Updated bending software at QBTEC

In 2017, Netherlands-based catering equipment specialist QBTEC purchased a SafanDarley R-Brake for the automated production of boilers and grease drawers used in its frying systems.

With the R-Brake, the press brake and robot are integrated into one system. The R-Brake has a fully automatic tool and gripper change connected to the machine. These systems and the product are programmed offline using RoboBend offline simulation software.
Since the installation of the R-Brake, an increasing number products have been programmed at QBTEC using the offline software. As the company gained more experience with the system, it developed a wish list of features it would like added to the software to further improve the bending process and work even more efficiently. These wishes have been met and SafanDarley recently updated the software at QBTEC to the latest version.

In the latest software, the 3D files are processed in AutoPOL, SafanDarley’s 3D system for programming press brakes offline. AutoPOL determines the best bending sequence before RoboBend ensures the correct calculation of the robot movements in order to easily automate a new product.

This update ensures that QBTEC can also process small series runs automatically to limit the storage of material. When the products are programmed using the offline software they are sent to the WLM (WorkLoadManager), where the amount of each product is entered. The different products are automatically bent and stacked in sequence, without operator intervention.

QBTEC recently purchased two new SafanDarley press brakes, including an H-Brake 230T (6 m capacity) for the production of long stainless-steel blades.
For further information www.safandarley.com

Expansion at Midland Alloy

A specialist Telford manufacturing company has expanded and created six new jobs after receiving nearly £100,000 from a grant programme supported by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Midland Alloy has taken on new staff and built a warehouse extension at its Stafford Park base after receiving £97,285 from the Marches Building Investment Grant (MBIG). The company, which specialises in the manufacture of complex curved metal products and components, says the expansion is part of a £500,000 investment in its future.

According to director Paul Beirne, the new 4000 sq ft extension had created a 6 m high, dedicated pallet racking storage facility for long lengths of aluminium, other materials and tools, and extra space for manufacturing. “This investment will also increase manufacturing space within the existing main factory, with the potential to reduce operating costs and increase the capacity for sales growth and more jobs,” he states.

For further information www.marcheslep.org.uk

Customised press-brake tooling

Mate Precision Technologies now offers modified standard and custom press-brake tools that supplement its range of standard hardened and precision-ground solutions.

While Mate’s standard tools fulfil the needs for most fabricating operations, bending variations may require modifying the angle of a standard punch or die by a few degrees. This alteration is easily accomplished because the induction hardening depth is 3-4 mm. As a result, material removal to modify an angle or change a radius can be achieved without jeopardising the tool’s structural integrity.

Other frequent tool modifications include cutting a window or relief pocket to provide clearance so that a formed part does not collide with the punch during the forming process. Mate offers adjustments backed by extensive experience to ensure its modified press-brake tools perform up to expectations.

When a standard or modified standard press-brake tool is not the best solution, the company’s application specialists can design a bespoke tooling solution. Frequent custom requests include forming multiple bends in one stroke to decrease manufacturing costs by increasing the number of formed parts produced per hour. A good example is a hinge curl tool that can form the curl in two or three strokes.

Mate offers an endless variety of custom press-brake tools for virtually every special bending requirement. All Mate press brake tools – standard, modified and custom – are backed by the company’s 100% customer satisfaction guarantee.
For further information www.mate.com

Machines for aerostructures enhanced

Starrag UK has announced a host of improvements to its Ecospeed and Ecoforce machines – for aluminium and titanium aerostructure component machining respectively – to improve cutting performance in terms of both reduced cycle times and the consistent production of high-quality components.

The developments include: a more powerful spindle – 150 kW for the Ecospeeds – for even higher productivity; enhanced software routines such as optimised chatter control and adaptive jerk feed control on both Ecospeeds and Ecoforces; and new pallet options – on the Ecoforce Ti 9 and Ti 13 models – to accommodate ever-increasing workpieces sizes, particularly in structural aerospace components.

Starrag is also promoting cost benefits through the use of MQL as opposed to conventional flood coolant, with users obtaining at least three-fold savings, primarily through eliminating the need for coolant-related maintenance and recovery systems.

The use of MQL rather than conventional cutting fluid (on any machine in Starrag’s comprehensive range) is heavily promoted for aluminium machining, and it is suggested that if MQL is used at 100 ml/hour, 16 hours/day for six days a week and 50 weeks of a year, the total operating costs of €10,000 are far less than the €30,000 spent on conventional coolant. In addition, the difference in capital investment for the different systems is even greater.

The machines’ continual evolution is the result of constant investigations by Starrag’s expert product specialists and engineering teams into improvements that will enhance machine performance in the most cost-effective manner.

For further information www.starrag.com

MTC helps reshoring efforts

A Midlands supplier of commercial vehicle engineering and industrial hardware is reshoring component production from China with the help of experts from the Manufacturing Technology Centre.

Bloxwich-based Albert Jagger Engineering, which has been producing metal components for more than 70 years, has already reshored the production of almost 250,000 fastening components and in the process has, in some cases, reduced costs by up to 50%. The MTC worked with Albert Jagger to produce a new factory layout, introduce new CNC machines and automation, and re-train staff using VR and AR.

For further information www.the-mtc.org