Williams Machine & Tool Co., Inc., Galena, Kansas, has recently installed a new Mori Seiki NV5000 vertical machining center.
The 23-year-old company offers CNC machining, precision grinding, heat treating, black oxide coating and magnesium phosphate coating.
Started by Dennis Williams (as the sole employee) in the family garage in 1979, the company has grown into its current 41,000-sq.ft. facility with 42 employees.
The company maintains a family feeling with Dennis' sons Kelly and Brian, daughter Denise Titus, and numerous other family members on staff.
The new CNC vertical machining center is part of Williams Machine & Tool's ongoing effort to utilize the latest technology to improve quality and turnaround. The company already has numerous pieces of CNC equipment with auto bar feeders, gantry loaders and pallets.
"We were looking for size and speed when we picked the Mori, Seiki," noted Kelly Williams, vice president. "The NV5000 met our needs with its rapid traverse rate of 1,653/ipm, quick tool change time (2.6 seconds) and large spindle range 31.5" x 20" x 20".
Besides the new vertical machining center, the company's machining area also has: 12 CNC lathes; five CNC vertical machining centers; two 32mm CNC Swiss lathes; 11 screw machines; three turret lathes; two engine lathes; and a wire EDM.
The grinding area has five CNC grinders, 15 conventional grinders (including centerless and blanchard) and various honing and gearing equipment.
The heat treating area has 21 pieces of equipment including internal quench furnaces, draw furnaces and an induction hardening machine.
Welding, sawing and inspection equipment round out the assortment.
Williams Machine & Tool serves customers across the country and around the world in such industries as hydraulic (internal components); agriculture; construction and consumer goods.
"Our success has come about by being a family-oriented business that caters to our customers' requirements," noted Kelly Williams. "We can take an emergency part order in the morning, machine it, finish grind it, heat treat it, inspect it and ship it out at the end of the day."
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Friday, November 24, 2006
Machine tool consumption off by 35% in first quarter.
March U.S. machine tool consumption totaled $182.66 million, according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, the American Machine Tool Distributors Association. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was up 6.0% from February but down 42.2% from the total of $315.80 million reported or March 2001. With a first quarter total of $513.62 million, 2002 is down 35.2% compared to the same period in 2001.
These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participatingThursday, November 23, 2006
Security Tool Can 'Frisk' PCs
Automated IP address management has been used for years to streamline the administration of IP addresses, but one small company and a couple of its customers have discovered a new use for the tool: to create an extra layer of endpoint security and access control.
MetaInfo, a spinoff of Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., is working with customers and partners to use the point at which users are given access to the corporate network—the IP address assignment—as a mechanism to stop and "frisk" the machine.
This lets the company ensure that the device is legitimate and complies with corporate security policies, according to Grant Asplund, president and CEO of the Seattle-based companyWednesday, November 22, 2006
The role of balance in high speed finish boring: Precision boring is particularly vulnerable to unbalance, but not every high speed boring application
A single-point boring tool with adjustable cutting diameter may be used for the tightest-tolerance cutting that a given machining center is likely to perform. At the same time, this tool is probably the most inherently unbalanced object the machine will ever use to take a cut.
This irony has real consequence as spindle speed increases, because the centrifugal force resulting from unbalance increases as the square of rotational speed. Raising the speed from 4,000 to 8,000 rpm, without any change in tooling, causes centrifugal force to quadruple. Raising the speed of the same process to 12,000 rpm raises the force from unbalance to 9 times what it was at the original speed. Because of the exponential increase, an effect that was once negligible may be amplified to the point that tight tolerances can no longer be held.
One company providing variable-diameter precision boring tools is KPT Kaiser of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. During the past decade, as maximum spindle speeds for all classes of machining centers were increasing significantly, this company introduced updated versions of its tools better suited to boring at high rpm. Among the newer versions are adjustable-balance models that use moving counterweights to compensate for the change in unbalance that comes from changing the radial position of the cutting insert But not every boring application--not even every high speed application--is a candidate for one of these balanceable tools. Vice president of engineering Jack Burley says that tools with adjustable balance account for only 10 percent of the company's sales of the variable-diameter tooling. Tools that are not balanceable by means of a moving counterweight are nevertheless engineered to be balanced at the middle of the tool's adjustable diameter range. And for most finish boring applications, just this level of balance is enough.
