Machine Building

Laser triangulation sensor measures cylinder thickness, diameter

RIFTEK, represented exclusively in the UK & Ireland by Ixthus Instrumentation, recently designed and supplied a customised scanning system that automatically measures and records geometric parameters for welded cylindrical laminated foil tubes. The RF092 machine employs three RIFTEK laser triangulation sensors that are rotated around the sample tube and combine to measure the multi-layered foil thickness as well as the weld overlap and depth, in addition to the tube length and its diameter.

20th March 2017

High-precision pancake motor helps test encoders down to -40degC

When oil and gas instrumentation specialists Hohner were developing a new test rig for their rotary encoders they needed to incorporate a low-profile motor that could operate in the harshest conditions experienced in the industry. In particular, it had to perform precisely and repeatably at speeds of up to 6000 rpm in an environmentally controlled enclosure at temperatures as low as -40degC. To meet this demanding specification the company turned to pancake motor specialists Printed Motor Works, who offered to customise their GN12LR printed armature motor.

20th March 2017

Eaton's proportional valves improve production efficiency

MET Advanced Technology Systems (MET), a start-up company founded in Turkey, is dedicated to developing products for the industrial automation sector. A recent project involved development of a polyurethane system for the manufacture of refrigerators. They found the process flexibility they sought in Eaton's products and technical support.

20th March 2017

Innovative adjustable spectacles benefit from FANUC Alliance

Getting a product from the drawing board to production can be a daunting task, especially when it is a new product from an early-stage company with little volume manufacturing experience. In instances such as this, manufacturers require a lot of advice, support and guidance from suppliers to help them make informed decisions on the materials, technologies, processes and concepts needed to get the product to market.

17th March 2017

BOGE cuts costs at Armitage Shanks factory

A new state-of-the-art BOGE compressed air system has replaced two ageing fixed-speed air compressors used to manufacture basins, toilets and other sanitary ware at Armitage Shanks' factory in Rugeley, Staffordshire. The result has been a 27 per cent reduction in energy costs and an impressive 29 per cent cut in maintenance costs, as well as carbon emission savings of around £3500 a year.

17th March 2017

SKF custom-machined seals stop high-pressure leaks

A major global confectionary manufacturer has called on specialist seal design and manufacturing expertise from SKF to solve a sticky issue in its global chocolate manufacturing operations. The solution - custom-machined seals manufactured from SKF's proprietary food-grade H-Ecopur-95A-Blue material - has eliminated the frequent seal failures and resulting product leakage that were leading to costly machine stoppages and lost production.

16th March 2017

Yokogawa chosen by Air Liquide to replace legacy DCS systems

Yokogawa Belgium, a subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, has received an important order from Air Liquide to completely replace the existing legacy control systems for their Air Separator Units (ASU) in Antwerpen and Seraing, Belgium.

15th March 2017

Acoustic performance modelling by Precision Acoustics

Dorset-based Precision Acoustics recognise that one of the most critical stages in the development and manufacture of ultrasonic measuring equipment is the ability to model the interaction that occurs as ultrasonic waves propagate within and around objects. The modelling tool developed by Precision Acoustics' staff uses the time-domain finite difference method to accomplish this task.

14th March 2017

NSK ball screws replace hydraulics in powder presses

Switzerland-based Osterwalder AG is replacing hydraulic drives with servo-electric drives featuring NSK HTF series ball screws in its latest range of powder presses. As a result, users of the new systems can achieve a reduction in energy consumption of around 80 per cent and produce pressed parts with far higher dimensional accuracy. This reduces the amount of finishing work, such as grinding with diamond wheels, and cuts process and material costs.

10th March 2017

Nimble palletising robots give factories more flexibility

With consumer buying trends influencing greater product diversification, production and packing facilities throughout the UK and Europe are increasingly leaning towards flexible robots that straddle several lines and perform multiple tasks. As testament, Pacepacker Services reports that enquires for single robots dedicated to the entire end-of-line palletising station has doubled in the last 12 months as customers move away from traditional application-specific palletising work cells.

10th March 2017