November 1, 2008
Commentary
Where has U.S. automaking gone?
In the history of U.S. manufacturing from the East and across the Midwest, there have been renowned centers of expertise. There was Pittsburgh as the...
Blodgett’s Basics: When you only have a moment
The moment of inertia of the cross-section of a structural member measures the resistance to rotation provided by the section. Expressed as (I), the moment...
Barton's Q&A: welding stainless steel with stick and GMAW processes
Q: I need advice on doing a weld procedure for A335 P1 stainless steel to 2205 duplex stainless steel. This is strictly for external fillet welds. Composition...
Industry News
FabTech focus on education
Because of the shortage of skilled welders, a major focus at the recent Fabtech/AWS show was on education. Included in the exhibits was the Lincoln Electric...
New fiber laser welding systems
Miyachi Unitek (www.muc.miyachi.com) announced the addition of turnkey fiber laser welders to its system capabilities lineup. The company said the addition...
Springfield FabTech Mexico launches in 2009
The Fabricators and Manufacturers Association International (FMA) and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), plan to launch a new trade show, FABTECH...
Fiber lasers getting hot
Laser and machine-tool manufacturer Trumpf of Ditzingen, Germany, acquired SPI Lasers of Southampton, England, on Oct. 7, 2008. SPI produces water-cooled...
Lack of skilled workers hurts economic growth
In a poll conducted by sponsors of the FabTech International & AWS Welding Show, manufacturing executives said the lack of employee skills is the leading...
Expanded manufacturing operations
Hobart Brothers Co. (www.hobartbrothers.com) has expanded one of its manufacturing operations into a new 65,000-square-foot facility in Troy, Ohio. The...
Focus on the Internet
Mazak Optonics
Yamazaki Mazak Optonics Corp. opened, in February, a new manufacturing facility in Minokamo, Japan near Nagoya that sets a new level for plant design,...
On-line on-press information
Greenerd Press & Machine Company, Inc. (www.greenerd.com) has developed a private online network that allows its customers to obtain real-time status of their press operations....
Homemade tools
Sometimes it seems that every job that comes up requires a special tool to get it done. On the other hand, there are jobs that require a particular tool, and once you have that tool you find uses for it again and again....
What do you do?
While the WeldingWeb forum always has interesting information on welding techniques and processes, it's also a community forum where people meet and talk about just about anything....
Training and tips
Welding training and tips are available from a wide number of sources, and many of the primary makers of welding equipment have places on their Internet sites that offer information on how to use their equipment....
People
Koike Aronson names exec vp
Koike Aronson/Ransome, Inc. (www.koike.com) has named Stephen R. Morris executive vice president of operations...
Wall Colmonoy names vp for finance
Wall Colmonoy has appointed Robert M. Heminger vice president of finance and administration...
Kowske appointed president of Laser Cladding Services Ltd.
Gremada Industries Inc. (www.gremada.com) has promoted James P. Kowske to president of its subsidiary, Laser Cladding Services Ltd. (LCS)...
Donlon named vice president U.S. Sales for Motoman
John P. Donlon has joined Motoman Inc. (www.motoman.com) as vice president for U.S. Sales...
Kilpatrick joins Acme
Acme Manufacturing Company (www.acmemfg.com) has hired Scott Kilpatrick as senior product manager for automation systems...
Equipment & Automation
Mazak Optonics
Yamazaki Mazak Optonics Corp. opened, in February, a new manufacturing facility in Minokamo, Japan near Nagoya that sets a new level for plant design,...
Putting its own technology to work
One of the impressive displays of the technology that Mazak Optonics provides is the way it used its own equipment in the construction of its Phoenix Laboratory in Minokamo, Japan...
Mazak Optonics building new headquarters in IL
Mazak Optonics Corp. is planning to move to a new, $10-million North American Headquarters complex, in Elgin, Ill., in Decembe...
An award for land use
Japan's Ministry of Land gave the Yamazaki Mazak Optonics Corp.'s Phoenix Laboratory its highest award, the Land Infrastructure and Transportation's Grand Prix for effective land use...
