Archive for the 'Machinery' Category

19 OctDie Cutting Tools

Die cutting machines are used to convert sheet or web materials into desired shapes. These are used to process rubber sheets, non-woven textiles and woven cloth. Basically, there are two types of die cutting machines – rotary die cutters and clicker presses. Automated die cutting machines are used for cutting dies with precise and minimal tolerances.

Rotary die cutter, also known as roller press die cutter, is used in the high-speed processing of sheet and web material. The rotary die cutting machines press roller-shaped cutting dies against a web. Web materials are inserted into the rotating roller dies and then changed into desired shapes. Clicker presses employ manual conversion of web materials. This press consists of a wide plate or table with a smaller swing-arm head. For more difficult jobs, full head and traveling head machines are used. The cutting speed of the die cutting machine is controlled by an electronic inverter.

Top performance, high-speed, reliable cutting results and high precision are the essential advantages of a good die cutting machine. The machines are available in several sizes and shapes for various die cutting requirements. Most die cutting machines offer a lifetime warranty and are able to provide a maximum pressure of 10 to 20 tons. The new generation machines come with excellent efficiency and high precision. There are high-speed hydraulic die cutting machines that can make 15,000 to 25,000 cuts in eight hours.

Several common technologies are used by die cutting machines. Some of them are driven by pneumatic cylinders or air-powered. Some machines have hydraulic components. Low-cost devices such as manual presses are perfect for simple applications such as creating identification cards.

Check out rotary die cutters and clicker presses for your own needs!

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25 SepSafe and Effective Band Saw Cutting and Its Uses

Metalworking, woodworking, cutting plastic and other materials can be done through band saw cutting. This is because a band saw, which is a versatile power tool, can be adopted or designed to carry out these activities. To carry out metal cutting, the blade of the band saw used is either a carbon steel or a bimetal. Carbon steel tool blade, the cheaper option can equally be used on mild steel to cut it, when set to the appropriate speed. As for the more expensive bimetal blades, this can be used to cut hard materials, for example stainless steel. However, making use of a bimetal band saw may be the cheaper option in the long run, if used appropriately as it often outlasts a carbon steel blade of a band saw.

To cut wood, you can make use of carbon steel tool blades on your horizontal band saw or other band saws, which it can be used for (please confirm from sales guide or manual before using it this way). Some manuals that come with band saws designed for cutting wood inform users that they can equally cut metals too. This is often true, but such are soft metals like aluminum, copper, et al.

If you attempt this wood cutting band saw on a stainless steel, which is a denser metal, you will likely destroy the saw blade as a result of the heat generated. This is because a lot of wood cutting band saws possess blade speed that is inappropriate for cutting such metals; as they run faster than required for cutting harder metals.

A tooth pattern on band saws is another way these powerful tools are put to different uses for wood cutting or metal cutting. Without these differences in pattern the versatility of band saw cutting will be somewhat limited in its usage compared to what it can currently achieve.

There are general rules for tooth patterns. For band saws designed to cut wood, it is that fewer teeth per inch makes a faster, but rougher cut; while the direct opposite (possessing more teeth in every inch) will make a smoother, but then slower cut. And with metal cutting band saws, the general pattern rule is that working with thinner materials requires possessing more teeth per inch, while harder materials need fewer teeth.

Metal band saw cutting is done basically through the use of two machines, namely; horizontal band saw mentioned earlier in preceding paragraphs and vertical band saw. Wood cutting also employs the horizontal and vertical model of band saw machines. Horizontal band saw machines are often designed to accommodate one width blades, while vertical band saws can take blades that have various width sizes. Band saw cutting has developed over the years with more innovations expected in years to come.

 

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24 SepPlastic Extruders – Types and Specifications

What are Plastic Extruders?
Plastic extruders are used to create a wide range of items, including plastic tubing, trims, seals, plastic sheets and rods. Extruder is the machine for producing more or less continuous lengths of plastic sections out of a selected type of plastic resin. There are a number of extrusion techniques available such as co-extrusion, offset extrusion, oriented extrusion, overcoat extrusion, cold extrusion, ram extrusion and much more.

