Two new tools for multiple measurements

Reliable, flexible measuring equipment is indispensable in production and quality assurance. This is what two new additions to the Mahr family stand for: the MarCal 30 EWRi depth caliper and the new Millimar P 2002 sensor.

Normally, it is not possible to measure lengths linearly over the entire measuring path with an inductive probe. This is not the case with the new Millimar P 2002 all-rounder from Mahr, which achieves high linearity thanks to its optimally matched measuring system.

Wherever the lengths, the new P 2002 shows its strengths; from brake discs and smartphone covers to turbine blades, Mahr says that its new Millimar sensor is a true all-rounder. The probe stands for maximum measuring accuracy and minimal linearity deviations over the entire measuring range. At the same time, its revised ball guide ensures high-precision, easy handling.

The second new Mahr addition, the MarCal 30 EWRi depth caliper, represents maximum process reliability. This tool allows users to measure completely without any disturbing cables and to benefit from its fast, automatic data acquisition that eliminates manual input errors. The depth caliper sends the displayed measured value directly to the user’s Windows application via radio transmission and at the touch of a button.

Lapped guide rails allow the slider to run smoothly and sensitively. Depending on the measuring task, users can measure either with the universal stylus or the wide front measuring surface: the stylus is removable for this purpose. Mahr offers 30 EXm long measuring bridges of 300 and 400 mm for supporting or bridging distances. Mounting is simple and can be individually adjusted in the hole grid. This means that users can easily reach their measuring point, even with larger support distances.

For further information www.metrology.mahr.com/en-int

Europe’s first 5G interactive microscope labs

The University of Plymouth will become the home of Europe’s first 5G interactive microscope labs. This advanced facility will transform the learning experience of students on a number of science courses.

Comprising 150 microscopes, the labs are the result of a partnership between the university and two global technology companies, Nikon and Ostec Instruments. They also reflect recent changes to courses, aligning their content even more closely with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Professor Kevin Jones, executive dean of science and engineering at the University of Plymouth, says: “These new labs will transform our teaching and revolutionise the learning experience for our students. They will get to explore a wider range of specimens in greater detail than ever before. By getting the opportunity to use cutting-edge technology, our students will also gain first-hand experience of using systems that will either match – or in many cases exceed – those they will work with once they graduate.”

Across two spaces in the university’s Davy Building, students will have access to 60 polarising microscopes and 20 biological microscopes, as well as 60 low-power microscopes used to analyse larger specimens. In addition to the microscopes, each stand will have a digital screen that can link to others across the room to share the same content.

The lecturer will have his or her own camera set-up linked to screens on each of the microscope stands, and the screens will also display QR codes so that students can bring up details of what they have been scrutinising on their mobile devices. Importantly, the combination of microscope and screen displays, as well as desks of adjustable height, will make the set-up more accessible to students with sight or mobility difficulties.

For further information www.nikonmetrology.com

Marposs participating in Target-X project

The European Target-X project is launching its second open call to strengthen important economic sectors in Europe by integrating 5G and 6G, accelerating the digital transformation. The call stresses the importance of establishing a sustainable business framework, unlocking new market prospects and providing financial support up to €60,000 per entity.

Marposs is actively involved in the research project, led by the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) in Aachen. The project’s objective is to conduct validation tests for new technologies in both 5G and its successor, 6G. Collaborating with other partners, Marposs has identified different applications within existing experimental test environments in both Germany and Spain.

In the automotive sector, the project focuses on studies related to digital twin vehicles, co-operative perception, autonomous or remote driving, and the prediction of quality of service (QoS) in real-world scenarios. Meanwhile, in the industrial manufacturing sector, research lines initiated in previous projects continue, involving partners to integrate real-time technologies with cutting-edge cloud architectures. This integration aims to create more efficient and sophisticated digital twins of robots and machine tools.

The project aims to explore the potential of 5G and 6G technologies in realistic environments within end-user industries through demonstrations and experimental evaluations. Notably, the focus includes examining the impact of network and digital-twin integration on real-time communications, localisation, tracking and interactivity. The assessment also considers sustainability, security and privacy metrics for the solutions under test, contributing to the development of a framework for evaluating the economic and social effects of potential new business models emerging from the use of these advanced technologies.

For further information www.marposs.com

Zeiss to co-operate with Borg Automotive

Zeiss is entering into a co-operative project with Borg Automotive, an independent remanufacturer of automotive parts. Researchers at the Zeiss Innovation Hub @ KIT will be working closely with Borg Automotive developers and production engineers on the project over the next 12 months. The project will focus on researching and implementing new visual and automated solutions for modern remanufacturing processes that enable an even better component quality, performance and service life.

By remanufacturing used components it is possible to reduce waste and, at the same time, cut the resources and emissions required to manufacture new components.

“After remanufacturing, used parts have the same functionality, safety and reliability as new parts,” says Max Riedel, head of the Zeiss Innovation Hub @ KIT. “We would like to develop processes with Borg Automotive that will allow us to base even more reliable future predictions about the life of remanufactured parts on measurements and models.”

Grzegorz Pawłowski, group technology director at Borg Automotive, adds: “Testing components in the remanufacturing process is one of the most important steps in determining which parts are suitable for reuse: it defines the lifespan and quality of the product. Our ambition is to use automated systems in the processes increase process efficiency and further improve quality standards.”

Circular economy is one of the Zeiss sustainability focus topics. Borg Automotive also bases its business model on the circular economy, in which it is possible to extend the lifecycle of vehicle parts. Borg Automotive has recently had comparative lifecycle assessments performed on its eight product groups. These assessments show a tendency for 60% less CO2eq, 42% less energy (MJ) and 70% lower consumption of natural resources (Sb-eq) compared with newly manufactured products.

For further information www.zeiss.com

Huge time savings achieved with Sylvac solution

Excel Precision, a prominent player in the UK’s EDM sector, recently worked with Bowers Group to address a complex machining challenge faced by a machine tool company. The solution cut the client’s component setting time from around a week to less than an hour, also resulting in a 12-week reduction in production time.

Steve Batt, technical director at Excel Precision, says: “Our innovative solution transformed a complex and time-consuming process into a highly efficient one. By incorporating innovative technology from Bowers Group and smart engineering from our team here at Excel, we not only met the client’s precision requirements but also significantly increased their annual production capacity by reducing production time.”

The client had a precision issue with a deep-seated bore. The initial approach involved using a conventional DTI but proved inefficient, taking 5-8 days to achieve the required runout. This lengthy timespan was primarily because of the inability to observe the part’s movement during adjustments in the confined bore, which extended to a depth of 350 mm.

Available from Bowers Group, the Sylvac D62S digital display and PS12D digital probe were the solutions identified. The D62S sits on a carbon-fibre tube with a wire passing through, connecting it to the two digital probes. A specially developed mechanism allows one probe to take measurements in the X direction and the other in the Y direction, ensuring precision despite the tight confines of the bore.

Immediate feedback shows a dramatic reduction in set-up time, enabling the client to set the component within an hour, a significant improvement from the initial 5-8 days. Additionally, when combined with a custom fixture, it improved the client’s production capacity by reducing production time by at least 12 weeks.

For further information www.bowersgroup.co.uk