November 14, 2019 - Hougen Manufacturing Inc., Swartz Creek, Michigan, has released three new RotaLoc Carbide Annular Cutter Kits which complement the ultra low profile HMD115 Magnetic Drill. There is a large master kit containing all the fractional sizes and two three-piece cutter kits. The cutters offer better performance in truck frames and harder materials. They can also be used in standard magnetic drills with an optional adapter.

October 30, 2019 - Saint-Gobain Abrasives offers new Norton Rapid Prep™ XHD Coarse and Medium Discs to solve users’ most aggressive stock removal and blending challenges. The extra heavy-duty non-woven discs remove weld lines, weld splatter, weld discoloration and blend surfaces in a single step.

XHD Coarse is ideal for surface blending on steels, while XHD Medium works well on softer metals/alloys. Compared with coated flap discs, users will save significant labor and consumable costs by reducing application steps. The new Norton Rapid Prep XHD discs offer a unique combination of a conformable fiber matrix and premium ceramic grain, resulting in improved cut control and surface blending over traditional coated flap and fiber discs. Product life is increased and shape integrity is maximized due to the Norton blended fiber web which dissipates work-piece debris. In addition, the Norton Clean Bond® resin system prevents smearing and produces a controlled wear rate.

Mario Davila, Norton|Saint-Gobain Abrasives Product Manager said, "Test results have been exceptional. In comparison tests fabricators and welders will see a higher cut rate of over 25 percent, with less shedding, and two times the life over the top competitive product using the new Norton non-woven discs. XHD discs are ideal for working with stainless steel and aluminum."

The new Norton Rapid Prep XHD Discs have twelve sizes offered in three non-woven types: quick change discs from 2 in. to 4 in. TR attachment, hook and loop discs in both 7/8 in. hole and no hole from 4-1/2 in. to 7 in. diameter, and speed change discs from 4-1/2 in. by 5/8 in.-11 Fastener to 7 in. by 7/8 in. Fastener. Both coarse and medium discs are stock items.

October 21, 2019 - American Torch Tip Co., Bradenton, Florida, has designed the fastest Quick Change Gooseneck trademarked the Lightning Flash™. The design is patent pending and allows for easy out of position welding applications. No tools are needed to change positions (rotate the gooseneck) or change goosenecks, it takes seconds. Push down turn and lock into 8 different positions. Available as an option on new Lightning® Straight handle 250 amp - 450 amp guns. Jump liners will be included with this product pre-installed. Their goal is to create a better experience for their customers by saving time and reduce awkward welding positions. The Flash design is based on customer feedback and shared challenges.

American Torch Tip will be launching the Flash and two other new products to be announced at Fabtech, Chicago in November. Two of the three are in patent pending status. You can learn more by visiting Booth No. B35043. Join the gooseneck change challenge at Fabtech.

Distributors and end-users alike are encouraged to explore these new products using American Torch Tip’s online part search containing over 20,000 SKU’s on their website and filtering their searches as needed.

October 16, 2019 - A new line of five industrial videoscopes from Titian Tool Supply, Inc., Buffalo, New York, features interchangeable video probes that allow for the use of different insertion tube lengths and diameters with one video unit. TVG-PRO Series videoscopes offer Tungsten braid cables in combinations of three lengths of 1.5m (59 in.), 2m (78 in.) and 3m (118 in.) and three diameters of 2.8mm (0.110 in.), 4mm (0.157 in.) and 6mm (0.236 in.). The modular videoscopes have either 180-degree or full 360-degree articulation with only one video control handle using any of the easily-changed cables, according to Titan Tool.

The new TVG-PRO Series videoscopes are designed for on-site inspections and maintenance on a wide range of transportation equipment, including aviation, locomotive, and gas and diesel engines; machinery, manufacturing, and metalworking, including inspections of castings and cavities; pipeline and container manufacturing; as well as power generation, the company states.

The videoscopes feature a 5 in. LCD monitor with five levels of brightness control and high-intensity LED illumination to provide 100,000 hours of life. Field of view is 80° or 90° and depth of view is 10-80mm or 15mm to infinity depending on the model. A durable, protective case has a precision-cut insert for safe carrying and storage, Titan Tools says.

