Market Trends

Newly Categorized, Color-Coded 2010-2011 Catalog
The revamped Reid Supply Company 2010-2011 catalog now offers smart categorization and color-coded sections. Investing in new data management tools helped the company’s Product Management Team to refine and streamline the look and feel of the catalog. Not only does Reid Supply offer industrial products, they also have free CAD drawings on ReidSupply.com for more than 90% of the industrial parts shown in the catalog.

Reid Supply’s product offering features multiple color-coded categories in a wide range of categories, such as clamps and workholding; tooling components; fasteners and hardware; pneumatics and hydraulics; and more. With 900 pages of products for a wide range of industries, Reid’s 2010-2011 catalog continues to grow with their needs of the customer. reidsupply.com

Mastercam X4 Certified for Autodesk Inventor 2011
Certification, performed through the Autodesk Inventor Certified Applications Program, designates that Mastercam X4 CAD/CAM is certified for Autodesk Inventor 2011 3D mechanical design software. To be certified, the product must meet certain guidelines and demonstrate a high level of quality, as well as compatibility with Autodesk Inventor software. Certification is given only after the product has been tested and approved. Mastercam X4 has a direct add-in for Autodesk Inventor, a great way to boost productivity. Autodesk Inventor mechanical design software takes engineers beyond 3D to Digital Prototyping by enabling  design, visualization, and simulation of products before being built. Free to the Mastercam and Autodesk communities, Mastercam Direct enables users to open a model in Mastercam while in an Inventor session, and then update toolpaths to reflect changes to the model. Mastercam X4 is able to read in native Inventor files (.IPT and .IAM) for design purposes and toolpath generation. mastercam.com

MP Systems Joins Partners in THINC
MP Systems, a supplier of high-pressure coolant systems, has joined Partners in THINC. MP Systems makes high-pressure coolant systems suitable for routine operations and custom manufacturing processes. MP Systems also makes a programmable nozzle, used in conjunction with its high-pressure coolant systems, for through the spindle coolant delivery and/or programmable nozzle high pressure cooling. As a member of Partners in THINC, MP Systems seeks to help customers optimize CNC machine tool performance and maximize overall productivity. MP Systems uses high quality components and non-piston pumps to improve product reliability. partnersinthinc.com

LSA’s Class 100,000 Cleanroom Completed
Continuing the expansion of its medical device manufacturing facilities, LSA Laser has installed a Class 100,000 cleanroom. The cleanroom setup will include a CO2 laser system with up to five more systems planned for precision processing of silicone, TPE, Teflon, and other polymers in addition to a wide range of medical grade metal materials. LSA Laser is a contract manufacturer of medical device components and assemblies with ISO 13485:2003 certification, and more than 12 years experience supplying the medical device industry. LSA Laser recently moved into a new 26,000ft2 manufacturing and office facility. It utilizes 26 laser welding and cutting systems with up to 6-axis motion control and computer aided manufacturing capabilities. LSA processes include laser cutting, laser welding, laser ablation, and laser marking used in a broad range of medical devices including defibrillation leads, stents, catheters, surgical instruments, dental instruments, orthopedics, hearing devices, neuro applications, and others. Many of the processes include materials such as platinum, titanium, nitinol, and nichrome in sizes as small as 0.001". lsalaser.com