Offshore Wind Partnership

The National Composites Centre (NCC), Bristol Composites Institute (BCI) and Vestas have
established a strategic technology research partnership to anchor the UK’s future wind
industry. This enhanced, sustained collaboration will accelerate turbine blade technology
development necessary to propel the UK’s clean energy superpower ambitions and enable
supply chain resilience. The UK Offshore Wind Industrial Growth Plan estimates the
domestic economic opportunity for the sector to be worth up to £92bn by 2040. Key to
maximising market potential is advanced product and technology development.

More information www.nccuk.com

AMRC Training Centre Reaches Milestone

‘The premier league of engineering apprentice training’, ‘enabling enhanced productivity in
manufacturing’ and ‘an apprenticeship scheme worth every penny’ is what employers and
apprentices said about the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre as it celebrated a
decade of delivering apprenticeships and skills. The AMRC Training Centre brought together
apprentices, alumni, hard-working colleagues, key stakeholders and valued businesses to an
event highlighting the milestone. To date, the AMRC Training Centre has recruited more
than 2200 apprentices and worked with circa 400 different businesses.
More information www.amrctraining.co.uk

Klingelnberg innovations on show at AMB

At last month’s AMB 2024 machine tool exhibition in Stuttgart, grinding machine specialist Klingelnberg presented its latest developments. The company’s stand featured a Höfler Speed Viper cylindrical gear grinding machine, a Höfler R 300 cylindrical gear roll testing machine and a Klingelnberg P 40precision measuring centre. 

Focusing on high-volume, large-scale grinding, the HöflerSpeed Viper is available in three models to suit individual requirements: Speed Viper 300 in single-spindle configuration, and Speed Viper² 180 and 80 in dual-spindle configuration. The latter ensures minimal non-productive time, fulfilling productivity requirements of the automotive industry. 

With a partial or full automation system, Speed Viper can also feature an automation interface that meets the VDMA 34180 standard. ‘Gear Operator’ machine software and a process-oriented navigation system via wizard technology make operation easy, even in complex applications. And last but not least, ultra-modern drive and control technology maximises energy efficiency.

The metrology on the Höfler R 300 provides a reliable way to determine the root causes of gearbox noise. Due to the short measuring time, it can easily integrate into any manufacturing process and enable 100% quality control of gears. The R 300 is designed for all-roll testing processes that are relevant for evaluating the running behaviour and noise behaviour of gears. These include the single-flank test, structure-borne noise test and torsional acceleration test. 


Klingelnberg also presented its tried-and-tested P 40 with advanced hybrid metrology, a combination of tactile and optical metrology. Using optical sensor technology developed specifically for gear measurement, it is now possible to measure not only pitch, but also waviness on the tooth flanks. 

Machine from Klingelnberg are available in the UK from Micronz.

More information www.micronz.co.uk

New partnership for virtual cutting tool design

Anca, a specialist in CNC grinding machines that is this year celebrating 50 years of innovation, and Tetralytix, a developer of simulation software for metal-cutting technology, have commenced a strategic collaboration in the field of virtual design for cutting tools.The
collaboration integrates Anca’s expertise in the virtual modelling of tool geometries and CIM3D tool verification software with Tetralytix’s expertise in technological analysis through Toolyzer, a simulation tool for designing and optimising cutting tools. An interface between CIM3D and Toolyzer will enable faster and more cost effective cutting tooldevelopment.


“Anca welcomes this partnership as it signals our commitment to empowering customers with the most advanced and powerful software tools available,” states Martin Ripple, CEO at Anca.“By working together, we’re ensuring that cutting tool manufacturers have everything they need to innovate, optimise and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry.”

Dr Arne Mücke, managing director at Tetralytix, adds: “The partnership with Anca is a significant step towards creating added value and competitive advantages for our customers. The co-operation will make the benefits of digital cutting tool development visible in an unprecedented way.”
 

Says Santosh Plakkat, product manager at Anca: “We understand the constant challenges for tool designers in achieving longer tool life and the demands to cut newer materials. With this partnership, our customers can seamlessly design a tool and access cutting analyses, even before the first test cut. When Anca first introduced CIM3D, customers couldn’t believe the sophistication of the solution, and this is now the next step in reducing tool development time and cost.”

More information www.anca.com

Software aids flexible and precise tool grinding

With NUMROTO X, NUM AG is unveiling the future iteration of its CNC software package, NUMROTOplus, tailored for tool production and resharpening. According to NUM, this extensively revamped software stands out for its enhanced flexibility, precision and user-friendliness.

Similar to NUMROTOplus, NUMROTO X is a desktop application accessible both on the grinding machine and a workstation PC. Leveraging established concepts like multi-user databases, 3D simulation, collision checking and product documentation with NUMROTO-Draw, NUMROTO X elevates the user experience to new heights.

The focus during NUMROTO X’s development initially centred on the production of complex standard milling cutters. This goal is achieved thanks to configurable geometry elements and innovative options for production and process planning. The introduction of sequences, enabling the organisation of individual work steps, facilitates the straightforward configuration of intricate yet clearly displayed production processes.

Furthermore, NUMROTO X integrates a newly developed, integrated job manager. This feature empowers users to modify and expand job lists both during work preparation and ‘on the fly’ at the machine, ensuring uninterrupted production under any circumstances.

In crafting the new user interface, NUMROTO X places a strong emphasis on intuitive user-friendliness and clarity. Through real-time tool visualisation, users can promptly and accurately observe the effects of any parameter adjustment in pixel-perfect detail, even at various zoom levels. While default values streamline the creation of new workpieces, users retain the flexibility to tailor these settings to their specific needs at any juncture.

Introducing a new feature in NUMROTO X, the kinematics module takes charge of calculating machine movements, now extending support to six-axis movements. This advance brings about higher efficiency and optimises axis control during transition movements between grinding operations.

More information www.num.com