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From Manual Mills to Hybrid CNC: How Conversational Control Transformed Toolroom Machining

When a veteran machinist refused to use a new CNC mill, his resistance sparked a revolution. This article traces how Southwestern Industries developed ProtoTRAK — an intuitive hybrid control system that remains vital as AI begins reshaping manufacturing.

Trak Machine Tools Lathes Offer Compact, Heavy Duty Performance

IMTS 2024: The Trak TC2 and the Trak TC820si are compact lathes designed for production applications.

Machine Tool Data Analysis Identifies Effective Setup Tactics

Thanks to the MTConnect standard, it is easy to create a timeline of a machine’s activities and use it to discover ways for improving operations. One example is how to reduce setup time.

Compact Milling Center from Trak Opens Possibilities

The VMC2 from Trak Machine Tools is full-featured milling center with a compact footprint.

CNC Machining and Motorsports

Have a look at some of the new manufacturing equipment spotted in “Machinery Row” at the recent Performance Racing Industry Show.

News of Note: December 2018

ORNL appoints new leadership, Ingersoll remains with current owners, DMG MORI expands and other industry news.

ProtoTrak Control Demos Blur Line Between Real and Digital

Trak Machine Tools’ booth has a new look this year, with an emphasis on hands-on demonstrations of its ProtoTrak RMX CNC.

CNC's Touchscreen Interface Contributes to Ease of Use

IMTS 2018: The ProtoTRAK RMX CNC from Southwestern Industries functions on ProtoTRAK machines designed for toolroom applications.

Amerimold: Moldmaking's Biggest Show Captures Current Metalworking Technology

Many of the emerging developments and key trends in metalworking technology were represented at this show, making it a revealing cross-section of current advances.

Portable VMC Streamlines Secondary Operations

Eastec 2017: Southwestern Industries will showcase the Trak 2OP, its portable VMC designed for secondary machining operations.

Mills and Lathes with CNC Technology Increase Productivity

Southwestern Industries will exhibit its Trak line of mills and lathes featuring the company’s ProtoTrak conversational CNC language, designed to reduce time-consuming machine setups and enable less-skilled machinists to do higher-level work.

When One? When Two?

East Branch Engineering often uses live-tool turning centers to complete complex parts in one setup. However, it also leverages a flexible and reconfigurable “mini-cell” strategy to enable a single operator to tend two machines at once, essentially gaining “free” machining time by overlapping operations.

Mobile Machining Center Performs Secondary Operations

Southwestern Industries’ Trak 2OP portable machining center streamlines workflow by bringing an additional spindle to an operator for secondary machining operations.

All That and a Pallet Jack

Easy maneuverability is a key feature for this secondary-op machine. That’s why it comes with its own pallet jack.

The Value of a Portable Second-Op Machine

A portable second-op machine can make more effective use of labor while freeing primary machines to carry out the complicated work they were designed to perform.

Portable CNC Machining Center Performs Secondary Operations

Southwestern Industries will release its TRAK 2OP portable machining center designed for second-operation machining.

CNC Software Packages Reduce Programming Time

Southwestern Industries will introduce two advanced CNC software packages: Verify and Parasolid Converter.

Machining Simulation Software for Lathes and Mills

Southwestern Industries will introduce its solid 3D Verify machining simulation software, available as part of the advanced feature option set for TRAK lathes and mills with ProtoTrak SLX and SMX controls, respectively.

Taking the Long View on Short Runs

Certain jobs require a processing strategy that strikes a balance between the needs of high-volume production and low-quantity toolroom work. Reorganizing material flows and investing in machining centers designed specifically for small lots helped this manufacturer find that middle ground.

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