Robotics contest entries up over 50%

Industrial automation expert FANUC UK has reported a 53% year-on-year increase in the number of young people applying for the WorldSkills UK Industrial Robotics competition. A record 80 young people have registered to take part in the 2024 initiative, which aims to give students and apprentices the chance to learn key robotics programming and operating skills with help from FANUC experts. This is a significant increase on 2023, which attracted 52 applicants. The first stage of the competition will see contestants work in pairs to take on a simulated entry-stage task using FANUC’s ROBOGUIDE system.

For further information www.fanuc.eu

Hexagon and Microsoft partner in cloud project

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division is entering a strategic partnership with Microsoft that aims to redefine how engineers collaborate. The collaboration will also enable the discrete manufacturing industry to innovate faster, with more confidence, using new solutions that combine data from virtual engineering processes with real-world measurement of manufactured products.

Modern cloud infrastructure will connect manufacturing and engineering systems in Hexagon’s Nexus digital reality platform for manufacturers, and help employees increase their productivity through cloud-accelerated simulation and AI. Hexagon and Microsoft have partnered closely on the development and scaling of the open-source Fluid Framework and Azure Fluid Relay service, allowing data created in one system to be immediately available to any other person or machine operating in another.

For further information www.hexagon.com

Blue Photon adhesive work holding at MACH

Exhibited on the stand of NCMT at last month’s MACH 2024 exhibition in Birmingham, UK, was the Blue Photon photo-activated adhesive system. According to the company, this technology is ideal for securing awkwardly shaped parts while allowing maximum access to tools for tight-tolerance machining or inspection.

The process involves applying an adhesive that is cured by UV light via an LED spot-curing system. After machining is complete, users can shear the adhesive contact points to free the workpiece by rotating the gripper pins in the fixture plate with a spanner. Any residual adhesive is removeable by applying hot water.

Use of the technique will likely grow due to its ability to hold components securely with a shear resistance of up to 200 kg per gripper point, while allowing cutters all-round access for machining on five sides. Unlike magnetic clamping systems, it is suitable for securing non-ferrous metallic parts, including composites.

Blue Photon is suited, for example, to clamping a turbine blade for the one-hit machining of the fir-tree and wedge face on the root, as well as the shroud end features, without tolerance build-up. Traditionally, due to clamp interference, multiple operations are necessary.

NCMT has designed a novel turbine blade fixture incorporating four gripper inserts that, once adhesive has been applied and cured, holds a blade securely by one side of the aerofoil. Tests show that the clamping force produced by the fixture can easily withstand the rigours of machining. The material removal rate actually exceeded that achieved when the blade was mechanically clamped as, in the latter case, the pressure had to be limited to avoid component distortion and marking.

For further information www.ncmt.co.uk

Simple finger change during an ongoing process

With its new BSWS-R quick-change jaw system, Schunk enables automated finger changes during an ongoing process. The system consists of just a few components and is compatible with all grippers featuring the PGN-plus-P screw connection diagram.

In many sectors, production is increasingly moving in the direction of high-mix/low-volume. This is where being able to produce a wide range of variants without any manual set-up, even with the smallest batch sizes, is becoming a great advantage for companies. The BSWS-R jaw quick-change system makes this possible with its flexible solution.

The latest evolutionary stage of the BSWS series enables robots to change their gripper fingers automatically in-process – in under three seconds. Until now, automated changes have only been possible when replacing the entire gripper. Meanwhile the BSWS-R can accomplish this task with a minimum of components.

A quick-change system base, two adapter pins and a deposit station are the only parts needed for each gripper finger. The base screws into the workpiece-specific gripper finger and the adapter pins fasten to the base jaw of the gripper. When the base moves into the deposit station, the locking pin actuates and the form-fit mechanism unlocks. The robot moves upwards out of the jaw quick-change system, while the fingers and base remain in the deposit station. No additional work is necessary as the robot performs the change independently. The new design eliminates the need to drill through the finger. Only threaded holes are required, giving users more freedom when designing fingers.

The BSWS-R is available in nine sizes. In smaller versions up to size 100, the support stations feature elastomer bearings, making them suitable for use with collaborative robots (cobots).

For further information www.schunk.com

Heimatec extends combi multiple turning holder range

Heimatec, the trusted partner of UK work-holding specialist Hyfore, has expanded its product range of combi multiple turning holders. The precision tool manufacturer now offers a selection of holders with internal coolant and wedge-clamping features in various sizes for a variety of machine brands, with the range undergoing continuous expansion to include other machine manufacturers. All are available in the UK from Hyfore.

The internal coolant allows for a continual, optimal supply of cooling lubricant that directly targets the cutting edge of the tool. It removes any chips generated by the machining process quickly and easily, avoiding problems caused by chips collecting in the machine. As with other Heimatec holders, the combi multiple turning holder is also suitable for machining operations that use an external coolant supply, or those which require a combination of internal and external lubricant.

Notably, Heimatec also refined and adapted the clamping feature on the new turning tool-holder models during the development process. The new range of combi multiple turning holders utilises an optimised wedge-style clamping approach, which replaces the selective hexagonal screws seen on previous models with clamps that grip the turning tool over its entire surface. According to Hyfore, the result is a quick and easy assembly and disassembly process when changing the turning tool.

Hexagonal screw clamping tool holders are still available to order as an accessory from Hyfore.

For further information www.hyfore.com