Manufacturing technology products - November/December 2025

Nested wave spring

The Nestawave compression spring is engineered for applications requiring high load capacity and significant travel within compact spaces. With multiple turns of flat wire nested in a Crest-to-Crest wave spring configuration, the Nestawave delivers force and flexibility in a single spring. Manufactured from a single continuous wire, the design offers consistent load properties and enhanced performance.

The Nestawave is suitable for replacing stacks of Belleville washers, helping to reduce part count, labor, and installation errors. It’s especially well-suited for use in actuators, bearing preloads, compressors, valves, and other high-performance components. The spring is available in diameters ranging from 1/4" to 20" (6.5mm to 510mm) and in standard and exotic materials. It can be custom-made for specific applications.

Smalley
https://www.smalley.com/nestawave

Hydraulic 4-jaw chuck

The INOFlex VF-A hydraulic 4-jaw chuck is designed for milling and turning applications. It features hydraulic actuation allowing workpieces to be changed more quickly and enabling a fully automated process. Like all INOFlex chucks, the VF-A incorporates patented compensating technology letting each pair of jaws move independently of the other on parallel axes – unlike conventional chucks, in which all drive parts move in the same direction around the center. Compensation is provided by connecting the diametrically opposed slides with levers and a sliding gate-type gear. This provides automatic centering of workpieces of all sizes, allowing shops to quickly shift between circular, rectangular, and asymmetrical parts.

The INOFlex VF-A is well-suited for parts ranging from 160mm to 1,200mm diameter. Combining the advantages of 2-, 3-, and 4-jaw chucks in one product, it quickly centers and securely holds parts without the risk of deformation. It offers internal and external clamping and increases productivity, particularly in automated applications.

HWR Workholding
https://hwr-usa.com/produkte/inoflex-vf-a/

Honing oil

PHOTOS COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE COMPANIES

The MB-30LO honing oil is engineered for general-purpose metalworking and critical medical applications. The versatile metalworking oil supports a broad range of machining processes including drilling, tapping, reaming, and screw machines, and offers improved honing performance for medical device and instrument manufacturing.

The oil features ultra-low VOC content measuring ≤50g/L and is fully compliant with ASTM1868-10 and SCAQMD standards, delivering safer air quality and meeting strict environmental regulations of medical manufacturing environmental standards. Not classified as hazardous under OSHA 2012, MB-30LO enhances workplace safety and simplifies handling requirements in medical production facilities.

A high flash point above 110°C significantly reduces fire hazards during metalworking processes common in sterile device manufacturing zones. A specific gravity of 0.92 (at 60°F) provides predictable performance and system compatibility for tight-tolerance medical parts and instruments. The oil’s viscosity of 26cSt (at 40°C) enables optimal lubrication in honing and cutting operations for ultra-precise machining. It has a five-year shelf life when sealed and stored properly and offers a milder scent than the original MB-30 oil, improving technician comfort.

Sunnen Products Co.
https://sunnen.com