Modern Machine Shop

JAN 2018

Modern Machine Shop is focused on all aspects of metalworking technology - Providing the new product technologies; process solutions; supplier listings; business management; networking; and event information that companies need to be competitive.

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this 35,000-square-foot, 150-employee opera- tion has improved service to existing customers while also opening the door to work that it likely wouldn't have considered otherwise. Meanwhile, this hybrid technology continues to develop. The latest LaserSwiss machines are avail- able with a laser welding head as well as a laser cut- ting head, Mr. Noake says. Meanwhile, other design changes have reportedly made the technology more accessible without compromising capability. Although the shop's first metalcutting machine presented a learning curve, programming and setup have become significantly faster since installation in 2014. Photo courtesy of Northeast Laser & Electropolish. Moving into Metalcutting For Northeast Laser, the most novel aspect of the new machine wasn't the addition of a laser head. After all, laser cutting tiny parts rife with slots, spirals, grooves and so forth is among the company's core competencies. More traditional metalcutting capabilities—those better suited for operations like turning down diameters and cre- ating features like blind holes that don't penetrate the workpiece surface, among others—presented a significant learning curve. Choosing tools and parameters, developing CAM programs, and set- ting up the bar feeder, guide bushing and collets were among the many tasks that represented entirely new territory for the shop's team, says Dave Hornak, product development manager. Yet, the learning curve wasn't too steep. "The longer we have it on the f loor, the better we get," says Jeff Root, production manager, adding that training and support from Tsugami/Rem Sales has been critical. The shop has since installed a MMS JANUARY 2018 72 mmsonline.com SWISS-T YPES

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