Andreas Maier marking and cleaning tools under the AMF brand are now available.
A key design feature of the AMF marking tool is its needle, which marks metal and thermoplastic surfaces with clarity and at high speed without degrading the substrate. Typically mounted in tool holders for use in a CNC machine tool spindle, the tool can function with or without rotation and usually without spindle height adjustment. Very thin material and cylindrical workpieces can be marked, with increased cost savings compared to conventional marking or labeling.
Cleaning tools for workpieces, tooling, and CNC machine interiors are typically clamped in tool holders and mounted directly onto the machine spindle. Using through-spindle coolant or compressed air, the cleaning tool removes swarf and other debris from workpieces, clamping tools, rotary tables, and other fixtures before the next workpiece blank is loaded. The machine spindle can remain stationary or slowly rotate during the cleaning process. Horizontal or vertical styles suit the machine spindle configuration and feature adjustable jet nozzles for precise cleaning and coolant or compressed air conservation. Kits can be furnished complete with tools, gage, and fastening hardware or the items can be purchased separately.
The research division of investment firm Morgan Stanley summarized its recent conference of notable aerospace and defense (A&D) suppliers with an optimistic “Steady as we go.”
The firm’s 2021 Virtual Laguna Conference featured meetings with management teams from Raytheon Technologies, Textron, Heico, Curtiss-Wright, Crane, Allegheny Technologies, Joby Aviation, and MDA. Talks focused on the aftermarket, where maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) drives demand, but also touched on other aerospace topics.
Morgan Stanley analysts Kristine T. Liwag, Matthew Sharpe, and Jason T. Holcomb reported, “We were positively surprised that aero aftermarket recovery forecasts remain unchanged despite the COVID-19 Delta variant. Strong business jet demand continues to stand out. Supply chain disruption remains a watch item.”
The wide-ranging discussions generated these key takeaways:
Commercial aerospace aftermarket recovery remains on track
Business jet demand continues to heat up
Space is a secular growth story
Supply chain disruption remains a watch item
Virtual-meeting fatigue is real and pent-up demand for in-person interactions could boost business travel in 2022
Raytheon executives noted Available Seat Miles are growing, which is driving the aftermarket business for its Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney (P&W) divisions. They expect Collins’ aftermarket to grow 5% and the spare parts market at P&W to grow 25%.
Heico executives noted strong demand persists for parts manufacturer approvals (PMAs). The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants PMAs to allow companies other than the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to produce approved modification and replacement aircraft parts. Airlines see PMAs as part of the solution to remove costs. Crane officials said their aftermarket business continues to improve.
Textron CFO Frank Connor told analysts that strong business demand could provide upside to business jet production and margins in 2022. Business jet takeoffs and landings are at historical highs, exceeding pre-COVID-19 and pre-Financial Crisis (2009) levels. Morgan Stanley’s experts say the demand is driven by consumer focus on safety, convenience of private aviation relative to commercial travel during COVID-19, and wealth creation, with the uptick attributable partly to new private aviation users.
Multiple companies highlighted supply chain constraints and labor market issues, which add risks to expected production ramps for aerospace OEMs. Textron and Curtiss-Wright officials acknowledged the global chip shortage’s impact on avionics and electronics. Raytheon, with 41,000 suppliers around the world, reports it’s actively managing supplier readiness.
Management teams at the conference suggested a stable outlook for defense, citing key awards of more than $3 billion for the Long-Range Standoff Weapon System and Next Generation Interceptor.
Lofty mergers and acquisition (M&A) valuations suggest to conference participants that the market is betting on the commercial aerospace rebound. Despite Raytheon’s focus on divestitures as it fine-tunes its portfolio, company officials said they continue to look for acquisition opportunities in the commercial aftermarket and space. – Eric
Machining center performs like high-speed jig borer
The HN800-V is a horizontal machining center (HMC) offering the performance of a high-speed jig borer.
Built with the rigidity and accuracy necessary to perform ultra-precise contour machining and boring, the HN800-V features inverted V-shaped slideways to achieve volumetric accuracy of 0.00005" per foot. The V-shaped slideway system provides superior stability and long-term axis straightness to minimize pitch and yaw motion. Hand-scraped slideways and hardening-processed slide guides maximize machine durability.
The geared high-torque spindle is constructed with seven sets of wide-spaced, high-precision angular contact and roller bearings with a single-piece headstock casting for greater stability than bolt- together type spindle heads.
The pallet clamping system’s clamper plate ensures optimum down force and increased clamping forces during extreme cutting conditions. Jets of air discharge from tapered cones when the pallet is changed for a clean seating surface and for proper clamping.
The PolyDrill family of multi-spindle heads includes fixed and adjustable hole pitches and compact models for a variety of situations.
Standard drilling capacity is between 0.06" to 1.00" (1.5mm to 25mm), minimum hole spacing is 0.27" (7.00mm), and maximum hole spacing is nearly limitless. Optional tool holders include ER, ST, JT33, Weldon, and custom styles. Axial and radial compensation and custom layout and spacing are optional.
