Marking line improves aerospace traceability

Floyd Automatic Tooling says that it now offers the latest Hommel + Keller brand of Zeus marking systems.
A manufacturer of aerospace industry connectors has recently chosen marking technology from Hommel + Keller as a means of clearly identifying components. The connectors vary in terms of diameter and material. For example, parts identical in design are made from nickel with a diameter of 3.33 mm and from brass with a much smaller diameter of 1.52 mm. To optimise production and further reduce set-up times, the aerospace manufacturer was also looking for an alternative to marking with the production number.

The solution was the Zeus spring return marking method. Explaining the situation, Hommel + Keller International technical sales engineer, José Cruz, says: “The customer was already using our tools for marking. However, the revolving method that depends on diameter was being employed. That meant there was a separate marking roll for each connector diameter and the customer often had to swap tools with production changes. Since the workpieces have very small diameters, the marking rolls also had an unfavourable ratio of 6:1 to ensure precise marking in multiple rotations. This increased the amount of set-ups required, particularly in the case of small and medium-sized production volumes. With our spring return system, we were able to offer the customer an even more cost-effective method of machining. Now, different connectors need only one roll for marking.”
In contrast to the revolving method, the spring return method ensures the embossing process takes place over just one partial rotation of the marking roll. This permits processing at high speeds.
For further information www.floydautomatic.co.uk

A tool for all applications from ITC

When a machinist with extensive motorsport expertise had ambitions of starting his own business, the first step was a five-axis machining centre, high-end CAM software and cutting tools from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC).

“When I started the business I recalled how the technical expertise of ITC aided previous employers with special tools,” says managing director Allan Carabine. “ITC also gave advice on maximising tool life and performance while reducing costs and consumption. When we started, I trialled ITC’s 6 mm diameter 3081 series on aluminium parts. It blew the previous tools out of the water.
“We then had a family of three aluminium parts that were required in a quantity of 500 for each component,” he continues. “The parts were set on a jig that could machine four components in a single set-up with a cycle time of 25 minutes. Only a few days into the new project, the previous cutting tools generated inconsistent tool life and poor surface finishes. Engineers from ITC recommended an ITC 16 mm diameter 3081 series solid carbide end mill. It completed the whole project of 1500 parts with minimal tool wear, exceptional surface finishes and was 30% cheaper than the previous cutting tool.”
Following the success of ITC’s aluminium end mills, MK Precision trialled the Widia VariMill 4777 series of four-flute solid carbide end mills on titanium components. A specific project of 90 components required a 50 by 50 mm pocket at a depth of 6 mm on each part. Here, the Widia VariMill 4777 Series immediately cut the
cycle time from 15 to 10 minutes per part.
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Wearable robotic exoskeletons

IUVO, a spin-off company of the BioRobotics Institute (Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna) in the field of wearable technologies, has recently received a joint investment from Comau and Össur. The objective of IUVO is to create wearable, intelligent and active tools for a better quality of life. Here, the first concrete examples are robotic exoskeletons capable of aiding and improving the quality of life for workers in the industrial and service fields, and for medical patients in need of improved mobility.

A fundamental aspect of the venture is the joint desire to progress and evolve human-machine collaboration within diverse sectors, including biomedical, manufacturing and consumer. With headquarters inside the Comau HUMANufacturing Innovation Centre in Pisa, and a group of engineers and researches, IUVO is leveraging the shared competencies of the extended team to develop and commercialise wearable technologies.
For further information www.comau.com

Free skills support available in northeast

A package of free manufacturing training has been unveiled to help northeast enterprises and people at risk of redundancy improve their skills and open-up new job opportunities.

Gateshead College’s new Director of Business Development Ivan Jepson photographed at Gateshead College.
For more details contact:
Cassie Moyse
MHW PR
Tel: 0191 2331300
©www.michaelhughesphoto.com
tel. +44 (0)7789681770

Go>Grow is a regional skills and enterprise programme, which has been launched in partnership with 30 local training providers and comes on the back of £15m of funding secured by Gateshead College from the European Social Fund through the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). The training is structured around a programme of courses for start-ups or small businesses looking to widen their skills base, or employers who want to upskill or strengthen their workforce.
For further information www.gogrow.org.uk

GF Machining to acquire Symmedia

In line with its strategy to digitalise the company’s offering, GF Machining Solutions has agreed to purchase 100% of the shares of Symmedia GmbH, Bielefeld, Germany. The privately owned company has been specialising in software for machine connectivity solutions for the past 20 years.

Symmedia today employs 60 people, while more than 15,000 machines in various industries worldwide have been equipped with its software. The company will continue to support and develop connectivity solutions for all types and all brands of machines and factory equipment, and continue to operate under current management from its Bielefeld base.
For further information www.symmedia.de