Plasma-arc system cuts intricate

Wilkinson Star launched at this week's MACH 2008 exhibition a multi-gas mechanised plasma-arc cutting power source shown performing simulated cutting of complex and intricate components.

Wilkinson Star, sole UK representative for Cebora welding products, launched the Plasma Prof 164 HQC (High Quality Cut) multi-gas mechanised plasma-arc cutting power source at the UK's MACH 2008 machine tool exhibition this week The company showed the machine was interfaced with a SMS (Smart Machine Systems) SmartPLASMA plasma-arc cutting table, simulating the cutting of complex and intricate components

Available in capacities of 220/230V, 380/400V and 415/440V, the 50/60Hz Plasma Prof 164 HGC power source is fully microprocessor controlled.

It has a 22kVA input power and a maximum rating of 120A at 100% duty cycle with a infinitely adjustable current range between 20-120A.

The machine includes a HV18 ignition unit, PGC-1/2 synergic parameter setting gas console, PVC secondary gas valve console and CP250G cutting torch.

Wilkinson Star told manufacturingtalk that the Plasma Prof 164 HQC is designed for use in the fabrication industry to cut complicated highly intricate quality components in a multitude of steels using different gases including oxygen, nitrogen, argon-hydrogen, nitrogen-hydrogen and compressed air.

All the process parameters including material to be cut and its thickness, the gas and current required, the optimum cutting speed and cutting torch nozzle diameter are set using the PGC-1/2 gas console.

The user is able to access system updates as they become available, direct from the Cebora website using the RS232 port on the power source to update the equipments software.

 

Moog drives package is multi-axis

Moog has introduced an advanced multi-axis motion control and servo drive package, which combines ndividual MSD servo drives with an MSD motion controller for up to 30 axes.

Moog Controls has introduced an advanced multi-axis motion control and servo drive package to make set up easier for machinery builders as well as offering better performance and greater precision For multi-axis drives up to 30 axes, the modular MSD motion control servodrive combines individual MSD servo drives with an MSD motion controller to give highly precise, highly dynamic control

A freely-programmable motion controller delivers speed and position control for up to 30 axes.

The use of high speed EtherCAT communications between motion controller and servo drives ensures fast response.

Moog told manufac turingtalk that the package can provide significant reductions in cycle times and so boost machine performance.

The MSD supports IEC61131 programming, as well as programming of custom control loops using MathWorks/C/C++.

It also provides a simple user interface for parameter input and data programming.

For communication with remote I/O, PLCs and other control components, the MSD supports a range of different communications protocols as standard.

They include the following.

• SERCOS.
• EtherCAT.
• CANopen.
• Profibus.
• Customer-specific protocols.

The MSD series can be used with the widest range of servomotors, including synchronous, asynchronous, linear and high-torque motors.

The frequency of the pulse with modulation is programmable, allowing the MSD servo drives to be optimised for different motors under different operating conditions, increasing performance and efficiency.

For precise position control, the MSD can take inputs from up to three position feedback sensors simultaneously, with support for both single and multi-turn encoders.

• About Moog - Moog's Industrial Business Unit designs and manufacturers high performance motion control systems combining electric, hydraulic and hybrid technologies with expert consultative support in a range of applications including plastics, metal forming, textiles, power generation and simulation.

We help performance-driven companies design and develop their next generation machines.

Moog's Industrial Business Unit, with 2007 fiscal year sales of US$436 million and 33 locations worldwide, is part of Moog Incorporated.

In 2007, Moog Inc's revenues amounted to US$1.558 billion.

Drives, motors and power transmission, couplings, clutches

Gear couplings, described in Rexnord's latest literature, are available in various designs - standard flanged sleeve, continuous sleeve, large flanged sleeve and shrouded bolt.

'LifelignR' is one of three new coupling lines added to Rexnord's range of power transmission products from FalkT and is now supported by new literature Features of Lifelign couplings include the following

* Competitive pricing against equivalent duty units.

* Superior bore capacities permitting smaller sized units to be specified against alternative units.

* Flexible inter-changeability with installed couplings.

Lifelign gear coupling is available in various designs including: standard flanged sleeve; continuous sleeve; large flanged sleeve and shrouded bolt.

All are covered in the Rexnord catalogue with guidance on appropriate application information.

Dimensioned drawings of Lifelign couplings together with a selection guide are also provided.

 

Test and measurement firms gain UK

Measurement and testing systems manufacturers featured strongly among the recently announced winners of the UK's Queen's Award for Enterprise.

A select group of firms working in testing and measurement celebrated this week after winning the UK's most prestigious annual prize for business success - The Queen's Award for Enterprise This year's Queen's Awards winning companies include the following

• Image Processing Techniques (image testing and measurement for TV and film industries).
• KP Technology (scientific measurement instruments).
• Metryx (monitoring of semi-conductor chip manufacturing).
• Online Electronics (monitoring and data comms systems for pipeline industry).
• Transmille (electrical and electronic calibration instruments).