October 4, 2019 - The new CU81xx uninterruptible power supply (UPS) series is designed for universal use in the field. With flexible and cost-saving connection options including One Cable Technology (OCT) for uninterruptible power supply (UPS-OCT), the CU81xx series is suitable for a broad range of applications. This includes connection to the entire range of Beckhoff components – in particular the Industrial, Panel and Embedded PCs – as well as third-party products. In combination with the Beckhoff Industrial PCs (IPCs), particularly efficient cabling is possible with just one cable for 24 V supply and communication through UPS-OCT.

The uninterruptible power supply units in the CU81xx series have been designed for rear panel and DIN rail mounting. At present, one capacitive and two battery-assisted versions are available:

-         CU8110-0120: capacitive UPS (0.9 Wh) with a maximum power output of 120 W

-         CU8130-0120: battery-backed UPS (15 Wh) with a maximum power output of 120 W

-         CU8130-0240: battery-backed UPS (30 Wh) with a maximum power output of 240 W

In the battery-backed versions, the NiMH battery cells are accessible from the front for easy replacement. The UPS neither needs to be dismantled nor dismounted from the DIN rail for this purpose. It is only necessary to release two screws in the cover to replace the battery module.

One-cable solution offers clear benefits

A special feature of the UPS series is its flexible communication capability, which allows the retrieval of status values for diagnostic purposes or the configuration of the UPS. All IPCs with an appropriate interface and Windows 7 or 10 operating system can easily connect via USB 2.0. In the simplest case, such as when using a traditional PLC, digital I/Os are also available so that, for example, the controller can read a power fail signal and respond accordingly. 

The UPS connection supports even more convenient implementation with the UPS-OCT one-cable solution, which is currently supported by the ultra-compact C6030 IPC, the CX52xx Embedded PC series and the CX2100-0024 Embedded PC power supply unit. This solution combines the IPC power supply with the UPS communication in a single 24 V DC cable, which greatly simplifies installation. All Beckhoff Industrial and Embedded PCs will support UPS-OCT in the future.

October 4, 2019 - Banner Engineering, Minneapolis, announced the release of SI-RF Series RFID safety switches for monitoring doors, gates, and other moveable machine safeguards. 

SI-RF Series safety switches utilize RFID technology to monitor mechanical guards separating personnel from a hazard. They can be deployed alone to safeguard a single machine access point or in a cascade series to simplify the safeguarding of multiple access points. Cascade models can be connected in a series of up to 32 switches using a standard 4-wire cable, T-adaptors, an end plug, and just two terminals on a safety controller.

Used alone or in a series, SI-RF Series safety switches achieve Category 4, PL e, or SIL CL 3 safety ratings. Each switch consists of an RFID safety sensor that detects the presence, absence, or movement of an RFID coded actuator installed on a guard. Outputs on each sensor in a cascade series are continuously monitored to detect any faults, eliminating the possibility of fault masking at any point in the system and ensuring operation at the highest levels of safety.

The In-Series Diagnostics (ISD) communication protocol provides performance and status information from each sensor in a cascade series to the PLC and/or HMI. Notification is sent for the opening or closing of a door, mismatched or misaligned sensors and actuators, and a range of additional system health attributes. 

SI-RF Series RFID safety switches are available in low, high, and unique code models to meet the tamper resistance needs of a wide range of applications. They have a rugged, IP69 construction, a non-contact design with no moving parts, and a very high tolerance to misalignment. They will perform reliably in challenging applications where exposure to high-pressure, high-temperature washdown as well as machine vibration and impact are possible.

October 2, 2019 - PFERD, Milwaukee, has introduced VICTOGRAIN®, a new high-performance abrasive grain whose design features make it one of the most effective abrasives in the world. Its precision-formed abrasive grain triangles are identical in shape and size. Their cutting edges are applied to the workpiece at the optimum angle so that each individual grain needs very little energy to penetrate the workpiece.

