Innovative Technology for Your Mold Shop at IMTS 2024: Part 1

Looking for the next technology, software or service to take your mold shop to the next level? MoldMaking Technology has got you covered! With IMTS 2024 (International Manufacturing Technology Show) rapidly approaching, our staff has curated a comprehensive, two-part guide to what’s new, improved upon and readily available at IMTS this year. 

Below you will find a sneak peek of the products, services and technologies from a variety of suppliers exhibiting at IMTS. Read on to discover more about the product(s) to best suit your needs and keep your eye out for Part 2 of this guide to come in early September.  

Exhibit Previews

• Belmont Equipment & Technologies: Belmont Equipment & Technologies offers its SY series high-speed CNC EDM drills for customizable, small-hole drills. These are useful in moldmaking for vent holes and ejector pin hole applications.
• Blum-Novotest Inc.: Blum-Novotest announces the FormControl X measurement software, which includes an alignment function that can interact with unmanned operations and in cooperation with robotic solutions.
• CGS North America: CAM-Tool V20 is presented by CGS North America, combining efficiency, precision and advanced AI capabilities to better tailor to specific mold builder needs.
• Cimatron: Cimatron announces the release of Cimatron 2025, a software version for advanced capabilities in design and manufacturing. The software enables improved modeling and electrode design for the moldmaking industry.
• DN Solutions: DN Solutions features the DVF 5000 Second Generation, featuring faster speeds and a larger work envelope for complex workpiece machining.
• Entegris Poco Materials: Entegris Poco Materials highlights its EDM-3 graphite, known for exceptional strength, wear resistance and fine surface finish characteristics and thus an ideal solution for moldmakers’ most demanding applications.
• Erowa Technology Inc.: Erowa offers its VPC (Vise Power Clamp) clamping system for powerful and precise clamping of vises, fixtures and workpieces to benefit moldmakers. 
• Grob Systems Inc.: Grob Systems Inc. showcases a range of five-axis machines with horizontal spindles designed for high precision, improved accuracy and flexibility.
• Haimer USA: The Haimer Mill line, with tool options suited for ramping, drilling, milling and slotting, as well as the WinTool and ToolBase systems, aims to advance machining precision and management.
• Heidenhain Corp.: Features such as advanced collision protection and greater operational functionality make Heidenhain’s TNC7 CNC control platform critical for mold builders, who often face multi-surface machining. 
• Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence: Hexagon introduces its first handheld 3D scanning devices, Atlascan Max and Marvelscan, to capture crucial data easily and more quickly.
• Hurco Companies Inc.: The VMX42Di machine, among other featured models, demonstrates Hurco’s Companies’ focus on productive manufacturing and automation/CNC machine tending.
• Ingersoll Cutting Tools: Ingersoll’s WinSFeed product range enables hi-speed and hi-feed machining in a diverse range of applications using advanced engineering and metal removal concepts.
• Iscar USA: New 6-millimeter inserts for the Iscar Mill-4-Feed enhances free cutting action capabilities for extreme material removal rates.
• JTEKT Machinery Americas Corp.: JTEKT’s FH5000 HMC with pallet pool expands the capability for more flexible production for shops of any size, such as the processing of multiple mold and dies as needed.  
• Kitamura Machinery of USA Inc.: Kitamura Machinery showcases the Supercell-300G five-axis, horizontal machining cell designed for compact machining and a pallet pool system, along with other CNC automation systems.
• Mantle Inc.: Mantle’s 420 Stainless Steel allows manufacturers to rapidly produce production-grade tooling during prototyping and product development.
• MC Machinery Systems Inc.: MC Machinery Systems showcases an array of EDM and precision milling tools, as well as a wire laser metal 3D printer, all of which have the capacity to meet moldmaking needs.  
• Mersen: Mersen offers its complete family of EDM graphite, including its ultra-fine DS4 graphite. The graphite is used as the electrode which acts as a “cutting tool” in the sinker EDM, a machining process often used by moldmakers. 
• Mitutoyo America Corp.: Mitutoyo America Corp. announces an addition to its linear height gage product line, providing simpler, more repeatable accuracy in measurement. 
• NSK America Corp.: NSK America Corp. announces the iSpeed5 high-speed spindle, designed to accelerate micro-machining processes. 
• Okuma America Corp.: Okuma’s booth features CNC machine tools, a CNC control, a line of automation systems, intelligent manufacturing technologies, customer services and more.
• Open Mind Technologies USA Inc.: Open Mind Technologies showcases its hyperMILL CAD/CAM software with enhancements to its toolpath capabilities, overall functionality and more.
• Platinum Tooling: Platinum Tooling displays Quick knurling and marking tools from Hommel & Keller for the marking of a wide range of workpiece diameters.
• Siemens Digital Industries Software: Siemens Digital Industries Software showcases its NX X Manufacturing software, now accessible via a cloud for more flexible sharing, collaboration capabilities.
• Systems 3R: System 3R’s modular automation system is suited for moldmaking needs such as milling, EDM and laser micromachining applications.   
• Takumi USA: Takumi highlights its UA400 five-axis and VC1200 three-axis machining centers for mold machining, designed to minimize thermal growth and accelerate feed rates.
• TCI Precision Metals: TCI Precision Metals highlights its precision machine-ready blanks’ capabilities to assist moldmakers in saving valuable shop time. 
• Towa USA: In response to mold building customer needs, Towa’s cutting tool lineup targets precision and durabilty features required for these applications.
• Unisig: Unisig’s full range of deep-hole drilling applications, paired with its engineering, sales and service support, provide a breadth of technology coverage for mold and die, automotive and other industries.
• United Grinding: United Grinding showcases a range of precision grinding solutions.

This year, IMTS is occurring September 9-14 in Chicago, IL. Learn more details about the show here.