Automating material handling and storage

Architectural Grille manufactures in its Brooklyn, New York City factory an extensive range
of custom architectural metalwork from materials that include aluminium, brass, bronze,
steel and stainless steel. With such a wide variety of sheet metals to process, the company
wanted to streamline storage of its large inventory of materials, with an eye to optimising
material flow and maintaining operator safety.
For the solution it turned to KASTO, installing UNITOWER and KASTOecostore tower storage
systems. The systems were deemed the ideal way to alleviate the previous inefficient
manual storage arrangement. Architectural Grille has now significantly improved its logistics
processes, enhancing both efficiency and safety at its workstations.
More information www.kasto.com

Digital Catapult chair

Digital Catapult’s board of directors has appointed Professor Keith Jackson as its new chair. He will succeed Juergen Maier CBE from May 2025. A successful entrepreneur and engineering leader, Jackson brings wide ranging experience from industry and academia to Digital Catapult. He co-founded the successful start-up business Pi Technology, which grew to provide engine control systems used in millions of vehicles around the world. Jackson also designed a £10m industry 4.0 digital manufacturing project for Meggitt, working with IBM and the Innovate UK Catapult Network’s AMRC in Sheffield and MTC in Ansty.  

More information www.digitalcatapult.org.uk

Inspiring the next generation of engineers

Accu, a Huddersfield-based engineering business that says it supplies 50% of the world’s top manufacturers with precision engineering components, will be inspiring the next generation of engineers at the Makers Central event at the Birmingham NEC on 17-18 May. Visitors can experience live demonstrations of Accu’s ant weight combat robots called AccuBots, made possible with Accu components and 3D printing technology. The stand will also offer visitors the chance to build their own modular combat robot as well as learn from engineers about how precision engineering is shaping manufacturing innovations.

More information www.accu.co.uk

Small diameter boring bars from Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi Materials has launched a range of small boring bars for Swiss-type automatic lathes. The whole series of these new boring bars is available in both solid carbide and steel. The inclusion of both types provides a choice for end users and offers the benefits of deeper boring capability due to the extra rigidity of the carbide type. Additionally, not all components need an extra deep hole carbide shank, so the cost-effective steel bar is also available in all types.

The lengths of the tools are compatible with Swiss-type automatic lathes. This ready made to length feature negates the costly and time-consuming process of cutting the shanks of standard tools to a shorter length to prevent interference.

A comprehensive selection of hard steel bars has recently been introduced to the range. Notably, the hard steel body is effective in preventing damage and wear caused by chip evacuation. The  hard steel types are available in diameters ranging from 4 to 10 mm for the 7º SCLC, STUC, SDUC, SDQC and SWUC types of holder, and for the 11º types SCLP and STUP.

A vast range of different carbide bar diameters, ranging from 4 to 32 mm diameter with a minimum pre-boring diameter of 5 to 34 mm are available for the 7º SCLC, STUC, SDUC,

SDQC and SWUC types of holder, and for the 11º types SCLP and STUP.

Steel bars ranging from 12 to 32 mm diameter with a minimum pre-boring diameter of 14 to 40 mm are also available in 7º SCLC, STUC, SDUC, SDQC and SWUC types of holder, and for the 11º types SCLP and STUP.

More information www.mmc-carbide.com

Laser focus with new Vollmer machine arrival

Vollmer UK has launched the new VLaser 370 machine for processing precision cutting tools manufactured from ultra-hard materials such as PCD, CVD and PCBN. The company says its new arrival makes Vollmer the industry’s first ‘full-line’ manufacturer with technology that encompasses the disciplines of grinding, erosion, wire erosion and laser cutting.

Incorporating advanced kinematics with smooth movement, future-proofed components and high thermal stability, the VLaser 370 is for the production of cutting tools with a diameter of up to 150 mm, an overall length of 250 mm and a maximum weight of 10 kg. Users can automate production with the adoption of the proven HC4 or HC4 Plus systems that facilitate up to 158 or 160 tools, respectively.

Vollmer says the machine is already proven to be up to 50% more productive than rival technology in field tests, while delivering forms as precise as 0.002 mm. Notably, the concept of the VLaser 370 is that everything rotates around the laser at the rotation point of the C axis. The five axes and a laser with fixed-beam guidance enable fast and precise machining at the centre point of the machine.

From an ease-of-use perspective, the VLaser 370 enables direct clamping of tools in the A axis regardless of tool length. The VLaser 370 improves handling and accuracy by eliminating the need for tool extensions. Additionally, the ability to incorporate a counterpoint enhances stability and precision further, especially when processing long tools that demand the utmost precision.

For anyone already familiar with the Vollmer EDM operational system, the VLaser will prove a breeze. With the same operating philosophy, the intelligent and intuitive interface enables the transfer of programs from existing Vollmer EDM machines.

More information www.vollmer-group.com