Thogus is the first case I know of in which an injection molder with no CNC machining capability was the subject of a feature article in Modern Machine Shop. Thogus’s story (read it here) appears in the premiere issue of our new Additive Manufacturing supplement. Usually, our sister magazine Plastics Technology covers injection molders. For MMS’s readers, particularly mold shops, a company like Thogus is a customer.
But that’s exactly the point. By embracing additive manufacturing, Thogus has been able to bypass mold suppliers—additively generating either the mold or the plastic part on its own. In addition, by using additive manufacturing to produce short runs of parts, Thogus has been able to compete for low-volume jobs that typically would go to a machine shop. Additive manufacturing has thus helped redefine the company in ways that directly affect companies using CNC machine tools.
In this video, Thogus president Matt Hlavin discusses his company’s use of additive manufacturing technology.
Is a fast-food job good preparation for a career in manufactuing? It turns out that potentially any job is. Britney Heil, seen here, is one of the first recent high school graduates to be recruited into the new manufacturing apprenticeship program at Alphatec Spine in Carlsbad, California. Six graduating high school seniors were carefully considered for admission to this program, but only three were hired. Ms. Heil had been working at a fast-food restaurant previously. Alphatec chose her and two others after personally meeting with all of the finalists. It then discovered what the three who had been chosen all had in common, and what the three who had not been chosen all lacked. Namely: a job. It seems that having a job—any job—is a strong indicator of success, helping to develop the poise, confidence and interpersonal engagement that can make a young person an attractive candidate for a more career-oriented job later.
Photo-Machining seems well-suited for components such as blocker doors for jet engines
that require many small holes.
We’re always on the lookout for new, innovate and atypical ways to machine parts. Seems we found one with Photo-Machining.
Developed by Ikonics Micro Machining Solutions, Photo-Machining melds two existing technologies—sandblasting and photolithography—to enable fast machining of a lot of holes or features into various types of composite materials.
The process starts with the creation of a protective mask via photolithography with “windows” of all the features required for the part. Users simply email the feature pattern artwork to Ikonics, which, in turn, photo-processes the pattern to create the sandblast-resistant mask in a proprietary, photo-reactive film. After receiving the self-adhesive mask, the user applies it to the surface of the composite part and the features are created via sandblasting. After sandblasting, the mask is removed from the part to reveal the precisely machined features.
Studer’s next-generation cylindrical grinder, the S41, is designed for precision, speed and high metal removal rates in a broad range of applications.
The incorporation of linear drives for axis movement is just one feature that differentiates Studer’s S41 from other universal cylindrical grinders, says Hans Ueltschi, vice president of cylindrical division sales at United Grinding (Miamisburg, Ohio), which represents Studer in the United States. Although such systems are increasingly popular for other types of machine tools, and even more specialized grinders, they are rarely seen on general-use OD/ID models, he says. In part, that’s because applying linear drives to a grinder generally involves a different set of priorities than those of other types of machines.
In fact, those different priorities led Studer to design a new type of guideway system that ensures the S41 takes full advantage of the linear drives’ benefits. Called “StuderGuide,” this system is essentially a hybrid of hydrodynamic and hydrostatic guideways. Read this article to learn more.
After looking at modeling and prototyping, the third stop on “The Edge Factor’s” tour for Reality Redesigned judges was the first look at actual production. A visit to Intense Cycles in San Diego shows how bike frames are made.
