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.

Machining Centers for Small-Lot, High-Mix/Low-Volume Applications
Westec 2017: Southwestern Industries’ Trak machines are said to increase productivity in shops that engage in small-lot or high-mix/low-volume work.

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.

Mills, Lathes Increase Productivity in Small-Lot Machining
Southwestern Industries’ Trak line of mills and lathes feature the company’s ProtoTrak CNC conversational language, which is designed to reduce machine setup time and increase machinist productivity.

Familiar Software Eases Machining Center Learning Curve
Southwestern Industries’ Trak LPM with ProtoTrak PMX control is a machining center designed for production of prototype and low-volume runs.

Lathe and Bed Mill
The TRAK TRL 1630SX lathe and the TRAK DPM SX3P bed mill both feature the ProtoTRAK CNC.

Small Toolroom Lathe
The TRAK TRL 1630SX lathe, featuring the ProtoTRAK SLX CNC, is the smallest toolroom lathe in the product line. It can be operated manually or by CNC using the optional TRAKing feature.