Article
March 1, 2010
Heading off health hazards
Use caution when removing PPE or touching your face and eyes as these are the leading cause of foreign body eye injuries.
Welding, cutting, and grinding processes hold many potential health hazards. The most notable of these are injuries that result from eye and face impacts, arc... Read more...
Article
December 15, 2009
Sheet Metal Stamping 101
The author of the "Die Science" column in STAMPING Journal®, Art also has written several other series that appear at www.thefabricator.com, including:
Solving Punch Breakage Problems Die Basics 101 Cutting Tooling Costs
Read more...
Article
October 27, 2009
Sheet Metal Stamping 101, Part IV
Figure 1
Editor's Note: This series presents an overview of metal stamping. Part I of this series focused on the various careers in the metal stamping industry. Part II discussed stamping materials and equipment;
Part III focused on dies and cutting and Part IV offers more... Read more...
Article
September 1, 2009
Learning to adapt
Although Production Cutting Services initially focused on saw-cut parts, these days it also provides machined (right) and laser-cut (left) parts. It also learned the ins and outs of drilling and plasma cutting. Manufacturing isn't the same today as it was two and a half decades ago. CNC... Read more...
Article
August 25, 2009
Sheet Metal Stamping 101, Part III
Editor's Note: This series presents an overview of metal stamping. Part I of this series focused on the various careers in the metal stamping industry. Part II discussed stamping materials and equipment;
Part III focuses on dies and cutting and Part IV offers more detail about cutting... Read more...
Article
May 12, 2009
Grinding and cutting safely
Hand-held angle grinders have long been used extensively in the metal fabrication and welding industries; however, they also now are being used more frequently in the mechanical contracting, autobody, masonry, and stone-working industries for grinding, cutting, and polishing. This expanded... Read more...
Article
January 27, 2009
Don't rule out plasma for cutting aluminum
Plasma cutting isn't new. But like any technology, it has its share of new developments. In any discussion about how to cut metal, it's right up there with laser and waterjet. The technology gets a bad rap, though, when the discussion turns to cutting aluminum.
Plasma cutting has been... Read more...
Article
September 30, 2008
Automation helps ovenmaker cook up profits
The test kitchen at Wood Stone Corp., Bellingham, Wash., showcases most of the commercial kitchen appliances the company fabricates.
Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Bellingham, that's automation. That slight variation of the old Dean Martin tune makes a lot of sense for Wood Stone... Read more...
Article
July 15, 2008
Preventing torch fires in welding and cutting operations
Sparks from welding and cutting torches can easily ignite structural members and insulation, as well as combustible gases and liquids. Photo courtesy of NFPA.
In March fire destroyed the 150,000-square-foot Cargill Meat Solutions plant in Booneville, Ark., and forced residents in the... Read more...
Article
February 12, 2008
Nothing standard about this fab shop
After five years of working for a family-owned metal fabricating business in eastern Connecticut, Rob Marelli wanted to do things his way. He approached the president with an offer to buy the company from him, but he was soon gone with a handshake and a letter of recommendation.
He eyed... Read more...
Article
January 15, 2008
Welding helmets in view
Lincoln Electric's VISTA Choosing the right welding helmet is not as easy as it once was. Technology advances have turned these once simple pieces of protective equipment into smart, lightweight safety devices that, in some cases, can adapt their settings automatically to accommodate... Read more...
Article
October 23, 2007
Designing for laser cutting
A revolution is under way in the tube fabrication industry. The revolution is being driven by the need for manufacturers to fabricate tubular products faster, more accurately, at lower cost, and with shorter lead-times than before. The enemies in this fight are a shortage of skilled labor,... Read more...
Article
September 11, 2007
Improving plasma cut quality
Optimizing the performance of plasma cutting system components improves cut quality.
Plasma arc cutting (PAC), or plasma cutting, is a process by which a vortex of pressurized gas is ionized to heat and melt electrically conductive materials. The PAC system's parts are configured to... Read more...
