Machine Building

How to ensure the integrity of trapped key interlocking systems

This article from Fortress Interlocks discusses the standards relating to machinery safety and, in particular, trapped key interlocks, and goes on to explain why Fortress Interlocks no longer supplies it products via online stockists.

25th October 2019

Multi-laser systems in metal additive maunufacturing

Traditional barriers to additive manufacturing (AM) were production speed and machine-to-machine variation in build quality. However, new multi-laser systems are changing the status quo. Rebecca Underwood, Product Marketing Specialist at Renishaw, discusses the company's RenAM 500Q machine and provides an insight into the state of the art for metal AM.

23rd October 2019

App-based programming offers easy route to tailored sensors

Neil Sandhu Sick's UK Product Manager for Imaging, Measurement, Ranging and Systems, discusses the benefits offered by app-based programming for machine builders and system integrators wanting to create specialised sensors that perform very specific tasks.

22nd October 2019

Rittal cooling units and chillers and the F-Gas Regulation

The introduction of EU regulation number 517/2014 (F-Gas Regulation) concerning the use of fluorinated greenhouse gases, which was published on 1 January 2015, has raised the question as to which cooling units and chillers can continue to be used after 2020. The regulation includes details of banned uses for cooling and air-conditioning plant, as well as stipulations regarding their service and maintenance.

16th October 2019

Welding techniques explained - plus tips for best results

Welding is essential in the manufacture of machinery, buildings, bridges, cars, aeroplanes, pipelines, power stations and a host of other structures and objects. There are four main welding techniques used in modern manufacturing industry and construction, as explained below.

9th October 2019

Is it still acceptable to use two-beam safety light barriers?

This technical article from Leuze electronic highlights the standard relating to safety light barriers for machine safety applications and explains why three-beam devices should be used and when two-beam devices are still acceptable.

1st October 2019

Improve energy efficiency with supply and regeneration systems

Many drive applications could benefit from the use of supply and regeneration units, whereby kinetic energy from braking or recirculating can be reused and fed back into the DC circuit through the drive or fed back onto the mains power supply line, says Mark Checkley of KEB Automation.

25th September 2019

Back to basics: standards, directives and laws in the EU

This 'Back to basics' article from Pilz explains harmonised standards, directives and laws in the EU, and how they relate to each other.

21st September 2019

HMIs, panel building and ergonomics

Paresh Kansara, Rittal's Product Manager for Industrial & Outdoor Enclosures, discusses how ergonomics can improve a machine through more user-friendly HMIs, and how clever design features on cabinets and enclosures can improve ergonomics for technicians undertaking assembly and modification tasks.

20th September 2019

Climate control maintenance is the key to efficiency

Karl Lycett, Rittal's Product Manager for Climate Control, explains why maintaining cabinet climate control systems is not a false economy - rather it is the key to efficiency.

20th September 2019