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OSG was featured on the cover of the August issue of MoldMaking Technology. National Corporate Product Manager, Roger Goble, provided the corresponding feature article on a new approach to machining deep 3D cavities and cores which dramatically reduces cycle time in comparison to traditional EDM methods.

Read the full article here*.

*This article originally appeared in the August 2014 issue of MoldMaking Technology. It is reproduced here with permission from the publisher.

Shane Soberg, District Manager

As you may already know, the aerospace industry is constantly evolving, which is why OSG has dedicated a tremendous amount of resource into the development of new technology for this industry. One such innovation is the EXOPRO® UVX-SUS End Mill, designed for maximum metal removal rates in stainless steel, titanium and high nickel alloys.

Unlike traditional geometry end mills that have a difficult time with harmonics and chip removal, the unique 4-flute variable helix design of this UVX end mill allows for chatter-free milling and facilitates excellent chip evacuation, leading to improved tool life.

Recently, one of my customers from Minneapolis, MN was running into some issues with a part they were machining. The 15-5 stainless aircraft part required a 4” long slot at 0.587” deep.  At the time, they were using a traditional 5/16” diameter, 4-flute TiAlN coated end mill from a competitor.  The end mill had a 0.015” corner radius, slotting at 0.0625” depth of cut per pass.  Running at 4,800 RPM with a feed rate of 10 IPM, they were getting 10 passes per part and producing 10,000 parts per year.  Cycle time was 5 minutes and tool life was only 14 parts per end mill, which were disappointing numbers and showed very little profit for the customer. 

I was confident we could reduce the number of passes and decrease cycle time using the EXOPRO® UVX-SUS End Mill, so I explained the benefits to the customer. Striving to improve their machining process, they gave us the green light to begin testing, so we ordered two 5/16” diameter UVX end mills with a 0.015” corner radius.

We changed the CNC program to take three depth of cut passes at 0.150” and one at 0.137”. After decreasing the speed from 4,800 RPM to 3,000 RPM and increasing the feed from 10 IPM to 25 IPM, we let the UVX end mill run its course, milling so quietly that the only sound we heard were the chips hitting the door on their Makino.

I followed up with a visit the next day to see the final results of the test and was greeted by smiles. The EXOPRO® UVX-SUS End Mill was not only able to reduce cycle time from 5 minutes down to 1 minute 47 seconds, but it also increased tool life from 14 parts per end mill to 64 parts per end mill, a more than 400% increase. Based on those numbers, this customer would see $38,000 per year in cost savings and $18,000 in tool cost reduction on just this part alone. The customer said it best, “Wow!”

Since then, they started to run the UVX end mills in other applications as well and have been able to reduce cycle times all around, allowing them to bring in new work, thus providing growth and expansion for the company as a whole.

Although part designs and materials continue to become more and more complex, especially in the aerospace industry, the goal to remain profitable will always remain, as will OSG’s pursuit to develop the innovative tooling to keep up; case-in-point, the EXOPRO® UVX-SUS End Mills.

The EXOPRO^® XPF Taps are a premium high performance form tap capable of tapping materials up to 40 HRC.

This fluteless tap provides increased durability due to the lack of chips it produces.  It also generates 40-50% less torque than the competition, offering an extended tool life at much higher speeds.

With coolant and non-coolant through options available, the EXOPRO^® XPF Tap is ideal for Aluminum Alloy, Cast Aluminum, Carbon Steels, Alloy Steel, Die Steel, Stainless Steel and Hardened Steel up to 40 HRC.

Our very own Tim Holmer, Application Engineer for OSG, was interviewed for an article on tapered-pipe tapping in this month’s issue of Cutting Tool Engineering magazine. In the article, Tim explains the difference between NPT and NPTF taps and how thread engagement effects the seal of the thread. 

Read the full article here*.

*This article originally appeared in the August 2014 issue of Cutting Tool Engineering. It is reproduced here with permission from the publisher.

Featured Employee: Tim O’Sullivan
Title:  QA & Inspection Supervisor
Years with OSG:  11

Much like his hero and inspiration, Arnold Palmer, Tim O’Sullivan is driven by hard work and dedication.  While Palmer rose from a blue-collar background to dominate a sport traditionally ruled by the white-collar upper class, Tim has risen up the ranks at OSG, learning that his hard work and determination would open doors to new opportunities.

Recently starting back at school to pursue a Master’s Degree in Project Management, Tim spends whatever free time is left with his family or golfing. While he also enjoys riding his bike on the trails and cooking up new recipes, he admits his true passion is golf.

“I love to golf as much as I can during our short golf season.” His personal goal is to record at least one birdie in all 50 states, Mexico and Canada. “I currently have eight off of the list, so I still have plenty of travel and golf left to accomplish. Next up is Ohio.”

We hosted our second BBQ of the season to benefit St. Jude today. This is just one of our many fundraising efforts for St. Jude that we host throughout the year. Some of our other events include bake sales, raffles, silent auctions, bingo, bags tournaments, cookouts and more.

But this isn’t just an excuse for us to host fun events throughout the year, and we didn’t just pick a random charity out of a hat to support.

Over 13 years ago our employees banned together wanting to do something more for the greater good. After researching a handful of charities, it was put to a vote in order to find the charity that most represented OSG as a whole.

With overwhelming solidarity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital won the hearts of the employees with their mission to prevent and cure pediatric cancer, and other deadly diseases, through research and treatment. Throughout their 50-year history, St. Jude has successfully pushed the childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent, sharing all the breakthroughs they make to doctors and scientists worldwide.

The money OSG raises goes directly to the cost of treatment, travel, housing and food for St. Jude families, as St. Jude never bills them for any of these costs.

“It’s wonderful how many people recognize St. Jude and are willing to do what they can to help contribute,” stated Sherri Tiani, Corporate Controller for OSG. Since our commitment to St. Jude in 2006, OSG employees, along with OSG’s company match, have raised well over $100,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

So while a small donation for a bake sale or BBQ may not seem like a lot, it truly adds up in the end, making a difference to the children and families who need it.

For more information on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, click here.

By: Ronald Portwine, District Manager

Featured Employee:  Kelly Briggs 
Title:  Customer Service Manager
Years with OSG:  19

Working for OSG for almost 20 years, Kelly has learned the importance of loyalty at the workplace. She believes in committing yourself to the company and fellow employees.

But when she’s not at work, you can find her spending time with friends, relaxing on an annual vacation or cooking up a storm in the kitchen, “I really like to cook.  I just love it when you can throw something together, it turns out just the way you planned it and it tastes delicious.  Then when other people eat it and enjoy it, it’s like a little gift I’ve just given them.”

Kelly attributes her love of cooking to spending summer vacations at her grandparent’s lake house. After helping her grandma make all the sides and salads for dinner, she would then head out to the grill and barbeque with her grandpa as well.

“My hero has always been my grandpa.  He was the best role model for me in my life…Grandpa always believed in me.”