Article
September 11, 2007
Improvements to CNC plasma technology
A plasma cutting table is a workhorse in most fab shops. The technology has seen great improvements over the years, and it's worthwhile to take a look at its evolution. Not coincidentally, plasma technology's growth has coincided with technology improvements starting with the CNC. Computer... Read more...
Spanish
July 10, 2007
3 pasos para mejorar el mantenimiento de los láser
Los usuarios de máquinas láser lo saben, pero con frecuencia lo ignoran. Los manufactureros de láser le tienen una fe ciega, pero con frecuencia no lo promocionan.
Es el mantenimiento, y debería ser la consigna de todo aquél que posea y opere un láser. Con los tiempos de entrega y... Read more...
Article
June 12, 2007
Sawing? Cool it.
A quality, properly mixed and maintained sawing coolant helps increase cutting rates, improve the cut finish, and extend blade life.
Nearly every metal sawing operation can be made more efficient with a quality sawing coolant that is properly mixed and maintained. Coolants also improve... Read more...
Article
May 8, 2007
Waterjet accelerates pace, provides speed secret
As you descend the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia south into sunny Huntersville/ Mooresville, N.C.—so-called Race City USA—you can almost feel the ground rumble. Eateries have names like "Pit Stop," and service stations are called "Raceways." Diehard race fans fan the area,... Read more...
Article
March 13, 2007
Up with energy prices and wind towers
The recent surges in gasoline and natural gas prices have reawakened many Americans' interest in alternative energy resources. Aerisyn LLC, a metal fabricator, faced the energy challenge head-on by opening a new wind tower manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tenn., in August 2005. It had... Read more...
Article
November 7, 2006
Achieve peak waterjet performance by optimizing components
Successful fabrication shops understand how to maximize the productivity of their waterjet machines. Peak performance of the waterjet system and its components improves cutting rates and, therefore, generates higher profitability. A waterjet system comprises an ultrahigh-pressure pump, CNC... Read more...
Article
November 7, 2006
Material separation anxiety
The structural materials that welding and fabrication shops must saw are more abusive to band saw blades than any other metal sawing application, but paying attention to band selection, band speed, feed rate, coolant, and maintenance can minimize the abuse. Band sawing square tubing, round... Read more...
Article
October 10, 2006
Older plasma and laser cutters having performance fits?
One of the most common and least expensive retrofits on a laser system is the cutting head. Upgrades expand plate cutting capabilities To stay competitive in today's marketplace, fabricators are constantly evaluating many variables in the areas of current and potential customer base,... Read more...
Article
September 12, 2006
Starting from scratch
A notched shield like this one will cause poor cut quality. The key to obtaining high cut quality and long consumable life when cutting with plasma lies in both a general understanding of plasma and being aware of the process's fundamental operating guidelines. Knowledge of both... Read more...
Article
September 12, 2006
Bridging the challenges
Made from API 5L grades X52 to X60 pipe, the Tempe Town Lake Bridge was fabricated in segments and assembled on-site. In an Arizona match-up between concrete and steel, metal edged out the competition. This contest started in July 2003 when a design team began discussing the Tempe... Read more...
Article
July 11, 2006
Angling for a good cut
Many manufacturers that experience sawing problems might not realize that proper maintenance and appropriate sawing practices can help eliminate some of them. A frequent problem involves angle cutting on band saws. Most fabricators that make angle cuts are doing so on mild steel tubing... Read more...
Article
June 13, 2006
Job diversity through a waterjet
This tale from the O.C. doesn't involve beautiful people and cutting-edge music. It's about Orange County's very own Pacific Metal Cutting—in Placentia, Calif., to be more exact—and it's a 24-person team dedicated to cutting a variety of specialty metals for its metals... Read more...
Article
May 9, 2006
Metal fabricating in a new millennium
"What I wanted to do in Millennium Park is make something that would engage the Chicago skyline ... so that one will see the clouds kind of floating in, with those very tall buildings reflected in the work. And then, since it is in the form of a gate, the participant,... Read more...
