://www.ezlok.com/cad-downloads


For more information, please contact: 

Kyle Lindsly-Roach, Director of Sales & Marketing
E-Z LOK
240 E. Rosecrans Ave
Gardena, CA 90248
USA
Phone: 310-323-5613 x221
klindsly@ezlok.com
www.ezlok.com 

E-Z LOK is a leading manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood. Inserts for metal include solid wall and helical wire-thread inserts, while inserts for plastic feature press-in and ultrasonic/heat stake designs. Those for wood are die cast zinc alloy hex drives for soft wood and brass knife threads for hardwood. A variety of kits for the above inserts are available and feature installation tools, drill bits, etc.

E-Z LOK is a third-generation family owned and operated company. Founded in 1956, it primarily sells through local, regional, and national industrial distributors.

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ANCA Expands Its Global Footprint Opening a New Technology Center in Korea

ANCA, a leading innovator in precision grinding solutions, is thrilled to announce the grand opening of its new state-of-the-art Technology Center in Korea. ANCA has offered local sales and service to customers across diverse industries for more than 30 years in the Korean market and opening the new facility is a significant milestone for the company as it expands its presence in the Asian market.

Jake Farragher, General Manager of ANCA Asia, says, “ANCA’s newest technology center is a commitment to our customers in Korea. This investment in our global infrastructure enables our team to deliver premium sales and service support to this important and growing market. We understand the importance of offering customers local support and at our new facility we can showcase the capability of our flexible grinding machines, world-leading software, and market-first automation solutions.”

“Thanks to our long-standing partnership with SH International in Korea, we have a legacy of innovation with our customers in the market, and our local team at our new ANCA office is poised to facilitate our customers’ success into the future.”

“We are excited for our new center to serve as a hub for grinding excellence, innovation and collaboration, confirming our position as a global leader in the tool and cutter grinding industry and medical tools industry.”

For 50 years ANCA has committed to providing cutting-edge grinding solutions worldwide, and ANCA Korea, located near Seoul, is equipped with the latest technologies, such as ANCA’s ULTRA technology with nanometer resolution control.

The demonstration facility provides the ULTRA experience with ANCA’s MX and FX ULTRA machines, as well as automation solutions with ANCA’s Integrated Manufacturing System (AIMS). The facility additionally includes support and training services.

The grand opening event was attended by key stakeholders and customers, industry partners, and local dignitaries.

Celebrating 50 Years and Innovating the Future with ULTRA Technology

Pat Boland, ANCA Co-founder said: “50 years ago, Pat McCluskey and I did not anticipate ANCA to be what it is today. We embarked on a business journey that felt in hindsight like stepping onto a treadmill, with our customers driving the speed. Yet we have not only kept pace with the market, we’ve surged ahead, introducing cutting-edge innovations. I am proud of the technology we are still releasing, such as the ULTRA and GCX packages and the many innovations that underpin these product releases.”

Edmund Boland, General Manager of ANCA CNC Machines and son of Pat Boland, highlighted ANCA’s agility as a privately owned company, enabling swift decisions to support ANCA’s people and customers.

“ANCA has always endeavored to stay ahead of the curve, anticipating market trends, and delivering cutting-edge solutions that enable our customers to thrive,” Edmund said. “With 50 years of innovation behind us, our product and technology portfolios are perfectly positioned to meet the challenges of the future.”

ANCA’s 50th anniversary marks a half century of the company’s relentless pursuit of excellence and commitment to pushing the boundaries of precision grinding technology. The ULTRA machine range, with its nanometer technology, allows customers to produce the best tools in the market through superior accuracy, quality and surface finish.

The ANCA Integrated Manufacturing System (AIMS) is a groundbreaking advancement in grinding technology. AIMS connects, automates and creates all processes required to manufacture a cutting tool, ensuring maximum accuracy and consistency while minimizing downtime – enabling end-to-end digitally connected and automated production systems for cutting tools.


