Earlier this year, I wrote a column about a pattern I had observed. Personnel from various shops had expressed the distrust they feel toward equipment and tooling suppliers that emphasize their metalworking expertise. When these suppliers push to participate in shaping and improving a shop's manufacturing processes, some shops fear that it's the suppliers that have more to learn. Shops that feel this way have metalworking expertise of their own, and they don't want to see their techniques conveyed to their competitors when those suppliers go to assist other customers.

In that column, I mentioned that I didn't know whether my few anecdotal encounters were just that, or whether they represented a developing trend. When Tony Staub of Staub Machine read this, he wrote me to make a case for the opposite side of the argument.

Staub Machine is a job shop in Hamburg, New York, that was founded as a one-person business in 1975. It now has 15 employees and 14 CNC machines. According to Mr. Staub, "We could not be nearly the shop we are today without the help of outside suppliers." If the choice is trust or distrust, then he opts for the former.

I'll let him speak:

* On partnership as a two-way street. "For years, we have been trying to encourage partnerships with our customers. We believe partnership is the best way we can serve them. I want to know what they need!" And if partnership like this makes sense for his customers, he says, "then it also makes sense between the vendor and the shop."

* On contributing to expertise. "Yes, there is the possibility of your ideas being spread by sales engineers. Even the most discreet salesperson will share some information with another shop." That's because the salesperson may be discreet with specific secrets, but he can't help the fact that his general expertise will grow with each project.

Made from flame-retardant ABS plastic, ZN Series desktop enclosures securely nest on top of each other. Products have UL flame rating of 94-VO, 6 internal PCB mounting bosses, and removable end panels that can be modified for switches, displays, or connectors. ZN-40 measures 5.250 x 9.180 x 1.675 in. and ZN-45 measures 5.250 x 9.180 x 2.363 in. Both are suited for device networking technology, wireless servers, and handheld devices that require 2-handed operation.

(Avon, Ohio - October 2005) POLYCASE is a manufacturer of plastic enclosures for the electronics industry for over 50 years. Introducing the ZN Series, a versatile desktop enclosure with a unique interlocking design that allows for multiple enclosures to be stacked, where they securely "nest" there on top of each other. This design is perfect for device networking technology, wireless servers and many other applications and environments. Also, this nesting design is ideal for large handheld devices that require two-handed operation. Made from flame retardant ABS plastic, the ZN enclosure design serves a wide range of industries, particularly those requiring multi-layering or the addition of modules when space is tight. The space-saving features and stylish contours of this design make it seem like an expensive custom enclosure, when in fact it is available standard, off-the-shelf!

The ZN-40 measures 5.250" x 9.180" x 1.675" and the ZN-45 is 5.250" x 9.180" x 2.363." Both are well-suited for busy, modern workspaces such as home automation for the "integrated home," telecommunications, and security to name a few. The ZN Series pricing starts as low as $5.04 each for quantities of 500.

The POLYCASE ZN features the following:

o Well-balanced contours, textured finish

o UL flame rating of 94-VO

o 6 internal PC board mounting bosses

o Case screws to base for closure

o Two case styles: area on the case surface may be flush, textured or 0.030" recessed, smooth for graphic overlays and membrane keypads

o Base has recessed area for labeling ID

o Available in black, bone or gray

o Removable end panels are easily modified for switches, displays or connectors

POLYCASE can fully customize the ZN and all their standard enclosures with a myriad of value-added services. Saving both time and money, POLYCASE's CNC machining services can make any size or shape of opening possible. Pad printing, labeling and silk screening services create one-of-a-kind personalization.

A world-class leader in machine-tool technology and manufacturing, has been named the official machine tool of NHRA.

The official marketing partnership is the first for Okuma in NHRA POWERade Drag Racing and increases Okuma's presence in NHRA. The company also is the primary sponsor of Bill Miller's Top Fuel team and an active sponsor of a NASCAR race team.

"We believe the lessons learned from the application of advanced machining technology to the production of highendurance, high-reliability racing engines give Okuma machine tools a competitive edge in the market," said Okuma President Larry Schwartz. "That's why we're very excited about our partnership with NHRA."

As part of the exclusive multiyear agreement, NHRA is providing Okuma with multiple exposure opportunities through a variety of marketing platforms, including NHRA-produced publications and track signage at each NHRA POWERade Drag Racing Series event. In addition, Okuma will have the opportunity to use the NHRA mark in its advertising and promotional campaigns.

