Crankshaft deburring made easy

A standard brush-based machine for the deburring of complex engine components such as crankshafts and camshafts has been introduced by Kadia.

EC-Brush has five programmable axes, each with a rotary drive providing right/left rotation for the brush and the workpiece. The component is clamped against a point in a three-jaw chuck, with the brush rotating at about 500 rpm, and the part at 30 rpm.
Kadia’s EC-Brush features linear axes that provide the brush’s back/forward and lateral oscillation movement, and a traversing range for the centre. The latter enables different crankshaft/camshaft lengths to be clamped, so that any variant for three- to six-cylinder engines (for passenger cars or small commercial vehicles) can be deburred in any desired succession. Loading and unloading can be carried out manually, semi-automatically or fully automatically to suit requirements.
The brush, which is at the heart of the machine, is equipped with long and short fibres made of abrasive nylon. Only one operation is required, as the shaft is completely immersed in the brush. The long fibres reach from the cheeks up to the connecting rod bearings, while the short fibres deburr the main bearings area. Particles and flaky burrs, which typically occur during drilling or grinding, are reliably removed, says Kadia. A choice of fibre type allows adaptation to the component material. EC-Brush also permits wet machining.
For further information https://kadia.de/

Anca iView aids single set-up tool grinding

Anca’s iView now enables single set-up cutting-tool manufacture through the semi-automatic measurement and compensation of profile tools, end mills and drills.

A newly developed camera bracket increases the measuring capabilities of iView to inspect a tool’s end face, and measure land widths, lip distances and chisel angles, without the need for camera commissioning or qualification.
“To remain competitive in tool manufacturing, more and more businesses are looking towards automation or semi-automation,” says Thomson Mathew, Anca’s software product manager. “Taking the time to set up the infrastructure smartly is delivering significant business advantages, such as improved productivity, better access to machine data and lower production costs.
Tooling manufacturers use iView to take an image of the ground tool using the camera and then compare the data with an ideal overlay profile generated by the iView software, without having to take the tool out of the grinder. This capability means faster set-up time and better accuracy, as the ground tool is checked against the tool requirements in one clamping.
Accurate to 0.002 mm, iView allows the accurate comparison and measurement of the actual cutting tool against the profile. The technology automatically compensates the tool and, based on the overlay and profile error, it is adjusted and re-ground. This process also eliminates any accuracy loss that can occur when tools are transferred between grinding and measuring machines.
One iView camera can be used across multiple machines in Anca’s MX, TX and GX/FastGrind range. The latest bracket assembly, which is suitable for new and retrofit applications, allows the iView camera to be mounted horizontally, inside machine.
For further information www.anca.com

‘Made for Space’ conference date set

A two-day ‘Made for Space’ conference being staged by the MTC will be held on 2-3 May.

The event will host international experts who will explain the opportunities available for manufacturers in the space industry. Keynote speakers are set to include: John Vickers, principal technologist, Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA; and Thomas Rohr, head of materials and processes at the European Space Agency. Also speaking will be Graham Peters, chair of UK Space, and Graham Turnock, chief executive of the UK Space Agency.
MTC chief technologist David Wimpenny says the UK space sector had trebled in size since 2000, with further growth predicted. This ongoing expansion presents a significant opportunity for high-value manufacturing companies in the UK. Topics covered at the Made for Space conference will include additive manufacturing, automation and robotics, surface engineering, high-performance coatings, and advanced joining technology. Early bird tickets are available until 31 March.
For further information www.the-mtc.org/madeforspace

XYZ distributors endorse latest ProtoTRAK

The annual European distributor conference held by XYZ Machine Tools saw representatives from 10 countries visit the company’s Devon headquarters to see the unveiling of the latest RLX and RMX ProtoTRAK control system.

Drawing positive comments, delegates were impressed with how ProtoTRAK RLX and RMX combine sophisticated operation with the simplicity of previous-generation units.
Managing director Nigel Atherton says: “The new ProtoTRAK controls were well received at the recent Southern Manufacturing show and now from our European partners. While the changes to ProtoTRAK will make significant differences to the productivity of XYZ machines, the familiarity of the system will ensure existing users can move seamlessly from old to new. Furthermore, new users will be producing complex parts within a short space of time thanks to ProtoTRAK’s conversational programming and on-board help.”
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

Southern Manufacturing achieves attendance record

Last month’s Southern Manufacturing 2019 achieved a new record attendance, according to figures released by the organisers.

The show received a total of 8644 unique visitors, an increase of around 13% on the previous year. Some 800 companies from all over the world took part in the event, occupying all the available exhibition space of the recently-opened 20,000 sq m Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Exit polls reveal that visitor interests remained broadly consistent with previous years, but with interest in automation and robotics, machine tools, tooling, and inspection systems all showing positive growth. There was also heightened interest in the full range of subcontract services present at the show, including contract fabrication, machining, laser processing and plastics. Southern Manufacturing returns to Farnborough International on 11-13 February 2020.
For further information www.industrysouth.co.uk