Article
April 11, 2006
Bernie and the jet
What do you give one of the world's most recognized entertainers who owns a collection of 84 cars and 73 motorcycles? A waterjet sounds appropriate. Of course, the waterjet won't help Jay Leno with his "Tonight Show" monologues, but it has done wonders in terms of keeping his car and... Read more...
Article
April 11, 2006
Metalfab: All that glitters is metal
Flying Car, "Monster Garage," Discovery Channel; Photo courtesy of DCI. Race-car House, "Monster House," Discovery Channel; Photo courtesy of DCI. The Teutuls, "American Chopper," Discovery Channel; Photo courtesy of Orange County Choppers. Jesse James, "Monster... Read more...
Article
April 11, 2006
American Fabricator
Vincent DiMartinoMr. Vinnie to youis the fabricator behind the bikes, the muscle behind the biceps, the grin behind the guns. The show follows the everyday work of custom motorcycle shop Orange County Choppers, Montgomery, N.Y. While the shop provides a creative outlet for Orange... Read more...
Article
March 7, 2006
Productivity: From pipe dream to reality
The pipe fabrication industry continues to evolve because of changes in the work force, materials, welding specifications, and fabrication methods. These changes have caused companies to look for more efficient and modern ways to complete projects in less time with improved profits, while... Read more...
Article
January 10, 2006
Fixturing for abrasive jet machining
Abrasive jets are used for machining many materials and parts. Workpieces that can be abrasive jet-machined range from glass artwork to high-precision stamping dies. No known fixture serves all applications.
Like most other machine tools, abrasive jet machines ship with only the minimum... Read more...
Article
January 10, 2006
Cutting to the chase - Integrating secondary operations
Many tube cutoff machines have evolved to integrate end forming and bending capabilities that normally are considered secondary operations. Considering the tube industry's need to reduce costs to stay competitive, the concept of integrating more operations may sound appealing. An inline system... Read more...
Article
December 13, 2005
Looking to higher power for laser speed?
In the past decade, the laser technology market for industrial material processing has grown by double digits. With improved beam sources and expanded scope and optimization of system concepts, lasers have become efficient, reliable manufacturing tools in a variety of sectors.... Read more...
Article
December 13, 2005
Fast-forward fabricating
The MV automated storage and retrieval system (in the background) supplies the correct metal sheet, whether it's light- or heavy-gauge material, to the appropriate machine in the fabricating cell. The material handling system also accepts work-in-process from the machines, temporarily... Read more...
Article
December 13, 2005
A change by design
A Great Dane just happens to watch over the entrance of Great Dane Trailers. You don't become a big dog in manufacturing without knowing about technology and innovation. For the last 100 years, Great Dane Trailers has followed that strategy and is now the largest trailer company in the... Read more...
Article
November 8, 2005
Trailblazing with waterjet
With waterjet cutting, Johnson Enterprises has been able to attract new customers outside of its core sawmill industry customer base. A long way from its modest machine shop beginnings 20 years ago, Johnson Enterprises Inc. in Val D'Amour, New Brunswick, Canada, has become a leading... Read more...
Article
October 11, 2005
Laser cutting and welding with one tool
Today's laser sources have the power and beam quality needed to cut and join metal in an expeditious and repetitious manner. The market demands that type of flexible production, so those characteristics are basic requirements in modern laser devices.
Market demands also have... Read more...
Article
October 11, 2005
Tube, profile cutting with lightning speed
Even though laser cutting tubes and profiles is basically a 3-D task, some can be cut with a 2-D machine equipped with an additional rotary axis. With rectangular tubes and other profiles, however, laser cutting is substantially more complex: The X, Y, and rotary axes move... Read more...
Article
October 11, 2005
Fitness equipment manufacturer pumps up
Given the spirited competition in the fitness industry these days, Los Angeles-based Paramount Fitness Corp. can't afford to get the slightest bit out of shape. A leader in the design and manufacture of commercial strength training products turned to laser technology to help keep it in... Read more...
