August 2010 eNews
JDSU today announced that it has collaborated with Amada,
a leading manufacturer of machine tools for metal
fabrication, to develop a new high-power 4 kilowatt (kW)
fiber laser. The fiber laser has been integrated into a new
sheet metal cutting system that Amada plans to start selling
to the Japanese market in May 2011, followed by a global
market introduction in June 2011. According to Amada, the
new system will provide the fastest linear cutting speed
available worldwide.
The new 4 kW fiber laser provides the ability to cut
materials such as copper, brass, titanium and non-metals
that cannot be cut effectively with traditional carbon
dioxide (CO2) lasers. Combined with the Amada high-speed
linear drive system, thin sheets of stainless steel and
aluminum will be cut at a linear speed that is 2.5 to 3
times faster than cutting speeds achieved with traditional
CO2-based cutting systems.
Metal processing is one of the largest markets for
lasers, with fiber lasers gaining traction in recent years.
Industry analyst firm Strategies Unlimited estimates that
the laser market for kilowatt materials processing will grow
to more than $1 billion by 2013.
Fiber lasers offer several additional benefits over CO2
and solid-state lasers for sheet metal processing
applications, including:
- Flexible beam delivery via a process fiber
- Significantly reduced electrical power consumption
- Reduced footprint
- Low maintenance costs
- Ability to focus the beam effectively from a long
working distance
“Amada’s long-standing machine tool design and
manufacturing expertise combined with JDSU’s telecom-grade
diode and fiber laser technology have enabled us to design a
fiber laser that is not only cost effective, but that also
provides industry leading performance and reliability,” said
Ken Lo, vice president and general manager of Commercial
Lasers at JDSU.
“The strong collaboration and complimentary expertise of
the teams at Amada and JDSU have been instrumental to
developing the new 4 kW laser,” said Mr. Naoki Orita,
corporate officer and director of the Research Laboratory at
Amada.
Amada plans to preview its new sheet metal cutting system
including the new 4kW fiber laser at the EuroBlech Sheet
Metal Exhibition in Hannover, Germany from October 26 – 30,
2010.
JDSU
"Our fiscal 2010 fourth quarter performance clearly
reflects that we are realizing continuing sales growth and
higher incremental margins," said Carlos Cardoso,
Kennametal's Chairman, President and Chief Executive
Officer. "Our talented global workforce continues to
successfully implement our strategies through their efforts
and dedication."
- Metalworking Solutions & Services Group (MSSG) sales
increased by 44 percent from the prior year quarter, driven
by organic growth of 43 percent and favorable foreign
currency effects of 1 percent. On an organic basis, sales in
Latin America, Asia Pacific and India increased 66 percent,
65 percent and 64 percent, respectively. North America and
Europe reported organic sales increases of 42 percent and 34
percent, respectively, compared with the prior year quarter.
Sequentially, sales increased by 8 percent as global
industrial production continued to improve. This represents
the fourth consecutive quarter of sequential sales growth
for MSSG.
- MSSG operating income was $45 million compared with an
operating loss of $29 million for the same quarter of the
prior year. Absent restructuring and related charges
recorded in both periods, MSSG operating income was $57
million compared with an operating loss of $16 million in
the prior year quarter. The primary drivers of the increase
in operating income were higher sales volumes and improved
capacity utilization, cost savings from restructuring
programs and continued cost containment. MSSG adjusted
operating margin improved sequentially from the March
quarter by 580 basis points to 18.1 percent from 12.3
percent.
- Advanced Materials Solutions Group (AMSG) sales
increased 34 percent from the prior year quarter, driven by
33 percent organic growth and 1 percent favorable foreign
currency effects. The organic increase was primarily driven
by higher sales of mining and construction products, as well
as increased demand for energy related and engineered
products. Sequentially, sales increased by 11 percent,
driven by better performance in all AMSG end markets.
- AMSG operating income was $43 million, compared with $14
million in the same quarter of the prior year. Absent
restructuring and related charges recorded in both periods,
AMSG operating income was $45 million in the current quarter
compared with $18 million in the prior year quarter.
