AJAX, Cope Milling and Robotic Thermal Cutting - Peddi-TV - November 2017

Listen up steel world. I'm Ashley Novak and this Peddi-TV.

New projects, new CNC processes, and new machinery is just around the corner. So let's get to it.

Mexico City is a growing metropolis.

Our friends at Ajax take us just outside the city to show off a project currently being erected in their hometown.

Hi, I'm Lindy Casey here in Mexico City today with Peddinghaus partner Ajax.

I'm here with Ernesto Guzman, Operations Manager for Ajax. Thank you for being with me today Ernesto.

Ernesto, what can you tell us about the total tonnage on this project here?

This project includes 3 towers. Each tower is around 2,500 tons of steel, so the total tonnage is about 7,500.

What can you tell me about the benefits and the purpose of the steel structures we're standing in front of today?

The main reason for this construction is residential apartments and the entire project is 3 buildings with 45 floors each.

Ernesto this appears to be a massive project for Ajax. How long do you anticipate the erection phase to be, and when will the project be completed?

We have three months to complete the engineering and supply materials. For the process of production and erection we have 11 months and it is planned for completion by December of this year.

Ernesto do you anticipate this project to be completed on time?

Yes, that is our intention. The customer is requesting us not to be too aggressive with the erection process and I believe we can complete this project two months earlier than our commitment.

Which Peddinghaus machines were used to fabricate the steel for this project?

We used Peddinghaus machines to cut and drill plates, and machines to cut and drill beams.

What has been the importance of Peddinghaus equipment in this project for Ajax?

It is in the accuracy for pieces to arrive and be assembled correctly and also for fabrication to accomplish the plan for the project.

What's better than cope milling with one reel spindle? Cope milling with two drill spindles.

Take a look into the world of finished parts with multi spindle cope milling on the Peddi XDM-630.

Hi, I'm Lyle Menke. Today I'm here with Brad Godsey of our Engineering Department.

So Brad, what is your background in machining?

I been machining for 25 years everything from plastics, to brass, AR plate, to hardox, structural steels, aluminum, everything.

How is it possible to perform a milling function on the XDM machine?

Well, we step in on the Z incrementally, and then we also step over on X in order to not drop a slug into the machine, and to achieve a nice finish.

So is the material clamp very well on this machine?

Yes, the materials clamped well, since structural steel has to be a little flexible, we have to have rigidity in machining.

We actually have quite a few extra clamps on this. We have a mid clamp, we have three vertical clamps, we also have an underside support.

Can you describe a typical XDM milling process.

We have what we call eat milling which is where we remove everything was like what's shown here.

We also have drill and mill where we drill a pilot hole, and remove it, and keep the slug for faster manufacturing.

As the material flows through the machine, it gets sawed off and you can nest multiparts to get constant throughput.

So Brad, how does Raptor Software assist with this whole milling process?

Most copes are imported with Tekla BIM models and with a few settings, they can easily be processed automatically.

What are the advantages of milling a cope as opposed to like thermal cutting or burning it?

Normally with thermal cutting you end up with a draft angle, whether it's oxy, plasma, even laser.

The oxygen blast material through and you end up with a draft angle with milling you end up with a square corner.

You actually, end up with a finished surface. There is no heat effect. So, there's no discoloration in the metal.

So why does everybody hate to grind?

Because it takes one of their operators off of a machine and puts some on the floor finishing parts. Also grinding is dirty and it produces hazardous dust.

There is a new dawn rising at Peddinghaus and it covers a new range of processing for fabrication friends.

We have prepared a special sneak preview of what will be unveiled at FABTECH in Chicago.

That's all for Peddi-TV. Be sure to visit us at FABTECH 2017, at booth A-1845.

Make sure to also subscribe to our free magazine PeddiNews for more what is happening in the global steel industry.