As a result, VICTOGRAIN delivers a fast and efficient machining process, a long service life, reduced heat buildup, and a consistent surface finish, making it superior to conventional ceramic grains. In addition, since less energy is required to machine with VICTOGRAIN, its characteristic high-performance can be achieved even on commercially available angle grinders.

Each VICTOGRAIN abrasive grain triangle is firmly fixed on one of its sides to the backing material. Due to the slim design, VICTOGRAIN offers an extremely large chip space for maximum cutting efficiency. The structure of the triangular VICTOGRAIN is specially engineered to maximize results. The very fine crystalline structure ensures optimal wear as sharp cutting edges are always exposed, with the minimum amount of abrasive breaking off from the triangle. 

VICTOGRAIN products are available in a range of dimensions and in the following product lines: COMBICLICK® fibre discs, fibre discs, COMBIDISC® abrasive discs, and CC-GRIND®-SOLID grinding discs.

PFERD INC. is the U.S. subsidiary of August Rüggeberg GmbH & Co. KG., Germany. As a global manufacturer of abrasives, brushes and power tools, PFERD offers a comprehensive line of products and services for metal cutting and surface conditioning. With over 200 years of experience in developing innovative products that optimize productivity, achieve economic efficiencies and improve operator health and safety –- customers around the world TRUST BLUE.

September 12, 2019 - Lincoln Electric, Cleveland, introduces new GTAW (TIG) cut lengths, offered in high silicon formulations in three common stainless steel alloys. The GTAW process allows for incredibly clean, high-quality welds with reduced spatter and welding fume. With upgraded manufacturing processes on the new products, quality is additionally enhanced and the opportunity for weld inclusions is reduced.

The new stainless steel Lincoln Electric GTAW cut lengths include:

• Lincoln® ER308Si/308LSi – Best for 304 or 304L stainless steels and 18-8 steels
• Lincoln® ER309Si/309LSi - Recommended for joining stainless steel to mild or low alloy steel
• Lincoln® ER316Si/316LSi - For added corrosion resistance on molybdenum bearing austenitic stainless steels
  
  

“We’ve improved efficiency on the production front to provide more quality consistency that in turn, ensures the ultimate quality of the welding consumable,” said senior product manager, welding alloys, Sheena Suvak. “We pride ourselves in having high quality consumables regardless of the welding process.”

Common features for the cut lengths include:

• High silicon levels deliver a more fluid puddle and greater toe wetting that is ideal for a number of materials, applications and welder preferences
• Extremely clean surface treatment improves consistent bead stacking while reducing inclusions in the weld – time after time
• Q2 Lot® Tested - a certificate showing actual wire composition and calculated ferrite number (FN) is available online
• AWS classification information is inkjet-printed on the entire length of the rod
  
  

Whether used by industrial fabricators in traditional metalforming applications, or for aftermarket small shop work, Lincoln stainless steel GTAW cut lengths are designed to deliver a clean and consistent weld.

September 5, 2019 - Weldcote, a division of Zika Group, offers its line of ALU-PRIME premium flap discs for applications on aluminum, other nonferrous metals and blending stainless steel.

Offering a high value-to-price performance, Weldcote’s ALU-PRIME flap disc design allows the discs to work longer and more effectively before needing to be changed out. A second-tier calcium stearate reduces material buildup between grains, helping to prevent the aluminum from loading. The flap discs also allow the end user to keep the work material cooler.

Weldcote’s ALU-PRIME premium flap discs are manufactured of high-quality aluminum grain available with grits of 36 and 60 and feature a tough, heat-treated, polyester backing. The ALU-PRIME flap discs are offered in 4 1/2 in., 5 in. and 7 in. sizes, in a compressed profile design that was developed to increase product life and reduce inventory costs for end users.

“Our proprietary flap disc design, combined with our innovative manufacturing equipment, gives our ALU-PRIME flap disc longer life at a great value,” said Joe O’Mera, CEO of Weldcote. “It’s constructed with calcium stearate to reduce material buildup and delay material loading."