Viking Blast & Wash Systems announces the release of their newest blaster in it’s Industrial line of Spinner Hanger blasters. The SH 3660. This new and redesigned unit has a wider 36″ wide by 60″ tall blast zone than its predecessor the SH 3460, and brings new efficiency to consumers.

This redesigned unit eliminates the need for a lower screw auger reducing wear while improving efficiency. The air intake is very aggressive and allows for application of more than 2500 CFM yielding cleaner abrasive and a cleaner cabinet. The drum is made of manganese and is lined with 1/2″ thick cast chrome/moly liners giving the highest degree of wear resistance. Most applications are covered by the standard offering, but can also be fitted with a rotary scalping drum, auxiliary abrasive hoppers and 20 HP, 25 HP or 30 HP blast wheels verses the standard 15 HP. Viking uses safety light curtains as standard with two palm buttons yielding the highest level of safety offered in the market. All Viking cartridge style dust collectors are sold with NFPA required deflagration panels as standard.

Viking Blast & Wash Systems offers industrial cleaning solutions for all sizes and shapes of metal parts. To receive a copy of the new brochure or for information on any of the shot blast, wash, or vibratory equipment offered by Viking, please call 1-800-835-1096, email sales@vikingcorporation.com or visit their website at www.vikingcorporation.com.

Charlotte, NC (December 14, 2011) – In a three-day event December 6-8, Okuma America Corporation and their distributors hosted over 200 manufacturing professionals at the Okuma and Partners in THINC facilities in Charlotte, NC. With 24 machines on display and 29 Partner representatives on hand to address questions, attendees had the opportunity to truly explore potential manufacturing solutions and discover ways to improve their productivity.

Tim Thornton, Controls Product Specialist, provided information about Okuma’s Intelligent Technologies and helped attendees understand how the THINC®-OSP control monitors and analyzes information from machine performance to improve productivity by reducing chatter, managing thermal deformation and helping to prevent catastrophic machine crashes.

Larry Schwartz, Chief Strategy Officer, challenged manufacturers to question the status quo and utilize existing technology to reduce costs, improve quality and increase productivity. He shared insights from his 43 years of experience in manufacturing to illustrate how easy it is to become complacent by doing what we’ve always done. His viewpoints and insights inspired event participants to seek out the Partners and explore ways to improve their processes.

Partner equipment on display included the Iscar Matrix tool management system, MacMan-Net from dataZen, TMAC auto-compensation software from Caron Engineering, workholding solutions from Busche, Kitagawa, Koma Precision, SMW Autoblock, Schunk, Riten and WTO, automation equipment from KUKA Robotics, LNS, Edge Technologies, Gosiger Automation and IEMCA, tooling from Sandvik, Command Tool and Kennametal, gauging from Renishaw, Zoller, Marposs, Blum, Edmunds Gages and Hexagon Metrology, coolant solutions from MP Systems, Chipblaster and Qualichem, CAD/CAM systems from Esprit and Mastercam.

As a showcase for Partners in THINC, the event provided an education for many attendees as they discovered the depth and breadth of companies represented. One participant commented, “I wasn’t aware of all of the different companies operating as one in the same building. The fact that you can bring together so many suppliers that are competitors and have them working together is a great resource for the end customers such as myself.”

Featured equipment included an MCR-A5C double-column machining center, Multus B-750 horizontal lathe, a GA-26T grinder and the new Okuma AMPS flexible manufacturing system which is connected to 3 MB-4000H horizontal machining centers. Applications engineers and product specialists were on hand to personally discuss manufacturing problems and work with customers and partners to solve specific operating and processing issues.

In addition to the equipment and Partners, attendees were treated to a full tour of the Okuma facility, including stops at the service areas – spindle and board repair and the call center. Technicians explained how Okuma’s spindle exchange and board repair programs are designed to keep manufacturers operating, even when their spindles or boards go down. If a spindle or board fails, Okuma overnights a replacement even before the customer returns the failed unit – getting the customer up and operational as soon as possible.

