Techno is proud to announce a new CNC Router designed specifically for foam packaging and foam cutting applications. This machine is available in three sizes (X-Y travel): 59in x 50in, 59in x 96in and 59in x 120in. Techno's new Foam Router comes standard with 19in gantry clearance and a Z-axis stroke of 24in assuring maximum tool reach and clearance.

Minimal floor space is required because the machine design includes a moving gantry which saves valuable shop space.

In addition, these new machines can be equipped with an automatic tool changer, vacuum table for increased part hold-down, reverse engineering probes or scanners, 4th axis rotary table, and much more.

All of Techno's CNC Routers come with Techno's own GCode Interface which accepts industry standard GCode from all CAD/CAM programs.

This easy to use Windows-based CNC Software features: infinite look ahead capability, production logging, toolpath editing and previewer, and FREE lifetime upgrades via the internet.

The best part of these new machines is the starting base price of $23,900.

Aerotech's ABG10000 air-bearing x-y gantry positioning stages combine a large work area H-frame design with high performance linear motors, rugged optical encoders and magnetically preloaded air bearings to provide high-speed and high-precision positioning with smooth motion for demanding high-accuracy production and inspection system applications. With a wide range of customisation options available, including granite or composite machine bases, z and rotary axes, vibration isolation systems and control enclosures, these zero friction stages provide low maintenance and extremely long life for demanding applications such as high accuracy pick and place, automated assembly machines, and flat panel/semiconductor inspection systems. The ABG10000 features Aerotech's time-proven air bearing design with an active, magnetic preload system on both horizontal and vertical surfaces.

The preload maintains a thin film of pressure and a very stable air gap that is essential for high precision positioning but not always present on other competitive systems available today.

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The balanced combination of preload and the inherent large air bearing surfaces result in outstanding stage stiffness and an excellent offset load capability.

The air bearing design also provides a unique averaging effect with the thin film filling small surface voids and irregularities further contributing to the ABG10000's superior specification for pitch, roll, yaw, straightness and flatness.

Furthermore, the low centre of mass stage design provides the optimal speed and acceleration performance required for high throughput production and inspection systems.

The ABG10000 uses Aerotech's BLM series brushless linear motors with ironless, zero cogging construction providing backlash free positioning with exceptional smoothness and in-position stability.

The lower axis, with two independent air bearings, uses a dual motor drive system available with calibrated yaw correction when used with Aerotech motion controllers.

Rugged noncontact optical linear encoders in a choice of two resolution ranges of 0.01-1.0 and 0.02-2.0um provide position feedback.

ABG10000 series gantry stages are available in four standard travel ranges of 250 x 250, 500 x 500, 750 x 750 and 1000 x 1000mm with customised travel ranges available on request.

The combination of linear motor, encoder and air bearing mechanics realises a calibrated accuracy of +/-2um with bidirectional repeatability to within 0.5um and a maximum speed of 1m/s with acceleration to 0.5g, depending on the system datarate.

Straightness and flatness for the 1 x 1m travel stage is +/-3um, and +/-14um with measured pitch, roll and yaw at +/-15, +/-5 and +/-4.5arc-sec.

The cable management system (CMS) employed on the ABG10000 is a field proven design providing high reliability and long maintenance-free life.

The e-chain system has a large bend radius with high-flex cables used for all motor power and encoders.

Customers' own cabling and pneumatics services are routed through the CMS with interfacing connectors provided, greatly simplifying machine design and commissioning time.

ABG10000 series gantry systems can be supplied as stand-alone positioning systems or supplied as complete solutions along with a number of customisation options such as machine bases and vibration isolation systems.

For turnkey solutions, a wide range of rotary and vertical axes are available along with Aerotech's high performance servo amplifiers and advanced motion controllers including the A3200 digital automation platform.

The A3200 is a breakthrough, software based machine control system combining motion, HMI, PLC and vision control modules with an industry standard FireWire high performance communication network for up to 32 axes of high-speed motion.

It also includes a 10/100Base-T Ethernet interface for use with third party I/O and PLCs.

By providing all system components, Aerotech can guarantee that customers' performance requirements are met with fully tested and calibrated system solutions that will reduce overall cost of ownership when compared to individual design, purchase, assembly and commissioning of positioning and motion control components.

Complete systems include all motor power and encoder cables plus performance and calibration related documents and a CD containing interconnection drawings to help integrators with their own system documentation; all motor parameter setup data for system configuration are included, making commissioning straightforward.

A grinding machine is a machine tool used for producing very fine finishes or making very light cuts, using an abrasive wheel as the cutting device. This wheel can be made up of various sizes and types of stones, diamonds or of inorganic materials. For machines used to reduce particle size in materials processing see grinding.

Making the step up from manual or hydraulic grinders to CNC can be a scary proposition. How do you operate it? How do you program it? How do you make it productive?

The people at Shigiya (USA) Ltd. (Vernon Hills, Illinois) think they have an answer, at least for cylindrical grinding, in the new GPS series of CNC machines. With 12- or 16-inch swings, and 24- or 40-inch between center capacity, the machines are sized to handle the most common grinding requirements. But equally important, they are designed to offer an ease of operation that makes CNC technology accessible to a wider range of users. According to the builder, the aim of the new line is to provide "the capability to handle multi-diameter and complex shaped parts with consistent results."

Much of that capability is due to Shigiya's original conversational programming software, resident in the Fanuc CNC, that simplifies even complex grinding operations. The software lets operators create part programs through a "memory teach" method. For example, to grind a shaft, the operator simply moves the wheel to the beginning and ending grinding positions and records those points in memory. The conversational program then determines the proper grinding pattern (plunge, oscillate and traverse) and grinding parameters, as well as dressing frequency. The operator can then use those parameters as selected, or edit them if desired.

The standard wheel size on the grinders is 16 inches by two inches, but it can use wheels up to three inches wide. The spindle is supported by hydrodynamic bearings and driven by a seven-horsepower motor. Or, an optional package delivers 10 horsepower to 20-inch by four-inch wheels.

The grinders offer a number of standard features including a swivel table to allow conventional taper grinding of up to eleven, nine, or seven degrees, depending on the center distance from the machine. Also, the tailstock has a fine taper adjustment for ease of setup, and an automatic flagging feature helps locate shoulders or the workpiece position. Other standard features include hydraulic tank and pump, coolant tank and pump, and live and dead workhead. Also important to new users, Shigiya says that they will offer unlimited training to help make the most with the machine.

Enquiries from the MACH exhibition have proved that people are seeking alternatives to CNC machines for drilling operationsFollowing the successful launch of the Meddings MV4 Variable Drive drilling machine at MACH 2002, Birmingham, sales of the machines have proceeded at a good level and are proving to provide customer satisfaction. The machine is been marketed through its network of stockists and dealers into all markets including education and production engineering.


Enquiries from the exhibition have proved that people are starting to look at alternatives to CNC machines for their drilling process.

With the cost of machines exceeding the money available customers are now looking to provide cost effective alternatives.

This has meant that Meddings have sold complete drilling solutions to companies in the UK and the Far East.

With machines going to the Far East for drilling of Silica Quartz tubes to the fibre optic's industry.

Special application for the Aerospace and agriculture industry.

Specialised industries are into the specialised fields and this requires specialised knowledge even to drill holes due to the many exotic materials used.

Meddings 60 years experience is proving to engineers that solutions can be found to difficult problems.