"We are pleased to welcome Okuma America as a valued official sponsor of NHRA," said NHRA Vice President-Sales & Business Development John Covarrubias. "We are looking forward to providing Okuma with optimum marketing value by helping them identify more potential customers through their association with NHRA."

When it comes to inspecting and measuring the very smallest parts, there are limits that are being pushed back by developments in sensor technology.

Parts for critical applications in the automotive, aerospace, medical, and electronics industries are getting smaller, and have more complicated features that can prove elusive to the best sensing efforts of traditional measuring technologies.

The familiar and widely-used touch-trigger probe has proven itself in countless applications on CMMs. Generally, the smallest probe tip available for tactile probing is 0.3-mm diam with a stylus length in the 2-3-mm range. Size can be a limiting factor when it comes to measuring the smallest parts and their features.

However, touch-trigger probes in combination with optical image processing sensors, analog scanning probes, and lasers have created a whole class of versatile multisensor machines that can be configured to tap the respective strengths of each technology for shop-floor or quality-control laboratory measurement and inspection.

What is considered small, of course, is relative. For a long time, medical devices and other Swissturned precision parts offered the most serious challenge to production measurement and inspection. Rowan Precision (Birmingham, England, UK), for example, adopted two noncontact measuring systems as effective ways of providing gaging of "first-off" parts, and automating measuring systems and programming routines for part traceability.

Rowan Precision's products tend to be small, precision-turned components with a number of complex internal and external features. They range in size from 0.5 to 85-mm diam, and are machined from aluminum alloys, stainless, and plastics, such as PTFE, for the medical and defense industries.

A typical application involves connectors that must be manufactured to a defense specification that is backed up by component traceability. These connectors have a number of key broached features that ensure that the finished component will only be located in the correct socket.

Accurate gaging of these broached features for Rowan Precision relative to the datum proved to be an extremely difficult and lengthy operation. Using a shadowgraph required sectioning the product before a measurement could be made. Besides destroying the product, the procedure was time-consuming for the operator.

To confirm that products were produced to the tight tolerances demanded by its customers, Rowan Precision chose Vision Engineering Inc.'s (New Milford, CT) Kestrel two-axis gaging system for the shop floor, and its Hawk three-axis automatic measuring system for the QC laboratory.

The Kestrel gaging system is located alongside the CNC machine, allowing first-off components to be taken directly from the machine for immediate inspection and measurement. In the QC lab, the Hawk motorized three-axis system with automatic Video Edge Detection (VED) runs alongside QC5000 PC-based software that allows measurement routines to be programmed and stored for future use.

When frequent or multiple checks are needed on a particular component, the quality engineer recalls a previously configured program, locates the component on the Hawk's stage, and starts an inspect cycle, which runs automatically. Once the routine is completed, a data report can be stored and printed, forming part of the data trail that is vital for quality systems and component traceability.

Parts are smaller, and more complex. The trend toward more sophisticated combinations of multisensor machines to meet specialized measuring requirements is not new. What is new are the choices in sensors that are available to characterize the form and fit of smaller and smaller, even microsized, precision parts.

According to William oilman, vice president, Optical Gaging Products Inc., (OGP, Rochester, NY), today's multisensor measurement machines go beyond vision, laser, and touch-trigger probes. As much as the combination of these sensors on a single platform improves productivity, each has its limitation, especially when applied to the latest manufacturing processes. These requirements have led to the development of "a new breed of microsensor technologies" that extend the capabilities of multisensor systems.

"The power of today's CAD software allows companies to design parts that have complex surface shapes that can be difficult to define geometrically. These surfaces may have intricate features with important distance or spatial requirements for proper fit or finish," Gilman explains.

Machining powder metal is like machining pure abrasion. So opines Charles Gerlach, president of Gerlach Machine. Located in St. Henry, Ohio, a small town landlocked by corn fields and quaint farm houses, Mr. Gerlach's shop has specialized in machining powder metal parts since the 1980s.

The soil in those nearby cornfields is loosely similar to powder metal, in that it is a mixture of nutrients and organic material that come together to provide the base for what farmers hope will be a bumper crop. Along those lines, powder metal parts are a mixture of tiny metal and alloying elements (think talcum powder tiny) that, after being compacted together and heated, form a near-net-shape component.

Unfortunately (for the powder metal molders, anyway), secondary machining operations are typically required to bring the part to its final form. At this stage, the powder metal part may have an apparent hardness rating that isn't very daunting in terms of machineability (30 Rc, for example). However, those individual powders retain their individual hardnesses--which could be 50 Rc or higher--yen after the part is molded. A tool cutting into such material will be slicing through very small, very hard particles--in essence, it's pure abrasion.

