Meltzer has my vote and support 100 percent as I've seen first-hand her level of commitment and passion for truly making a difference for citizens in her community.

There is an upcoming fundraiser (June 24) at C.J. Barrymore's for her campaign.

The following article is courtesy of American Machinist

The powerful, and heavily armored, troop carrier called the MRAP (for “mine-resistant ambush protected” vehicle) won’t win any prizes for style, though the people who ride in it don’t mind a bit. That’s because thanks to a V-shaped hull that deflects the force of explosions beneath it, and its outer shell of thick steel plate, it has brought U.S. soldiers and Marines an unmatched level of protection against explosives and small arms fire. Once the effectiveness of these vehicles in saving lives and preventing injuries became obvious, the U.S. Dept. of Defense rushed to increase the number of them available for deployment to combat zones. In May 2007, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates declared that the acquisition of MRAPs was the DoD’s highest priority.

Among the companies charged with supplying these vehicles is Navistar Defense. Navistar and its suppliers had to move quickly to fill the DoD’s order. The work of developing new components for this evolving family of vehicles had to be done rapidly and it had to be done right. Navistar Defense supplier Inteva, a manufacturer of door systems, was tasked with producing a new door-assist module for the Navistar Defense MaxxPro MRAP, as well as the heavier MaxxPro Plus and MaxxPro Dash models. The module assures that the vehicle’s 2,000-lb armored door with its air-assisted hydraulics opens in case of an accident or emergency. It also prevents the door from accidentally closing on a person.

As a partner in this vital work Inteva chose 3-Dimensional Services Group, a firm that specializes in design, engineering and analysis, in-house tool construction, and complete build of prototype first-off parts and low-to-medium volume production runs. Its use of advanced process methods, manufacturing technologies and staff talents means that prototype parts—not just models—are typically provided up to 70% faster than conventionally equipped prototype shops are able to offer.

The door-assist module is a complex part and 3-Dimensional Services was tasked with creating 63 components in all. These included the base plate, two latching components designed to be mounted to the body inside the door skin, hinges which are, similarly, covered by the door skin, side rods, and slider blocks.

An array of production processes
To create this complex part an array of production processes were required. Forming was used to produce the angle supports for slide system. Welding, both manual and robotic, was employed: manual welding for the module’s handles, levers, and angle supports, while the main base plate and close out brackets were robotically welded. Plastic injection molding, using tough, metal-like Delrin (Polyoxymethylene) as well as Sanaprene thermal plastic elastomer was used to make the wedges and handle covers.

Laser cutting and CNC machining were primary operations used on nearly all of the module’s metal components. Materials included A36 stainless, high strength/low alloy steel and, for the hinges, CNC 1045 steel. Fortunately, 3-Dimensional Services was able to bring both a high degree of staff expertise and a virtual arsenal of equipment to bear in each of these areas.

“Our lasers—both 3- and 5-axis—can cut through thick armor plate or slice through thin sheet metal, all with amazingly tight tolerances,” notes Mike Brabandt, Senior Sales Engineer for 3-Dimensional Services Group. The 3-axis laser cutting systems excel in speed, accuracy and flexibility, while the 5-axis systems are ideal for cutting complex contours and shapes, and 3-Dimensional has designed, developed and produced needed laser systems in house, including an ultra high-speed unit with cutting speeds up to 50,000 mm per minute.

In terms of machining 3-Dimensional Services has over 40 CNC machining centers along with 75 knee mills and lathes, and the ability to machine steels hardened to 60 Rockwell at feed rates of up to 20,000 mm per minute, as well as machine and finish grind with machining centers that provide a 40,000-rpm spindle with 30,000-mm per minute feed rate. Thus, neither machining capacity nor machining expertise was an issue when it came to processing the metal components for the door-assist module.

Seven-day turnaround
Capabilities like these allowed 3-Dimensional Services to complete the prototype in a mere seven days. Four design iterations followed, and all were successfully performed over the course of a single month thanks in large measure to the size and capabilities of 3-Dimensional Service design and engineering department, which boasts over 30 high-speed CAD terminals and employs nearly all major CAD/CAM packages, including CATIA, Delcam, Mastercam, Unigraphics, SolidWorks and ProE.

