EXAIR’s new Premium Heavy Duty Dry Vac™ System is a rugged, industrial duty vacuum cleaner that has been engineered to vacuum high volumes of dry materials in less time than ordinary vacs. It now comes complete with a 30, 55 or 110 gallon drum, making it easy to meet your specific requirements. The wear resistant design is suitable for the clean-up of abrasive materials like steel shot, garnet, metal chips, and sand, yet can also be used for general purpose applications.

The Premium Heavy Duty Dry Vac System is compressed air powered and attaches to the included drum. It is extremely quiet at 82 dBA (half the noise of electric vacs), making it suitable for a wide variety of applications. Surrounding air is kept clean by the 0.1 micron filter bag that traps particles when vacuuming dusty materials. There are no motors or impellers to clog or wear out. It is covered by a five year warranty.

The Premium Heavy Duty Dry Vac System comes complete with a 10′ (3m) static resistant hose, 20′ (6m) compressed air hose, shutoff valve, pressure gauge, heavy duty tools, toolholder (most systems), drum dolly and 30, 55 or 110 gallon drum. Prices start at $1,616.

(Rockford, IL – July 7, 2011) – SORALUCE, a Danobat Group company, will be introducing the F-MT Milling-Turning Center at EMO Hannover 2011 scheduled for September 19-24 in Germany. The F-MT is an innovative solution which combines both boring/milling and vertical turning technologies in a single machine. This provides the possibility of manufacturing complex components in one machine, offering remarkable versatility which leads to effective real time savings and the associated cost savings for end users.

This compact solution is based on the successful SORALUCE FL model, which integrates a flexible working area that can be configured to the customers’ needs. It can be configured with one or multiple working stations with fixed tables and rotary tables usable for both milling and turning operations. These multi-task machines can complete all operations in a single setup – turning, milling, boring, drilling, tapping – on very intricate parts, and are ideal for industries such as the aeronautical, energy and precision engineering for both one-off and production applications.

This highly dynamic machine has a 35 m/min of axis speed with an acceleration of 2 m/s2 in each individual axis. This, combined with the high power and torque of the main spindle and the improved thrust forces in all axes (up to 16 kN), results in a state-of-the-art solution for high volume chip removal and stable cutting conditions for both milling and turning.

The integrated rotary table, with built-in drive technology, can be used in both milling and turning working modes. With a maximum diameter of 1600 mm and a maximum working load of 8000 kg, this rotary table has a maximum rotational speed of 250 rpm and a maximum turning torque of up to 2500 Nm, supported by a maximum tangential torque of up to 26000 Nm in clamped condition.

For the turning operations, the F-MT incorporates an automatic system for loading/unloading the turning head outside the working area. This turning head is attached to the main body of the milling head of the machine, giving the capability for high chip removal during turning operations as well as precise machining while the bearings of the head remain completely protected.

The complete solution is fully enclosed (including both magazines) with a guarding system which can open and close automatically. Finally, the machine space required has also been optimized with a final space requirement of 7400 x 5600 mm.

At EMO, the machine will be exhibited featuring a fixed table of 4000 x 1200 mm which incorporates a 1600 mm diameter turning table in the centre. The machine has a longitudinal travel of 3500 mm, a vertical travel of 1800 and cross travel of 1200 mm.

The machine is equipped with a high torque direct drive spindle motor with 32 kW of power and 6000 rpm (900 Nm at S1), guaranteeing high chip removal capacity, low heat level, minimum maintenance, reduced noise and high precision and efficiency.

The machine is fitted with the new HEIDENHAIN iTNC530 HSCI control system, with special cycles developed by SORALUCE for turning functions integrated into the CNC control unit.

Additionally the machine is equipped with an 80 station automatic tool changer (alternative tool changer capacities are available upon request).

