Lights-out machining at Ritchie Precision

Lang Technik has completed a Lang RoboTrex installation at the premises of Ritchie Precision in Livingston.

Ritchie Precision recently had the opportunity to quote for a high-volume, long-term contract related to the manufacture of intricate, multi-feature medical components with extremely challenging dimensional tolerances. Mindful of the length of the potential contract and the fact that the company could amortise some of the costs involved in purchasing the necessary equipment, Ritchie set about investigating the most efficient methods of producing the complicated components and achieving their demanding dimensional specifications.

The company installed three DMU eVo universal machining centres from DMG Mori, all of which are now served by Lang Robo-Trex automation systems. Working unattended and fed by the Lang Robo-Trex systems, the company’s DMU eVo machines run throughout the day. Then, before the end of each day shift, the company restocks the Robo-Trex trollies with batches of workpieces, enabling each machining centre to run unmanned throughout the night.

The trollies are loaded with multiple vices that hold workpieces ready for machining. Unattended, the systems’ robots pick workpieces from the trollies, load them into the DMG machines and, when complete, return them to the trollies.

A simple to operate touch panel enables easy control of the automated system and, thanks to external trolley access, production remains seamless as there is no need to interrupt the machining cycles. It is possible to control the system’s zero-point clamping system either pneumatically through the machine tool, or mechanically via the system’s robot.
Ritchie Precision’s senior manufacturing engineer Taylor Barr says: “By enabling our three new universal machining centres to work around the clock without stopping, our Lang Robo-Trex systems have allowed the maximum productive potential of the machines to be realised.”

For further information
www.lang-technik.co.uk

New look for Cutwel

Tooling specialist Cutwel is celebrating its 25th anniversary by revealing a forward-looking rebrand to better reflect its values and company image. Cutwel has a turnover of £20m (up from £11m five years ago) and employs 83 staff at its headquarters in Cleckheaton. The company is now on track to grow a further £15m in the next five years (£35m total). To mark the anniversary and demonstrate its commitment to the community, Cutwel will be donating £1000 to four charities chosen by staff: Andy’s Man Club, Kirkwood Hospice, Martin House Hospice and Yorkshire Dog Rescue.

For further information
www.cutwel.co.uk

Better to ‘B-Safe’ than sorry

The Engineering Technology Group (ETG) is now offering UK manufacturers the new B-Safe from Balance Systems. B-Safe expands spindle and machine-tool diagnostics according to vibration and temperature analysis. The miniaturised system installs directly on to the machine’s spindle, guaranteeing real-time monitoring and the reduction of machine downtime by predicting malfunctions and potential failures. However, the system can provide so much more. Based upon fully customised solutions from ETG, B-Safe has an overload alarm, an overheating alarm with programmable thresholds that correlate with real-time data from process monitoring, and can create a collision alarm within 1 ms
B-Safe easily retrofits to virtually all machine tools and spindles. The system consists of a B-Safe sensor with a connector or integrated cable, a UPS and TCP-IP connection device interface, a start-up kit with software and user manual, a wide range of extension cables, and M5 to M12 adaptor and magnetic support that can all be fitted with simplicity.

Options include an event logbook, tri-axial real-time data recorder, high-frequency mono-axial data, FFT analysis, a collision waveform recorder, historical trends, spindle check-up, service notes and the ‘Fingerprint’ feature (a B-Safe app intended for condition monitoring of machine tool and machine tool spindle based on vibration analysis).
This information and much more is available in the always-connected HMI, while the multi-platform software provides users with full control from anywhere. The B-Safe HMI is a software platform that allows interaction with multiple sensors at the same time and is available in different languages and layouts. It is suitable for PCs or machine-tool control panels that run Microsoft Windows 7, 8.x or 10.

For further information
www.engtechgroup.com

Bend die tooling specialist acquired

Belgrave & Powell, a specialist engineering services group, has acquired 100% of the shares of Birmingham-based Sharpe Tooling Ltd. The acquisition will form part of Belgrave & Powell’s Machine Technology Group (MTG) in Preston. Sharpe Tooling, which specialises in bend die tooling, has relocated to Preston with the creation of six additional jobs in high-precision toolmaking and further investment by the group in capital equipment. The acquisition, the terms of which are undisclosed, represents the 5th SME deal by Belgrave and Powell within the past 18 months.

For further information www.belgrave-powell.com

Automated AFP-ATL cell at NCC

The UK’s composites research and development facility, the National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol, has unveiled the latest of its state-of-the-art capabilities in the form of a new automated AFP-ATL cell. The cell, created in partnership with Electroimpact, combines both AFP and ATL in a single system. Notably, the dual system can be used individually or together to collaborate and create large, complex structures with minimal downtime. NCC’s new cell is the final piece in a £36.7m jigsaw of 10 fully digital automated composite manufacturing capabilities to arrive in the last 18 months.

For further information www.nccuk.com