The result is excessive and often unpredictable tool wear as cutting edges break down. Success or failure in machining this material rests primarily on the choice and application of the cutting tools.

Why Powder Metal?

The number of powder metal components finding their way into the latest automobile designs continues to rise. In fact, such components are now used in more high-profile engine and transmission applications. Though powder metal parts have become the darling of the auto industry, they can still be a demon for the shops that must machine the finishing touches.

Gerlach Machine didn't set out with the intention of specializing in powder metal machining. The shop's Midwestern location had a lot to do with it. A number of local powder metal molders approached the company 25 years ago to machine the features that couldn't be created in the molding process. Many of these early parts required only boring operations to bring IDs to tolerance or tapping operations, because threads can't be formed in the mold.

In many cases, the ODs of the powder metal part the shop machines are molded to net shape. This is why these materials are especially attractive for gear components, as the traditional hobbing process to form gear teeth is not necessary. The molded teeth can then be induction-hardened for wear resistance, while the core remains soft to reduce the chance of fracture during operation.

It is because of molding process limitations that other part features, such as threads, require secondary machining. While holes that are parallel to the axis of mold compression can be molded, cross holes (those perpendicular to the compression axis) and grooves around the periphery of the part can't be molded. There are also limits to how thin part walls can be molded. In addition, machining may be necessary to reach the tighter tolerances and better surface finishes that are required of the latest automotive components.

Tooling Considerations

Most powder metal parts require turning and tapping operations rather than milling, which is why Mr. Gerlach's shop has more CNC lathes than mills. Because powder metal parts are near net shape, heavy roughing cuts are typically not required. Appropriate tooling, therefore, is that which is geared toward semifinishing and finishing duties. For turning operations, Mr. Gerlach primarily uses cermet inserts from Valenite (Madison Heights, Michigan). These inserts have essentially no edge prep in order to provide an extremely sharp cutting edge and free cutting action, which Mr. Gerlach has found effective in turning powder metal parts.

In certain instances, powder metal parts will be hardened via heat treating or induction hardening prior to machining work. Parts that are induction-hardened may require a finish machining pass because the quality of the finished surface was altered. For these hardened parts, the shop is more likely to use cubic boron nitride (CBN) inserts that are typically used for most hard turning applications. Again, those CBN inserts have minimal edge prep, so that their cutting edge is as sharp as possible.

As for threading, the shop has settled on titanium nitride (TIN) coated taps, and it has machined threads without coolant for the past 20 years. It also tries to mill and turn dry, with some machines fitted with air blast units used more for chip control than to keep tool cutting edges cool. Machining without coolant means that chips remain dry and are less likely to adhere to the part after machining. But more importantly, dry machining reduces the possibility of rust forming on the parts after machining.

Rust is an inherent problem with powder metal parts because of the material's porosity and high iron content. For that reason, not only does the shop typically machine dry, but also, most parts are submerged in an oil bath very soon after machining to prevent oxidation. Mr. Gerlach notes that in some cases, rust seemed to appear almost immediately after machining. This might be an indication that rust somehow developed in the molding process and was captured inside the molded part. The shop may break a pre-machined part in half to see if rust is found in the part's core to determine if a problem may exist in the molding process.

It's a grim fact that most entrepreneurial businesses fail within the first few years. Those that survive often do so by leveraging their ability to bring new products to market much more quickly than larger companies and riding every technological wave that comes along. Then there are companies like Engineering Concepts Unlimited that manage to buck both of those trends.

ECU, based in Fishers, Ind., is a manufacturer of engine controls, speed switches, voltage detectors and other components and modules primarily for stationary engine systems. The company is marking its 30th anniversary this year and it's turning out to be more than just a chronological milestone, as the company is also enjoying its best year financially, according to owner and founder Adam Suchko. While Suchko doesn't specify sales volumes for the privately held company, he noted that "this years growth has our weekly totals at 200% of last year. We're very busy and shipping at record levels."

Somewhat surprising is what's fueled the most recent growth spurt. Rather than the most advanced, CAN-bus controllers ECU has developed over the last several years, what's accounted for most of the company's sales this year has been the company's more traditional control systems, particularly the ECU-9988N engine control. The 9988N is a microprocessor-controlled unit designed to provide complete automation and safety monitoring of a gas or diesel engine in a wide range of stationary applications, including generator sets, pump sets and even vehicles and mobile machinery.

