CPU for Compact Modular Controllers
Siemens’ S7-1217C CPU for the Simatic S7-1200 modular controller features the company’s version 4.0 firmware and Profinet iDevice functionality.

Siemens Acquires Preactor
The acquisition will expand Siemens’ software offerings.

Webinar: Easy CNC with Sinumerik Operate: Part 1 - ShopMill Setup and Programming
An instructional webinar from Siemens on Tuesday, June 18 at 2:00 PM EDT will step novice users through the process of setting up a basic three-axis milling machine.

Operator System Enables Direct Connection
Siemens’ Sinumerik OP 019 operating panel can directly connect to the Sinumerik 840D sl CNC control for milling, turning and laser machining with the TCU 30.2 thin client unit, an operator system for CNC applications.

Siemens Launches Thought Leadership Tour
A series of events explores challenges and rising trends in manufacturing.

“CNC Retrofit” Often Means More
This video testimonial provides an inside look at the myriad benefits Major Tool & Machine has realized from a new CNC platform—but like other, similar projects, implementing that platform required a complete motion system overhaul.

Retrofits Done Right
Manufacturers considering anything less than a total motion system upgrade could be selling themselves short.

Automation Summit Site Announced
New Orleans was chosen as the 2013 event location.

Robotics Integration for Workpiece Handling
mxAutomation for Sinumerik CNC is a joint development between Kuka and Siemens for operating both a machine tool and robot from a single control panel.

Lean from the Beginning
How would you design a new plant if you could begin today? Rolls-Royce Crosspointe is a major manufacturing site that was planned from the outset with the expectation that continuous improvement would always be part of its culture.

Entry-Level CNC for Lathes, Milling Machines
Siemens Drive Technologies Division’s Sinumerik 808D is an entry-level CNC for standard lathes and milling machines.

Basic CNCs Aimed at Job Shop Users
The Siemens Sinumerik 828D Basic T for turning and Basic M for milling are designed to enhance these machining operations in job shops.

Basic CNCs Are Aimed at Job Shop Users
 The Sinumerik 828D Basic T for turning and Basic M for milling are designed to enhance these machining operations in job shops.

Machine-Control Combo Ensures Speed, Precision
Five-axis HMCs from Grob with Sinumerik 840D sl CNCs from Siemens facilitate cost-effective production of cylinder heads at BMW’s motorcycle manufacturing plant in Berlin.

Siemens Drive System Enhanced With Industrial Ethernet Connectivity
Siemens’ Sinamics S120 drive system features Profinet, Ethernet TCP/IP and EtherNet/IP connectivity to maximize flexibility for industrial Ethernet communication.

Enhancements Improve Machine Tool Productivity
Siemens has enhanced its Sinumerik Operate user interface and Sinumerik MDynamics CNC milling and turning technology to improve machine tool performance.

Siemens Celebrates One-Year Anniversary of "Plantville" Game
Since its launch one year ago, Plantville, an online game from Siemens that simulates the experience of being a plant manager, has attracted more than 21,000 players in more than 160 countries and been recognized by numerous business awards, the company says.

Motion Controllers Enhance Productivity
Simotion D445-2 and D455-2 DP/PN motion controllers from Siemens Industry are suited for a variety of production uses.

A Model Machine for Titanium
Researchers develop a machine tool that controls vibration to mill titanium more productively. The machine relies on guideway systems delivering stiffness that is literally infinite.

CNC Controls Manage Energy Consumption
Sinumerik Ctrl-Energy is designed to provide energy-efficient operation of machine tools, encompassing Sinamics drive systems and motors, CNC and drive functions, PC software solutions and services.

CNC System Boosts Productivity for Aerospace Machining
Siemens' Sinumerik 840D is a CNC system designed to increase performance and productivity on the manufacturing floor, particularly in high speed and five-axis aerospace machining, the company says.

Webinar: Best Practices for Integrated Machine Safety
On Tuesday, May 3, Modern Machine Shop and Siemens present a helpful webinar offering an overview of best practices related to motion safety for machine tools.

Distributed Drive for Material Handling
Siemens’ Sinamics G110D drive platform, which is part of the company’s Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) portfolio, is designed for installation in close proximity to motors located throughout facilities where dust and water ingression are a concern. 

Siemens Supports Georgia Tech Research Projects
Siemens has made in-kind donations of automation and motion control technologies to the Georgia Institute of Technology Foundation for two research projects.

Last Glance at IMTS 2010
It would be impossible to cover all of the key exhibitors at IMTS 2010—even if every booth got merely a quick glance. However, the editors of MMS did get glimpses of some interesting technologies exhibited at the show...

Faster Production of Inside Threads
Modern tools, control and software create a range of options for producing inside threads efficiently.

From Image to Implant
Demo shows custom implant made on commodity-level machine.

Economical CNC Retrofit Package
Siemens Industry offers a CNC retrofit package that is said to economically improve productivity and efficiency.

CNC Platform Celebrates Its Jubilee
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Sinumerik, the world’s first industrial numerical control (NC). Brought to market by Siemens in 1960, the first path control was developed on the basis of separate electronic components.

Webinar: Best Practices for Five-Axis Machining in Job Shops
Siemens and Modern Machine Shop will provide an overview of best practices in five-axis CNC machining in this June 15 Webinar.

CNC Retrofit Package
Siemens offers a CNC machine tool retrofit package based upon its Sinumerik 802D sl system platform.

Five-Axis Volumetric Error Compensation for Large Machine Tools
System simultaneously corrects tool position in multiple axes to tighten machining accuracies on large machines that cut complex shapes.