Understanding unbalance as it applies to single-point boring is useful for shops that want to machine precision holes at faster cutting speeds. In addition, the same understanding is also useful in a larger context. Shops moving to higher spindle speeds for various applications are often concerned about the potential effects of unbalance. The example of high speed finish boring, which combines a highly asymmetric tool with a very light depth of cut, can provide a useful benchmark for these shops. The extreme set of conditions shows the extent of the impact that unbalance can have on the performance of the process.
Mr. Burley says a common mistake in high speed machining is to give too little consideration to balance. Another common mistake, he says, is to give too much consideration to balance. Higher speeds do make it worthwhile to use high-quality tools and toolholders manufactured to tight balance requirements, but where end mills and other inherently symmetrical tools are concerned, just choosing quality tooling is probably enough to ensure that balance is sufficient. Trying to improve balance further through some off-line adjustment to the tool is likely to be overkill, resulting in a change in centrifugal force that's tiny compared to the force from the cut. The reason is that single-point boring tools are more prone to require balance adjustment precisely is that the light depth of cut makes a small unbalance force more significant by comparison.
And even at that, the effect of unbalance would not be considered significant to everyone. Comparison testing at 10,000 rpm between balanceable and non-balanceable single-point tools showed a difference in hole roundness error of about 5 microns (see Figure 1). Many machining operations could tolerate error of a comparable magnitude. But in precision boring, error of this magnitude has to be addressed.
This irony has real consequence as spindle speed increases, because the centrifugal force resulting from unbalance increases as the square of rotational speed. Raising the speed from 4,000 to 8,000 rpm, without any change in tooling, causes centrifugal force to quadruple. Raising the speed of the same process to 12,000 rpm raises the force from unbalance to 9 times what it was at the original speed. Because of the exponential increase, an effect that was once negligible may be amplified to the point that tight tolerances can no longer be held.
One company providing variable-diameter precision boring tools is KPT Kaiser of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. During the past decade, as maximum spindle speeds for all classes of machining centers were increasing significantly, this company introduced updated versions of its tools better suited to boring at high rpm. Among the newer versions are adjustable-balance models that use moving counterweights to compensate for the change in unbalance that comes from changing the radial position of the cutting insert But not every boring application--not even every high speed application--is a candidate for one of these balanceable tools. Vice president of engineering Jack Burley says that tools with adjustable balance account for only 10 percent of the company's sales of the variable-diameter tooling. Tools that are not balanceable by means of a moving counterweight are nevertheless engineered to be balanced at the middle of the tool's adjustable diameter range. And for most finish boring applications, just this level of balance is enough.
Understanding unbalance as it applies to single-point boring is useful for shops that want to machine precision holes at faster cutting speeds. In addition, the same understanding is also useful in a larger context. Shops moving to higher spindle speeds for various applications are often concerned about the potential effects of unbalance. The example of high speed finish boring, which combines a highly asymmetric tool with a very light depth of cut, can provide a useful benchmark for these shops. The extreme set of conditions shows the extent of the impact that unbalance can have on the performance of the process.
Mr. Burley says a common mistake in high speed machining is to give too little consideration to balance. Another common mistake, he says, is to give too much consideration to balance. Higher speeds do make it worthwhile to use high-quality tools and toolholders manufactured to tight balance requirements, but where end mills and other inherently symmetrical tools are concerned, just choosing quality tooling is probably enough to ensure that balance is sufficient. Trying to improve balance further through some off-line adjustment to the tool is likely to be overkill, resulting in a change in centrifugal force that's tiny compared to the force from the cut. The reason is that single-point boring tools are more prone to require balance adjustment precisely is that the light depth of cut makes a small unbalance force more significant by comparison.
And even at that, the effect of unbalance would not be considered significant to everyone. Comparison testing at 10,000 rpm between balanceable and non-balanceable single-point tools showed a difference in hole roundness error of about 5 microns (see Figure 1). Many machining operations could tolerate error of a comparable magnitude. But in precision boring, error of this magnitude has to be addressed.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Pullback CNC collet chucks—Royal Products, booth E-2146 - Machine Tool Components and Accessories - Brief Article
This line of pullback-style CNC collet chucks has been redesigned to provide a lighter and more streamlined shape, while maintaining high strength and rigidity. Benefits of the new design include reduced wear on machine tool spindle bearings and improved tool clearance, the company says. A built-in coolant slinger and internal O-ring seals provide protection from coolant and chips. Accuracy is guaranteed to be under 0.0003" TIR. Collet chucks are often used in place of three-jaw chucks for CNC turning applications such as bar feeding, small diameter work (under3") and high-volume productions runs. All of the company's CNC collect chucks include a machined drawtube connector for quick and easy installation. They are stocked in all popular A-mounts and are available for the following collet styles: 5C, 16C, 3J, S-20, S-26 and S-30.
