Midwestern Manufacturing Activity Picks Up in April

Published April 30, 2014

FOXBusiness

http://www.foxbusiness.com 

The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago reports its PMI gauge rose in April, from the month prior, topping Wall Street expectations.


 


The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago reports its PMI gauge rose to 63 in April, from 55.9 the month prior, topping Wall Street expectations of 56.7. Readings above 50 point to expansion, while those below indicate contraction for the Midwest manufacturing sector.

#HUOT WeldScoot

Order at Light Tool Supply   http://www.lighttoolsupply.com/

 

 

 

HUOT WeldScoot

Features:

• The Huot WeldScoot facilitates storage and organization for all of your welding accessories in a portable design. This handy product allows you to bring everything you need to weld, regardless of where it is in your shop.
• Surface area for welder is 17.75″ x 27″
• Hose winder handle keeps hose neat and secure.
• Multiple trays included for securely mounting several different tank sizes. No flimsy loose chains here!
• Built in cups hold welding rods in upright and ready-to-use position.
• Center shelf with columns and dividers for storing tips, o-rings nozzles, clamps and more.
• Open area in center shelf for regulators, clamps, strikers and more.
• Large area for welding hood, goggles and accessories.
• Locking casters for stability.
• The Welder Scoot cart dimensions are:35″ H x 37″ W x 18″ D with a shipping weight of 77 lbs
• *Welder, tank and accessories not included

 

DJ's Metal Art

Occasionally I come across an interesting customer doing something very unique with Metal, so I decided to post some of his work as well as links to his website.


http://www.djsmetalart.com/

A Note about DJ's Metal Art
Metal Design and Cutting
from Dennis Jasmer, Owner

I have been in the fabrication and machine shop business since 1975 and enjoyed every minute of it. I learned a lot from so many acquaintances over the years. In 2007, I decided to take a leap of faith and go for something I have dreamed of for so long. Working with metal art, I find the designing and individual cutting out of each design for customers is a real joy, especially when their smile comes from the heart of them in the relation of the satisfaction of the end product.

All of my products are cut from 16 gauge to 1/4 inch metal and are powdercoated black, which shows the best contrast with lighter backgrounds - or when posted out doors. Most of the plant type art is not powdercoated and will become more rustic with time.

Your personal sketch or design, which is unique to you, can be cut to any size. Names, and other items, can be introduced into almost any metal art cutting as a personal touch, for a more personalized gift for that special someone in your life. I can, also, design a logo or sign to set out in your front yard or over a drive. The options of what you would like to dress up and personalize your property, or make your special someone something extra special, are limited with only the imagination.
E-mail is a great way to converse as you share your thoughts and then I can draw them up for you. You will, then, receive a print out as to how it will look, with the size that you want, and then we can make any adjustments from there. With your final approval, the metal is then cut and ready for pick up or delivery.

Any combination of designs can also be combined together, to your liking, to express who you are.
I, also, do custom metal cutting of parts for equipment - for individuals or company's. My CNC cutting table is capable of plasma, oxy torch cutting and plate marking with thicknesses up to 2½ inches and sheet size of 5' x 12' long.
Give us a try - I guarantee you will be pleased with the results and quality of the product! Contact me for more information.
Allow 3-4 weeks for the design and fabrication of custom orders.

Thank you,
Dennis Jasmer, Owner
DJ'S Metal Art

DJ's Metal Art is a Member of:

Owen-Withee Area Chamber of Commerce

Bailleigh Four Roll Plate Bending Machine PR-10500-4

Order at Light Tool Supply http://www.lighttoolsupply.com/baileigh

Bailleigh Four Roll Plate Bending Machine PR-10500-4

Features:
The PR-10500-4 four roll plate bending machine has been refined over the years through extensive research and development and is considered one of the finest plate rolling machines available in the market. A 4 roll machine is the easiest, quickest, rolling machine to operate thanks to its ability to pinch the plate between the 2 central driven rolls, pre-bend the leading edge, and rolling the body of the part along with the trailing edge all in one direction and in one pass. There is no chance to lose the position of the plate due to being pinched at all times during the rolling cycle.

The 2 central driven rolls on the PR-10500-4 are rotated by hydraulic motors and high efficiency planetary gearboxes coupled directly to the rolls. This hydraulic gearbox is driven by a large 10hp motor that operates on 480volt three phase power.