Article
July 12, 2005
How one shop benefited from abrasive waterjet technology
Figure 1 Triplex Systems manufacturers this casting cleaning cabinet for the investment casting industry. Editor's Note: Dr. Olsen has authored several articles for thefabricator.com about abrasive wate jet cutting technology. These articles can be found in thefabricator.com's... Read more...
Article
April 11, 2005
Die Basics 101: Part I
Figure 1 When I conduct conferences, it isn't unusual to have one or two attendees who are new to the stamping die and pressworking world. Some are young new hires trying to learn about stamping, and others are individuals who have been transferred from a different department and... Read more...
Article
December 7, 2004
Regaining flatness in stamped parts
Of all the geometric tolerances that are difficult to achieve, flatness is one of the hardest. Most stampers probably would much rather try to make a complex-shaped, thin, high-strength steel deep-drawn part than hold a small-tolerance part requiring a tight flatness. Achieving part flatness is... Read more...
Article
December 7, 2004
Preventive maintenance on sawing equipment
Practicing regularly scheduled preventive maintenance on band saws can help maximize sawing center productivity by lowering costs, downtime, and frustration. It also decreases the need to contract outsiders to finish jobs. With preventive maintenance, machine and blade life increase, and... Read more...
Article
October 12, 2004
Optimizing consumable life in mechanized plasma cutting
Manufacturers of mechanized plasma cutting systems are focused on developing new technologies to meet three key market needs: Improved cut quality and consistency Increased cutting speeds and material thickness capabilities Increased consumable life Together, these three focus... Read more...
Article
September 14, 2004
Where abrasive waterjets shine
One of the first applications for abrasive waterjet technology was blanking sheet metal made of high-strength steels (HSS), such as Inconel® alloys and Hastelloy®, and titanium for jet engine applications. Although the technology was designed to help meet the challenges associated... Read more...
Article
August 10, 2004
Miter sawing adds eye appeal to structural steel
As a structural steel fabricator, you may have operated a miter saw. The fact is, however, in many other shops the miter feature has rarely been used because, traditionally, most steel buildings—from the skyscraper to the humble warehouse—have been designed without miter cuts. Beam... Read more...
Article
August 10, 2004
Boosting band saw blade life
Fabrication, welding, and machine shops frequently use band saw blades to make just a few cuts in a variety of materials. Cuts are made as the need arises rather than based on a predetermined high-volume cutting schedule. Because this type of intermittent cutting can be hard on blades,... Read more...
Article
June 8, 2004
Plasma pleases plenty
In case you missed it, check out this excerpt from the article "National research programs explore plate welding for shipbuilding" in the March 2004 issue of The FABRICATOR®: One project objective is to introduce laser cutting technology—which is already being used to cut sheet... Read more...
Article
June 8, 2004
Optimizing your hydraulic cutoff press
It is accepted that, because tube production is a highly competitive industry, many tube producers stay up nights thinking of ways to increase output and improve quality with less labor. Three obvious strategies are to increase mill speed, minimize downtime, and eliminate secondary... Read more...
Article
May 4, 2004
Designing for abrasive waterjet fabrication
Lead Image
A fan assembled with tabbing is ready for welding.
Designers need to be familiar with some abrasive waterjet machining features to minimize overall cost. Some of these concepts also may apply to laser, plasma and oxyfuel cutting.
Drafting Practices
All projects... Read more...
Article
May 4, 2004
Pursuing a plate-cutting saw
Metal Cutting Service's custom-made saw has a built-in laser that aids setup. The nature of the company's business shifted substantially during the 1990s. To adjust to the changes, Viel recognized that the company would need to research, specify, and purchase a new saw. He also... Read more...
Article
February 12, 2004
Cutting through five myths about modern lasers
The following five myths about modern laser cutting machines can help the experienced user stay on top of the game and give the prospective laser user a few things to keep in mind. Myth 1: Automated laser cutting systems are too complicated, expensive, and big for small and medium-sized... Read more...
