Next generation of digital microscopes

Vision Engineering unveiled the next generation of its Evo Cam digital microscope at the MACH exhibition in Birmingham last month. Suited to close inspection and the recording of high-resolution images, the latest Evo Cam II benefits from the addition of user-customisable overlays, on-board measurement and Wi-Fi image transfer – all supported by a 30:1 optical zoom and a maximum magnification in excess of 3600x.

Evo Cam II replaces the original Evo Cam, which is already used for the inspection of automotive and aerospace components, medical devices, precision engineering, plastic mouldings and more. High-definition images can be captured and stored directly to a USB memory stick. When connected to a PC, images and video can be easily captured, stored and shared. A Wi-Fi dongle even allows direct sharing with PCs, laptops, tablet computers and smartphones.
Simple on-screen measurement can be performed with the aid of virtual callipers and scalable grids, while live images can also be compared to user customisable overlays, increasing efficiency of use.
A completely new graphical user interface and intuitive controls with 10 presets, allow for rapid swapping out of subjects under inspection, making Evo Cam II suitable for multiple users in high-speed production environments. A remote control option is available to maximise the ergonomic operation of the microscope when used over prolonged periods.
Evo Cam II features an LED ring light and sub-stage lighting for viewing translucent samples. High-contrast subjects, such as reflective metals used in automotive manufacturing, can be viewed in more detail using Evo Cam II’s Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) mode.
For further information www.visioneng.com

Aberlink provides shop-floor accuracy

Pinxton-based Nasmyth Bulwell, which specialises in the manufacture of precision parts, kits, airframe assemblies and sub-assemblies for the global aerospace and allied industries, has installed an Xtreme CNC CMM from Aberlink.

“Having evaluated several shop-floor CMMs against our list of requirements, a demonstration of Aberlink’s Xtreme CNC CMM, together with Aberlink’s market reputation, convinced me that the Xtreme was the ideal machine for our needs,” says quality manager Jonathan Walsh. “The accuracy, CNC nature and speed of our new Aberlink CMM means that it is able to perform comprehensive inspection routines on manufactured components within the cycle time of the machine tool it is located next to. Now, rather than our skilled machine operators taking a first-off part to our busy inspection department and experiencing delays waiting for a CMM to complete its current task, they are able to quickly confirm component dimensions before commencing full production.
“In the cell, as a machined part is now fully inspected before the next component is produced, the speed of feedback achieved through in-cycle measurement allows adjustments to be made quickly when a feature is drifting from its nominal size,” he adds. “Our new inspection method has increased efficiency and further reduced our already low scrap rates.
“In addition to taking the strain off our busy inspection department, the efficiencies we have realised through the use of our new shop-floor CMM mean that we plan to purchase further Aberlink Xtreme models in the future.”
For further information www.aberlink.com

New agency

Master Abrasives has been appointed as the UK and Ireland representive for the complete range of grinding machines manufactured in India by Alex Machine Tools.

Sparks from grinding machine in workshop. Industrial background, industry.

Over the past 30 years, Alex has developed a range of surface grinding machines, including a reciprocating hydraulically-operated machine, a rotary surface grinder, creep-feed machines and a range of double-disk grinders. The announcement comes hot on the heels of a successful MACH exhibition for Master Abrasives, where among the reported sales was a Micromatic Eco 200 grinding machine to Border Ballistics Technologies.
For further information www.master-abrasives.co.uk

£2m orders at MACH

In its 50th anniversary year, Hurco took 34 machine tool orders valued at £2.5m during the recent MACH 2018 exhibition in Birmingham.

In total, 11 machines were demonstrated on the company’s stand, including five different five-axis machining centre configurations. Managing director David Waghorn says: “We are delighted with the level of orders, which was undoubtedly helped by having 30% more visitors to our stand compared with two years ago. This is particularly pleasing as the organiser reported a visitor increase to the show of only 5%.”
For further information www.hurco.co.uk

VDW raises machine tool output forecast

In the first quarter of 2018, order bookings in the German machine tool industry rose by 22% compared with the preceding year’s equivalent period.

VDW Verein Deutscher Werkzeugmaschinenfabriken e.V., Frankfurt/Main, 11.und 12. April 2018 © Uwe Nölke, look@team-uwe-noelke.de, +49 6173 321413, alle Rechte vorbehalten. Die Verwendung dieses Bildes ist für redaktionelle Berichterstattung honorarfrei. Veröffentlichung nur mit Quellenangabe: Bild: Uwe Nölke / team-uwe-noelke.de

Domestic orders were up by 39%, while orders from abroad increased by 15%. “Based on a sizeable increase in orders last year, which is set to continue, we see for 2018 the potential of higher growth in production output than was still being anticipated in February, and are subsequently raising our production output forecast from 5% to 7% growth,” says Dr Wilfried Schäfer, executive director of the VDW (German Machine Tool Builders’ Association).
For further information www.vdw.de