Rotamic installs Mitutoyo CMM

To make sure that Exeter-based Rotamic Engineering’s inspection provision was able to keep pace with its recent rise in production levels, the company invested in a Crysta Apex S574 CNC CMM from Mitutoyo, which offers a working range of 500 x 700 x 400 mm.

Kai Kidson, Rotamic quality engineer, says: “When compared with other CMMs, we considered that the accuracy and repeatability of the Mitutoyo CNC CMM would provide the capability to inspect components with challenging dimensional specifications. Also, not only would the speed and efficiency of the machine be able to keep pace with our current levels of manufacturing, we believe it will cope with all foreseeable rises in production.
“In addition to inspecting single parts, we are now able to place a large batch of components on to the CMM’s granite bed, recall a pre-written program and perform a mass inspection routine in fast, fully automatic CNC mode. We are then able to generate detailed inspection reports that can be archived for our traceable records.”
Over the past 40 years, Rotamic Engineering has established a reputation for the manufacture of precision machined components. In addition to serving the defence, Formula One and medical industries, Rotamic has been a supplier to the aerospace sector for more than 20 years. This challenging field currently constitutes the company’s largest market. To meet the requirements of its aerospace clients, the ISO9001 accredited business obtained AS9100 in 2006.
In addition to ensuring that all materials are traceable and sourced from approved suppliers, in-process quality checks are made by the company’s machine operators throughout each manufacturing stage. Lastly, before component dispatch, in-depth final inspection routines are carried out.
For further information www.mitutoyo.co.uk

Busi moves to five-axis CMMs

Italian subcontract manufacturer, R Busi, has made a strategic decision to move to five-axis CMMs. The use of Renishaw five-axis measurement heads has enabled the company to meet the verification needs of increasingly complex part designs and deliver the tolerances and repeatability required.

R Busi operates from a 22,000 sq m facility in Mezzanino, where its factory houses 40 production machines that include lathes, five-axis vertical milling machines and four-axis horizontal machining centres. Some 40 production personnel are employed, working in two shifts.
The five-axis measurement technology adopted by the company had to provide the flexibility required to verify a highly diverse range of parts produced for a range of sectors.
Initially, the company had a measurement head retrofitted to an existing three-axis CMM. Once the system was proven, two new CMMs were added, both specified to include five-axis measurement heads at the outset. Renishaw’s Revo and PH20 five-axis measurement systems were selected.
Head of quality at R Busi, Paolo Orlandi, says: “We already used Renishaw machine probes throughout our production processes, so equipping a dedicated measuring room with closely related technology from the same supplier was a logical and easy step to take. Since our production activities can often include some quite complex bespoke parts, we really wanted to adopt something a little better than a standard three-axis CMM; something that would give us the accuracy, flexibility and speed needed.”
The introduction of five-axis measurement technology has had a wide-ranging impact on R Busi’s precision manufacturing operations, as Orlandi explains: “By dramatically increasing measurement speed and significantly reducing production downtime, the business has gained a serious productivity advantage.”
For further information www.renishaw.com

Rotamec opens in Wales

Electro-mechanical repair specialist Rotamec has opened a facility in Pontypool, Wales, to provide localised 24/7 maintenance and repair support to operators of engineered equipment.

The new facility has a high capacity to meet demanding or time-sensitive projects, thus ensuring that customers benefit from Rotamec’s expertise in rotating equipment, motor repairs, parts sourcing, gearbox repairs and additional services, which include machining and pump testing.
For further information https://rotamec.com/

MecWash at 2020 events

Aqueous parts cleaning and degreasing specialist MecWash Systems will be exhibiting its latest technology at three major UK industry events in 2020.

Southern Manufacturing will return to Farnborough on 11-13 February, where from stand J230 MecWash will be running demonstrations of its Duo aqueous component cleaning machine. Next up will be the National Fluid Power Centre industry open day on 19 February in Worksop, before MecWash attends MACH 2020, which will be held at the NEC on 20-24 April. MecWash will be at stand 18-114, demonstrating both the Duo and an MWX400 parts-washing system.
For further information www.mecwash.com

3D scanner for small parts

An optical measuring machine – the ATOS 5 for Airfoil – has been unveiled by GOM that is particularly suited to small parts and complex freeform surfaces. The sensor is designed for the inspection of aerofoil components like turbine blades, nozzle guide vanes or blisks in the aerospace and power-generation industries.
GOM’s ATOS 5 for Airfoil expands the ATOS 5 series in the measuring area for small parts. This machine adds to the existing all-rounder ATOS 5, which performs a range of tasks in measuring areas from 170 to 1000 mm in length, and the ATOS 5X, which is effective when used for large surfaces and parts due to its strong, focused light. The ATOS 5X demonstrates its applicability in sector’s such as automotive, where even entire car bodies can be digitised quickly.
Following the launch of a 3D measuring machine for small parts with a size of 100 x 70 sq mm to 400 x 300 sq mm, GOM closes the gap in the lower measuring area. At the same time, the ATOS 5 for Airfoil is particularly suited to the inspection of turbine components produced for the aerospace industry, like blades, blisks and air-conducting structures. The complex edges and surfaces on such parts have been a challenge during 3D digitisation, until now. The ATOS 5 for Airfoil sensor is also said to excel during the maintenance and repair of nozzle guide vanes. The costs associated with the MRO sector are large – replacing turbine blades can exceed €10,000. Using ATOS technology, partnered with techniques such as additive manufacture and adaptive machining, can lead to considerable savings.
For further information www.gom.com