Low-carbon hydrogen project for MTC

Engineers from the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry are playing a key role in a project to develop innovative low-carbon hydrogen storage and supply systems, helping the UK’s drive to net zero. The SHyLO project has won £4.3m in funding from BEIS under the Government’s Net Zero Innovation Portfolio Low-Carbon Hydrogen Supply 2 Competition. The MTC is partnering SHyLO project leader H2GO Power, a clean-tech SME founded in 2014 as a spin-out from Cambridge University. Other project partners are ARC Consulting, Autodesk, HSSMI and EMEC

For further information www.the-mtc.org

All-new TruMotion rotary table

RPI UK, a specialist in precision rotation and angular positioning, launched its TruMotion rotary table at the Control 2022 exhibition in Stuttgart, Germany earlier this month. According to the company, TruMotion verifies small or medium circular parts with an accuracy more commonly seen in the standards laboratory. Manufacturers in the high-precision and general machining industries will be able to check roundness to the required accuracy of any turned or ground parts.

TruMotion is operated manually and enables the inspection of circular components such as pinions, gears, gauges, bearings, aero-engine components and optical assemblies in a production environment. It will be used to measure small and medium sized round parts, with dimensions of up to 400 mm diameter by 220 mm high, weighing up to 50 kg. TruMotion has a radially adjustable articulated probe holder and an axial and radial bearing performance of less than 1 µm.

Peter Marchbank, managing director of RPI, says: “Precision engineering companies, from global producers to small machining workshops, will now be able to easily verify and inspect small and medium sized circular parts with the required accuracy.”

RPI grew out of acquisitions from Optical Measuring Tools, Airmatic, Horstmannn and Eimeldingen. The company is now one of the world’s largest designers and manufacturers of solution-driven, highly accurate inspection systems and services that measure circular geometry and angular positioning.

Using its 75+ years of rotary expertise, RPI supplies progressive engineering industries, including the aerospace, gas turbine and dimensional metrology sectors, with low-maintenance products that offer a service life measured in decades, not years.

For further information
www.rpiuk.com

Trumpf sets dates for tube webinar

Designers across the manufacturing industry are increasingly taking advantage of the benefits of metal tube and profiles that are laser cut and welded. In turn, this move is opening up huge commercial potential for the metalworking sector.

Attendees on the Trumpf tube webinar will see how easy it is to program tube parts using newly enhanced Trumpf software. It links directly to
the new Trumpf TruLaser Tube 3000, on which the cutting of parts will take place during the webinar.

The identical webinars will run at 10:00 on 14 June and 14:00 on 15 June. After an initial 20-minute presentation and machine demonstration, attendees will have the opportunity to talk directly with Trumpf experts, who will answer questions on all aspects of laser tube and profiling cutting, and its application.

Register for 14 June at www.bit.ly/3lAknUx and for 15 June at www.bit.ly/3G6Xdyw

Turning up trumps at MACH

Mills CNC showed a large number of Doosan turning machines at the MACH 2022 exhibition last month, including two new turning centres and two new turn-mill machines.

From the largest stand at the show, the first new turning centre was the 10”-chuck Lynx 2600SY, a compact turning centre equipped with a Y axis and sub-spindle which, for the purposes of the exhibition, was integrated with a SYNERGi Premier automation system to create an automated manufacturing cell for the continuous production of small precision parts.

Also on the stand was the multi-tasking TT 1300SYYB, a twin-spindle/twin-turret turning centre with Y-axis capabilities on both its upper and lower turrets. Both the TT 1300SYYB and Lynx 2600SY feature the latest FANUC Plus control with touchscreen iHMI.

Mills CNC says it has a reputation in the market for the power, accuracy, reliability and versatility of its SMX-branded turn-mill machines. This reputation is set to grow with the recent introduction of two new models – the SMX 2100ST and SMX 5100LB – both of which were showcased on the stand at MACH.
The 8” chuck SMX 2100ST is multi-tasking machine with a 1040 mm maximum turning length, left and right opposing spindles (5000 rpm), a B-axis milling spindle, a Y axis and a 12-station lower turret.

The large-capacity 21” chuck SMX 5100LB has a maximum turning length and turning diameter of 3050 and 830 mm respectively, a left-hand spindle (37 kW/1500 rpm), a servo-driven tailstock, a B-axis milling spindle, integrated thermal compensation, and an automatic tool changer with up to 120 stations. Coventry-based MNB Precision placed an order for an SMX 5100LMB model on the first day of the show.

For further information
www.millscnc.co.uk

Xtrac Academy receives royal visitor

HRH The Princess Royal’s visit to meet recipients of her eponymous Princess Royal Training Award, assessed by the City & Guilds Group she serves as president, was accommodated by motorsport and automotive transmission technology specialist Xtrac at its global headquarters in Thatcham earlier this month. The visit followed the presentation of the 2021 award to 46 businesses at a special ceremony on 28 April, at Mansion House in London, hosted by the Lord Mayor of the City.

Along with viewing the practical skills workshop at the recently opened Xtrac Academy, HRH The Princess Royal also toured the company’s manufacturing facilities. Xtrac’s high-precision bevel gear cutting and grinding operations were demonstrated by apprentices Wesley Bloom and George Englefield, as well as former apprentice Stephen Gomm. The trio were accompanied by machinists Keith Dickinson and Chris Neal, team leaders and former apprentices Martin Carrick and Jason Woodley, trainer Neil Warwick, and apprentice manager Warren Page.

For further information www.xtrac.com/xtrac-academy