New Technology Package For Milling Applications
Siemens Drive Technologies offers the Sinumerik MDynamics technology package for milling applications. The package combines CNC hardware, intelligent CNC functions and the complete CAD/CAM/CNC process chain for high-quality, high speed, precision machining.

Machine Control Aimed At Job Shops And Beyond
The Sinumerik 828D control is said to bring to the "job shop machine tool" a range of features and functionality typically reserved for high-end machine tools.

CNC Increases Productivity For Aerospace Applications
The Sinumerik 840D is said to increase performance and user productivity on the manufacturing floor, especially for high-speed and five-axis aerospace machining. The solution line is a universal and flexible CNC system featuring Sinamics S120 drives that can be used for as many as 31 axes. It is a distributed, scalable, open and inter-connecting system that offers a range of specialized functions for milling, drilling, turning, grinding and handling technologies.

CNC Training Software Available On CD ROM
Siemens Energy & Automation offers its SinuTrain solution, a package of CNC training software on CD-ROM that runs with Windows XP. To further speed the program-generation protocol, NC programs can be developed and simulated using a direct connection to the company’s CAD systems. In this way, mill and lathe operators not only learn the control language commands, but also visualize part programs on PC screens that are identical to actual machine screens.

CNC Training Software Uses Actual NC Programs
Siemens Energy & Automation’s SinuTrain CNC training software is designed to run with Windows XP and is said to be suited for machine tool control-identical simulation training. The software is designed to provide mill and lathe operators with a high degree of practical hands-on experience prior to using the CNCs for the first time, the company says. While using the application, NC programs are developed and simulated using a direct connection to the company’s CAD systems to further speed the program generation protocol.

Five-Axis CNC For Milling, Turning

Control Acts As Machine Tool Communications Center

CNC Maximizes Machining Efficiency
Siemens' Sinumerik 840D control allows this shop to run its machines virtually glitch-free. 

Analyze Process Chain Without Interrupting Production

Seeing More For CNC Multi-Spindles
Motor technology, machine design and software possibilities all improve the economies of these sophisticated high-volume machines.

CNCs Accomodate Various Automation Setups
As one Barrington, New Hampshire shop recently discovered, machining diesel engine turbocharger impellers from Type 2618 aluminum requires multiple passes to machine the blades.

Vibration-Resistant Servomotor Features Expanded Mounting Options

3D Surface Scanner For High-Throughput Lines

Understanding Jerk Control
What does "jerk" refer to, and where does it fit into machine performance?

CNC Analysis Aids Machine Design
This company designs, engineers and builds machines in conjunction with its sister company in a 200,000-square-foot facility with approximately 200 employees. When it set out to build a five-axis, high speed machining center for use in the production of critical components, it faced numerous challenges.

“Too Hard” Is Just Right
A user of ultrasonic machining looks for parts that are too hard to cut on other machine tools.

CNC Retrofit Improves Accuracy And Productivity For Aerospace Components
By using the Sinumerik 840D, the results include reduced setup time, improved surface finish, reduced secondary finishing operations and significant improvements in overall productivity.

Bridging The Gap Between CAD And CNC
The postprocessor is the last software link between an ideal CAD model and a "real" machined part. To what degree the postprocessor can take advantage of a CNC's capabilities, and vice versa, determines the number of available programming options and degree of programming difficulty. CNC/postprocessor rapport is particularly important for high speed machining (HSM).

CNC Features Important For Lathes Used On Oil Valves
The company says it likes the CNC program test feature because each tool has its own geometry page and up to four offsets, making things less complicated.

Multi-Axis Control Helps Supplier Stay Out In Front In Ported Cylinder Heads
This company was founded in 1997 and currently operates full CAD/CAM programming, CNC machining, bench/dyno testing for cylinder head and engine performance, and in-house welding and finishing departments. It uses a variety of multi-axis machining centers that have rotary tables for five-axis part articulation.

Computer Numerical Control

CNC Alarm Messages Over The Internet
One of the benefits of an Internet-enabled CNC is the potential to reduce the cost and delay associated with service calls. In many cases a machine may not be down because of a mechanical or hardware failure, but instead it may be a programming or parameterizing problem that causes a machine to stop. Problems of this type can often be addressed remotely.

Stringer Solution
To reduce cost while improving quality and reproducibility, Airbus UK decided to implement a fully automated process able to machine a stringer complete. The existing production facility was stripped to its steel framework and adapted for the new process.

Control Keeps Press Manufacturer Competitive
The Web Press Division of KBA North America Inc. (York, Pennsylvania), a builder of high speed presses for newspaper printing, recently investigated its need for improved control in the production of parts used in its equipment construction.

Curve Interpolation For Less
When the CNC executes the program faster, a higher feed rate becomes possible. Precisely this benefit has compelled many mold makers in particular to inquire about NURBS.

Controller Helps Meet Demand For Foreign Oil
The cutting of thousands of slots in extensive lengths of pipe requires large-scale machining, and the demand for such pipe is steadily increasing as Middle East oil sources become less dependable. Controls on these machines are crucial.

Latest Acramatic Control Is Born From Acquisition
Built on a single-processor Pentium III foundation, this control is suitable for a range of machine tools including two-axis lathes and five-axis machining centers.

Toward A Truly Open Manufacturing Environment
Modular systemization is revolutionizing machine tool control. CNCs are only the beginning.

Five-Axis Machining For The Masses
Control technology continues to make five-axis machining easier to use. Many special considerations - particularly qualified tools for pivoting-spindle machines - are no longer essential to the process.

Interpolating Curves
The ability to import complex curves into CNCs promises to let shops finally get beyond old limitations imposed by contouring with linear interpolation. Faster and smoother cutting will be the result.