"It's kind of strange," said Suchko. "In 2000, we designed and manufactured the ICS-100 Digital Generator Control. This was an incredibly safe unit that had a detached ac module. We put a lot of bells and whistles in it. But we quickly found out that the end user of the equipment couldn't cope with all that stuff. We started to notice that many of our customers who tried other brands of digital equipment were seeing problems.

"About three years ago, we had a lot of customers ordering our traditional engine controls in large volume. Upon asking them why they were not using digital generator controls, they cited the downtime and said customer aggravation was not worth it.

"We asked a large customer if he would he be interested in a new digital controller and he said no, they're very happy with the 9988N. Everyone is back using what they know will work and we can hardly make enough of them."

The operative word in that statement is "hardly," for as noteworthy as ECU's products have been over the years, a lot of what has made the company successful has been its manufacturing capability. "When we started, we were working out of a storefront on Michigan Avenue," Suchko said. "We got a call from the chief engineer at Kato. He had to come for a plant visit before tendering a wonderful purchase order.

"We panicked, since the whole place was about 1200 sq.ft. He did come and after a brief tour I took him to lunch. I was sure he wouldn't give us the order since we were so small. He made what I thought was a profound statement. He said, I told our board that you guys have one of the finest products around and your literature was second to none. He said he expected to find a garage, but he added, 'I just wanted to make sure it was a clean garage.'"

Shortly thereafter, ECU moved into a leased building and later built its current facility just north of Indianapolis. Along with the new building came a new emphasis on manufacturing technology, which has continued. "We were using automation very early on to engrave and test our products but still were 100% hand-built," said Suchko. "Around 1985, it became obvious that we needed to shift away from the massive hand work it took to build an ECU-100."

The ECU-100 was the company's first flagship product, a basic controller that evolved and spawned a series of modules over the years, including the ECU-50, the ECU-85, the ECU-86A, the ECU-87, the ECU-88 and then the ECU-9988N. "The 'N' stood for microprocessor control," Suchko said. "We delayed putting a microprocessor in our unit until we could be sure they would work well. We then began the process of automating our assembly.

"Our first robot we built from scratch out of raw aluminum and motors. We wrote the controller and program language and created a machine that could run for up to three days and nights without assistance. We then found ourselves in the surface mount revolution and purchased several machines to do the job. We finally had the opportunity to buy very high-speed, high-volume equipment that is typically only found in China and Japan."

That equipment--which includes cassette loaders and unloaders, chip shooters and vision-aligned pasting systems--has helped ECU improve the production capacity of the Fishers plant by some 500% and the company continues to enhance and refine its manufacturing. "We have CNC machines to build any type of manufacturing machine we wish," Suchko said. "Our in-house skills give us a major edge to make our products with systems that cannot be found anywhere since we make them ourselves."

Featuring Windows-based environment, PMAC NC v5.0 can be combined with user's favorite PC-compatible CAD/CAM or conversational package. Multi-tasking utilities of Windows operating system enable CNC parts to be run while user simultaneously programs other applications. Connectivity options, such as Ethernet and USB2.0, help reduce time spent transferring part program files. Part program size is limited only by hard drive space.

Customizable Windows GUI for PC Based CNC control

CHATSWORTH, CA- August 20, 2004- Delta Tau Data Systems Inc., the technology leader in multi-axis programmable motion control solutions, today announced the release of PMAC NC 5.0 software, a Windows-based customizable GUI for PC based CNC control.

"With the combination of PMAC HMI and the NC server, this new release offers the most advanced and flexible CNC software package available," said Vince Burokas, Product Manager for CNC at Delta Tau Data Systems, Inc. "This new version builds on Delta Tau's previous G-code software package that leverages Delta Tau's legendary servo hardware performance to bring unprecedented levels of block throughput speed, cutting accuracy and the flexibility of a PC-based environment to the shop floor."

NC 5.0 has all of the features of the previous version with the added advantage of easy user screen customization. The Windows-based environment allows users to combine NC 5.0 with their favorite PC compatible CAD/CAM or conversational package. This gives the operator or programmer the flexibility to program directly at the machine or remotely at a desk. The multi-tasking utilities of the Windows operating system enable CNC parts to be run, while the user simultaneously programs other programs. Connectivity tools, such as Ethernet and USB2.0, are easy to set up and provide unparalleled reductions in time spent transferring part program files. The part program size is limited only by the hard drive space.