Also on display will be the rest of the company's line of metalworking accessories, Filtermist mist collectors, and Albrecht precision drill chucks and toolholders.
Also on display will be the rest of the company's line of metalworking accessories, Filtermist mist collectors, and Albrecht precision drill chucks and toolholders.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Turning/Machining Cell—Takisawa USA, Booth A-8741 - Takisawa Machine Tool Company Ltd - Brief Article - Product Announcement
The company will introduce a new automated production cell composed of the Model TT-200 (C type) turning center and the model MAC-V10/APC machining center.
The production cell starts with the TT-200 turning cell with a type C loader/feeder system. This is a self contained, two spindle, dual ten-tool turret turning center, integrated with a gantry load/unload system and a turnover unit, fed from a 16-pallet work feeder from the left side and discharged on the right side, into the Model MAC-V10/APC machining center. The Model MAC-V10/APC is a vertical column vertical machining center (6,000-rpm spindle, 20-station tool magazine, that has servodrive indexing) fed by an automatic, revolving, double pallet changer.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
The ultimate mass machine: make a food scale your number-one bodybuilding tool - Nutrition
Gaining muscle or losing fat means being vigilant about what you eat, in quality and quantity. The key to increasing muscle mass is to consistently take in more calories than you burn over time, but not so many calories that you get fat. Your ability to strike this balance can be greatly improved by using a scale to weigh your food. This tool may be exactly what you need to help you accurately add muscle mass or lose bodyfat.
SCALING TO NEW HEIGHTS Food scales aren't just for bodybuilders who have not yet learned to gauge portion size--many top bodybuilders, including Dorian Yates, Jay Cutler and Dennis James, weigh their food. These guys have learned that although a guess may be close, a measurement is precise. For professional bodybuilders, placings at shows are all about precision of bodyweight and composition.
Without a food scale, most people seriously underestimate portion sizes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's servings are actually very small. By USDA standards, one half cup of berries is one serving of fruit and one serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards--clearly bodybuilders eat more than that as a serving. Package labels can also be deceptive. For example, most bags of potato chips list about 120 calories "per serving" on the label. It's only when you look more closely that you see that a serving is only two ounces and that there might be seven servings in a whole bag. However, an accurate food scale never lies and won't distort your perceptions of portion size or how many calories you're really getting.
EYEBALLING: A SKILL TO MASTER
It takes only a few weeks with a good food scale to learn to accurately gauge bodybuilding portion sizes by inspection. Learning to eyeball portion sizes accurately is key when a scale isn't available or convenient. No matter what system you use to find out what's in your food, the first thing you need to know is how much there is--the weight of the food--in a way that's convenient enough to use 24/7.
Through consistent use of a scale, you'll get accustomed to the visual cues of a portion size. In the long run, you'll be able to make much more accurate estimations when measuring the weight of your food isn't an option. That will lead to more accurate control of your physique in terms of both muscle mass acquisition and bodyfat management.
SCALING TO NEW HEIGHTS Food scales aren't just for bodybuilders who have not yet learned to gauge portion size--many top bodybuilders, including Dorian Yates, Jay Cutler and Dennis James, weigh their food. These guys have learned that although a guess may be close, a measurement is precise. For professional bodybuilders, placings at shows are all about precision of bodyweight and composition.
Without a food scale, most people seriously underestimate portion sizes. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's servings are actually very small. By USDA standards, one half cup of berries is one serving of fruit and one serving of meat is the size of a deck of cards--clearly bodybuilders eat more than that as a serving. Package labels can also be deceptive. For example, most bags of potato chips list about 120 calories "per serving" on the label. It's only when you look more closely that you see that a serving is only two ounces and that there might be seven servings in a whole bag. However, an accurate food scale never lies and won't distort your perceptions of portion size or how many calories you're really getting.
EYEBALLING: A SKILL TO MASTER
It takes only a few weeks with a good food scale to learn to accurately gauge bodybuilding portion sizes by inspection. Learning to eyeball portion sizes accurately is key when a scale isn't available or convenient. No matter what system you use to find out what's in your food, the first thing you need to know is how much there is--the weight of the food--in a way that's convenient enough to use 24/7.
Through consistent use of a scale, you'll get accustomed to the visual cues of a portion size. In the long run, you'll be able to make much more accurate estimations when measuring the weight of your food isn't an option. That will lead to more accurate control of your physique in terms of both muscle mass acquisition and bodyfat management.
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