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Articles tagged with "cnc"

Results: 18

	Making plasma cutting easier: Using CNC automation technology By: Brad Thompson and Kris Hanchette, Contributing Writers For many people, the world of plasma cutting is a complex and daunting place, with a cryptic set of rules that can be mastered only by highly trained technicians after weeks of training. For every change of material or thickness being cut, a long process ensues of resetting gas mixtures, tweaking pierce heights and pierce delays, and manually calibrating every last parameter to ensure a reliable result. Publish date: August 28, 2003 Tech cell: Plasma Cutting
	Attention, all plasma table shoppers: Everything you need to know before you purchase a CNC plasma cutting machine By: Brian Gallup CNC plasma cutting machines are more affordable and easier to operate than ever before. By knowing the right kind of hardware and software makes sense, a fabricator can choose the equipment that makes the most sense for his operation. Publish date: June 12, 2007 Tech cell: Plasma Cutting
	Improvements to CNC plasma technology: The evolution continues with sensor and software advances By: Craig Brooks Continued improvements to CNC plasma cutting technology have made these units much more adaptable and user friendly. They have also helped improve consistency and cut quality. Publish date: September 11, 2007 Tech cell: Plasma Cutting
	Waterjet makes it into the mainstream: Once a novelty, abrasive waterjet cutting has evolved to become standard equipment for the fab shop By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Advancements in the control and equipment components, each working in concert, have pushed the technology from a relative novelty to the mainstream. Publish date: February 12, 2008 Tech cell: Waterjet Cutting
	El chorro de agua la hace en grande: Siendo alguna vez una novedad, el corte por chorro de agua abrasivo By: Tim Heston Advancements in the control and equipment components, eachworking in concert, have pushed the technology from a relativenovelty to the mainstream. Publish date: June 24, 2009 Tech cell: Waterjet Cutting
	Counting on the combo: Revolving door-maker adds flexibility with waterjet/plasma combination machine By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Revolving door manufacturer brings fabrication in-house, including a combination waterjet-plasma machine. Publish date: July 1, 2009 Tech cell: Waterjet Cutting
	Know when to fold 'em: Characteristics and capabilities of folding technology By: Rick Wester, Contributing Writer Folding machines aren't the fastest machines for bending sheet metal, but for low- to medium-volume production, they can provide an efficient bending process. Because the equipment operator does not support the weight of the material during the bending cycle, folding machines are well suited to large, bulky parts. Also, part quality is not dependent on an operator's skill. Publish date: November 9, 2004 Tech cell: Folding
	Getting it there yesterday: Greenheck Fan cuts lead-time to, in some cases, mere hours By: Tim Heston, Senior Editor Greenheck has made a science out of quick lead-times. For most products, customers can place an order and receive a custom fabrication within three to five days, and sometimes in less than 24 hours. Publish date: November 25, 2008 Tech cell: Fab Stories
	Designing tooling economically: Cutting costs in four areas By: Robert Harper, Contributing Writer With the tooling trade in its current challenging economic situation, some tool companies are being forced out of business, losing money, or entering into highly competitive markets. Publish date: March 13, 2003 Tech cell: Tool and Die
	CPR for your old CNC bender: Before you junk it, try rebuilding By: Kent Horn, Contributing Writer In the 1980s, when CNC machinery evolved, tube fabricators made the transition from manually forming each part to allowing a machine to form the parts unassisted. Now in the age of Windows®-based computers and brushless electric servo drives, these machines can seem like relics. But don't take them to the scrap heap just yet. Publish date: February 27, 2003 Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication
	From the CAD station to the production floor: Modern programming methods for modern tube bending machines By: George Winton Conventional tube bending data, regardless of format, is entered manually and therefore susceptible to errors. A modern approach involves using a CAD system to generate a STEP file, which the CAD program exports directly to the bending machine. This method is fast and eliminates errors. The drawback is that such a system requires additional database management efforts. Publish date: July 15, 2008 Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication
	Serpentine bending in production: Making 180-degree bends quickly, efficiently By: George Winton Bending serpentine profiles—successive 180-degree bends, which typically are used in refrigeration systems—can be a challenge. By their nature, they tend to cause interference among the various bend dies, and they can be difficult to handle. Good planning in selecting a bender, planning the process, and paying close attention to infeed and outfeed options, can help make a serpentine project successful. Publish date: November 25, 2008 Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication
	Shaping profits with a mandrel extractor: The basics of mandrel extractors and their applications Array Publish date: September 1, 2009 Tech cell: Tube and Pipe Fabrication
	Racing against the clock: Contract manufacturer measures success one second at a time Prince Industries Inc., a contract manufacturer of CNC machined components, branched out into CNC fabricated components several years ago when it purchased two turret punch presses, a plasma machine, and a laser with manual loading and unloading. These machines were quickly overburdened with the growing workload, so the company sought a more modern laser with automated material handling. Publish date: December 7, 2004 Tech cell: Automation and Robotics
	The many faces of plasma cutting By: Tex Whiting Manual and mechanized plasma cutting systems serve different purposes and require different equipment to perform well. It is up to the user to decide which system is best-suited for the application. This article provides a detailed introduction to both systems, their capabilities, and which applications they are tailored for. Publish date: May 8, 2007 Tech cell: Cutting and Weld Prep
	Selecting a new press brake By: Bob Butchart, Contributing Writer Prospective buyers of press brakes are advised to consider their purchase in terms of its end use, the amount of deflection likely to occur in a give machine, the inside radius of their parts, and several other factors before speding their money. Publish date: March 23, 2001 Tech cell: Bending
	Pumping up productivity on older press brakes: Increasing productivity with advanced tooling, clamping, crowning systems By: David Bishop, Contributing Writer You may be able to improve press brake productivity and eliminate bottlenecks with more advanced tooling, anti-deflection [crowning] systems, and clamping systems. Such advancements have made it possible to form a larger range of materials and part configurations with fewer tools than before. Publish date: June 8, 2004 Tech cell: Bending
	Laser system saves damaged military parts from the scrap heap: Process limits heat-affected zone to repair delicate components By: Richard Grylis, Contributing Writer At military installations across the country, repair personnel struggle to stretch the life spans of vital pieces of equipment. Sometimes welding can extend the life of damaged components in aircraft, tanks, and other military vehicles. But in some cases, high–temperature welding processes do more harm than good, warping and weakening delicate metal components. Previously such components would be classified as irreparable and replaced with pricey new parts. Publish date: February 27, 2003 Tech cell: Laser Cutting