The essential elements for a thermoplastic extruder are a tubular barrel, usually electrically heated; a revolving screw, ram or plunger within the barrel; a hopper at one end from which the material to be extruded is fed to the screw, ram or plunger; a die at the opposite end for shaping the extruded mass.

Extruders may be divided into three general types:

* Single Screw Extruder

* Twin or Multiple Screw Extruders

* Ram Extruder

Single screw extruders and twin screw extruders are the most widely used extruders. The screw that is used to push the resin out of the die is the important component of a screw extruder. In the earlier days rubber screw were used but the rubber screw was not able to give enough amount of shear into the polymer. Therefore, screws were designed that would start deeper in the feed and gradually taper shallower in the metering section to apply more work on the polymer as it was going from the feed to the discharge.

Basic screw design
The screw is usually contained inside a tight fitting barrel driven by a variable speed motor and gearbox. It is a highly efficient device capable of processing several tons of plastic per hour, even in modestly sized extruders. The screw is divided into three division the feed section, the compressor and the metering section.

The feed section of the screw mechanism stores and delivers resin pellets from a gravity fed hopper into the jacketed screw to begin the plastic longitudinal movement. Screw threads move the plastic using axial rotation. Within the barrel, heaters help the plastic develop a tack to increase its friction against the barrel wall. Without this friction the plastic could not be conveyed forward and would merely rotate inside the screw.

In the transition or melt stage, the root diameter of the screw increases while the height of the flight decreases. The resin is melted here because of compression, shearing and heating produced in the barrel. Now the melt moves to the metering section, where the screw diameter remains constant. The melted plastic which is under high pressure now is pumped into the extruder die.

Barrier Screws
The resin is sometimes not completely melted in the basic extrusion screw. The barrier screw in designed to counter this problem. Additional flights are attached to the transition section so as to separate molten and solid plastic to different channels. As the solid pellet moves forward it melts due to shear against the wall and thus melts and flows into the liquid channel. Thus the solid channel narrow gradually and the liquid channel widens.

Mixing Screws
When mixing two different additives, a more efficient way is to mix extrusion materials with twin screw extruder. In this method two screw rotate with or against each other and have special mixing features, such as kneading blocks and forward and reverse capabilities. Some single screw systems can, however, be used for mixing.

Though general-purpose screws are available, different plastics require differently calibrated extrusion screws. The length-to-diameter ratio, pitch, length of each zone and helix angles of a screw must all be matched to the plastic type being used. The screw must also be designed to suit a specific type of die.

Extrusion screw design has been improving over the years, with new innovations and ideas that help in perpetually adjusting the process so as to meet the needs of specific applications.

For more information on plastic extruder, extrusion process, extrusion materials and machines visit: Plastic Extruders

To get more information on plastic extruder types, visit: Types of Plastic Extruders

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17 SepHow to Use a MIG Welder

First thing you need to purchase a MIG welder and the proper gear. My first suggestion is to practice with your new MIG welder on some scraps of metal lying around. While MIG welding is probably one of the easiest types of welding to learn, you still need to practice before you use it on your favorite project. Also, always purchase the right safety gear. A welding helmet should be the first item on your list. I would recommend an auto darkening welding helmet that is battery operated. This will free up an extra hand and just make life easier on you. But get a proper welding helmet! You will need the proper clothing and gloves as well. You basically want to cover up your entire body. MIG welders do throw off sparks and can burn you.

Welding is not an activity to be done in shorts and a pair of flip flops. Next pick a suitable location to begin welding. A large concrete slab like your driveway is a good choice. Remember there is a fire hazard with these welders. They throw of sparks and generate heat. Stay away from paint cans, dry grass, old wood etc.. You can easily burn down the house or garage if you are not careful. You should keep a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher near by at all times.

Now you are ready to start operating your MIG welder. There are basically three things to worry about it. They are tip voltage, feed rate for the wire and how fast you move the tip. How you manipulate these three settings will determine how good your welding is. The voltage is used to control the penetration, feed rate of the wire will adjust the arc length and your movement of the tip controls the transfer of metal to your work area. If you adjust the voltage lower, the weld will sit on top and cranking it up too much will just make a hole. This is why you need to practice and get a feel for it. Now you have to figure a good speed to move the tip. If the welding tip is moving too fast you will hear a series of popping noises and the wire loses the arc. Too slow and the tips will melt and fuse to your work. This can be real hassle. Again, practice is critical. It is really not that hard after a few attempts.

