SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Sept. 20, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "Here at the American Precision Museum (APM), we need to be able to share the news about the significance of machine tools to the development of our world, as well as into our future" said Ann Lawless, APM Executive Director, "and this wonderful and forward-thinking gift from HEIDENHAIN is now helping us better do that." Lawless is referring to HEIDENHAIN's recent donation of a 1980s Bridgeport 9x48 Series One mill and a new Acu-Rite MILLPWR® 3 control, a HEIDENHAIN product.
The American Precision Museum is located in Windsor, VT within the 1846 Robbins & Lawrence Armory where the concept of interchangeable parts was borne, and gives visitors a look into the history of early machines and their impact on society. Besides the largest collection of static historic machine tools in the nation, APM also houses a Working Machine Shop section where now nine pieces of equipment are on demonstration.
HEIDENHAIN's additions to the museum were delivered to APM this summer, along with HEIDENHAIN Product Specialist Danny Vitullo who dedicated a week in July to setup and training the summer interns, local high school students primarily from the River Valley Technical Center (RVTC). RVTC (Springfield, VT) is in its fourth year of partnering with the museum.
"This significant addition from HEIDENHAIN helps us showcase the old with the new," added Lawless.
APM's Working Machine Shop houses equipment from as early as a 1890s hand-operated shaper to a 1990s 3-axis table-top CNC mill for light machines. "This new Bridgeport and control are great additions to the shop," explained Chris Gray, instructor of the RVTC's Mechanical Design and Innovation Program where most of the high school intern operators have originated. "Thanks to Danny's work, the Bridgeport operates like a brand new machine. It's a real pleasure to operate a vertical mill where everything is tight and really accurate. The students have worked through the tutorials included in the Acu-Rite control manual and now easily run several of those parts. It's a really good control."
"This new huge variable speed machine given to us by HEIDENHAIN is a game-changer for us," said Lawless. "This is an incredible leap forward."
Rick Korte, president of HEIDENHAIN Corporation, added, "We enthusiastically support the efforts of APM and are proud to be members of such a significant and historically strong representation of precise manufacturing and the Industrial Revolution. The many technological advancements we enjoy today are due to the development of machine tools of yesterday, and there's no end in sight. Our donation to this museum helps showcase just one more aspect."
Open daily from Memorial Day weekend through October, visitors to the APM will see collections of not only significant machine tools, but also early firearms, measuring devices, sewing machines, typewriters and other unique products of manufacturing. Museum information is available at www.americanprecision.org.
Downloadable Images Available at:
http://www.heidenhain.us/Images/pr_images/APM-10_Danny_digital_readout.jpg
http://www.heidenhain.us/Images/pr_images/APM-Logo.jpg
On photo with machine, please give credit to: "Photo courtesy of Medora Hebert"
Caption : HEIDENHAIN Product Specialist Danny Vitullo demonstrates the company's recent donation at the American Precision Museum.
For more information, contact: Kathleen Stoneski
HEIDENHAIN PR Manager, North America
847-519-4702
HEIDENHAIN CORPORATION is the North American subsidiary of DR. JOHANNES HEIDENHAIN GmbH, a leading international manufacturer of precision measurement and control equipment. The product line includes linear scales, rotary and angular encoders, digital readouts, digital length gages, CNC controls and machine inspection equipment. More information is available at www.heidenhain.us.
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