• 1/2" mild steel capacity
• 120" length
• 4 forming rolls
• 2 driven rolls
• Hydraulically driven
• Moveable console with DRO
• Hydraulic system for helping to remove material
• Epicycloidal gear boxes
• Hardened and polished rolls
• Conical bending system
• Torsion bars for perfect parallelism
• Planetary movement of side rolls For more information on the PR-10500-4 contact a Baileigh Industrial representative today.

Specifications:

Rolling Cap. (Mild Steel)	.55"
Forming Width	122"
Number of Rolls	4
Driven Rolls	2
Top Roll Dia.	11.4"
Bottom Roll Dia.	10.6"
Slide Roll Dia.	8.2"
Roll Adjustment	Hydraulic
Programming	Manual
Roll Speed	16 fpm. (5 mpm)
Upper Roll Dia.	8.662"
Roll Adjustment Back	Hydraulic
Side Roll Dia	7"
Minimum Forming Dia	13"
Motor	10 hp.
Power	480V / 3-phase
Shipping Weight	17,600 lbs.
Shipping Dimensions	176" x 58" x 39"

Mahr Federal Gaging Tips

ORDER @  http://www.lighttoolsupply.com/

Single Master Air Gaging Systems
George Schuetz, Mahr Federal Inc.

http://www.mahr.com/

 As we have noted on numerous occasions in these pages, air gaging is the granddaddy of precision measurement, with systems employed on the shop floor since the 1940s. Air gaging was the earliest form of submicron measurement available, and many of the air plug configurations developed during this period have not changed dramatically since then.
 What has changed are the readouts and their capabilities. Today's digital readouts offer more range and higher resolutions. Also, modern amplifiers can provide additional functions such as displaying actual part size, performing dynamic checks so the operator does not have to calculate results, and changing the display from ID to OD with just a single switch. This has made the job faster and easier for the user and provides better results at the end of the day.
 But one air gaging issue that has remained cloudy over the years is whether to choose a single or dual master system. Both have their advantages (and disadvantages) and both are available and in use worldwide. Understanding these differences in performance, price, and philosophy will help users make the best choice for their application. We'll start here with single master systems.
 The principle of air gaging is simple: if you blow a jet of air onto an object, the pressure of that air drops as the distance of the object increases. In a tightly configured system, this generates a pressure distance curve as shown in the Figure. The pressure distance curve has a linear area, "b", which can be used for distance measurements, and if the components of the system are controlled precisely enough in terms of pressure, air jet, location, machined characteristics, etc. the pressure distance curve can be repeated and reproduced very exactly in a manufacturing environment.
 This means that the midpoint of the curve, the "O", can be determined very precisely. And by using a fixed magnification display (which is what converts pressure to a measurement reading), you get a system in which only a single master is required to set zero within the pressure distance curve and the resulting displacement readout unit.
 This philosophy is not unique to air gaging. The same concept is used in certain amplifier and LVDT systems. Both are manufactured to known electrical characteristics resulting in a predictable voltage displacement curve. Manufacturing to a standard allows for interchangeability while still maintaining overall system performance. And knowing this, we need only use a single master to set zero for comparative measurements. Only on a regular calibration cycle does the span need to be verified.
 With air gaging, single master systems offer a number of advantages, including:
• One master means very easy set-up
• Tooling and displays of the same fixed magnification are interchangeable without the need to
    adjust magnifications
• Accuracy is built in and thus has known linearity over entire range
• Measurements are not susceptible to small pressure changes. They have excellent stability, and
    readings do not drift after being set
• There are easy ways to monitor tooling for performance without the need for additional masters
• Good speed of response
• Uses medium/high air pressure (30 psi) which helps clean parts
• Recessed jets offer greater jet clearance for longer tooling life, i.e., tooling body wear does not
    affect magnification
• Recessed jets reduce potential for damage or clogging
• There are certifiable tools and restrictor kits available to verify the performance of the display units


                             
 But the big "IF" with single master systems is that these benefits accrue only if the tooling and readout devices are manufactured to the highest standards, and include such things as atmospherically balanced air systems that are not susceptible to small pressure changes (this is done by incorporating precision reference orifices into the tooling). This, of course, means these systems cost more. Having a fixed magnification system also means you need a specific amplifier for each tool, and you need extra tools to verify system calibration.

