“I’m glad I came,” said Patrick Schiess, Focus Mfg. “There were fancy machines on display running great demos. It’s good to see what’s new in the market.”
 
The IRB 120 Robot was put through it’s paces showing customers how productive robots/automation can be. “The day was a great experience for Remtech Systems,” said Justin Williams, Remtech Systems CEO. “We are excited by our alliance with Thomas Skinner to offer integrated machine tending robotic solutions. Remtech works to improve safety and productivity in the manufacturing industry. I had a wonderful time fielding questions from all sectors on robotics and the advantages robots can bring to any machine shop.”
 
The CribMaster Hybrid AccuCab Tool Room Management System using scale and bin technology as well as RFID also drew a lot of attention as the market is turning towards automation.
 
Six CNC machines were on display including the:

• Haas DT-1 Drill/Tap Center running a ultra-fast drilling and tapping demo featuring 12000RPM, 2400IPM and chip-to-chip tool change in 1.8 seconds
• Haas MiniMill with IRB 120 Machine Tending Robot demo highlighted the MiniMills use for flexible and compact production as the IRB 120 robot loaded and unloaded hockey pucks (to simulate machine parts) into the MiniMill
• Haas ST-20 CNC Lathe with Live Tooling and Barfeeder making miniature Grey Cups, using Sandvik Tooling to run a 2-axis turning and parting demo with parts being loaded with the barfeeder - Haas VF-4 Vertical Machining Center with Rotary Table demonstrating 4th-axis simultaneous roughing and finishing techniques, using Sandvik Tooling
• Okuma LB4000EXBB-MY/1500 CNC Lathe running a demo highlighting the machine’s capability by machining a CAT50 extended tool holder, using Sandvik Capto Turning and Milling Tooling
• Okuma MB4000H Horizontal Machining Center with Shuttle Pallet and ChipBlaster JV40 thru-spindle coolant system running a demo showcasing the machine’s ability for optimum multiple high volume metal removal techniques, various hole making and finishing operations, and thread milling and tapping, using Emuge Tooling and GibbsCAM programming

 
“We had a great demo showing our milling capabilities and I received a lot of interest and leads,” said Frank Joswig, Emuge District Sales Manager-Canada. “Thomas Skinner and its employees are unquestionably in a class well above the others in the industry. Real market leaders.”
 
“I’ve shared with everyone I’ve talked to that this was the best open house I’ve seen yet,” said Wade Anderson, Okuma Regional Sales Manager.
 
The many suppliers who helped make the show a success included: ChipBlaster, CribMaster, dataZen Engineering (an Okuma Partner in Thinc), Dormer, Emuge, GibbsCAM, Haas Automation, Kurt, Lenox, Mitutoyo, Okuma America, Remtech Systems, Sandvik Coromant and Schunk.
 
The Thomas Skinner 2012 Open House schedule will be posted on the company website - www.thomasskinner.com