The combined CNC software and one Advantage 410 hardware package from Delta Tau can deliver block throughput speed of more than 1,000 blocks per second. Segmented block look-ahead is available, virtually eliminating overshooting and undercutting. This allows the programmer to concentrate on part geometry and not control capabilities.

Advantage 410 CNC combined operator console and matched 4- or 6-axis integrated amplifier/controller is suited for machine tool OEMs and retrofit applications. Modular unit includes 15 in. touchscreen and customizable operator controls. Equipped with mobile operator control pendant, product supports dynamic multi-block segmented look-ahead, forward and inverse kinematics, 5th axis programming capability, and lead screw and backlash compensation.

New Integrated Operator Console/Amplifier is an Easy to Setup, Cost Effective, Open Architecture Solution for Machine Tool OEMs and Retrofit Applications

CHATSWORTH, CA - August 20, 2004- Delta Tau Data Systems Inc., the technology leader in open architecture CNC controls, today announced the Advantage 410, the newest member of its CNC control family. The 410 CNC combined operator console and matched 4 or 6-axis integrated amplifier/controller is specifically designed to meet next generation CNC control requirements.

"We designed the 410 to leverage the capabilities of the PC in the operator control console to bring end users an unprecedented list of peripheral and networking features, usually costing a premium, in an extremely cost-effective package," said Vince Burokas, Product Manager for CNC at Delta Tau Data Systems, Inc. "The digital amplifier and control were integrated into one unit to minimize setup time. This design embraces a modular philosophy allowing an infinite number of machine configurations. The 410 provides OEM's and end users with a long list of features, performance and value."

The feature rich 410 CNC includes a 15-inch touch screen and customizable operator controls for an easy-to-integrate and cost-effective open architecture solution for OEM and retrofit CNC applications. The Advantage 410 CNC supports high-speed machining, dynamic multi-block segmented look-ahead for path fidelity at any speed, forward and inverse kinematics for non-traditional mechanical configurations, 5th axis programming capability, and lead screw and backlash compensation.

The 410 CNC features a mobile operator control pendant with user-definable function keys, an embedded industrial PC, the new user configurable 5.0 HMI NC software, and the NC Autopilot quick setup tool, all in a slim line design with 4 or 6-axis Geo PMAC motion and servo amplifier. Integration and connectivity between the operator console and the smart servo amplifier is simplified by utilizing a single USB2.0 interface cable. With the 410 CNC, the user adds appropriate motors and a minimum amount of field wiring to complete a CNC control system. The user can choose the motors best suited for the application.

The CNC Autopilot setup utility simplifies the machine tool integration process by automatically creating the PLCs for a particular machine. The motors are tuned automatically using the Autotune software feature. The GUI has been designed using the PMAC HMI program. This allows the user to easily customize the GUI interface for their specific application. The PMAC NC 5.0, for Windows software provides interactive part programming or execution of standard G-Code programs.

Multiplex Triple 8200Y features 2 horizontally opposed, 8 in. chuck headstocks with 12-tool turret for each side and lower turret with 9 tools that can work with both headstocks. Latter also provides 5 hp, 4,500 rpm milling spindle. Opposing spindles can be synchronized and simultaneously clamp long shaft workpiece for turning, milling, drilling, tapping, or Y-axis machining. Rapid traverse rates are 1,968, 787, and 1,968 in X, Y, and Z axes respectively.

For high production of chucked workpieces, the new Multiplex Triple 8200Y from Mazak exceeds all expectations for achieving high-speed, efficient production with no compromise on part accuracy and quality.

This newest Multiplex is a high-production CNC multi-tasking center featuring two horizontally opposed 8-in. chuck headstocks with a 12-tool turret for each side, and a third lower turret with nine tools that can work with both headstocks. Maximum swing is 12.6 inches. Moreover, the new lower turret with nine tool stations and a 5-HP, 4500-rpm milling spindle brings greater productivity and throughput. The opposing spindles can be synchronized and simultaneously clamp a long shaft workpiece for turning, milling, drilling, tapping or Y-axis machining. Smaller workpieces can be processed in the first spindle, then automatically transferred to the second spindle for subsequent operations. Or two workpieces can be machined simultaneously.

Productivity has been increased dramatically due to many factors. A new featured Z-axis super-positioning feature allows the lower turret and a upper turret to run for simultaneous machining, cutting cycle time. Rapid traverse rates are up in all three axes: from 1200 to 1968 ipm in X (upper turret); from 393 to 787 ipm in Y; and from 1299 to 1968 ipm in Z (upper turret). Compared to its previous model, milling spindle power is increased from 5 HP to 15 HP, and maximum milling spindle speed is 4500 rpm (with 6000 rpm optional).

