Waunakee, WI, Dec 10, 2010 – Tormach LLC is proud to announce that gift certificates are now available for purchase. The certificates can be ordered online or over the phone for any amount and are redeemable for up to five years after date of purchase.

The gift certificates provide an opportunity for family and friends of machinists to give them what they really want without having to know anything about tools or machining.  Applications Engineer Andy Grevstad explains, “We had enough requests over the last few years, especially around the holidays, that we decided to make something available this year.  It’s a great gift for machinists or tool guys without having to guess at what they really want.”

All the gift certificates are sent via USPS standard mail at no cost, however if expedited shipping is required customers can contact the shipping department for more information. The certificates can be redeemed online or over the phone after purchase.

About Tormach

The people at Tormach are dedicated to delivering tools, accessories, and components of unprecedented value in the world of CNC and motion control.  Whether you are involved in R&D, education, short-run production, or simply entrepreneurs with new ideas, Tormach products allow you to make what you need easier, quicker, and more affordable.

Tormach is headquartered in Waunakee, Wisconsin. For more information about ‘personal CNC’ mills and accessories, please visit www.tormach.com or contact Tormach directly at info@tormach.com

Waunakee, WI, Dec 10, 2010 – Tormach, LLC, manufacturer of the PCNC 1100 personal CNC mill, is announcing their workshop dates for early 2011. They will offer “CNC for Beginners” January 27^th-28 and March 17^th-18^th, “CNC Fundamentals” February 22^nd-25^th, and “SprutCAM 1-Day Training” February 22^nd.

The workshops are hands-on training and each course is designed for a different interest level.

“Tormach’s mission statement is to empower people who make things,” said Andy Grevstad, training coordinator.  “Educational opportunities like CNC FUNDAMENTALS will help us to continue to meet that goal for our customers, regardless of CNC experience.”

CNC for Beginners is a 2 day workshop designed for those who are new or just getting started with CNC manufacturing. This workshop is hands-on. The goal of this workshop is for students to gain confidence in operating a CNC Machine and learn the basics of CAM and toolpath design.

CNC Fundamentals is a 3.5 day workshop designed as an immersion course in CNC for prototyping and custom manufacturing. This is a survey of the CNC process, from concept to cutting chips, with an emphasis on learning and building confidence.This workshop is hands-on. Each attendee will gain practical experience in CNC programming, machine control, and machining as they build a model Stirling engine. There will be significant emphasis on Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing (CAD/CAM), advanced CNC control, and workholding techniques.

SprutCAM 1-Day Training provides attendees with basic knowledge to use SprutCAM for programming tool paths for a CNC mill. The class will focus will be on taking a design from 3D model to complete tool path creation, with special attention to configuring SprutCAM for your mill and tool library. Advanced Topics include 4th axis and lathe programming.

The workshops will be held in Waunakee, WI, just north of Madison.  For a complete agenda and information on upcoming dates and how to sign up, visit www.tormach.com/workshops.

Tormach Publishes Whitepaper Report on Preventing Collet Slip

Report confirms that using clean, dry tools and maintaining proper drawbar lubrication will eliminate collet slip problems.

Waunakee, WI, Oct 20, 2010 – This week Tormach released a new whitepaper report detailing its recent findings and recommendations for preventing collet slip in R8, ER, 5C and other common tool holding systems. The test results confirm that properly maintaining tools and drawbars is essential to avoid tool pull-out problems.

Test results show that improper surface preparation of the inside of the collet can reduce tool holding force by more than 50 percent.  Additionally, improper maintenance of the drawbar and lack of lubrication can reduce the tool holding force by as much as 70 percent.

Tormach President Greg Jackson, who co-authored the report with Scott Mulkerin of SDM Fabricating (Medina, OH), discussed the results, “The differences between proper technique and poor technique can result in tool pull-out forces as high as 3750 or as low as 600 lbs.”  He then added, “The report stresses that doing it right isn’t difficult but makes a huge difference.”

A summary of the report’s recommendations are as follows:

1. Keep the shanks of collet mounted tools clean and dry. The tools must be cleaned when they arrive.
2. Keep the inside of the collet clean and dry.
3. Lubricate the outside of the collet and the inside of the spindle taper with anti-seize lubricant.
4. Lubricate the threaded section of the drawbar, the thrust shoulder, and the thrust washer with anti-seize lubricant.
5. Drawbar torque generally needs not exceed 30 ft lb unless extreme machining conditions are expected.
6. Inspect and replace the drawbar and collet as needed.

