On the Radar

Advancing CNC Power
Designed for the medium to high performance machine tool market, the 8055 Power CNC is available in a modular or compact design in up to seven axis applications. Each 8055 Power CNC comes equipped with a high-resolution color LCD monitor, full alphanumeric keyboard, USB port, and a minimum of 512MB compact flash.

Design of the 8055 Power CNC provides the high performance required for machine tools, while maintaining a simple programming system when utilized in shop floor programming applications through the addition of the ICON key conversational system to the ISO G-code programming system.

The features of the 8055 Power CNC include:

• Increase in customer flexibility,
• Ethernet for easy upload/download of large G-code programs from the CAD/CAM department,
• On-board mini-CAD/CAM (Profile Editor) system for creation of complex profiles directly from the blueprint, and
• OEM or application-specific customization.

Fagor Automation Corp.
Elk Grove Village, Ill.
www.fagor-automation.com

Fully Integrated Laser Cutting
Enabling high-speed precision laser cutting of thin metals, the Sigma XY fiber laser cutting system uses a rigid linear drive, gantry-based motion system, for fast cut cycle times and laser cutting quality.

The Sigma XY is available with a variety of options, including Class 1 or Class 4 operation, several cutting box styles, fume exhaust, part hold-down tooling, focus control sensing, programmable gas pressure, high pressure cutting heads, 4" or 8" travel Z-stage axes motion, and a control pendant.

Miyachi Unitek Corp.
Monrovia, Calif.
www.miyachiunitek.com

Solving Complex Challenges
Officials at Quaker Chemical introduce to the U.S. aerospace industry the QUAKERCOOL 7000 ALF BAF, a European-approved machining and grinding coolant. QUAKERCOOL 7000 is an environmentally friendly, water soluble coolant designed for the machining of aluminum alloys that is boron- and amine-free.

Preferred for aluminum alloys in the aerospace industry, the coolant has low alkalinity properties that aid in the prevention of staining the aluminum and tested successfully for the machining of a large population of aerospace aluminum alloys.

The coolant provides wetting abilities, which results in high cutting performance, microbiological growth control without biocide addition, and cleanliness on tools and machines with good detergency.

Quaker Chemical Corp.
Conshohocken, Pa.
www.quakerchem.com

Robotic Grit-Blast System
Model RB-72 is an extended-height robotic blast machine with a 72" x 72" work envelope and pressure-blast media delivery for precision surface preparation applications, including composite structures.

The Model RB-72 utilizes a FANUC M-20iA robot as a blast nozzle manipulator, with the hollow arm of the 6-axis robot enabling the blast hose to rout directly through it. The grit-blasting machine’s 36" diameter-powered turntable has a 1,000 lb weight capacity, and the servomotor-driven table is controlled as a seventh axis of coordinated robotic motion to orient components that are fixtured on it.

Prospective users are encouraged to submit sample components for free laboratory testing and application engineering evaluation at the blast machine builder’s factory in northeastern New York.

Guyson Corp.
Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
www.guyson.com

Gaging Flexibility
The addition of the Equator 300 Extended Height comparative gage to the Equator gaging system doubles the space below the measuring volume of the original model, providing a 300mm height to accept tall parts or those attached to machining fixtures. The additional space also facilitates automated part handling with robots and conveyors, allowing the inspection of parts with rapid changeover to smaller parts using an extended fixture plate spacer.

Equator is a lightweight, fast, and highly repeatable gage that operators can use with push-button simplicity. Additionally, the system can switch between parts in seconds, making it ideal for flexible manufacturing processes or accepting parts from multiple machines.

Renishaw Inc.
Hoffman Estates, Ill.
www.renishaw.com/gaging

Precision Fixed Limit Gages
The comprehensive line of precision fixed limit thread gages consist of GO/NO-GO plug gages manufactured to ANSI/ASME B1.2 (Unified Inch) and ANSI/ASME B1.16M (Metric M) standards. Featured on the NO-GO side is a recessed minor thread diameter, with a dirt flute on the GO side, preventing damage in demanding environments.

Thread gages accommodate 2B, 3B (inch), 6H (metric) classes of fit, and a full range of stocked gages are available in inch and metric in coarse and fine, UNC, UNF, UNS, and NPT.

Go to http://bit.ly/W05sSm for a complete brochure.

Emuge Corp.
W. Boyleston, Mass.
www.emuge.com

High-Precision Reaming
Two new solid carbide reamers, from the CoroReamer line, offer solutions for high surface quality finish and close tolerances. Dedicated geometries and internal coolant deliver precision hole quality and process security.

CoroReamer 435 is a versatile and high-performance reamer suitable for a wide range of different materials, while design of the CoroReamer 835 is for steel and stainless materials when optimum performance is required.

The reamers are available in spiral flute design for through-holes and straight flute design for blind holes. Diameter range is 3.97mm to 20mm (0.156" to 0.787"), as standard, and can achieve hole tolerance of IT7.

Sandvik Coromant
Fair Lawn, N.J.
www.sandvik.coromant.com/us

CNC Maintenance Tools
Offering predictive and preventative maintenance tools for motors and fans, the Series 30i/31i/32i-MODEL B CNCs, allows maintenance staff to pre-plan servicing of a machine during scheduled downtime rather than when a machine fails.

FANUC amplifiers address predictive motor failures by checking the resistance of the windings to record the resistance and predict when the motor will fail, allowing maintenance personnel to order a motor in advance and change the motor when it is convenient.

By monitoring the speed of each fan that is in the CNC and amplifier, the unit is able to predict when the fan will fail. Watch a video at http://bit.ly/WDUWxm to learn more about predictive preventative maintenance.

FANUC FA America
Hoffman Estates, Ill.
www.fanucfa.com

Combining Basic Gripping Principles
The angular parallel gripper (GAP) combines two basic principles of gripping into one unit. Depending on the design, the gripper has an opening angle between 30° and 180°. The parallel movement has high precision and a strong gripping force between 80N and 340N on the last few millimeters, enabling easy gripping of workpieces with an overhang or interfering contours.

In order to shorten the cycle times, the gripper is equipped with hydraulic shock absorbers. GAP integrates into modular systems for assembly automation for quick and easy configuration.

SCHUNK
Morrisville, N.C.
www.us.schunk.com

Improved Measuring Performance
The 2013 CMM series offers the PH10 PLUS series motorized indexing probe heads, wireless thermal compensation, high-resolution free-floating measuring scales, and a free Stylus Change Rack.

The launch of the new series of Renishaw PH10 motorized indexing heads, designated PH10 PLUS, provides a 20% improvement in repeatability (0.4µm) – compared to the original PH10 heads, with increased long-term stability and reliability, and an optional extended three-year warranty. The PH10 PLUS heads offer COORD3 CMM users a new standard of indexing head performance by providing reliable precision in even the most demanding measurement applications, including long reach applications such as those using the SP25M scanning probe.

PH10 PLUS probe heads have the ability to store operational data, including:

• Head moves and the position of each move;
• Head lock/unlock events;
• Head errors including position and when error occurred; and
• Head overload events including position and when error occurred.

COORD3 Metrology
Wixom, Mich.
www.coord3-cmm.com