Operating income improved primarily due to higher sales
volumes, cost savings from restructuring programs and
continued cost containment. For the second consecutive
quarter, AMSG adjusted operating margin increased
sequentially by 150 basis points to 19.9 percent from 18.4
percent in the March quarter.
Kennametal's restructuring programs continue to remain on
track to deliver the anticipated annual ongoing pre-tax
permanent savings of $155 million to $160 million once all
programs are fully implemented. The cumulative total pre-tax
charges are expected to be approximately $160 million to
$165 million. As previously mentioned, total restructuring
and related benefits realized in fiscal 2010 were
approximately $137 million while the related charges
recorded inception-to-date were approximately $128 million.
The company's outlook for fiscal 2011 assumes that the
global economy and worldwide industrial production will
continue to gradually improve and that overall economic
trends will remain in positive territory. As a result, the
company expects to experience positive growth during the
fiscal year in all geographies, albeit more modest growth in
our served European markets.
Sunnen's
new multi-feed technology gives honing process users
a revolutionary choice of tool-feed schemes to
achieve the shortest cycle times, lowest part cost,
and longest abrasive life. Multi-feed technology is
available as an option on new machines in Sunnen's
SV-1000 and SV-500 Series, as well as a retrofit for
existing machines in these series.
Sunnen's new patented multi-feed honing technology gives
users a revolutionary choice of tool-feed modes to achieve
the shortest cycle times, lowest part cost, and longest
abrasive life. Multi-feed combines Sunnen's new
controlled-force tool-feed with its controlled-rate feed
system. The two different tool-feed modes allow the user to
select the better option to suit the workpiece geometry,
material and tool type/size. Multi-feed technology will be
demonstrated at IMTS, and is available as an option on new
machines in Sunnen's SV-1000 and SV-500 Series, as well as a
retrofit for existing machines in these series.
Controlled-force honing, a new feature in multi-feed,
works like cruise control to ensure the optimum cutting load
on the honing abrasive throughout a cycle, irrespective of
the incoming part's hardness, geometry or size variation.
Depending on the application, controlled-force honing cuts
cycle times by as much as 50 percent, lengthens abrasive
life for lower consumable cost, and allows finer control of
surface finish parameters than ever before possible.
Controlled-force technology eliminates glazing of the
abrasive, due to too little force, and maintains a steady,
free-cutting, self-dressing condition for maximum metal
removal in the shortest possible cycle time.
"In our development work, we found that more-durable
abrasives could often be used, resulting in more parts per
set of abrasives and lower cost per part," said Dennis
Westhoff, Sunnen's Global Business Development Manager.
Controlled-force is an ideal choice for applications using
segmented diamond or superabrasive honing tools, or where
incoming workpieces have slight variations in hole
diameters, hardness and geometry. "An established honing
process can be thrown off balance because of incoming part
variations caused by upstream machining, heat treating or
plating," Westhoff explains. "Controlled-force honing always
maintains optimum feed force on the honing abrasive under
these conditions to eliminate wasteful "air cutting,"
glazing or tool damage. The beauty is that if conditions
allow, for example with a batch of parts requiring less
stock removal, the honing cycle will be shortened
significantly and automatically." Controlled-force's ability
to control the cutting load within a very fine range also
allows much tighter control of final surface finish
parameters. "We have been able to cut the variation of final
surface finish measurement by half or more," Westhoff added.
Controlled-force honing works with Sunnen's MMT, PH and new
KRQ tools.
Controlled-force honing is an enhancement of Sunnen's
controlled-rate system for tool wear compensation, which is
already capable of adjusting tool size in increments as fine
as 0.1 µm (0.000010"). Controlled-rate tool feeding is
typically used with plated-diamond CGT honing tools, which
use a sleeve of abrasive for full contact with the bore
surface. CGT tools are frequently used on cast iron and
powder metal workpieces, segmented bores, or parts with
multiple lands, ports, keyways or crossholes in the bore.
Sunnen's machine control provides up to five feed expansion
profiles that can be used during a cycle for rapid part
touch, cutting, sizing, finishing and spark-out.
Sunnen
Products Company
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