A RECORD CROWD of 40,667 visitors strolled the aisles of Chicago’s McCormick Place to view the latest machine tools and manufacturing services during the Fabtech 2013 expo November 18-21.
The largest metal forming, fabricating, welding and finishing event in North America, Fabtech 2013 attracted 1,573 exhibiting companies and had 650,000 square feet of exhibit space.
“While breaking our own records is impressive, most important were the reports we received from attendees and exhibitors,” said John Catalano, Fabtech show co-manager. “Attendees were impressed with the record size and scope of the show and the number of new products and innovative technologies on display. Exhibitors were enthusiastic and report that sales activity was brisk and leads were plentiful.”
Attendees and exhibitors in Chicago also raised more than $15,000 for the victims of the severe storms and tornados that devastated Washington, Illinois and other areas of the state the day before the show opened.
“We send our condolences to the residents of Illinois, our host state for Fabtech 2013, and we know that many are struggling to recover from the physical and economic damage caused by these storms that hit on a set-up day for the show,” said Catalano. “Some of our exhibitors and attendees were directly impacted by this tragedy, and we wanted to show our support. We are continuing to collect donations www.crowdrise.com/fabtechexpocares and encourage the manufacturing community to contribute.”
The five Fabtech co-sponsors represent a wide variety of expertise and include: SME, the American Welding Society (AWS), the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, International (FMA), the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), and the Chemical Coaters Association International (CCAI).
Fabtech 2014 will be held on November 11-13, 2014 in Atlanta, GA. Additional information can be found at www.fabtechexpo.com.
The Versagraph Extreme is available in cutting widths ranging from 72 to 288 inches. Up to 10 oxy-fuel stations and up to 4 plasma stations, including dual full-contour plasma bevel stations, can be configured. Maximum rapid traverse speed is a very fast 1,400 IPM. www.koike.com
It cuts both ways. ESAB Cutting Systems will demonstrated its new Hydrocut LX waterjet shape cutting machine, a combined waterjet and plasma cutting system.
The Hydrocut CNC shape cutting machine uses the patented combination of thermal and non-thermal processes operating on the same gantry, allowing the machine to cut with the high accuracy of waterjet where needed, but employ the high speed and low cost of plasma whenever possible. By combining waterjet and plasma on the same machine, both tools can be used on the same parts. High precision contours can be cut with waterjet, while non-critical contours can be cut with plasma. This patented system allows users to obtain precise cuts when needed without sacrificing speed on every cut. Parts that are suited for the waterjet-plasma combination can be cut in a fraction of the time, resulting in dramatic cost reduction and productivity increase when compared to waterjet cutting alone.
ESAB also introduced a family of inverter-based welding machines that can be used for AC/DC GTAW (TIG) and SMAW (Stick) welding. The new Heliarc uses inverter technology, which delivers significantly increased energy efficiency and functionality in a package that is lighter and smaller than an old SCR technology machines and competitively priced versus other AC/DC inverters.
Easy-to-achieve, optimized arc settings enable the operator to weld aluminum using a pointed tungsten. The tungsten remains pointed improving arc starts, heat input and arc stability, thus assuring high quality welds. Heliarc’s pulse current allows for smaller heat affect zone, better control of the weld pool, and less plate deformation.
www.esab.com
Emphasizing aluminum welding. Lincoln Electric had a number of products for truck body and trailer manufacturers, including this sample of a trailer sidewall. For example, its new Gem-Pak bulk packaging system is designed specifically for aluminum MIG wire. The packaging system uses glass gems rather than a payoff ring to control the release of wire. With reduced tangles, this engineered system helps increase production without an expensive external payoff device. The Gem-Pak bulk system is available in 275-pound and 300-pound boxes that include an integral pallet that is fork-lift ready. The box for is 100% recyclable.
Lincoln introduced the Power Wave® Advanced Module designed to increase flexibility for manufacturers by expanding their welding capabilities. The module has alternating current (AC) welding capability to run aluminum processes, including shielded metal arc, metal inert gas (MIG), pulsed MIG, tungsten-electrode inert gas (TIG) and Surface Tension Transfer (STT). With STT welding capability, the module can also help welding open root gaps with high frequency inverter technology. STT is a controlled MIG short circuit transfer process that uses current controls to adjust the heat independent of wire feed speed, resulting in superior arc welding performance, good penetration, low heat input control and reduced spatter and fumes. The Advanced Module reduces burn-through and increases wire feed speed and cleaning. Also, it incorporates a high frequency starting mode that can be controlled at the wire feeder or power source user interface.
The company also introduced its new Weld Sequencer program. Weld Sequencer shows a picture and explains where to add the welds step-by-step. The benefits of the Weld Sequencer include
• The welding power source parameters, such as voltage, wire feed speed and others, are automatically set for each discrete weld, helping to ensure that the operator performs an optimal weld on the part.
• Because each weld may be best performed using different weld parameters, it is sometimes difficult, time consuming or perplexing for the operator to manually make these changes at the machine or wire feeder. The Weld Sequencer makes the parameter changes automatically and tracks the operator’s action to confirm that each weld was performed.
• The Weld Sequencer tracks time, wire feed speed, voltage and other parameters while comparing against the predetermined optimal path. Then, the actual performance is scored, which helps to determine if the part was correctly assembled.
• The software includes the ability to monitor additional control issues, including badge scanning confirmation,
correct consumable confirmation and other functions. www.lincolnelectric.com
A clean shave. AlcoTec Wire Corporation displayed its 5XXX Series NT aluminum welding wire—a bulk welding wire that is virtually free of shavings. Shavings are usually collected in the liner, but can also accumulate on drive rolls and contact tips. Clogged liners often result in increased tip and liner replacement, downtime, and re-work. NT (new technology) is used to produce an aluminum welding wire that will not clog torch liners and offers improved feedability, says Thom Thompson. www.alcotec.com
Nonferrous? No problem. The new Scotchman SUP-500 NF saw specializes in cutting nonferrous materials. The upcut circular cold saw cuts up to six-inch materials at a 45-degree angle. Standard features include safety hood with safety switch so that the saw will not run with the hood up.
New ways. The Titan III features new linear ways in the Y-Axis, along with a new rack and pinion design. Wider end trucks allow for the electrical cabinets to mount within the truck for better protection against the harsh cutting and heat environments as well as providing a cleaner look to the machine. Wider end trucks with maximum guide roller spread further stabilizes the X-Axis motion. The new Titan III can be configured with high definition plasma torches, oxyfuel torches and even a fiber laser head. It can cut material up to 14’ wide with a machine motion accuracy of +/- .010”. www.messer-cs.com
The enclosed frame ensures absolutely no laser light escapes, while its large certified safety windows allow the processing area to be clearly visible at all times.
The TruLaser 3030 fiber was shown with LiftMaster Compact and PartMaster. Capable of handing material while the machine is in production, the LiftMaster Compact achieves high-speed material handling in a minimal footprint. With the PartMaster, processed sheets are automatically transported to the sorting station, increasing sorting productivity by 30%. www.us.trumpf.com
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