SORALUCE will be exhibiting the F-MT, along with the FXR floor type boring/milling center and the TR milling center, in Hall 13 Stand B36, one of three booths that will be highlighting Danobat Group’s technological leadership and showcasing 13 new models of machines. Soraluce will also introduce several ground-breaking patented new design concepts including Ram Balance, Accura Heads, Modular Quill and Easy Tools.

MINNEAPOLIS, June 27 – (NASDAQ: SSYS) Stratasys marked its ninth consecutive year as unit market leader in the additive manufacturing / 3D printing industry, according to Wohlers Report 2011, the company says.
Published by Wohlers Associates, Inc., the annual report offers a global review of the additive manufacturing (AM) markets, technologies and applications for the prior year.

Stratasys reported shipment of 2,555 systems in 2010, which accounted for 41% of the global market for industrial AM systems, according to the report. The report also indicated that Stratasys’ 2010 unit sales were more than 3.5 times that of its nearest competitor, and the company has shipped 15,839 systems since its founding. Over the past decade, Stratasys average annual growth was 24% compared with an industry-wide growth of 18%.

“Stratasys rebounded from the economic downturn to new highs,” says CEO Scott Crump. “We ended 2010 with a record for quarterly revenues and an all-time high for system shipments. We continue to expand 3D printing adoption in partnership with HP. Sales were strong in both our Dimension 3D Printer and Fortus Production 3D Printer lines.”

Wohlers Report 2011 showed a strong recovery for the AM industry as a whole with a 37.4% increase in industrial system shipments, the highest growth in over six years. For the year, the report lists annual industry revenue for products and services as $1.325 billion, a 24.1% increase over 2009. In the AM industry’s 23-year history, its compound annual growth rate has been 26.2%.

The report predicts the industry will ship 15,000 industrial systems per year by 2015, driven in large part by systems selling between $5,000 and $25,000, with annual revenues of $5.2 billion by 2020.

“The report forecasts tremendous untapped potential that will fuel growth well into the future, says Crump. “Stratasys plans to contribute to that growth with all our groups: 3D printers, production systems, on-demand services, and materials. We have an outstanding global team, great products, and strong strategic partners that will drive us forward.”

Stratasys, Inc ., Minneapolis, is a maker of additive manufacturing machines for prototyping and producing plastic parts. The company markets under the brands Dimension 3D Printers and Fortus Production 3D Printers. The company also operates RedEye On Demand, a digital manufacturing service for prototypes and production parts. In 2011 Stratasys acquired 3D printer maker, Solidscape, Inc. According to Wohlers Report 2011, Stratasys had a 41 percent market share in 2010, and has been the unit market leader for the ninth consecutive year. Stratasys patented and owns the Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM®) process. The process creates functional prototypes and manufactured goods directly from any 3D CAD program, using high-performance industrial thermoplastics. The company holds more than 285 granted or pending additive manufacturing patents globally. Stratasys products are used in the aerospace, defense, automotive, medical, business & industrial equipment, education, architecture, and consumer-product industries. Online at: www.Stratasys.com
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Kinetic Technologies, Inc. has released a new custom designed rotational pick and delivery cart for plants, distribution centers and warehouses. The 43”w x 52”l cart frame is usable in narrow aisle elevated pick operations and for tight in-plant delivery locations. Carts feature four-shelf design with 1500 lb. total capacity (200 lb. capacity per half-shelf) and two movable shelves per side allowing easy access to all shelves when rotated. Optional pull-out shelves available. Large 8” x 2” wheels, retractable towbar, auto release jaw hitch, 900 soft detents, boxed fork pockets and picker safety block complete the design.

Contact K-Tec for information on other sizes, capacities and features. Kinetic Technologies, Inc., 440-943-4111, www.ktecinc.com

If you’ve been using fixtures to grip parts on your rotary device, you already know how much operator intervention is required for setting up, clamping and locating the part, and changing from one job to another. And let’s not forget about the design time and machining involved to produce the fixture itself. All of this accumulated time lengthens the production time and increases the cost of the part. Are there any other alternatives? Yes, collet-ready spindle rotary tables and indexers, manufactured by Hardinge in Elmira, NY, accept a wide variety of standard tooling to grip parts of various shapes and sizes so that you can output more parts per hour at a lower cost per part.