For media inquiries or more information, please contact:

Sepideh Zandieh

Acting Group Communications Manager
sepideh.zandieh@anca.com
Phone: 0439 316 131

About ANCA:

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, Korea 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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ARCH Cutting Tools produces a unique 3-flute carbide helical cutter that delivers unequaled part finish, higher throughput, and longer tool life in machining a polyethylene tibial insert

Creating High Performance Tools for Machining Medical Components

Truly optimizing medical machining often requires specialized cutters, and there’s no better model for designing and grinding them than ARCH Cutting Tools, headquartered in Warren, Michigan, USA.

Take the task of machining a polyethylene tibial insert. As ARCH Cutting Tools’s northeastern regional director of operations, Jim Gray, spelled out, this has almost always been done with a single, flat blade mounted in a holder so as to maximize the shear angle. But, said Gray, this design often produces lines on the surface, or an “orange peel” effect, due to burning, as it doesn’t cut the polyethylene as cleanly as desired. A straight flute design also impacts the part with a lot of force on each rotation.

Gray’s team instead used their knowledge and ANCA’s programming software to create a unique 1½” (38.1 mm) diameter 3-flute carbide helical cutter with high shear and multiple radii along the profile. They grind it on an ANCA MX7 machine, using a dozen wheels to create a mirror finish and a cutting edge “sharper than a razor blade,” as Gray described it. “You need a very sharp edge to cut the plastic perfectly cleanly. Even a diamond grain that goes through cutting edge, leaving a tiny chip, will show up in the insert. We inspect these tools under a microscope to confirm the edge is crisp and clean.” Gray added that their helical design also distributes the cutting forces, in contrast to a straight flute. In sum, the ARCH Cutting Tools solution delivers an outstanding part finish, higher throughput, and longer tool life.

These ball nose end mills (for machining hip stems) feature a perfect transition from the ball radius to the OD, and an end face gash that meets exactly at the center
ARCH Cutting Tools produces a unique 3-flute carbide helical cutter that delivers unequaled part finish, higher throughput, and longer tool life in machining a polyethylene tibial insert
This complex trepan cutter was created to meet an urgent need for cutting non-ferrous material used in respiratory equipment. The tool features a very fine finish and leaves no marks on the part. Gray reported that “the customer was ecstatic”

Replicating perfection

Gray also pointed out that in addition to the tool design assistance derived from ANCA’s programming software, which includes full 3D simulation, the ToolDraft feature enables detailed documentation for process control. “Instead of relying on 2D drawings on the shop floor,” Gray expounded, “ToolDraft gives us the ability lay out every aspect of the tool and the required grinding wheels. One page covers the gullet shape, with the roughing wheel, the finishing wheels, and any information related to fluting. The next page covers profiling, again with all the wheel shapes and data, and the required clearance angles, land width, and other tool geometries. And so forth for the end face. We also add notes to each drawing to provide detail on what’s pertinent to this tool…what really makes it work.

“We love what ToolDraft does for us. Because if all you put out on the floor is a 2D drawing with an outside diameter or shape of the tool, the operator can say ‘This tool is good. It’s to print,’ when in reality, the body’s thin and the rake is not right. There are so many things that go into why we designed a tool a certain way, that if we don’t get complete information to the operator, everyone can have a different opinion about what constitutes a correct copy. We’ve promised our customers that no matter what person and what machine grinds their tool, they’ll get the same tool every time. And the only way we can keep that promise is with the documentation we’ve created with ToolDraft.”

Gray added that although it’s possible to grind such tools with a ball screw driven machine, it’s much easier to produce them with ANCA’s newer linear motor technology. “Linear motors have definitely changed our world when it comes to finishes and transitioning for profile cutters,” he explained. “They make it easier to grind the profile, especially with a tool like a condyle cutter, because multiple radiuses go up and over the edge. If you’re grinding in just one direction, a ball screw machine is fine. But if you go up and over and you need to produce multiple radiuses in the front and multiple radiuses in the back, that little backlash or wear in the ball screws will force you to fight until you get it all settled and tweaked in. Whereas with a linear motor machine, it’s just true from the start.”