In this, the scheme's 43rd year, Her Majesty The Queen announced 139 business Awards - the second-highest total for 10 years.

85 Awards are for outstanding achievements in International Trade, 42 for Innovation and 12 for Sustainable Development.

In addition, 11 outstanding individuals receive The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion (QAEP) for their inspiring efforts to encourage UK entrepreneurship.

Overall, this year's winning firms range in size from three firms with only three employees up to an international giant that employs 106,200 people.

34% of winning firms employ less than 50 people and 33% are from the service sector.

The business benefits of winning a Queen's Award include publicity, enhanced recognition and employee pride.

In a recent survey of 2007 business winners, 80% of respondents believed their Queen's Award had added commercial value to their firms, and 82% reported boosts to staff morale.

55% of respondents said it was the most valuable award their business had ever won.

Each winning company receives an engraved crystal bowl and is now entitled to use the coveted Queen's Award Emblem on packaging and marketing materials for five years.

During the year, winners will benefit from a visit to their premises by a representative of The Queen, and be invited to a reception at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

The UK's Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, said: "Queen's Award winning companies are standard-bearers for the very best of British business.

These firms embody the spirit of enterprise and innovation that is so vital to the future of Britain's economy.

Whether large or small, every one of this year's winning organisations has achieved outstanding success in its field".

"I congratulate them all on their diverse and remarkable achievements".

He continued: "I also congratulate the individuals receiving The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion.

Each of them has played a vital role in helping unlock Britain's entrepreneurial talent.

They have given their time and energy to equip others with the skills, knowledge and attitude to succeed as entrepreneurs.

I applaud and admire their efforts.".

 

 

Laser drilling machine offers more

Mitsui Seiki has developed a small, vertical, Nd:YAG laser drilling machine for 300mm3 parts for aerospace engine parts makers who wanted a higher-speed and more accurate laser-drilling machine.

Mitsui Seiki has introduce a 5-axis CNC laser drilling machine for high-speed, precision holemaking in tough alloys The VLD-300 laser drills 12in3 parts (300mm x 300mm x 300mm)

Mitsui Seiki developed the machine in cooperation with several aerospace engine component manufacturers.

They wanted a higher-speed and more accurate laser-drilling machine than what was currently available on the market.

Some workpieces, such as jet engine high temperature alloy parts, require about 3,000 small diameter cooling airflow holes.

These are drilled.

each at a different angle, in a non-contact manner.

Laser is often the best option for speed and for minimising material stress.

Typical materials are Inconel, Waspalloy, Hastalloy and nickel-based titanium alloys.

Mitsui Seiki told manufacturingtalk that it had spent some three years in research and development of the VLD-300.

The machine offers positioning accuracy and repeatability in X-, Y-, Z-axis of 0.00004in (0.001 mm).

A-axis positioning accuracy is +/-6 arc sec; repeatability is +/-3 arc seconds.

C-axis accuracy is +/-4arc sec; repeatability is +/-2 arc sec.

X-, Y-, Z-axis cutting feed rate is 0.004-0.787in/min (0.1-20,000mm/min) and X-, Y-, Z-axis acceleration rate is 1.5G.

Mitsui Seiki partnered with a European laser company for the Nd:YAG version of this new machine.

The VLD-300 is designed to also work with CO2, diode pump, and fiber lasers for different aerospace and other industry applications, such as certain electronics, medical, and automotive parts.

Vice president, Mitsui Seiki USA, Tom Dolan, said: "What is unique about the Mitsui Seiki laser drilling machine is that it takes our traditional, highly precise and extremely repeatable machine tool building methodology and applies a laser rather mechanical drilling tools".

He continued: "That's what customers wanted: a Mitsui Seiki machine with a laser, not a laser with machine tool features as secondary.

Laser technology has come a long way over the past ten years, but precise motion control and high accuracy was lacking until now.

Our innovative approach to machine tool building is applied to this small footprint machine, and this allowed us to incorporate a fairly simple, effective beam delivery system.

The optic system has just one axis of motion, 'Z', and one bending mirror for easy maintenance and beam alignment simplicity".

For rigidity and stability, the VLD-300 has a cast iron bed and linear motor drives.

A dust collection system, combined with an interior work area of smooth, highly sloped surfaces, keeps cutting debris from contaminating the work zone and equipment.

The Nd:YAG system offers a focal length of 200mm or 300mm with a height sensor for scanning and work offset probing.

The machine is "automation ready" for devices such as pallets and robotic loading/unloading equipment.

A Fanuc 310iM control features the Microsoft Windows-based platform and seamlessly controls the machine, laser, and the auxiliary equipment.

 

 

Wire joiner firm gains Queens Award

Manufacturer of a wire joiner, Gripple, has received a second Queen's Award for Enterprise - this time for the growth of its international business.

