September 2011

Welcome to Beyond the Chuck™

Case Study: 

Increase Accuracy, Throughput and Reduce Change Over

Scope: In 2010 a manufacturing company specializing in screw-in hydraulic cartridge valves and manifolds approached us to engineer a sophisticated workholding solution to allow them to run (3) different parts on one machine with minimal change-outs and the associated downtime. In addition, the solution needed to provide complete part gripping for high volume machining. This type of solution would allow maximized throughput without affecting finished part quality. Thus providing this manufacturer with high volume production per hour with virtually no rejects; as well as fitting within their automation system's cutting parameters.

Solution: Our engineering team modified a long stroke production style chuck. This sealed, pin arbor pull-back chuck permitted very high repeatability and maintained grip force through high volume machining operations. The chuck was built to be compatible with automation by incorporating part seating confirmation, which allows freedom for the operator to step away confident that each part is loaded correctly. Additionally, downtime to conduct routine chuck maintenance was reduced as the chuck only required grease about once a month. The top tooling was developed specifically around application functionality and reducing operations. This design allowed the jaws to hold multiple parts, preventing the need for the top tooling to be changed over when machining a different part.    

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Schaumburg, IL - September, 2011 - Kitagawa-NorthTech, Inc. joined forces with the Illinois Worknet, Medusa Consulting and the "Golden Corridor" (an expansive manufacturing core of businesses stretching along I-90 in northern Illinois) to launch an eight week pilot internship program. Driving this effort is the principal need to introduce young adults (18-21) from the local community to the many great career opportunities manufacturing has to offer. Individuals participating will obtain real work experience ranging from hands-on machine shop and service department projects to warehousing. Expanding upon this program, Kitagawa-NorthTech will also educate their interns about engineering, sales and customer service capacities; displaying the depth of manufacturing professions. Tim Winard, Chief Operating Officer of Kitagawa-NorthTech, acted immediately upon this opportunity stating, "When we learned that this pilot program would be introducing young people to the world of manufacturing, I knew immediately this was something special and we wanted to be involved. It is a very exciting opportunity to know that the next (8) weeks will provide a life-long impression of the manufacturing industry, how business functions and how it might shape their own career in manufacturing. We are glad that we had a chance to participate and hope for the success of all the participants".

Business Expanded More Than Forecast 

By Alex Kowalski, Bloomberg News 

Business activity in the U.S. expanded in August at a faster pace than forecast, allaying concern that manufacturing was slumping.

The Institute for Supply Management-Chicago Inc. said today its business barometer fell to 56.5 this month, exceeding the highest estimate of 51 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News, from 58.8 in July. A level of 50 is the dividing line between expansion and contraction. Another report showed companies added fewer workers to payrolls in August.

Cheaper raw materials and the unwinding of auto-supply disruptions related to Japan's natural disaster have helped manufacturers expand even as global demand for U.S.-made goods slows. The report was in contrast to regional readings from Philadelphia and New York earlier this month that showed factories pulled back as stocks plunged on growing concern over the European credit crisis and the U.S. debt downgrade...Read more at Bloomberg News