Article
January 13, 2004
Improving waterjet cutting precision by eliminating taper
The balance between waterjet cutting production rate and part precision always has been difficult to achieve because of the jet's complex behavior. Because its shape at any point along the tool path is a result of multiple independent variables — including the speed and acceleration with... Read more...
Article
November 20, 2003
Laser tube processing
Although many new applications are made possible by modern lasers, laser processing is not entirely new to tube production. Manufacturers have used lasers to cut tube and pipe since the late 1970s. At job shops most of this laser tube cutting was performed on flat sheet cutting laser... Read more...
Article
November 6, 2003
Choosing the right oxyfuel gas and supply system
Photo courtesy of Weldstar Inc. Cutting In oxyfuel cutting, an oxygen jet, not the preheat flame, performs the cutting. The oxygen jet oxidizes the material and expels the heated material from the kerf. The purpose of the preheat flame is to heat the material to the ignition... Read more...
Article
October 9, 2003
Identifying the right cutting and welding tips
The tip of a welding or cutting torch is where the action is (see Figure 1 ). Welding tips usually produce positive pressure (higher than 1 pound per square inch ) and are used at equal pressures of acetylene and oxygen. These single-hole copper-alloy tips are attached to a torch handle... Read more...
Article
October 9, 2003
Band sawing bundled shapes
While band saw users bundle stock to cut more pieces per shift, they lose 40 to 50 percent of their sawing efficiency cutting the air between workpieces. Blade life also is reduced as much as 25 percent when cutting rectangular steel tube, pipe, and other bundled shapes. However,... Read more...
Article
September 25, 2003
Roll formers look for a win
Many systems enable users to download a DXF drawing directly into the roll forming line's computer. Not everyone can be the New York Yankees, or even the roll forming version—especially in today's economic climate. It would be nice, though. The Bronx Bombers have used a fat wallet... Read more...
Article
September 10, 2003
Pumps for abrasive jet cutting
This is the last of four articles intended to help a prospective buyer evaluate the wide range of abrasive jet machinery on the market. The first article covers the abrasive jet process itself in comparison with other cutting processes to help the prospective buyer understand the pros and cons... Read more...
Article
August 28, 2003
Making plasma cutting easier
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,... Read more...
Article
July 24, 2003
Using inverter technology
Those familiar with inverters usually know they offer size, weight, and portability advantages. They also can improve reliability by overcoming primary power fluctuations, also known as dirty power. Question: Does the weight of the plasma cutter matter? Answer: Yes, because labor... Read more...
Article
July 24, 2003
Advancements in waterjet technology
Stream Lag Caused Taper, Corner Problems Budd said he courted the gear processing market, but prospective customers wanted parts with a perpendicular edge, which he was not able to achieve with the 2-D abrasive waterjet equipment he was using. In 2-D abrasive waterjet cutting, the... Read more...
Article
June 26, 2003
Making hands-free straight, saddle, and miter cuts
Since its inception in 1969, the company had used traditional, manual processes. Pipes were moved into and out of the work area by forklift, and pipe cutting was done with either a hand-powered mechanized torch or a hand-held torch. For straight end cuts, an operator attached a... Read more...
Article
May 29, 2003
Article
April 24, 2003
Boatmaker finds new saw for trailer production
Recently the company wanted to increase the efficiency of its trailer-building operation. Specifically, this entailed replacing a 20-year-old sawing machine plagued by performance that was no longer satisfactory, broken blades, and poor tolerances. "We were looking for a saw that was... Read more...
Article
April 24, 2003
Cutting exotic alloys
But sometimes this common process can be puzzling, especially when the fabricator is cutting titanium or other alloys. Tubing may be cut successfully in one production application, but the next time the result is galling and extremely short blade life. If an operator understands why this... Read more...
