Page 43 - MetalForming Magazine October 2022 - FABTECH

Fabrication: News & Technology
New Program Helps Determine Solutions to Grinding and Finishing Challenges
Saint-Gobain Abrasives has intro- duced the Norton Abrasive Process Solutions (APS) program, designed
to help customers determine the optimal grinding or finishing solution
for the application at hand. Solutions reportedly range from simple to com- plex, off-hand or automated, and for metal fabrication, production grinding
and virtually any abrasives operation.
The APS program draws upon the expe- rience and knowledge of the Norton team along with access to 30 different machines, and a new state-of-the-art APS robotic automation cell (pictured). This cell forms the core of the new APS pro- gram, located at the Higgins Grinding Technology Center in Northborough, MA. Here, the APS team provides abrasive process development, optimization, automation and inhouse testing. APS services encompass the testing and opti-
mization of new abrasives, improving quality and/or throughput, and trying entirely new and customized processes.
Tests can be conducted so that cus- tomers do not have to re-assign limited inhouse resources and pause their own production.
“At a time when North American man- ufacturers need to deliver high-quality products faster, while stressed with labor shortages, the new APS Program can relieve some of their burden,” says Tony
Landes, APS lead, Norton | Saint- Gobain Abrasives. “The APS program is set up to deliver a comprehensive array of services, including a quick response and short turnaround. The APS team can provide the broadest array of grinding and finishing process development solutions for any type of abrasive.”
In particular, the APS Automation Cell can deliver abrasive-to-part and part- to-abrasive applications as well as wet/dry processing, and uses a range of abrasives such as coated, non-woven, thin wheel, bonded and superabrasives. Equipped with a verified turnkey solution, manu- facturers can then contact an automation system integrator to implement the solution to avoid costly trial and error at the inte- grator level.
Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives: www.nortonabrasives.com
Offline Programming Software for Robots
Robotmaster, offline programming software for robots from Hypertherm, helps manufacturers maximize their robot’s productivity with simple and efficient robot programming for a variety of applications such as cutting, trimming, milling, welding, spraying, polishing, sanding, grinding, deburring and more. Robotmaster uses integrated CAD/CAM functionality to make robotic programming simple and intuitive for everyone, even first-time users, according to company officials, who note that the technology has been shown to reduce programming time by as much as 75 percent.
“Although the pandemic is thankfully behind us,” says Greg Culp, who leads the Robotmaster sales team, “the disruption and severe labor shortage it has caused means that automation is an important way forward. Robotmaster, with its intuitive, easy-to-use, brand-
agnostic software, makes it easier than ever for companies to do that.” Hypertherm: www.hypertherm.com Custom Air Knives for Unique Applications
Air knives from Exair provide effective blowoff, cooling, cleaning and drying in myriad man- ufacturing processes. To accommodate the variety of unique problems manufacturers face, Exair has the ability to customize and tailor air knives to different specifications. These customizations can range in size, shape and material, and include custom mounting holes and dimensions. They are created to solve distinct manufacturing challenges reaching beyond typical air-knife selections.
Users with space limitations can benefit from smaller knife lengths or skinnier profiles. In situations where the knife may need to be installed in a defined spot, special mounting brackets or additional/custom sized air inlets can be provided. Special marking requirements for tying knives to specific machines or critical processes can be accommodated. Unique shapes and profiles, such as double-sided or curved, also can be accommodated for certain specialized processes. Exair Corp.: www.exair.com
40 MetalForming/October 2022
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