Machine Building

WDS jig helps keep Bloodhound on the road to success

If the journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step, maybe the journey to 1000mph begins with a single jig. During its supersonic trips down the desert, Bloodhound SSC's suspension components will be expected to handle forces of up to 30 tonnes. In order to assemble the suspension to the accuracy of a few microns and therefore set up the entire car precisely, angle plates supplied by project sponsors, WDS Component Parts, have been used.

30th September 2015

FDB hinges and compression locks solve storage access problems

The Nippi trike wheelchair-accessible vehicle has recently been re-designed and re-launched. As part of this process Michael Barnes, M.D. of Nippi Cars Ltd, sought to improve the convenience and sealing of the storage compartments on either side of the vehicle. Consequently, long-term suppliers FDB Panel Fittings were called in to provide hardware, which came in the form of their Large Friction Hinge and A1 Compression Lock.

30th September 2015

Testing the new generation of integrated drives

The recent rise of interest in integrated motor/inverters units has led to the need for testing and mapping of their performance over a range of operating conditions. A wireless torque sense has been used as the heart of a dynamometer built for just this task.

30th September 2015

Tsubaki helps mining equipment OEMs reduce costs

Tsubakimoto Europe is helping mining equipment OEMs respond to mining company demands for increased reliability and improved after-sales service, highlighting the capability, affordability and availability throughout Europe of its chain & power transmission products for mining applications.

30th September 2015

Tsubaki linear actuators for bulk handling applications

The world of solid and bulk handling represents a demanding industrial environment where plant and machinery must be robust and reliable. Here, Derek Mack, of Tsubaki UK, explains why more engineers than ever before are turning to Electro-Mechanical linear actuators as their first choice of actuation mechanism.

29th September 2015

Robotic laser marking system

When a major supplier of high-performance automotive engines needed to automate a new cylinder head line, they approached Tec Systems, owing to their proven track record in this market. Tec Systems provided an assembly machine, a number of leak testing stations and a robotic laser marking system to identify the components going through the production line.

28th September 2015

ZeroK specify Variohm VLP position sensor in electric kart

ZeroK is an all-electric racing kart power system, the brainchild of designer and driver James Davies. During 2015 various iterations of the kart have been built and tested with the aim that ZeroK will be introduced as a competition class of its own. Competing against other ZeroK teams and potentially providing young drivers a new route to Formula E - and of course thrilling karting enthusiasts in the UK and further afield.

28th September 2015

Zen Putting Mechanics' robot uses MiniTec's Profile System

When it comes to putting, do you know your blade from your mid- and full-mallet? And, which type performs best for your particular putting style? The engineers at Zen Putting Mechanics have been helping Today's Golfer magazine to test 46 putter designs from several top manufacturers with specific parameters to determine the best buys. For one of the tests, the British golf innovator has developed a putting robot with Sheffield University's AMRC - Boeing research centre that evaluates a putter's ability to forgive off-centre strokes. After successfully using MiniTec UK's Profile System for the adjustable frame on its "˜Green Stage' variable contour putting platform, they once again specified the modular and adaptable aluminium profile-based machine building system to provide a stable frame for the putting robot.

28th September 2015

SKF equips fleet with customised Marine Condition Monitoring kit

SKF has initiated a condition-based maintenance programme using its Marine Condition Monitoring kits for Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement (TCM) fleet that has the potential to cut costs and decrease maintenance. The detailed maintenance programme enables a range of benefits, from preventing unexpected failures in critical machinery to providing early indication of possible problems in auxiliary machinery. The customised instrument of monitoring and reporting, supplied by SKF, provides specific data as to which tasks need to be performed and when, enabling on-board engineers to perform maintenance activities and replace components at the right time.

28th September 2015

Dessert producer transforms sleeve coding with Rotech RF2

The purchase of an offline RF2 coder from Rotech has transformed the sleeve coding operation at Holt-based Heaven Made Foods, eliminating inefficiencies and quality issues. With the Rotech system, which typically runs off 80-100 sleeves per minute, date coding is done in 10 per cent of the time that it was taking.

28th September 2015