Article
April 10, 2003
Making the cut
Choosing the proper blade for the application, optimizing its use, maintaining the saw, and using a cutting coolant all pay productivity dividends. Choosing and Using a Blade Sawing pipe and tube stock is fundamentally more difficult and more complicated than cutting barstock or... Read more...
Article
March 27, 2003
Will a robotic laser system cut it?
Robotic Laser Cutting Systems A typical robotic laser cutting system consists of a servo-controlled, multiaxis mechanical arm that has a laser cutting head mounted to the robot's faceplate. The cutting head has focusing optics for the laser light and often an integral height control... Read more...
Article
March 13, 2003
Using precision abrasive wheel technology
Capabilities and Limitations Precision abrasive wheels can cut solid parts as small as 0.001 inch in diameter and tubular parts from 0.004 to 3 in. OD. Length tolerance for short, small-diameter parts can be as tight as ±0.001 in. Tolerance for parts up to 6 in. long can be held to... Read more...
Article
March 13, 2003
Mechanized plasma cutting for HVAC applications
Today many HVAC shops use plasma cutters—both hand-held torches and CNC mechanized systems—to cut material for fabrication. These fabricators find that for their applications, plasma is a fast, clean, economical way for them to cut light-gauge metal. This overview of... Read more...
Article
January 16, 2003
Article
December 12, 2002
Testing new waters Down Under
The Australian auto industry appears to have shrugged off global economic uncertainty to boost sales of new cars and trucks to 772,681 units in 2001, a 1.8 percent jump from 2000, according to the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI). The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS,... Read more...
Article
November 7, 2002
Focusing on tube cutting lasers
Object
It travels at 186,287.490 miles per second (299,792,458 meters per sec.). Its visible spectrum ranges from 400 to 700 nanometers. Its smallest unit is a packet of energy, a photon. While its chief use is illumination, it has many other commercial, industrial, and military... Read more...
Article
August 29, 2002
Cut it out: How fabricators use plasma cutters every day
Many fabricators use plasma arc cutting torches every day, either to replace or complement saws, cut-off wheels, snips, and oxyfuel rigs. Fabricators say the use of this equipment has grown because it can be used in a variety of applications, from installing heating, ventilation, air... Read more...
Article
July 25, 2002
Estimating your cutting costs
The recent recession has created a new standard for many fabricators: When capacity exceeds work, the reality is that cost does matter—more than ever before. Many fabricators bid on jobs simply to fulfill short-term needs: to keep personnel employed and machinery running so they... Read more...
Article
July 11, 2002
Getting control of your cut-to-length line
Many factors should be considered when selecting a drive and control system for a cut-to-length (CTL) line. First, decide the type of CTL line best-suited for your application, specifications, and budget. Let’s assume you’ve chosen a loop roll feed. Where do you go from there?... Read more...
Article
June 27, 2002
Welder, beware
Last June a spark from a welding torch started a 15-acre fire in Lake Piru, Calif. Welders working inside the Chicago Theater in September called the fire department after a welding torch ignited debris between the walls. In November welding sparks ignited rags on a workbench near an employee... Read more...
Article
June 13, 2002
Exploring dry cutting technologies
Plasma arc cutting (PAC) technology has come a long way since its commercial introduction to metal fabrication 40 years ago. Advances in PAC torches and power supplies have led to improvements in the edge quality of plasma-cut aluminum, stainless steel, and carbon steels. Today's plasma... Read more...
Article
March 13, 2002
Article
February 28, 2002
Article
January 24, 2002
Tube and pipe cutting techniques; advantages and limitations
Many factors are involved in choosing a particular method or technology for cutting tube or pipe. The basic factors that affect the cut are the tube or pipe material, wall thickness, squareness of ends, end-conditioning requirements, and secondary process requirements.Other factors that play a... Read more...
Article
December 13, 2001
Sawing structural and architectural tubing
Figure 1
The circular saw is a commonly used option for cutting structural materials, including (top) solid H beams, and both round (middle) and rectangular (bottom) hollow materials.