Not all ball nose end mills are equal

Moving on to hip stems, Gray said machining up and over these parts requires ball nose end mills in which the radius and its transition to the OD must be perfect. The end face gashing must also meet exactly at the center. “Any mismatch in the center of the ball nose will put a line in the hip stem, and that’s not acceptable.” Any error in the radius will create geometrical distortion in the part profile, he added. “We scan that whole radius to ensure it’s correct.”

Hip stems have generally been made of titanium and cobalt chromium, Gray explained. These materials are challenging enough, but Gray said the new 3D printed titanium alloys from leading medical suppliers are even more difficult to machine. They’re porous, to facilitate integration with the patient’s bone, which essentially guarantees an interrupted cut. The material is also highly abrasive. Thus, minimizing tool changes and increasing manufacturing speed to achieve an acceptable level of efficiency requires an engineered solution from the likes of ARCH Cutting Tools.

Fast turn-around for custom tools and regrinds

In another example of ARCH Cutting Tools coming to the rescue, a customer suddenly ran out of an imported, replaceable head, keyseat cutter during production. ARCH Cutting Tools delivered a custom engineered, solid carbide version, with coating, in under 48 hours. In another case, ARCH Cutting Tools created a multi-step counterbore that combined 6 different operations in one tool for machining titanium and superalloys. Both examples again point to the power of combining experienced grinding professionals with ANCA’s software and machines to produce high quality medical devices that improve a person’s life.

Regrinding is yet another such area. Not only does ARCH Cutting Tools reliably return used tools to new condition, Gray said there are numerous cases in which they’ve actually improved upon the original tool. “One of our bigger medical customers was buying a faceted drill from one of the world leaders in cutting tools,” recalled Gray. “The drill was being used on titanium, and we put a roll point on it and made some other changes to the geometry that made the reground drill run better than the new tools.”

In this context, Gray praised ANCA’s integrated laser to automatically check for and correct errors in tool runout, and ANCA’s probing capability. In addition to probing coolant holes to ensure proper tool orientation for a regrind, Gray said ANCA makes it easy to probe the entire point profile to enable K-land grinding, a notoriously fiendish task. “You adjust how many points you want along that edge,” Gray expounded. “And if you’re manufacturing the tool, you can probe the profile once and store that data. From then on you don’t have to re-probe to produce a good K-land, until wheel wear becomes a factor.”

Wheel wear would cause the K-land to vary, Gray added, but he again pointed to the ease of re-probing the profile to make adjustments, plus the existence of wheel probes on their ANCA machines. “The wheel probe is absolutely awesome, because it takes human error out and it’s really accurate,” said Gray. The older method uses a measuring bar, and Gray recounted that operators all too often forgot which orientation they should use and destroyed an expensive wheel.

ARCH Cutting Tools created this multi-step counterbore to combine 6 different operations in one tool for machining titanium and superalloys
ARCH Cutting Tools delivered this custom engineered, solid carbide keyseat cutter, with coating, in under 48 hours

The science of productivity

As Gray put it, ARCH Cutting Tools has to be fast to be competitive, and that requires a process that’s “down to a science.” Things like matching different wheel specifications to the diverse tool materials they have to grind, proper coolant placement, and adaptable tool support. In the latter category, Gary praised ANCA’s P-axis traveling steadyrest and said that for some challenging applications they use an Arobotech, which grips the tool at 3 points and adjusts to changes in diameter as the P-axis moves below the grinding wheel, providing support. “These are all things that give us an edge to be able to do these instruments,” Gray concluded. “They virtually eliminate runout and allow us to run faster.”

But Gray reserves his highest praise for ANCA’s simulation software, calling it “the greatest tool…We used to go to the machine blind. We’d end up scrapping blanks to figure out these complex tools right at the machine. With ANCA’s software, you create complex tools before going to the machine and you’re close to perfect when you run your first part.”

From creative tool design, to efficient machine setup and operation, to tight quality control, ARCH Cutting Tools consistently exemplifies what it takes to meet the challenges of machining medical components.