Now that you have the voltage set, the feed rate set and feel comfortable using the MIG welder it is time to weld a little. I would recommend using a zigzag weave pattern instead of just making a straight line. A weave is just a better option. Remember the key here is to keep the tip moving. If you stop or go too slow you can burn a hole right through the metal. Don’t worry too much about small holes that are created by the MIG welders. You can fill them in by circling the tip around it a few times to fill it in. Practice definitely will help to get better at it. At first it will seem a little tricky but after a short while you be welding all kinds of stuff.

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16 SepCNC Milling Machines

CNC milling machines are also known as machining centers. These machines are computer controlled as with all CNC machines. They operate on the Z axis and are vertical mills that move vertically. They offer precision and speed where one aspect does not affect the other. These CNC milling machines offer a cost effective alternative to hand engraving, flat surface work.

The most advanced of the milling cnc machines are the 5 axis machines that offer a wide range of capabilities. Horizontal milling machines are available and this is usually the lines of the 5 axis CNC milling machines. Basically, with the 5 axis machines, virtually any project can be done. One could sculpt the human head with ease with one of these machines.

At one time the machines were quite expensive to purchase and to operate. Now, because of the declination in the cost of computers and the availability of free operating systems, the CNC milling machines have dropped to more affordable prices. This has allowed many more shops to take advantage of this type of technology and has caused more competition in the machining industry. The shops now usually specialize in the type of work that they do.

There is a variety of different tools that can be used with this type of machinery. In the US, the most common CNC miller tooling is the CAT tooling; however, now a better alternative called BT tooling as raised the bar. BT tooling can be easily confused with CAT, so be careful.

The CNC milling machine can be either purchased brand new or as a used product. There are companies who specialize in milling CNC machines that cater to specific industries. A used milling machine or machining center can be more cost effective and can come with some type of service and warranty package if purchased from the right dealer. With these types of machines, because of the larger expense that it can put onto a company, it is tempting to go with a cheaper, used version; however, that may not always be best. Make sure that if you do purchase a used machine that there is some kind of guarantee and that the machine was taken out while still in operation.

CNC milling machines can come in many different types. There are gun drilling machines, horizontal boring mills, five axis milling machines, and many more. There are several different manufacturers of these machines that include top brands such as: Heidenhain, Phoenix, TOS and VTEC just to name a few. If interested in purchasing a top of the line machine, make sure that the dealer offers service solutions to help with upkeep and maintenance of the machine in the early stages until someone from your company can learn how to do it. Well established dealers can offer rebuilding services of old CNC milling machines. This too can be a cost effective alternative to purchasing brand new.

To learn more about CNC milling machines, contact your dealer. They will be able to offer answers to your questions on a wide range of issues that is related to CNC milling machines.

Go to CNC Machining Zone to get your free eBook on CNC Machining at CNC Machinists Training [http://cncmachiningzone.org/]. CNC Machining Zone also has CNC Machining [http://cncmachiningzone.org/] Information, and forums and blogs all about Machining. Visit CNC Machining Zone today to sign up for free and get your free eBook on CNC Machining.

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15 SepRotary Table for Work Positioning

A rotary table is described as a precision device used for work positioning. The rotary table which is commonly used in metal work makes it possible for a metal worker to drill. In addition, it enables the metal worker to cut their work on fixed axes at specific intervals. There are different types of rotary tables. Some tables allow users to make use of indexing plates for indexing related operations while others allow users to fit dividing tables which then results in effective work positioning.

A rotary table has numerous uses. It may for instance be used for purposes of machining spanner flats on bolts, drilling holes that are equidistant on circular flanges and cutting round pieces with protruding tangs. In addition, a rotary table may also be used by a metal worker to create holes with large diameters on milling machines that are small and lack enough energy to power big twist drills. Moreover, they may be used for purposes of mixing helixes and also for cutting complex curves.

