Haas Roars Into WESTEC
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volume 6 number 21 spring 2002 IN THIS ISSUE volume 6 number 21 spring 2002 6 FEATURES t never ceases to amaze me, the Don’t Blow a Gasket 6 I myriad things that can be – and are – Guiding Principles – the Advantages of Linear Guides 9 produced on CNC machines. Yet, Got Milk? 15 15 most of the general public has little or no concept of what a machine tool even In the Wake of Success 20 is. Explaining to someone “not in the Prototyping by Voodoo 34 business” what we in the industry do is always a challenge. And when it comes to describing CNC EDITORIAL machines, I usually end up resorting to the Ingenuity 2 rudimentary drill press as a starting point (even the most 4 mechanically sheltered person usually has some concept of what a drill press is) and working from there. Eventually, some INDUSTRYNEWS semblance of understanding about these miraculous machines In With a Roar – Haas Hits WESTEC 3 dawns on the recipient of my lengthy discourse. Either that, or Mini Mill Learns German at Blaupunkt 3 they’re just faking it to be polite. Going back in history a bit, we visited a shop in Riverton, Machine tools are vital in today’s world, and have been New Jersey – a stone’s throw from Philadelphia – that Changing Perceptions – New Products on the Horizon 38 since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. The advent of manufactures machinery to make a product that was first 34 computer numerical control, something most of us now take for patented in 1915. The Arthur J. Evers Corporation produces RACEREPORT granted, has made them even more so. We would be hard machines that cut and score paper for paper bottles – that’s NASCAR Bump and Grind 4 pressed to find anything in our everyday lives that has not, at milk cartons to you and me. Their switch to CNC not only some point, been “touched” by a machine tool. They truly are helped them make better machines, but helped their customers CART Developments 5 the “mother machines” from which all else is born. make better cartons, and make them faster. NHRA 5 In this issue of CNC Machining, you’ll find several On a more futuristic bent, we have a story about a examples of products, parts, things – even people – that owe company using lasers to cut gasket material, and we venture EDUCATION their existence to CNC machine tools. into the world of magic and voodoo with a company that is The Centre of the Great White North 32 9 For our cover story, we ventured to the Windy City for a using CNC machines to bring prototype products to life. story about a gentleman who had no idea what a CNC machine But wait, there’s more. We also have a very informative was . but bought one anyway. With a bit of training, lots of piece about linear guides and how they are improving today’s HELPFULHINTS perseverance and a touch of luck, he has found himself riding machine tools, and you’ll find a story from the Great White The Answer Man – Applications Solutions 40 the wake of a major speedboat manufacturer as an OEM North about the first Haas Technical Center in Canada. If that’s supplier of parts and accessories. not enough, there’s still the race report, a review of new products CONTENTS from WESTEC and two pages of applications solutions. So sit back, relax and enjoy! THE MASTHEAD CNC Machining is published by Haas Automation, Inc., 2800 Sturgis Road, Oxnard, CA 93030, 805-278-1800, Fax 805-988-6918. Postmaster: Return invalid addresses to Haas Automation, 2800 Sturgis Road, Oxnard, CA 93030-8933 postage guaranteed. CNC Machining is distributed free of charge by Haas Automation, Inc., and Zane Schwenk, World Championship its authorized distributors. CNC Machining accepts no advertising or reimbursement for this magazine. All contents of CNC Machining are copyright 2002 and may Pro-Wakeboarder and X-Games Gold Medallist, not be reproduced without written permission from Haas Automation, Inc. CNC Machining is distributed through a worldwide network of Haas Automation livens up our cover this issue. distributors, and by individual subscription request. Contact Haas Automation headquarters via mail or fax to be added to the subscription list. Published cover photo courtesy MasterCraft quarterly. © Haas Automation, Inc. & CNC Machining Magazine names. Designed and printed in the U.S.A. CPC # 1563572. www.HaasCNC.com. Haas Automation Europe, ++32-2-522-9905 United Kingdom, ++44-1603-760539 20 > EDITORIAL by Denis Dupuis > INDUSTRY NEWS in•ge•nu•i•ty 1. the quality of being cleverly inventive or resourceful; inventiveness. 2. cleverness or skillfulness of conception or design. 