But part cost isn’t the only advantage of using a collet-ready rotary unit. Part quality is a factor and it begins at the spindle. Parts machined closest to the spindle bearings provide the highest accuracy with less wear on the rotary device. A hardened collet, step chuck or expanding collet will seat directly in the Hardinge spindle with the machining process closest to the spindle. Minimal overhang from the spindle bearings assure that spindle accuracy is transferred directly to the part being machined. Fixtures that are not hardened will lose positioning accuracy over time. Fixtures add weight to the spindle and move the cutting location further away from the spindle bearings.

Hardinge, well known for their precision and SUPER-PRECISION® collet-ready turning centers, build the same A2 spindles into their rotary tables and indexers for increased precision and the convenience of quick setup and changeover with no adapter required. Collet-ready spindles will accept collets, step chucks, Sure-Grip® expanding collets, FlexC™ quick-change vulcanized collet systems, custom collets, manual chucks and Sure-Grip® power chucks. This tooling can be shared with a CNC lathe that you may already have in your shop. Collets and chucks will provide automatic centering of the part whether it is round, hexagon or square and will use less storage space than custom-made fixtures. If you’d like to continue using some of your existing fixturing, a simple adapter may be used.

Refer to the capacity chart provided for all of the gripping opportunities provided by a Hardinge collet-ready spindle rotary device. You can eliminate and replace heavy fixturing with higher precision, less expensive workholding products. Your pre-machined part could be gripped on a threaded or tapered outside diameter; an internal diameter; a square; a hex or any custom shape; or over a shoulder. Rough or slippery stock, thin wall and out-of-round parts, short grips, recessed grips and off-center parts are no problem. Castings, moldings, stampings and machined parts are held rigidly and accurately, while tubing can be held without crushing or distorting.

Collets will seat directly in the spindle for maximum gripping power and rigidity, providing the most accurate positioning available. Step chucks are simply oversized collets with a stepped-out face to grip larger part sizes using a closer. Step chucks provide extra grip force for short grip parts because the collet is closed against an opposing taper with 360-degree contact. Step chucks can have more than one gripping diameter for end-to-end machining or multiple use. Hardinge Sure-Grip® Expanding Collets are used to grip the internal diameter of parts ranging from 1/8 inch up to 4 inches. Hardinge quick-change FlexC™ Collet Systems have a SPECIAL ACCURACY of within .0004“ (.01mm). FlexC collets (42 and 65mm) are ideal for job shops that frequently change setups throughout the day because the collet heads change out in seconds. S-master style FlexC collets are available in 65 millimeter for shops that predominantly use S-pads with their other machines. 4-Jaw manual chucks will grip round, hex and square parts. The Hardinge Sure-Grip® 3-Jaw Power Chuck mounts directly on the rotary spindle to grip larger diameters and offers the best grip strength on the market. 3-Jaw chucks will grip round and hex shapes. Hardinge slotted face plates are precision ground for accurate locating of odd-shaped parts with guaranteed perpendicularity to the centerline of the spindle.

Hardinge custom manufactures OD and ID gripping solutions for hard-to-grip parts, odd shapes, sizes and materials such as glass and plastics. These solutions typically seat directly in the spindle to provide rigid and accurate part placement while cutting setup and changeover times to just a fraction of the time it would have taken using a special fixture. Hardinge has years of experience in manufacturing custom solutions for gripping the most challenging parts.

Stop monopolizing your design engineer and quit wasting time with tedious clamps, bolts and positioning. Time is money. Hardinge is unique to the industry in that all of their rotary products have collet-ready spindles – from the basic 5C indexer to their direct-drive rotary tables. Ask Hardinge how you can reduce part cost, improve quality and increase your machine’s capabilities. Call 800-843-8801, email orders@hardinge.com or fax your prints to 607-734-3886.