A rotary table has numerous parts and components all with different functions. However, the most crucial part on this table is the work table. The work table consists of a spherical working area. On this area are four t- slots which are used with clamps for purposes of mounting work pieces. A rotary table also comes with a clank handle that allows users to rotate the work table either clockwise or anti clockwise. The clank handle has been geared to ensure that rotates the table with just a single revolution. The clamp levers on the table help to ensure that once an angle has been selected, the table remains fixed. There are two bases on these tables. One base is used for vertical rotation while the other is used for horizontal rotation. The indexing pin on the rotary table allows the metal worker to locate and lock onto general angles.

When converted to operations that are stepper motor with CNC milling machines as well as tail stocks, the table makes it possible for metal workers to make parts that would otherwise require the use of a lathe. Often times, the rotary table is mounted flat on a similar plane as cutters on vertical milling machines. However, the table has to be spun on a perpendicular axis. To use the table work piece, certain things are required. These are the table itself, index plates, tailstock, milling machine, dial indicator, test bar, wrench and a dead-blow hammer. When using the table, the first step involves the metal worker mounting the table onto a milling table. The user has an option of mounting the table either in horizontal or vertical configurations. Subsequently, if in vertical position, the table should be aligned. The users should then fix the tailstock onto the milling table and set up the index plates. At this point, its ready for use. When using the table it is important that the user adheres to all safety guidelines.

 

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07 SepBroaching Machine’s Operational Efficiency

One type of milling machine uses a broach, which is a special tooling device used to remove material during cutting operations. A broaching machine houses this special tool. This type of machine is used primarily for cutting unusual shapes and sizes. It is an efficient way to perform this type of milling operation because it generally does the job in only one pass. This keeps shop production at its peak performance, especially during large production runs.

A broaching tool looks very much like a saw, with the height of the teeth increasing along the length of the tool. This is referred to as RPT, or rise per tooth. A broach is made up of three parts: one for roughing, another for semi-finishing and one for the final finish work. The broach and the work piece work efficiently together in a non-complex manner. There is no skilled expertise needed to operate the machine because it works primarily on its own once everything is in place.

Almost all broaching machines are hydraulic but there are some that are mechanically driven. There are horizontal and vertical models and the one chosen depends on what the stroke requirements are. Vertical machines generally have a stroke that is less than 60 inches and are used for pull-down or pull-up broaching, surface broaching and push broaching. On the other hand, horizontal machines are usually used for surface and pull broaching as well as continuous and rotary broaching. Horizontal machines are not nearly as popular today because they are larger and more cumbersome than their vertical “cousins”.

Broaching can be a very simple process. Surface broaching simply is the process of using a fixed broach in conjunction with the work piece. Internal broaching is a little more complicated because the work piece must be clamped into the machine or the work piece must be aligned to the broach. No matter what process is used, it is important that fluids are used. Fluids cool the work piece and also the broach. They are also used to provide lubrication to the surfaces that are going to be cut. Finally, broaching machine needs fluids to rid the teeth of debris and chips.

Check more about Broaching Machines

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02 SepOutsource Your Honing Machine Needs? Purchase Your Own Machinery?

Honing machine is precision machinery that is necessary to automate the sharpening, polishing or application of a particular texture to a metal surface. Honing machine can also be used to create smooth or textured bores, which are basically various sized holes that allow fastening of other metal parts and other uses. While honing can be accomplished manually, it would be extremely labor intensive and also prone to human error. For both the time factor and for quality manufacturing purposes, honing machine is necessary to get the best results in a highly efficient manner.

There are various types of equipment on the market, and depending on what the honing needs are depends on the equipment that will need to be used. Honing is a process that sharpens or polishes metal surfaces to specification, in a precise manner. A typical method for honing is the application of an abrasive to a metal surface. This grinding or polishing process will “hone” a metal surface to a desired texture from a very rough surface to an extremely smooth surface.

Honing is necessary for metal parts used in the automotive, heavy equipment, manufacturing and other machinery/equipment based industries. Some other uses for honing and honing machine include finishing metal pieces for musical instruments, engines, firearm chambers, aircraft parts and even landing gear. Obviously, both precision and the duplicity of technique are critical for these uses.

While there is a significant cost to purchasing your own equipment, a company that needs a great amount of honing processes will have a quick return on investment just in labor savings alone. Also, there are bench sized models for smaller jobs such as bushings, creating keyways, single pass honing, spline gears and creating rod and piston fittings. Honing machine comes in various sizes and can be custom manufactured based on a company’s needs.