Caterpillar Plows Through Estimates, Unveils $10B Stock Buyback

By Matthew Rocco

Published January 27, 2014

FOXBusiness

 http://www.foxbusiness.com

Caterpillar’s (CAT) fourth-quarter profit jumped 44% to plow through Wall Street estimates, as cost-cutting moves countered a decline in revenue.
The world’s largest maker of construction and mining equipment also unveiled a new $10 billion stock buyback and provided an upbeat outlook for fiscal 2014.
Shares rallied 6.6% to $91.90 in pre-market trading Monday. The stock has been on a downswing over the last year, sliding 9.8%.
Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar reported a profit of $1 billion, compared to $697 million in the same period a year earlier. On a per-share basis, earnings rose to $1.54 from $1.04. Revenue dropped 10% to $14.4 billion, with mining results continuing to lag.
The company beat expectations for both the top and bottom lines. Analysts were looking for earnings of $1.28 a share and revenue of $13.64 billion.
Weakness in coal and other commodities led to soft demand for mining equipment, which weighed on Caterpillar’s results throughout fiscal 2013. On Monday, Caterpillar said the decline in mining sales last year was worse than it originally anticipated.
The equipment maker helped offset the decline by slashing costs. In the fourth- quarter, total operating costs were down 14% year-over-year at $12.95 billion.
Across the board, sales for machinery and power systems decreased 11%. The resource industries segment, which includes mining products, logged a 48% decline in sales to $3.02 billion. Construction sales grew 20% to $4.85 billion, while power systems climbed 5% to $5.57 billion.
“Cost flexibility is critical to our strategy and was a significant focus in 2013 as we took substantial actions to help maintain profitability as sales declined,” said Caterpillar chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman. “It wasn’t easy, especially for our employees who endured an incredibly tough year, but the actions we initiated helped us deliver strong operational performance in 2013.”
Although the company believes mining companies will further reduce capital expenditures in 2014, Caterpillar does expect a continued rebound in mining production.
Caterpillar projected earnings of $5.30 a share and revenue of $56 billion for the current year, plus or minus 5%. Excluding restructuring costs, adjusted earnings are expected to hit $5.85 a share.
According to Oberhelman, Caterpillar sees some signs of improvement in the world economy, which should bode well for construction and power-systems sales. He added that the company continues to be cautious and is working to position itself to succeed when economic conditions improve and sales bounce back.
The company’s decision to launch a new $10 billion buyback stems from “record cash flow, the strength of our balance sheet and our confidence in the long-term future of Caterpillar,” Oberhelman said.
Caterpillar expects to repurchase $1.7 billion of its shares in the first quarter, completing its previous buyback of $7.5 billion.
Follow Matthew Rocco on Twitter @MatthewRocco

Flexbar Latheguards

Order at   http://www.lighttoolsupply.com


Machine Safety Guard

• Exceeds O.S.H.A. Requirements
• NEITHER RAZOR-SHARP CHIPS NOR BROKEN TOOL BITS WILL PENETRATE THE LEXAN® SHIELD
• Rib reinforced
• Robust construction
• Light in weight
• Swings away easily

Prevents Accidents with LatheGuards

• Clear LEXAN, Semi-Circular Wrap-a-round Guards
• Heavy Duty Cast Mounting bracket supplied.
• Heavy Duty Chrome-plated extension tube and hardware.
• Ready to mount; all you do is affix mounting bracket with two screws.
• Back of shield is reinforced with plated wire-form housing.
• Locks in swing away or functional positions.
• Accepts 3 or 4-Jaw Chucks.

Specifications:

Model No.	Suggested Lathe Size	Center Height (A) (Shield Height)	Use With Chucks	Shield Width (F)	Shield Length (B)	Tube Length (E)
12999	Very Small Lathes	3.9”	Up to 6” Dia	6 ¼”	7.8”	10”
13060	6 to 12	6”	Up to 8” Dia	6 ¼”	11.8”	10”
13061	12 to 16	8”	Up to 12” Dia	8”	15.8”	11 ½”
13062	16 to 20	10”	Up to 16” Dia	8”	19.70”	13”
13064	20 to 24	13”	Up to 20” Dia	8”	23.6”	13”