Multi-spindle heads MH 20/5, MH 20/7, and MH 20/10 have 4,000rpm max. speed and max. drilling capacities of 5mm, 7mm, and 10mm, respectively. The MH 20/13 [shown] has a 13mm max. drilling capacity and 3,000rpm max. speed.
The MHF has up to 10 spindles, a custom-made pattern, and fixed spindle distance. MHFP is equipped with 8 spindles with preloaded angular contact bearings for use of carbide tools and fixed spindle distance. The VG 4-8 drive system powers up to 8 machining units with a single motor with flex shaft power delivery.
German logistics services provider DHL Express has ordered 12 all-electric Alice eCargo planes from Washington State-based Eviation. DHL plans to build several zero-emission Alice feeder networks in the U.S., most likely starting in California. Eviation officials expect to deliver the Alice electric aircraft to DHL Express in 2024.
Designed to be configured for cargo or passengers, Alice will carry 2,600 lb (1,250kg), have a maximum range of 440nm (815km), and operate in environments currently served by piston and turbine aircraft. Alice requires 30 minutes or less to charge per flight hour and can be charged during loading and unloading. The aircraft is on track for its first flight later this year.
Bill GoreScott LoweAnupam ChakrabortyDr. Ramachandra Canumalla
Appointments
Horizontal machining centers specialist Niigata Machine Techno USA Inc. appointed William S. Gore national sales manager. Gore brings a wealth of technical knowledge and experience in manufacturing and engineered manufacturing solutions, as well as extensive sales development expertise.
Emuge-Franken N.A., a manufacturer of high-performance taps, thread mills, drills, end mills, clamping devices, and other rotary tools, promoted Scott Lowe to National Sales Manager for the U.S. and Canada. Prior to joining Emuge, Lowe worked at Kennametal, Guhring, and as a machinist at General Electric
Lantek USA, North American subsidiary of Lantek Sheet Metal Solutions S.L., appointed Anupam Chakraborty to direct its sales and business development efforts in North America. Chakraborty’s experience at Metamation and Trumpf brings in-depth knowledge of sheet metal software and machine tools to Lantek.
Weldaloy Specialty Forgings, which supplies government and private space and aviation programs worldwide, named Dr. Ramachandra Canumalla vice president and CTO. Canumalla has more than 36 years of metallurgical engineering experience.
Sandvik to acquire Mastercam developer CNC Software
Sandvik Group is acquiring Tolland, Connecticut-based CNC Software Inc., the company behind Mastercam Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software. CNC Software will join the Design & Planning Automation division within Sandvik Manufacturing and Machining Solutions.
Mastercam software suite has an installed base of around 270,000 licenses/ users, a strong market reseller network, and partnerships with leading machine makers and tooling companies.
“This is in line with our strategic focus to grow in the digital manufacturing space, with special attention on industrial software close to component manufacturing,” says Stefan Widing, Sandvik president and CEO.
Combining the strengths of Mastercam with Sandvik’s offering and machining know-how is expected to be important in automating customers’ end-to-end manufacturing processes.
Online AM skills training courses
Departments - 3D/Additive Manufacturing
6K Additive launches refractory metal powders for AM.
Growing demand from manufacturers for an easy way to train employees in the basics of additive manufacturing (AM) has led 180 Skills to add five new courses that introduce AM technology.
Customers can assign courses individually to team members and new hires or incorporate them into learning paths designed to upskill or reskill employees.
“Manufacturers were already facing a shortage of skilled workers when the labor market entered its current, highly competitive stage,” says Joe Kitterman, CEO of 180 Skills. “For our customers, we are a lifeline, helping them upskill any individual to become a productive employee and allowing them to easily build paths to advancement that make current employees less likely to leave.”
Photo courtesy of 180 Skills
The 180 Skills platform currently offers nearly 800 courses organized into four broad categories: Technical, Quality, Risk Management & Compliance, and Workplace & Soft Skills. Customers can administer these courses via the learning management system (LMS), or through their own LMS.
Quadrus Corp. uses 6K services for making spherical tungsten-rhenium used to produce a non-eroding throat insert for a solid rocket motor nozzle.
Photo courtesy of 6K Additive
6K Additive launches refractory metal powders for AM
6K Additive recently announced the commercial availability of refractory metal powders for additive manufacturing (AM). Production scale of high-value materials such as tungsten and rhenium enable advanced application capabilities in aerospace, defense, and medical industries.
Huntsville, Alabama-based Quadrus Corp. recently used 6K Additive’s services for making spherical tungsten-rhenium they subsequently used to produce a non- eroding rocket motor throat insert.
“We have a focus on propulsion applications that require high-temperature, high-strength materials used in modern rocket nozzle applications. Our tungsten/rhenium powder spheroidized by 6K processed exceptionally well in our selective laser melting machines,” explains Joe Sims, director of the Quadrus Advanced Manufacturing Division. “Having a reliable, trusted supply chain partner like 6K Additive for refractory materials is critical to our business and to our defense customers. Our powder quality requirements are extremely high and 6K Additive easily cleared that hurdle for us.”