Portability and flexibility are key to wide variety of welding applications
Flexibility and portability in inverter equipment has become a critical factor in welding technology, and there are several trends among fabricators that...
Consumables
New cored wire manufacturer launches operations
A new cored wire manufacturer has launched operations in Ohio with the intention of producing an advanced welding wire for a variety of applications....
Safety
Air filters
Air quality in welding environments is important for worker health and safety, and companies that specialize in air quality control continue to develop...
Welding applications under the new hexavalent chromium standards
Employers are under continuous pressure to: improve quality, increase productivity, provide a safe work environment and control costs! The key to determining...
Table 1. exposure monitoring triggers for:
No Initial monitoring = Objective or Historic Data < 0.5 µg/ m3...
Shop Stories
Big boats, confined spaces and huge savings
There are shipyards that build ships, and there are shipyards that build ships efficiently by staying on the cutting edge of technology. Dakota Creek...
Economic evaluation summary-shipyard example
Estimated Annual Savings...
Not a perfect world
Unlike vocational school welding lab or indoor welding shop where much of the work can be brought to a welding bench...
Portable feeder comparison
SuitCase X-TREME 8VS...
Jay Leno's garage turns plasma cutting
Jay Leno's Garage has turned to plasma cutting torches for cutting metal that it needs during an auto restoration. Leno has a famously impressive collection...
Automation
Lincoln Electric opens new automation center
The Lincoln Electric Co. opened an innovative Automation Center of Excellence, adjacent to its Cleveland world headquarters in late October. The 100,000-ft2,...
Products
Digital system for arc welding
Image Industries (www.imageindustries.com) has introduced a new line of digital arc stud welding equipment — Smart Weld — that the company said provides advanced data management for statistical process control (SPC) documentation....
Kit for customizing TIG torches
Weldcraft (www.weldcraft.com) now offers its new Modular Flex Kits to allow welding operators to customize specific air-cooled TIG torches for their exact welding applications....
Replacement parts for robotic torch systems
The American Torch Tip Co. (www.attcusa.com) now is making replacement parts for use on the Cloos Tandem and Twin Wire robotic torch systems. ...
Flux-cored wire for multiple materials
Hobart Brothers (www.hobartbrothers.com) has introduced a new self-shielded flux-cored welding wire....
Double life for electrodes
Hypertherm (www.hypertherm.com) said its new SilverPlus electrodes dramatically extend electrode life....
Dual action orbital sander
Dynabrade (www.dynabrade.com) has introduced a new Rotary/Random Orbital Sanding Head that is designed to allow users to switch from rotary to random orbital action with the push of a button....
Tool for compound beveling of heavy-wall pipe
The new Millhog Dictator 10 clamping welding end prep tool from Esco Tool (www.escotool.com) is designed for beveling heavy-wall steam or process pipes where the weld is critical because of the high temperatures and pressures....
Optimal arc starting and control for TIG power sources
Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. (www.millerwelds.com), said that its Dynasty 200 AC/DC TIG/stick and Maxstar 200 DC TIG/Stick power sources now feature Blue Lightning technology designed for consistent...
Vacuum lifters for heavy loads
The Anver VP-Series Vacuum Lifters from Anver Corp. (www.anver.com) are designed to be used to handle large steel plates, individual cut-out discs, and skeletons....
Electric wire rope hoist
Spanco Inc. (www.spanco.com) has introduced the second product in its Boss Line — the Lift Boss Electric Wire Rope Hoist....
Breathable air supply system
The new Model 50 SL Single Line Hose System from Martech Services Co. (www.breathingsystems.com) is designed to provide for compliance with OSHA's requirement for Grade D breathable air....
New respirators
Gateway Safety Inc. (www.gatewaysafety.com), has introduced a new respirator system....
New plasma arc gauging system
Hobart Welding Products (www.HobartWelders.com) has introduced a new line of auto-darkening welding helmets....
