MAG's new XTi “super profiler” takes aerospace machining to a record altitude, demonstrating a 90in³ per minute metal removal rate (MRR) in titanium prior to shipment to Aerospace Dynamics International (ADI). The machines are part of a $100 million expansion that includes a new 120,000ft² manufacturing center. The two machines will share a 120ft X-axis rail for multi-part production of titanium components for the Boeing 777 and 787, and Airbus A350.

According to Chip Storie, executive vice president, MAG, the 3-axis, 5-spindle XTi profiler is engineered and built for maximum dynamic stiffness and sustained power in titanium roughing operations to meet ADI’s aggressive processing requirements.

John Cave, president and CEO, ADI, adds, "This is the stiffest profiler we’ve ever seen in action. We typically rough machine Ti 6A14V with a radial depth of cut (RDOC) of 0.38” and axial depth of cut (ADOC) of 1.5” to 2.5”. During our visit we had MAG machine an angular channel in titanium, with 4” axial depth and a 1.5” radial depth. We were impressed at the ease with which these cuts were made. The machine peeled off perfect '6-shaped' chips with no chatter or sign of structural instability. The part finish was excellent. It was a remarkable demonstration and exceeded our expectations, giving us confidence as we move forward with plans for the new 5-axis model of the XTi."

The XTi profiler uses five spindle motors capable of up to 3,500rpm, each rated 51kW (68hp) and producing 2,523nm (1860ft/lb) of torque. The machine is engineered with a new spindle support structure that is incorporated into an extremely stiff, heavyweight gantry for superior damping. The massive cross rail is 77% larger than previous designs, providing added stiffness, rigidity, and damping for high-horsepower, chatter-free machining. To handle that power and torque, the ADI profilers are equipped with 60 taper tools for highly efficient roughing and finishing operations. The XTi is available with HSK 125A tool interface as an option. Five 6-pocket tool exchangers, located at each end of the work zone, permit five tool exchanges per machine. X-axis motion is powered by rack-and-pinion drives on both rails, while Y- and Z-axes are driven by large-diameter ball screws, with a counterbalance and brake on the Z.
 

Officials at

Mitutoyo America Corporation

announces the availability of Contracer CV-3200/4500 Series contour measuring systems. These instruments offer significantly increased productivity by combining fast traverse speeds with many time saving and accuracy enhancing innovations.

The new Contracer CV-3200/4500 Series machines feature a precision arc-scale built into the Z1-axis, allowing the arc trajectory of the stylus tip to be read directly, thus minimizing error for best in-class accuracy.  Both series employ an innovative detector arm that lowers workpiece interference while expanding range in the Z1-axis.  The arm is also equipped with collision auto-stop to assure measurement safety even during high-speed movement. Additional safety features in the joystick unit include a drive speed control knob and emergency stop switch.    

The Contracer CV-4500 features continuous measurement of both upper and lower surfaces via a double-sided, conical stylus.  This continuous measurement data can be used to facilitate analysis of features that otherwise would be difficult to measure, such as the effective diameter of an internal screw-thread.

The CV-3200/4500 Series machines incorporate a Mitutoyo ABS scale, eliminating the need to reset the origin. Dedicated calibration gages enable the systems to perform sensitive calibrations including Z1-axis gain, symmetry, and stylus radius, in a single, simple operation. 
 
Contracer CV-3200/4500 Series contour measuring systems include FORMTRACEPAK contour analysis software as standard.  Available in 15 language views, FORMTRACEPAK offers complete surface roughness and contour inspection, and reporting functionality including new measuring force adjustment capabilities.  Contracer CV-3200/4500 Series instruments support output to measurement data applications such as MeasurLink, Mitutoyo’s real-time, statistical process control and data analysis software solution, appropriate for stand-alone and enterprise wide data management needs.

HM-200 Series Micro Vickers Hardness Testers from Mitutoyo incorporate the latest optical systems for measuring indentation dimensions together with an electromagnetic test-force loading device–just two of the new, productivity-enhancing technologies designed into these machines.    
   
Depending on model, Mitutoyo HM-200 Series Micro Vickers Hardness Testers are equipped with a touch panel controllers and available CCD camera  or with an included USB color mega-pixel vision system supported by AVPAK software for automatic indentation measurement.

HM-200 Series Micro Vickers Hardness Testers are equipped with an electro-magnetic test force device, making it easy to precisely set the desired force, between 0.403nm and 19,610nm (HM-220).  Objective lenses provide a long working distance with six available MH Plan objectives.  The 10X, 20X, 50X and 100X types are used for measuring indentations; the 2X and 5X facilitate widefield observation tasks.  During test-site positioning, positioning information is displayed digitally; 25mm x 25mm or 50mm x 50 mm stroke lengths are selectable.  LED illumination offers a long service life with low power consumption.

HM-200 Series Micro Vickers Hardness Testers feature a motorized turret mechanism that automatically switches the position of indenter and objective lens via touch panel or from a PC running AVPAK.

In addition, new HM-200 Series Micro Vickers Hardness Testers can support output to measurement data applications such as MeasurLink, Mitutoyo’s proprietary statistical-processing and process-control program which performs statistical analysis and provides real-time display of measurement results for SPC applications.  The program can also be linked to a higher-level network environment for enterprise-wide functionality.
 

Eriez’s Recycling Market Group personnel relocates from the company’s Erie, PA, Asbury Road Headquarters to Eriez new 114,000ft² Wager Road facility, also located in Erie. 

“For our customers, it’s business as usual,” explains Darrell Milton, market manager, Metals Recycling. “The move was seamless and our contact details have not changed.”

At the end of 2011, Eriez began building its largest, most cutting-edge and hottest selling recycling equipment at the Wager Road facility.

“It was an easy decision to move our recycling personnel to the location where much of our recycling equipment is built,” says Milton. “This will bring greater efficiency and streamline operations as personnel will no longer have to travel to a separate facility to check on equipment builds and perform machinery testing.”

The staff at the Wager Road facility is made up of new hires and existing employees, who moved from the Asbury Road Headquarters to the new building. In addition to manufacturing recycling equipment, the facility houses the expanded Eriez 5-Star Service Center and also handles manufacturing of Eriez’ Column Flotation Cells and Hydroflow Fluid Filtration and Recycling Equipment.