The full whitepaper report including an appendix with the test report is available for download at the following address: http://www.tormach.com/uploads/document_library/TechnicalDocuments/TD31090_ToolHolding.pdf

About Tormach

The people at Tormach are dedicated to delivering tools, accessories, and components of unprecedented value in the world of CNC and motion control.  Whether you are involved in R&D, education, short-run production, or simply entrepreneurs with new ideas, Tormach products allow you to make what you need easier, quicker, and more affordable.

Tormach is headquartered in Waunakee, Wisconsin. For more information about ‘personal CNC’ mills and accessories, please visit www.tormach.com or contact Tormach directly at info@tormach.com

Waunakee, WI, Oct 4, 2010 – Tormach, LLC announced it has completed its expansion which features a new training center that seats up to 14 students with its own machine shop, kitchen and outside entrance. The educational machine shop features three CNC milling machines for hands-on CNC instruction with four additional mills in an dedicated R&D workshop.

With its recent addition Tormach is now providing more specialized training classes based on interest level and experience with the machines. For an immersion –training experience, there’s the CNC Fundamentals class that now features an introduction to SprutCAM due to high demand. Each individual in this class makes a Stirling engine for the class project.  For introductory training, there is a new shorter CNC for Beginners class that incorporates Cut2D from Vectric. In this class students will be cutting gears and building a simple mechanism.

Along with expanding space and educational classes, Tormach is putting more manpower into communications and outreach. Tormach followers can expect more blogging, documentation and videos on the site.

About Tormach

The people at Tormach are dedicated to delivering tools, accessories, and components of unprecedented value in the world of CNC and motion control.  Whether you are involved in R&D, education, short-run production, or simply entrepreneurs with new ideas, Tormach products allow you to make what you need easier, quicker, and more affordable.

Tormach is headquartered in Waunakee, Wisconsin. For more information about ‘personal CNC’ mills and accessories, please visit www.tormach.com or contact Tormach directly at info@tormach.com

DIY Manufacturing by Leslie Gordon, Senior Editor for Machine Desgin, discusses how "machine-tool builders, software developers, and smaller companies" like Tormach "straddle the line between newer ideas and conventional manufacturing".

Read the complete article

Waunakee, WI, June 21, 2010 – Tormach has announced that the Tormach Speeder, a patented 3x RPM multiplier for PCNC mills and other R8 spindles, is now available for sale on the company’s website, www.tormach.com.   The Speeder reduces machining time, improves surface finish, and extends tool life of small diameter carbide mills by allowing these tools to reach optimal surface speeds that aren’t possible with typical R8 spindles.

Said Tormach President Greg Jackson, “The Tormach Speeder will really expand the capabilities of a native R8 spindle mill beyond what is typically available.  With the increase in RPMs, machinists can effectively increase feedrates for long finishing cycles without overloading the cutting tool.  This means a job that took 3 hours run time might now only take 1hour.“   Jackson expects the Speeder to be particularly popular with machinists that use small ball end mills for 3D contour milling, and also those who do fine detail work, such as engraving.

The Tormach speeder is rated for 20,000 RPM continuous operation with intermittent operation to 30,000 RPM.  The Speeder offers a lightweight cast aluminum housing, belt and pulley drive train featuring Gates Polyflex® JB® Polyurethane V-Belts, and balanced high speed spindle  that can be mounted concentrically to the native spindle of Tormach PCNC mills, Bridgeports, and other small machine tools featuring an R8 taper.     

About Tormach

The people at Tormach are dedicated to delivering tools, accessories, and components of unprecedented value in the world of CNC and motion control.  Whether you are involved in R&D, education, short-run production, or simply an entrepreneur with new ideas, Tormach products allow you to make what you need easier, quicker, and more affordable.

Tormach is headquartered in Waunakee, Wisconsin. For more information about ‘Personal CNC’ mills and accessories, please visit www.tormach.com or contact Tormach directly at info@tormach.com

Waunakee, WI, May 19, 2010 – Tormach announced today that LittleMachineShop.com (Pasadena, CA) has become a dealer for Tormach PCNC Mills.  The centerpiece to the agreement is the addition of a PCNC 770 to LittleMachineShop.com’s Pasadena Showroom.