3. an ingenious contrivance or device. Haas Roars into WESTEC This is the word that keeps coming tools to make parts. I can’t give you technologies (tried-and-true assemblies) In like a lion, out like a lamb. That’s getting the lion’s share of sales in the exception. Haas filled its 5,280-square- to mind as I travel the world visiting more information, as the parts and skillfully combined with new what they say about March. And while markets in which the company competes. foot booth with 21 machines this year, customers. I recently returned from a trip applications are proprietary. (Thank assemblies to create a new piece of that might be typical for the weather – The number of companies many of which were completely new to Europe – one of those four-countries- goodness many of our customers do let us equipment. This unique machine will at least in many parts of the country – exhibiting at this year’s WESTEC show products. Eleven additional Haas in-eight-days trips – where this word give you more information, or this magazine open up a whole new market for the for much of the machine tool industry, was also down considerably, and it is machines were on display in other booths came to mind again. Long flights provide would not exist.) manufacturer. It was interesting to learn this March is shaping up to be more like expected to be off for other regional around the hall, as well. plenty of time for thinking. Late Wednesday, I’m on another how the company had come up with the “In like a sickly kitten . and hoping to shows around the country. Many long- Haas will also be present in force at Leaving LAX on Saturday, I arrived plane, this time to Venice, followed by a ideas for the product, and to see its get out alive.” time exhibitors have been downsizing other shows around the country in Belgium on Sunday after an short drive up to Pordenone, Italy. I development through the design and Southern California is far from their show booths, or pulling out throughout the year, including a 10,000- uneventful flight – the best kind these spent Thursday at a machine tool trade prototype processes. Ingenious! typical, though: Blue skies and warm altogether. Being an IMTS year, it is square-foot presentation at IMTS in days. I started off Monday visiting our show that featured most of the On Saturday, I visited with friends, weather are the norm – not only for suspected that many manufacturers September. Be assured that Haas office in Brussels, where the machines built by our industry. The and saw a new, and resourceful, way to March, but for most of the year. And may be hoarding their resources for Automation will continue to roar through applications engineers showed me some show was crowded, both with ride a skateboard. I guess when you’re Haas Automation is far from the typical Chicago, rather than “wasting” them on 2002 with innovative new products, high- 1 of the projects they were working on. equipment and with people buying and 3 /2 years old, it’s easier to lie on your machine tool manufacturer: Despite a smaller shows with less perceived value. value options and affordable prices. Working together with customers to selling their wares. It was a gigantic stomach and ride face down – you have worldwide slump in machine tool Not so for Haas Automation. As the For a look at the latest from the improve their processes, they were bazaar, if you will: a mixture of better control coming down the incline consumption, Haas is only slightly off “hometown” show, WESTEC is Haas Automation design team, check using unique tooling and clever machines and people from all over the of the driveway. I think I saw a future previous years’ numbers, and continues historically where Haas debuts many of out the New Product Release section programming to help them achieve world, speaking at least a dozen Olympic gold medal winner in the luge to gain market share. Clearly, Haas is its new products, and this year was no on page 38. their goals. different languages. in the making. Saturday night I caught a One customer was trying to reduce Thursday night, I was on a plane train back to Zurich for the early the setup and load time of his parts, back to Zurich , followed by a train ride morning flight back home on Sunday. Blaupunkt GmbH Claims EMO Prize while maintaining the necessary to Biel/Bienne: the watch capital of I think the word ‘ingenuity’ really The Hildesheim (Germany) The benefit to the Blaupunkt accuracy and improving cycle time. Switzerland. On Friday, I visited struck me as I was flying home after this division of automotive electronics Sample Engineering Department When I left Tuesday night, the another factory, where I saw proven visit. When you compare the history, the manufacturer Blaupunkt GmbH is the and the product development resourceful engineers were doing the beautiful ancient buildings, the narrow proud owner of a brand-new Haas Mini cycle will be considerable, notes final tweaking on the application – streets and the sense of family Mill, courtesy of Haas Automation Böttcher, including reduced another unique part, and another you see in Europe with the Europe.