Part variety also is greater as spindle bore diameter on the new Multiplex is 3 inches, up from 2.4 inches, meaning bar work capacity is 2.5 inches in diameter as opposed to 2 inches on the earlier model.

New design features on the Multiplex Triple 8200Y contribute to high machining accuracy. Symmetrical construction balanced by turrets and electrical cabinets on either side of the machine result in uniformly minimal heat distortion, with minimal effect on machining accuracy. Heat distortion is further minimized by an air gap between the headstock and headstock base. Oil and air lubrication in the turret and chilled oil circulating through the turret's mill housing also minimize any temperature increase.

Convenient maintenance is also a highlight of the new Multiplex. All units requiring daily maintenance are centrally located with convenient operator access. See-through screen panels and other visual indicators make status checks quick and easy. Grease lubrication reduces waste and extends coolant life due to no tramp oils.

The Multiplex Triple 8200Y also features an optional gantry loader robot for unattended operation and production of an automotive cylinder liner. Operations could include OD roughing and finishing, ID roughing and finishing, and Y-axis milling, with operations being automatically handed off between left and right spindles.

Digital Model 104/D CNC, with 850 MHz Pentium III processor, uses menu system to capture part, tool, and position data. Existing part programs can be run without editing. Control offers integrated 10BaseT/100 Ethernet, 2 Gb data storage capacity, and 15 in. LCD display. GE Fanuc Series 18i MB5, with 5-axis capability, provides straightforward operator interface and interactive screens. Siemens Sinumerik 840D, suited for high-speed moldmaking, includes ShopMill for milling and drilling.

High-Speed Control Options Include Fadal 104/D digital CNC, GE Fanuc Series18i MB5 CNC and Siemens Sinumerik 840D CNC

CHATSWORTH, CALIF - JULY 20, 2004 - Fadal Machining Centers today announced three high-speed CNC standard options, including the new Fadal digital 104/D CNC, GE Fanuc Series18i MB5 CNC and Siemens Sinumerik 840D CNC. Each of the high-speed CNC controls will be demonstrated on a Fadal VMC 4020 at IMTS Booth #A-8218. The high-speed CNC controls are standard options available on Fadal VMC's at no additional cost.

The Fadal 104/D digital CNC uses a menu system to capture part, tool and position data and is compatible with all Fadal controls. Existing Fadal part programs can be run on the new control without any editing. Additional software features include Quick Code, part rotation & scaling and limitless variable and user-defined macros. An 850 MHz Pentium III processor enables the high speed 104/D digital CNC to demonstrate a ten times increase in cutting feed rates without deviating from part tolerances. The increases in cutting feed rates are complemented by the control's ability to run DNC 100 times faster through an integrated 10base T/100 Ethernet. Standard features include increased - 2GB - data storage capacity, eliminating the need for expensive expanded memory. A larger and brighter 15" LCD display, 101 PC keyboard and mouse. Other standard features include two USB ports for data transfer or the use of external devices, and a 3.5" floppy drive and Remote Manual Pulse Generator (RMPG).

The GE Series18i MB5 CNC combines a very robust processor with simultaneous five-axis capability. It features Manual Guide i software, which provides an easy-to-understand and straightforward operator interface, interactive screens and powerful machining functions. With a few keystrokes and within a third of the time required on a standard CNC ISO environment, it is possible to input, test and execute a program. A machining program can be simulated in the 2D or 3D solid model view, displaying the cutting path and tooling. Standard G code programs can be animated, too. The Series18i MB5 CNC delivers a number of advances, such as eliminating bottlenecks and reducing machine tool cycle time with a fast processor, 2-MB memory and Fanuc Serial Servo Bus (FSSB) that connects the CNC to multiple servo amplifiers over a single high-speed multi-drop fiber optic connection.

The Siemens Sinumerik 840D CNC was designed for high-speed moldmaking operations. It features ShopMill for milling and drilling, which minimizes setup time by reducing workpiece programming and tool measurements to a few button pushes. The 840D CNC delivers comprehensive control of high-speed machining with look-ahead, dynamic feed forward and programmable acceleration, especially useful in high-speed contouring operations. The control delivers faster program execution speeds for a smoother surface finish when contouring at high spindle speeds. With smoothed acceleration, wear on mechanical parts is reduced and travel response optimized, enabling higher performance and longer service life. A contouring mode, with programmed corner rounding, enables faster machining of corners, reducing cycle time.