The final design of the MRAP door modules called for components to be zinc yellow chromate-plated for superior corrosion resistance, and for the module to be CARC (chemical agent resistant coating) painted. CARC, which is typically used on today’s U.S. military vehicles, is a polyurethane paint that provides superior durability, extends service life for military vehicles and equipment, provides surfaces with superior resistance to chemical warfare agent penetration, and greatly simplifies decontamination.

3-Dimensional Services moved swiftly to commence limited-run production of the approved door-assist module design, making 300 to 400 per month for an eventual total of 2500 units. According to Mike Brabandt, successfully completing a demanding prototyping challenge is always a professionally rewarding experience, but in the case of the MRAP door-assist module it was something more.

“We know how important these modules, and the vehicles they’re a part of, are for the safety of our troops, so we’re gratified that we were able to work closely with Inteva to make this happen.”

The 3-Dimensional Services Group, consisting of 3-Dimensional Services, Urgent Plastic Services, and Urgent Design & Manufacturing, provides rapid prototyping services that encompass virtually all relevant processes, including injection molding and casting, stamping, machining, robotic and manual welding, laser cutting and welding, waterjet, hydroforming, tube bending, vibration welding, casting and pattern fabrication, RIM tooling, SLA, LOM and SLS rapid prototyping, and assembly.

Slightly more Americans now say the United States makes better-quality vehicles than Asia does, with 38 percent saying U.S. cars are best and 33 percent naming autos made by Asian countries, according to an Associated Press-GfK Poll.

The survey suggests those numbers are largely fueled by a plunge in Toyota's reputation and an upsurge in Ford's. The poll was conducted in March, as Toyota was being roiled by nightmarish publicity over its recall of more than 8 million vehicles around the globe and allegations that it responded sluggishly to safety concerns.

Though the U.S. advantage is modest, it marks a significant turnabout for American automakers battered by recession and relentless competition from foreign manufacturers. When the same question was asked in a December 2006 AP-AOL poll, 46 percent said Asian countries made superior cars, while just 29 percent preferred American vehicles, reflecting a perception of U.S. automotive inferiority that began taking hold about three decades ago.

"Toyota's problems are not to be minimized here," David Williams, dean of the business administration school at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mich., said in explaining the attitude shift.

In both AP polls, Japan – home to brands like Toyota, Honda and Nissan – was by far the dominant Asian nation volunteered as producing the best cars. European autos – which include BMW, Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen – were called top quality by 15 percent last month, about the same as the 17 percent who said so four years ago.

Williams and others also cited a fresh look Americans are giving U.S. automakers, especially Ford and General Motors. Though GM and Chrysler went through bankruptcy last year and the federal government invested $80 billion to keep them afloat, GM has revamped its lineup with more fuel-efficient and crossover vehicles. Analysts say Ford revived its reputation by not accepting the taxpayer bailout and improving its vehicles' gasoline mileage.

The most notable findings of the poll were:

•Fifty-six percent own vehicles made by U.S. automakers, about the same as in 2006.

•Eight in 10 live in households with autos, including about two-thirds who have two or more cars.

•Six in 10 autos were bought used.

•About four in 10 say their dream car would be a foreign brand, compared with three in 10 wishing for a domestic car.

View the entire, "AP-GfK Poll: U.S. Cars Superior To Asian Cars" article by AP writer Alan Fram.

But they're not immune from the roadblocks the rest of the MTDM supply chain is facing such as tight-fisted banks.

TSS adds jobs, aims at wind power market

TSS Technologies Inc. hopes to crack the growing wind power market. It got a big endorsement Thursday from Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland.

"This company represents the type of growth industry the state needs to create jobs," he said while touring the 62-year-old metal machining company that employs 102.

After what President Bruce Read said was a "really tough" 2009 including some layoffs, TSS is making a concerted effort to become a supplier to manufacturers of wind turbines and other types of alternative energy.

Earlier this week, TSS won a job creation tax credit from the state worth about $330,000 over seven years. The credit can be applied against a company's state corporate franchise or income tax.

The company is planning to invest more than $5 million in new larger machinery to help it tap the wind power components market. Under terms of the credit, TSS expects to create at least 50 jobs over the next few years, said Read. The company is also seeking about $5 million in grants and/or loans for the project.

Mike Boyer's article continues here