Architectural tubing is something of a mixed blessing: On the one hand, the... Read more...
Article
December 11, 2001
Cutting through the obstacles
Of all the materials that can be cut on industrial band saw machines, structural steels—such as pipe and tubing, plate, angle and channel iron, and I beams—are among the most common and challenging. The challenges often arise when a blade encounters changes in the cross... Read more...
Article
October 25, 2001
Comparing single-cut and dimple-free tube mill cutoffs
This article covers the application of single-cut and dimple-free cutoff shear technologies as they are applied to contemporary high-speed tube mills. A single-cut die set is a unit composed of an upper shoe and a lower shoe in which a single severing blade and tube supporting jaws are... Read more...
Article
September 4, 2001
Exploring complementary cutting methods
Diversification is the linchpin of running a successful business. The key to producing quality work and investing in equipment wisely is knowing which cutting method—laser, plasma, electrical discharge machining, waterjet, or another—to use for a particular application. While... Read more...
Article
September 4, 2001
Putting a spark into cutting productivity
Figure 1 There are many ways to cut sheet, plate, tubing, and structural shapes, ranging from a hand hacksaw to power shears and lasers. The best choice depends on the situation at hand, but the goal always is to achieve the best cost, quality, and schedule results. While... Read more...
Article
September 4, 2001
Skiving strip edges for tube and pipe producing
Edge treatment of coil strip before it enters a tube and pipe mill, called skiving, is a rapidly advancing technology. Improving the coil edge before it is welded helps increase the quality of the seam join and helps prevent rejected tube or pipe. Traditional Skiving Equipment Edge skiving to... Read more...
Article
July 12, 2001
Plasma cutting stainless steel and aluminum
Figure 1
The plasma cutting process may be used to cut any conductive material, including carbon steels, stainless steels, aluminum, copper, brass, cast metals, and exotic alloys. Each of these materials behaves differently when subjected to the intense heating and cooling of the... Read more...
Article
July 12, 2001
Not your father's abrasive jet
Figure 1 Object Fifteen or 20 years ago abrasive jet was the technology of last resort for severing difficult materials that could be cut no other way. These units were crude, noisy, and dirty. A nozzle was hung on an X-Y burning table and the resulting tolerances and surface finish were... Read more...
Article
July 12, 2001
Turning up the power
Industry trends indicate that metal fabricators increasingly are selecting higher-power lasers for cutting applications. Two years ago, the most common power levels ranged between 1,500 and 2,000 watts. However, a statistical survey conducted by the AMT Laser System Product Group indicates a... Read more...
Article
June 13, 2001
Material Handling on Squaring Shears
Often it is thought that to get more production from a shearing operation, another shift, or even a new shear must be added. However, because of a lack of funds, personnel, or floor space, a new shear is not always the answer. The basics of a productive shearing operation are often overlooked.... Read more...
Article
May 30, 2001
Using a hand-held plasma cutter
Fabricators, contractors, maintenance personnel, artists, and do-it-yourselfers who experience a hand-held air plasma arc cutting machine rarely want to return to oxyacetylene cutting or mechanical cutting processes such as saws, cutoff wheels, shears, and snips. Plasma cutting can improve... Read more...
Article
May 30, 2001
Article
April 24, 2001
Article
April 24, 2001
Increasing productivity on your cutoff saw
If you are sawing tube or pipe in substantial quantities, you most likely have a cutoff saw to do the work. As with all of your machinery, your goal is to get the most out of it, and that takes some special consideration. Tubes and pipes are hollow workpieces, so each cut consists of three... Read more...
Article
April 10, 2001
8 ways to keep your shear in top shape
Shears are common pieces of fabricating equipment that can be found in many metal forming plants. From tube mills to small fabricators, the shear is one of the most critical and diverse tools used in metal fabricating. Varying in size from small hand-held metal shears and foot-operated trim... Read more...
Article
February 19, 2001
Article
February 19, 2001
Article
February 19, 2001
Article
May 1, 1999
