New Products (March 01, 2001)

Laser systems gaining wider acceptance

An American/German machine builder has placed an order for 500 laser systems supplied by Blum LMT, Inc. The lasers will be used for tool setting and breakage detection on horizontal machining centers destined for installation in the U.S. and Canadian automotive industry.

The laser system, invented by Blum in the late 1980s, measures length and diameter of rotating tools, doing form control and checking each cutting edge of the tool. Clamping errors, runout and even thermal growth of the machine and tool are automatically determined and compensated for by software programmed into the CNC control.

A Blum spokesperson says the machining and tooling industry has been undergoing a shift toward greater acceptance of laser measurement technology in the past few years.

Blum LMT, Inc. 859-344-6789

New improved flush trim inserts

Degating Systems & Components (DSC) is now offering an upgraded version of its off-the-shelf degating inserts for edge gated parts. While the basic design is the same, improvements in integration specifications now result in little or no vestige in edge gates up to 15mm wide for most grades of commodity and engineering resin.

The key to improved performance of the inserts is “zero clearance” between the cavity side ejector blade and the FlushTrim Insert. The action during ejection puts the gate in pure shear resulting in no tearing of the material. Advantages of this system are minimal stress at the gate with a flush or slightly inboard material condition.

Degating Systems & Components

519-571-0204

Wide-ranging moldmaking market study

The consulting and research firm CIMdata Inc. has issued a comprehensive study of the moldmaking industry, titled The Worldwide Moldmaking Environment and How to Compete. The 70-page report includes more than 40 charts and tables presenting data on market trends, revenue growth, import statistics, customer requirement ratings, sales trends, and other information. The study is based on extensive independent research and interviews with 75 moldmakers in North America, Europe and Japan. Topics covered include competitive and management issues, formats for design data, worldwide process changes in the design and manufacturing of molds and others. The report costs US$795 and is available from CIMdata at 734-668-9922.