IMTS 2018 Showtime: Fabricating & Lasers
IMTS 2018 is the 32nd edition of the premier manufacturing technology show in North America. More than 2,400 exhibiting companies are expected to occupy 1.37 million net sq ft of exhibit space at the McCormick Place complex in Chicago, IL. This event is held every even-numbered year in Chicago and attracts more than 115,000 buyers and sellers from over 117 countries. This year’s show runs from September 10-15. On-site registration opens Monday, September 10 through Saturday, September 15, in all four buildings of McCormick Place:
- East Building Level 2 & West Building, Level 3 Annex 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
- East Building Level 3 & West Building, Level 3 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- North Building Level 3 & South Building, Level 3 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
To help you plan your trip to the show, here are technical reviews of some of the machinery, tooling, systems and accessories that will be exhibited in the Fabricating & Lasers Pavilion to help you navigate the show floor and manage your time while you’re there:
Precision Part Marking Systems
Fiber laser, pneumatic and hand-held direct part marking systems from Dapra Marking Systems provide repeatable, high-contrast marking of hardened and stainless steel, anodized aluminum, copper, precious metals, plastics and more.
High Speed Milling with Intuitive Touch-Screen Machine Control for Ultrafast Setup
The M8Cube Next high speed milling machine from DATRON Dynamics is ideal for precision, high or low volume production of electronic, aerospace and medical parts, as well as industrial engraving applications.
Connected Digital Ecosystems for Automated Welding and Plasma Cutting
WeldCloud and CutCloud platforms from ESAB connect on-premise hybrid and cloud-based digital ecosystems for automated welding and mechanized cutting with online data management that drives continuous improvement in operations.
Vertical Machining Centers for Tube and Pipe Machining
Ideal for machining long parts like tube or pipe, cutting keyways and more, TRD vertical machining centers from FlexDrill use bed lengths from 10 ft to 80 ft to drill, mill, tap and bevel large or long parts in a single set-up.
Innovative Hydraulic Press Systems
Line speeds exceed 2,000 ipm for high volume automotive production on a unique Transfer Line built by Greenerd Press that uses three stations to draw, re-draw and punch the component: two 250 ton draw presses and a 150 ton punch press.
High Speed, Low-Payload Robots for Material Handling, Machine Tending and More
Fast, flexible and compact RS007N and RS007L 6-axis vertically articulated robots from Kawasaki Robotics offer a maximum payload capacity of 7 kg with excellent functional and environmental performance for assembly, material handling, machine tending and other applications.
Next Generation High Speed Waterjet Pump Technology
Streamline PRO-III 90,000 psi Series pump systems from KMT Waterjet are perfect for cutting metal, aluminum, steel, stainless steel, titanium, rubber, plastic, glass and much more.
Portable Abrasive Waterjet System
Using Intelli-MAX software to easily convert drawings to cutting paths, the ProtoMAX abrasive waterjet from OMAX delivers 30,000 psi cutting power with a 5 hp pump to cut metal, glass, plastic, wood and virtually any material under 1 in thick inside a 12 in by 12 in cutting area.
Advanced Robots, Turnkey Workcells, Collaborative Technology and More to Increase Productivity
The heavy duty, large reach MH900 Robot; the light 6-axis MotoMini for tabletop, floor, ceiling or wall-mount installations; and the Motoman AR1440 arc welding robot are some of the latest automation systems from Yaskawa Motoman that improve productivity in a wide variety of manufacturing operations.
Advanced Metalworking Equipment to Increase the Bottom Line
For processing heavy materials, structural profiles, non-ferrous material and more, the latest hydraulic ironworkers and sawing systems from Scotchman provide the flexibility and precision needed for high productivity on tough jobs.
5-Axis Laser System for Fine Cutting, Precision Welding and Additive Manufacturing
For job shops, automotive subcontractors, medical device manufacturers and others, the TruLaser Cell 3000 from TRUMPF provides cost efficient laser processing of small or medium-sized 2D or 3D parts with high quality results.