Said Tormach president Greg Jackson, “We’ve had a great relationship with LittleMachineShop.com for many years and recognize Chris Wood and his staff for their leadership in the small and hobby machining and metalworking community.  We’re thrilled to have them on board as a partner and excited about the addition of a PCNC 770 mill to their Showroom in Pasadena.”

Mr. Wood added, "The Tormach PCNC Mills are a great addition to our line. Customers have been very impressed when they see how fast the PCNC 770 removes metal."

LittleMachineShop.com has also been a dealer of the Tormach Tool System (TTS) line since 2007.  Interested parties in Southern California are encouraged to visit LittleMachineShop.com for a live cutting demo during normal business hours at their Pasadena location.

LittleMachineShop.com

396 W. Washington Blvd. #500
Pasadena, CA 91103

8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday

(800) 981-9663

(626) 797-7850

About Tormach

The people at Tormach are dedicated to delivering tools, accessories, and components of unprecedented value in the world of CNC and motion control.  Whether you are involved in R&D, education, short-run production, or simply entrepreneurs with new ideas, Tormach products allow you to make what you need easier, quicker, and more affordable.

Tormach is headquartered in Waunakee, Wisconsin. For more information about ‘personal CNC’ mills and accessories, please visit www.tormach.com or contact Tormach directly at info@tormach.com

Tormach, LLC announced today the release the new Tormach CNC Scanner™, a dimensionally accurate 2D scanner for use with a PCNC or other Mach 3 power CNC mill or router. The scanner makes high resolution composite images by automatically stitching together an array of snapshots taken with a USB microscope mounted in the spindle of the mill. The length scale of these composite images is calibrated to the motion of the mill allowing for very accurate measurements that might not have been possible with conventional gauge tools. It includes Tormach ScanCAD™, an integrated analysis software for precision measurement and reverse engineering.

Waunakee, WI, January 19, 2010 – Tormach, LLC announced today that it has released the new PCNC 770™ personal CNC milling machine for sale on the company website, www.tormach.com.  The PCNC 770 has a space-saving footprint and a basic 115VAC household electrical service requirement.  The optional patent pending moving kit allows the machine to be transported as component pieces, making this the first serious machine tool designed specifically for a basement shop.

Over 2 years in development, the design of the PCNC 770 combines reliable cast-iron construction, P4 grade ballscrews, and sensorless vector drive spindle technology to create a simple and robust platform with ample options for user-installed upgrades, just like the best-selling PCNC 1100 Series II.  The mill weighs 662 pounds and is equipped with a 10,000 RPM spindle -- well suited for prototyping, hobby, small business, R&D, or educational use.

“Since we first released the PCNC 1100, we’ve heard from many people that space is a real constraint,” said Greg Jackson, president of Tormach.  “We wanted to build a CNC machine that can fit smaller spaces without compromising the performance or quality that our customers have come to expect when they purchase a Tormach PCNC.”  Like PCNC 1100 Series II, the PCNC 770 has enough power to cut the toughest materials – steel, stainless, even titanium.

The PCNC 770 offers 130 IPM feedrates in both X and Y axes.  It features a 1 hp spindle that is compatible with both R8 and TTS tools. TTS, the revolutionary dual contact Tormach Tooling System™, has become an industry standard for small machines offering quick-change with repeatable tool offsets.

The work envelope is 13” x 7.5” x 13.25” (X, Y, Z).  The PCNC 770 is compatible with the majority of the existing accessories in the PCNC line and is pre-wired for 4th Axis and digitizing probe.  An optional steel stand and coolant kit are available.

The PCNC 770 has a base price of $6200 and is available immediately for worldwide shipping.  Visit www.tormach.com to order.

About Tormach

The people at Tormach are dedicated to delivering tools, accessories, and components of unprecedented value in the world of CNC and motion control.  Whether you are involved in R&D, education, short-run production, or simply entrepreneurs with new ideas, Tormach products allow you to make what you need easier, quicker, and more affordable.

Tormach is headquartered in Waunakee, Wisconsin. For more information about ‘personal CNC’ mills and accessories, please visit www.tormach.com or contact Tormach directly at info@tormach.com.