Attendees were excited and energized by the event and left with a good understanding of Okuma’s wide product range, strength of technology and commitment to partnership and service. One visitor commented, “I’m 50 years old and have been in manufacturing my whole life and attended many shows. I have never been more impressed or inspired after meeting and speaking with the groups there (at Okuma).”

Okuma will host more learning events in 2012, including a series of Lunch & Learn events at the Partners in THINC facility and at the Okuma Tech Centers in Chicago and Houston.

About Okuma America Corporation:
Okuma America Corporation is the US based affiliate of Okuma Corporation, a world leader in the development of computer numeric controls (CNC) and machining technology, founded in 1898 in Nagoya, Japan. Known for its technology leadership and world-class manufacturing, product quality and dedication to customer service, Okuma strives to be the machine tool solution provider to manufacturers worldwide. For more information, visit www.okuma.com

About Partners in THINC:
Partners in THINC is a unique facility and concept offering integrated solutions and a one-stop-shop designed to streamline current manufacturing processes, improve capabilities, or for exploring advanced manufacturing options. Each member of Partners in THINC brings specialized equipment, expertise and a commitment to provide the best possible integrated solutions to the end-user. For more information, visit www.partnersinthinc.com.

Chicago, Illinois, December 14, 2011 – Mori Seiki has started taking orders for the ULTRASONIC 65 monoBLOCK® equipped with ultrasonic machining functions and the LASERTEC 65 Shape equipped with laser machining functions.   Both machines are designed based on the DMU 65 monoBLOCK ® 5-axis control machining center made by Mori Seiki’s collaboration partner, GILDEMEISTER AG of Germany.    The DMU 65 monoBLOCK ® is part of the new DMU monoBLOCK ® series of next generation machine tools with excellent cost performance. The DMU 65 monoBLOCK ® uses a 2-axis trunnion table *1 for the first time in the DMU monoBLOCK ® series, handling large workpieces of up to 2200 lbs.  The machine features a compact design with a footprint of 24.6 ft 2, as well as a large door with an opening width of 56 in. The expansive door opening offers a wide work area and improved access to the machine. It also allows easy access for loading and unloading large workpieces by crane. These two machines have been launched in response to customer demand for 5-axis machining of difficult-to-cut materials such as ceramic and super hard metals while maintaining fine cutting and environment-friendly machining.   And there has also been growing demand for 5-axis machining center, as the workpieces become more complicated. Each of the newly released 5-axis machining centers improves productivity and cost performance by performing multiple processes that usually require special machines.

The ULTRASONIC 65 monoBLOCK®

ULTRASONIC 65 monoBLOCK ®
The ULTRASONIC actuator system used on the spindle is a patented technology of GILDEMEISTER, allowing a 5-axis machining center to perform ultrasonic machining through HSK interface.  Ultrasonic machining reduces cutting forces by applying longitudinal ultrasonic vibration to rotational movement of a tool during grinding.  For this reason, ultrasonic machining can significantly improve machining quality in regards of surface finishes of less than Ra *1 0.2 µm as well as reduction of micro-cracking of extremely hard, but brittle material including glass, ceramic and super hard metal. Ultrasonic machining is also a process that attracts attention from the dental prosthesis market including manufacturing of artificial teeth and implants, but the ULTRASONIC 65 monoBLOCK ® can also handle much larger workpieces.  The machine is suitable for grinding glass ceramic lenses for artificial satellites,  parts for semiconductors and aircraft engine parts made from Carbon Silicon *2 or Nitric Silicon *3 . The ULTRASONIC 65 monoBLOCK ® realizes high-efficiency machining of large-diameter workpiece of high-tech materials by integrating 5-axis milling and ultrasonic machining.

LASERTEC 65 Shape  
By mounting a fiber laser scanning head on the spindle through the HSK interface, laser surface texturing can be performed on a 5-axis machining center. Surface texturing is a machining method used to produce various patterns such as wood grain and leather grain on workpiece surfaces. The LASERTEC 65 Shape opens up new possibilities by enabling more complex geometrically defined 3D-structures in free-forms. Laser surface texturing allows the user to create nearly unlimited wide variety of patterns (including customized 3D-textures) with greater accuracy than conventional etching in shorter machining times. It can also recreate the same pattern repeatedly. Furthermore, laser surface texturing is also an environmentally friendly machining method, especially when compared with etching, which uses chemicals and generates industrial waste.

