Machine Building

Applications

First UK fully automated cell for plastic utility pipe couplings

An automated injection moulding cell has been designed and built by Kettering integrator, Hi-Tech Automation, to produce electrofusion couplers for joining plastic utility pipes at a significantly lower cost than previously. It is the first of its kind to be built in the UK and the high productivity will allow manufacturers in the West to compete with low-wage countries, notably China.

24th November 2014

Non-contacting sensor for electro-hydraulic actuators

Modern automation technology is relying on exact positional data for moving machinery parts. The measurement values are provided by linear and rotary sensors, which must be immune to temperature, vibrations, and other environmental influences. In addition, many applications regularly require fast movement cycles, high-frequency oscillations, and/or continuous mechanical rotation. For this reason, non-contacting processes, which are practically free of wear and tear, have become increasingly prevalent. They are employed in the electro-hydraulic actuators of pipeline ball valves, for instance.

24th November 2014

Flexicon capabilities match up to e-liquid filling market

The filling of cartridges for electronic cigarettes based on e-liquids is booming. According to Watson-Marlow Pumps Group, this has resulted in a rapid rise in orders for refilling systems such as the company's Flexicon peristaltic liquid dosing technology. Indeed, one manufacturer in Europe says it has sold more than 20 filling lines for e-liquids in the past year alone. Its customers are contract packers working for distributors, as well as people who have started their own business. Almost daily, more and more companies are switching away from the manual refilling of cartridges.

21st November 2014

CC-Link opens up Asian markets for measurement specialist

In a recent video made with the CC-Link Partner Association (CLPA), sensors and measurement specialist HBM Test and Measurement (HBM) has developed a CC-Link gateway module, which allows a single PLC (programmable logic controller) to collect live data from multiple load cells.

20th November 2014

Olmec vision system reduces chance of product recall

A leading manufacturer of OTC healthcare products has commissioned a five-camera inspection system on a cartoning machine with two separate leaflet feeders to ensure that cartons not only contain a patient information leaflet but that it is also the correct one. The vision system, designed and installed by Olmec UK, also provides the option to ensure that the correct bottle has also been inserted into the carton. Linked into the existing reject mechanism, this substantially reduces the chances of costly product recalls due to packaging errors.

20th November 2014

Loctite - keeping the press rolling

The PM7 is one of the world's most modern machines for the production of newsprint. It is rated to convert recycled paper and primary fibres into 360,000 tonnes of newsprint per year at an outstanding speed of 1900m/min. It is a giant of a machine that operates at the Swiss firm Perlen Papier AG, around the clock, 365 days a year and a range of LOCTITE products are playing their part in ensuring its reliable service.

18th November 2014

iglidur surpasses car endurance test around the world

To celebrate 30 years of iglidur materials and the 50th birthday of the company, igus has retrofitted a car's conventional bearings with iglidur plain bearings and circumnavigated the globe, thus demonstrating the durable and robust nature of iglidur materials in some harsh environments, from dirt tracks to wet and humid locations. In total, 56 bearing points were replaced with iglidur components - in applications such as the windscreen wipers, brake pedal, seat adjusters and throttle valves - of which none have failed or been replaced.

18th November 2014

High power and high speed together in a vertical milling machine

Manufactured by Jobs (Piacenza, Italy), JomaX is a family of big, high-power milling centres with a configuration of both vertical and horizontal axes. The JomaX milling centre family with high power includes three models: the JomaX 265, the JomaX 261, both with a mobile gantry, and the JomaX 269 with mobile column. Antonio Dordoni, Sales, Marketing and Services Director of Jobs SpA says: "The features of JomaX machines improve the competitiveness of our customers in many different fields: from precision machining to heavy mechanics, such as the manufacturing of mould holders, large sized moulds or large structural parts in titanium."

17th November 2014

Service robot scales negative slopes with B&R control system

The Technical University of Liberec has introduced the second generation of its special service robot, the ROBOTUL Vertical Climber 02, which uses a unique stepping movement to traverse both smooth and structured surfaces such as the glass walls of buildings. Its safe and highly precise operation is guaranteed by an advanced B&R control system with compact ACOPOSmicro servo drives.

14th November 2014

Reliance plays a part in Rosetta's historic mission

12 November 2014 marked a historic date for the world as news arrived of the success of the Rosetta satellite mission and the landing of the Philae probe onto the surface of Comet 67P. The progress of Rosetta has been followed with interest at Reliance Precision in Huddersfield where gears were manufactured for use on the satellite. The team at Reliance is thrilled to be contributing to such a prestigious project as Managing Director, Andrew Wright, explains: "There is something very satisfying about knowing our components are not only performing perfectly after 10 years, but are doing so in deep space at a distance of around 500 million km from our works here in Huddersfield".

14th November 2014