Images

Condyle Cutter.jpg

ARCH Cutting Tools produces a unique 3-flute carbide helical cutter that delivers unequaled part finish, higher throughput, and longer tool life in machining a polyethylene tibial insert

Ball Nose End Mills.jpg

These ball nose end mills (for machining hip stems) feature a perfect transition from the ball radius to the OD, and an end face gash that meets exactly at the center

Key Cutter.jpg

ARCH Cutting Tools delivered this custom engineered, solid carbide keyseat cutter, with coating, in under 48 hours

Multi-Step Counterbore.jpg

ARCH Cutting Tools created this multi-step counterbore to combine 6 different operations in one tool for machining titanium and superalloys

Carbide Trepan Cutter.jpg

This complex trepan cutter was created to meet an urgent need for cutting non-ferrous material used in respiratory equipment. The tool features a very fine finish and leaves no marks on the part. Gray reported that “the customer was ecstatic”


For further information, please contact:

Amanda Bakun
Marketing & Communications Manager – Americas
248-497-1168
amanda.bakun@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, Korea 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.

Continue reading

Once Upon A Time…

Cybersecurity
Edge Technology
Metaverse
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
WFH (we all know that one by now)

Such terms were not even in our lexicon a few years ago. One of our new clients deals EXCLUSIVELY with a few of the above concepts, so we needed to update the team on much of this terminology for that client, who’s niche is bringing those services to industry vs. the commercial/retail sector. And that’s the good part here.

It is precisely due to the fact industrial terminology is in our DNA at Bernard & Company that we’re so good for our clients. In the above case, we hit the ground running (a very OLD expression) for this new client, as a result of 49 years doing it. 

This fact results from many others, including our unique Special PR service, wherein we gather and amass a matrix of editorial topic ties from among THOUSANDS of trade magazines, covering all the vertical markets and functions our clients need to address, each season. We then contribute content to maintain their top-of-mind awareness and stature as thought leaders on various business topics in various industries. 

By doing this, we also remain on a very high awareness level of the topics relevant to each market…and ALL markets…which helps us better devise a strategy for business development and marcom tactics with our clients. 

Budgets and objectives change, as does our methodology in developing them and maximizing their value in the overall biz plan of each client. 

All these services, coupled with unmatched copywriting and graphic art abilities make our agency a truly full-service, industrial leader. No brag, just fact. 

Call us with your challenges. 

We’re here to help.

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E-Z Lok Threaded Press-in Inserts for Plastics

E-Z Lok, a leading manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood offers E-Z Press™ inserts.

Press-in Inserts are designed for post-molding installation in either thermoset plastics or thermoplastics. A slotted design with diamond-knurled OD allows for “cold” installation with optimum torque/pull-out resistance. When the E-Z Press™ insert is installed, it compresses slightly along the slot. As the fastener is threaded into place, the insert expands and the diamond knurl is pressed into the wall of the hole, securing the insert in place. 

Cold installation of threaded inserts reduces the costs of moldings and eliminates the need to “chase” threads after molding. Furthermore, they also help cut reject waste caused by misaligned and faulty inserts and assist in proper installation without a precise hole depth.

E-Z Press™ inserts are available in three styles: flush, flanged, and reverse slot. All three types press into place for fast, easy installation. Anything from a rubber mallet to an arbor press can be used for installation.

CAD files on this product can be downloaded in over 100 file formats from the E-Z Lok website at https://www.ezlok.com/cad-downloads

FREE SAMPLE ON REQUEST


For more information, please contact: 

Kyle Lindsly-Roach, Director of Sales & Marketing
E-Z Lok
240 E. Rosecrans Ave
Gardena, CA 90248
USA
Phone: 310-323-5613 x221
klindsly@ezlok.com
www.ezlok.com 

E-Z Lok is a leading manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood. Inserts for metal include solid wall and helical wire-thread inserts, while inserts for plastic feature press-in and ultrasonic/heat stake designs. Those for wood are die cast zinc alloy hex drives for soft wood and brass knife threads for hard wood. A variety of kits for the above inserts are available and feature installation tools, drill bits, etc.

E-Z Lok is a third- generation family owned and operated company. Founded in 1956, it primarily sells through local, regional, and national industrial distributors.

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