Automatic mitre-cutting bandsaw unveiled

With the latest automatic machine from its HBE series, Behringer says it has come up with a way of combining the benefits of high-performance machines for one-off sawing tasks, with the solid, tried and tested characteristics of a classic mitre saw. High cutting outputs, simple handling and precise angular cuts are said to be among the key attributes of the new Behringer HBE320-523GA mitre-cutting bandsaw.

With a cutting range on flat materials of 520 x 320 mm, and bilateral mitre cuts of 45° (and up to 30° on the left), the saw has many features in common with the HBE Dynamic series. The guidance system in its torsionally rigid gantry design and bilateral band wheel bearings are intended to ensure quiet running and precise cuts. The band-guiding components are made of vibration-damping grey cast iron, which has a positive impact on the quality of the cut surface, and makes for longer blade life, says the company. Electrically powered chip brushes clean the saw blade of adhering chips synchronously with the saw drive system.
The inclined position of the band wheels helps prolong the life of bandsaw blades by reducing fatigue due to cyclical bending. A fully automatic height adjustment facility for the saw frame, and lowering of the saw when in rapid traverse, help cut non-productive time to a minimum.
The inclined position of the bandsaw blade allows components such as girders, angled steel and U-profiles, as well as hollow rectangular profiles, to be sawn at higher speed and with less burr.
For further information www.behringer.net

Bandsaw halves cutting times

Sawing tough, highly tempered steel bar for a medical engineering application presented a challenge to Bavarian tool and workshop equipment manufacturer, Werner Weitner, as cutting times were long. However, the installation of a KastoWin Pro AC 5.6 bandsaw has made production more efficient by halving processing times.
Department manager Florian Winhard says: “We had to process a highly tempered V2A [304 stainless] steel over a large range of diameters for a medical engineering customer. Our existing saws could only use bimetal blades, so cutting times were up to 15 minutes, which we felt was unsatisfactory.

“As a result, we sent a material sample to Kasto ready for trials on different saws,” he continues. “The results obtained on the KastoWin Pro AC 5.6 automatic bandsaw using a carbide blade were impressive. Cycle times of 7-8 minutes were achieved, around half the time needed by our other saws.
“A major advantage is that we can switch between carbide blades and less expensive HSS bi-metal blades at any time. So we can cut not only difficult-to-machine materials, but standard steels, economically.”
The KastoWin pro AC 5.6 is designed for a variety of applications in steel stockholding, steel production, forging mills, machine manufacturing and the automotive industry. A notable feature is the frequency-controlled, 11 kW drive motor, which allows carbide as well as bimetal blades to be used. Users can therefore be flexible in their choice of tool, reducing costs and optimising cutting speed and efficiency.
The working range of the KastoWin Pro is 560 mm and the smallest dimension that can be cut is 25 x 25 mm.
For further information www.kasto.com

30 years of PSL

PSL Datatrack is celebrating 30 years of production control software development for precision engineering subcontractors.

It all started in February 1988 when Prospec Systems, the company behind Datatrack, introduced a software solution for manufacturers that offered a practical, simple and logical way of managing production and improving overall business efficiency. Looking forward, the company says that its continuous R&D programme, together with feedback via ‘wish lists’, will help it provide the upgrades and additions to the functionality of PSL Datatrack from which customers will benefit.
For further information www.psldatatrack.com

Toyota Auris to be built at Burnaston

Toyota says it will build the next generation of its Auris hatchback at the company’s Burnaston plant in Derbyshire.

The Japanese carmaker also says its Deeside factory in North Wales will build most of the required engines. It comes after Toyota promised to invest £240m in upgrading Burnaston last March. According to the company, the move will secure more than 3000 jobs across its Burnaston and Deeside plants. The factory is being upgraded with new equipment, technologies and systems to enable manufacture of vehicles on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.
For further information www.toyota.co.uk

Smart machining event success

A machining solutions provider staged an ‘Irish’ first when it hosted its Smart Factory Machining event last week. The Engineering Technology Group (ETG) threw open the doors at its County Kildare showroom on 6-8 March to provide around 140 delegates with an insight into the latest CNC machine technology, turnkey solutions, automation and shop floor data systems.

Working in partnership with cutting tool partner Guhring, there was a host of live demonstrations on a Hardinge V710S three-axis mill, a Quaser MF400UH five-axis machining centre and a Nakamura WY150 twin-turret, twin-spindle lathe with Y-axis functionality on both turrets. Visitors also witnessed a Hyfore workholding and tooling display, and the Halter U20 LoadAssistant in action, unloading and loading billets to a simulated lathe with three-jaw chuck – the first time this technology has been showcased in Ireland.
For further information www.etgireland.ie