Companies and small manufacturers that just need occasional honing work typically outsource to a local machine shop or may require a parts manufacturer to deliver the parts already finished. However, outsourcing can have drawbacks such as communication errors, lack of process control and significant costs over time. Once your company grows and honing needs become more frequent, the time may come to purchase your company’s own equipment.

Once you decide to purchase your own equipment, you will find there are some popular manufacturers that cater to various needs. For example you can search the internet for companies that custom design and manufacture honing machine for various manufacturing and machining uses. Alloy Machining Services provides honing and boring services, including vertical honing and boring for machine shops and small manufacturing companies. Other companies like Tennessee Abrasive manufacture the abrasive tools that are used in the honing process.

Regardless of your honing requirements, there are a variety of equipment solutions available. From large machinery to the smaller bench models, honing machines come in many sizes and shapes. Manufacturers will custom design equipment based on your needs, desired output and production capacity required for the machining process. Once your needs have been established, contacting a honing machine manufacturer for a quote and details of the process would be the first step in fulfilling your company’s needs.

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02 SepCNC Lathes and Other Industrial Machines

CNC Lathes are machine tools which can take a piece of material and perform various functions on it including drilling and sanding. They can be used on wood, metal and glass. While they are generally relatively small, there are also large industrial machine lathes which can handle greater workloads. There also combination lathes which can perform a variety of additional functions. They are versatile pieces of kit, and thanks to Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) technology they can now be operated from a computer rather than cumbersome, manual controls. This makes them much easier to schedule and operate, continually churning out parts with occasional supervision.

Using a computer to control a lathe means that designs and specifications can be adjusted more accurately and systematically, and means that to use a lathe and operator doesn’t necessarily have to be highly skilled or experienced with the manual controls. In the old days knowledge of individual machines was seen as essential, while CNC technology means that those with a general knowledge base can generally learn to operate almost any sort of machine tool. It’s also good news in terms of health and safety, as many machine lathes need to be enclosed for these reasons.

CNC Lathes are a great example of how technological innovation can not only herald new industrial machines, but can bring older machines up-to-date. CNC technology is a great option for manufacturers who have small budgets but high aspirations in terms of quality of work. By updating old machines with new software manufacturing can become quicker and more reliable, and ultimately more profitable. It’s easy to see why this type of technology is proving popular in the manufacturing industry.

The practise is called Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM). CAD modules on a computer provide instructions for controlling the machines electronically, meaning that operators do not have to take the time to learn the manual controls inside out. It’s a useful tool for production managers, as it allows them to more effectively monitor and forecast production. CNC Lathes are perfect for creating multiples of the same item, and can perform a range of functions. Complicated designs can be relatively easily set-up using CNC Lathe technology, and operators can expect to see a great degree of accuracy.

Manufacturers who are looking to make the best of old technology are finding that CNC technology is a great way of reducing the cost of manufacturing while maintaining good productivity in terms of speed and quality.

Adam Cain writes on a number of subjects CNC Lathe Machines, industrial machines and cnc lathes.

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28 AugCNC Toolroom Lathe

Toolroom lathe is a type of engine lathe that is designed for high precision work. The machine is usually used in tool and dies shops where custom parts and precision fixtures are produced. Since it’s produced with special attention to smooth operation, spindle accuracy and precise alignment, the lathe is able to achieve better accuracy and precision than the standard lathe.

Cyclematic Machinery takes pride in manufacturing CNC toolroom lathe which features constant quality, technical competence, and competitive price. We have an efficient development team of well-experienced engineers who understand exact customer needs through complete market research and try to adopt the latest technology in designing & development of CNC toolroom lathes. Quality is the driving force behind Cyclematic’ s success.

We maintain international standard of quality in every stage of CNC toolroom lathe machinery production and keep upgrading the quality in order to overtake the best in the world. Of course, the strict quality inspection before shipment is also our crucial work to assure 0ur clients in getting CNC toolroom lathe products bearing consistency in quality and long-life standards. In addition to standard type of machinery, customized orders of CNC toolroom lathes are welcome!

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