The 2014 release of Delcam’s PowerSHAPE CAD software offers a range of new functionality for the conversion of product designs into tooling designs. The software now provides an even more powerful set of easy-to-use tools to increase productivity through increased automation and improved workflow. By offering a combination of modelling and reverse engineering functionality, PowerSHAPE provides the most comprehensive range of design techniques available in a single CAD program. Having all (…)

What had long been regarded as impossible has become reality: ultra-hard materials can be machined by high speed milling. It is a kind of mini-revolution that begins in the construction of moulds, tools and components for advanced applications. To be profitable, this process should however be reserved for very specific fabrications. By "ultra-hard materials" we mean sintered carbide based metals (hard metals) and ceramics. These two types of materials are composites, which are (…)

Yesterday Schaublin Machines inaugurated its new building with the presence of Didier Cuche, the Swiss ski champion, authorities, customers from all around the world, agents, partners, employees and Schaublin supporters. Today the celebration continues for the general public and employees. The event was the occasion to unveil the new 202 TG turning/grinding machine… and also to celebrate the first machine sold to a Malaysian company (and a few more orders are expected within a few days). (…)

On the occasion of the inauguration of its new plant in Bévilard (today, June 21), Schaublin Machines is going to unveil a combined machine (turning and grinding) dedicated to microtechnology. This novelty will then be presented at EMO. The machining zone has been specially designed to be resistant to the abrasive powders (grinding) and chips (turning and milling). It is modular and allows different types of configuration, for example: Turning/milling machine with tooling of a 102 lathe and (…)

...it finely fits his needs! But to become machines manufacturer isn’t that easy... And yet this ’ideal’ machine exists today, we discovered it at Humard Automation in Delémont (Jura, Switzerland). Meeting with MM. Georges Humard, Director and Fabio Carabotti, Project Manager. Basically, the concept of this new 7 mm capacity sliding head automatic was developed by Elwin, a Sandoz Foundation owned high precision turning company. After several prototypes, Humard Automation had the (…)

Germany’s leading aircraft engine manufacturer—a global player in the design, development, manufacture, marketing and support of commercial and military aircraft engines in all thrust and power categories—has inaugurated a new center of excellence for blade integrated disks (blisks). MTU’s center of excellence for blisks opened mid April, following a 20-month construction and installation phase. Blisks, which are high-tech components in which the disk and blades form a single part, are (…)

For almost twenty years, Boise, Idaho company, Performance Design has designed and manufactured paper punching machines used by Staples, Kinkos and in-house printing departments of large corporations. Today, they’ve got a 6’500 sqm facility with 25 employees where they manufacture and sell over 20 different product lines. Until late 2012, though, they were outsourcing a key component in their equipment…the round, oval, square and rectangular metal pins used to punch the paper. The pins are (…)

The Renishaw QC20-W ballbar system is widely recognised as a preventative maintenance tool for new and installed machines. Aquasub Engineering (Coimbatore, India), part of the Aqua Group, one of the largest pump manufacturing companies in Asia, is using QC20-W ballbar to reduce maintenance costs, increase capacity and reduce scrappage. With an increasing emphasis on Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Aquasub started looking for solutions and on discovering that Renishaw had launched a new (…)

Last night we organized our traditional apéro. That was the occasion to share a nice moment with passionate people from our world of microtechnology. Thanks a lot the many customers and friends that came. The organisers of the show arrived late because at 6:00 (time of the start of our apéro) they had invited all the exhibitors to come and meet with them to exchange friendly on what is going well and what has to be improved for next year’s show. And? All positive The three directors (…)

At EPHJ I’ve just discovered new Emissa machines: the Magic 50 and Horolotoplan. These machines complement the product range offered by Emissa in the watch industry. Magic 50 This new machine has been developed to offer watchmakers a less expensive alternative to 90° drill in the horn of watch cases. M. Boschi says: "We already offers the Magic drill, but this machine is mainly intended to produce large series, with the new Magic 50, we offer a "table" machine for small series”. (…)