Sheffield, UK-based manufacturer of the unique Gripple wire joiner, Gripple, the has received a second Queen's Award for Enterprise for the growth of its international business Twenty years after the invention of the patented Gripple, approaching 300 million have been sold into the construction, viticultural and fencing markets to more than 2,000 customers across 85 countries worldwide

Between 2003 and 2006 international sales grew by 53% and represented more than 80% of turnover.

The employee-owned company's growth has been achieved by identifying wire joining, tensioning and suspension problems and solving them with innovative products.

This focus on innovation led to a Queen's Award for Innovation in 2000 and a Prince of Wales Award for Innovation back in 1991.

Investing in new markets, strengthening the company's position in established overseas markets and choosing international partners carefully have also been key to Gripple's success.

While maintaining its primary manufacturing base in the UK, Gripple has an established industrial sales operation in France, and in the USA, where the company has had a sales presence for six years,.

The company will be opening a new factory in the USA shortly.

which will incorporate the warehouse and sales office.

Gripple has more than 220 employees worldwide, many of them multi-lingual.

It has achieved a 15% share of the worldwide viticultural market.

The company told manufacturingtalk that since the industrial division was set up in 1998, worldwide sales of its hanger system to the construction industry have seen an average annual growth rate of 26%.

Gripple managing director, Mark Edmonds, said: "This award is a tremendous honour, and a huge milestone in Gripple's development as a world-beating, customer-focused company.

We are delighted and proud that our ongoing efforts to expand our international business have also been recognised in such a highly prestigious way".

He added: "Gripple is founded on defying convention.

This philosophy, which also encompasses a commitment to people, excellence, partnership and community, combined with our ability to communicate in 14 of the world's most commonly used languages, has not only enabled us to compete with foreign competitors but also to leave them standing.".

 

Equipment moving/positioning reorganised

The management of services solving movement and positioning problems, in precision handling equipment and industrial and commercial turntables and air film technology has been unified.

British Turntable has brought together a range of machinery moving and positioning services into a single operating division and re-branded it as BTI There is a comprehensive range of literature describing the range of product and technical know-how available

Combined under one corporate umbrella are the following.

• BTI's core expertise in precision handling equipment and industrial and commercial turntables.
• Hovair air film technology, which includes air bearings, air skates, air transporters and associated handling devices.
• Jung heavy duty machinery skates, lifting jacks and purpose built handling equipment.

BTI told manufacturingtalk that integrating these activities will allow BTI to provide, from a single source, a multi-faceted approach to customers' requirements.

These can typically include the following:

• Moving a new printing press into position.
• Presenting components ergonomically to an operator feeding a production line.
• Moving marine engines through various stages of assembly.
• Positioning precisely a military vehicle undergoing radar cross section examination.
• Speeding up delivery vehicle turnaround times.
• Setting up a stunning hospitality area with the design and installation of a revolving bar or revolving restaurant.

Expansion of the business in recent years has largely been driven by the addition of the Hovair air film business to the portfolio and the acquisition of the UK distributorship rights for Jung machinery skates and jacks.

The company's ongoing research and development programme has also generated advancements in the core turntable business, however, resulting in the recruitment of new staff and the acquisition of new skills.

The re-branding of BTI has been carried out by Fire Creative in consultation with Chapelfield Associates.

The new literature can be downloaded from the BTI Web site.

• About BTI - BTI is an operating division of British Turntable Co, which has been developing and manufacturing movement solutions for a wide range of industries since 1959 and exports to more than 120 countries world wide.

In 2004 the company bought Hovair Systems to strengthen its position in air film movement technology and in 2005 acquired the business of Cawley Marine Industrial, including exclusive distribution rights for Jung lifting equipment in the UK.

These businesses were incorporated into a single operating division, BTI, in September 2007.

Typical industrial and commercial applications include revolving stages for nightclubs and other leisure markets, car revolves to solve inner-city parking problems, HGV access turntables, materials handling carousels, transporters and lifting equipment, and large revolves capable of carrying a military tank or an aeroplane.

A hire service is available on many units.

Customers include major high street names and wide range of independent retailers, world renowned museums and heritage centres, exhibition contractors, TV and film companies, government agencies, national standard test laboratories, multi-national organisations and all the major car manufacturers world wide.

British Turntable is accredited to BS EN ISO 9001: 2000.

 

Improved air tools have low vibration

A guide gives easy-to-do tips and advice on issues not usually covered on Lean training courses such as helping employees to get right behind the initiative without generating stress.

The Arden Partnership has released a guide for any manufacturer about to implement 'Lean Production' It's called 'Becoming A Lean Enterprise; Commonsense Advice To Get Your People Engaged And Overcome Resistance'

The guide gives easy-to-do tips and advice on issues not usually covered on Lean training courses such as helping employees to get right behind the initiative.

Or how to reward a team or individual that make every effort to make the transition to Lean Processing work.

It also addresses difficult issues such as the following.

* How to maintain productivity and quality during the planning and transition phase.

* How to overcome resistance from managers, team leaders and supervisors.

The Arden Partnership told manufacturingtalk that the guide uses straightforward 'down-to-earth' language and is easy to put into practice.