Offering both cutting and lasering on one machine, the LASERTEC 65 Shape is capable of handling the entire machining process from roughing to laser surface finishing, and is an ideal solution for die and mold making. The LASERTEC 65Shape provides complete machining for a wide range of dies and molds including injection molds and interior automobile components.

Additionally, the intelligent cross-process LASERSOFT-3D-TEXTURE software enables the machine to expand the range of surface texturing design variations. Monochrome image data in bitmap format *4 printed images, as well as individually newly designed 3D-textures, can be converted into laser machining programs. The programs can be seamlessly projected onto large or free-form surfaces. The machine also features the 3D collision checking and automatic programming functions as standard, ensuring simplified operations and efficient 5-axis laser machining.

1  The structure which has rotational and support axes on both sides of table. It enables the table to tilt like a cradle.
2  Ra is Arithmetic Mean Deviation of the Profile. This is a unit stands for surface finish. Less than Ra 0.2 µm shows high-definition surface like mirror.
3  SiC, hard but brittle material. High resistance for heat and abrasion
4  Si3N4, hard but brittle material. High resistance for heat and abrasion

DMG / Mori Seiki offers extremely reliable machine tools that are distributed worldwide. DMG / Mori Seiki’s American headquarters is in Chicago with offices in Boston, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, New Jersey, San Francisco and Seattle. For more about DMG / Mori Seiki USA and the products in the DMG / Mori Seiki line, visit www.dmgmoriseikiusa.com or call (847) 593-5400.

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Photo caption: The ULTRASONIC 65 monoBLOCK® & LASERTEC 65 Shape combine 5-axis machining with ultrasonic and laser technologies, respectively, to provide multi-function machining that negates the need for specialty machines.

(Aurora, IL), Shigeyuki Sasaki has been appointed the new President at Mitutoyo America Corporation, headquartered in Aurora, Illinois. Sasaki has served numerous roles within Mitutoyo Corporation for the last 35 years including; New Product Development and Quality Control Departments in Utsunomiya, Japan; Manager of Purchasing and Planning in Mitutoyo Germany; General Manager in Mitutoyo South America; and recently Vice President and Executive Vice President of Mitutoyo America Corporation. He will remain as an active member of Mitutoyo Corporation’s board of directors.

“To retain the leadership role in the metrology market, Mitutoyo America Corporation is committed to continue providing high tech, durable products which meet our customers’ demands. We are excited to move forward to the “next- level”, under the guidance of Mr. Sasaki, whose leadership success has been a result of taking a hands-on, bottom building and cross-functional communication approach,” states John Westhaus, Executive Vice President of Mitutoyo America Corporation.

Sasaki succeeds Mikio Yamashita, who served as President of Mitutoyo America Corporation since 2006. Yamashita will return to Mitutoyo Corporation headquarters in Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa, Japan at the end of the year, but will always be fondly remembered at Mitutoyo America for his insightful wisdom, compassionate nature and enthusiastic personality. He will continue his career with the corporation where he previously served as President of Mitutoyo Canada, Vice President of Mitutoyo Netherlands, Logistics Manager of Mitutoyo Germany and Sales Manager of Mitutoyo Netherlands.

John Westhaus, formerly Vice President of Capital Equipment Sales will assume Sasaki’s role of Executive Vice President. John has held many positions within Mitutoyo America Corporation throughout his 28 years of service with the company.

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Mitutoyo Corporation is the world’s largest provider of measurement and inspection solutions offering the most complete selection of machines, sensors, systems and services with a line encompassing CMM (Coordinate Measuring Machines), vision, form and finish measuring machines, as well as precision tools & instruments, and metrology data management software. Mitutoyo’s nationwide network of Metrology Centers and support operations provides application, calibration, service, repair and educational programs to ensure that our 6,000+ metrology products will deliver measurement solutions for our customers throughout their lifetime.