Siemens acquires Atlas 3D

Siemens Digital Industries Software has signed an agreement to acquire Atlas 3D, a developer of software that works with direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) printers to automatically provide design engineers with the optimal print orientation and requisite support structures for additive parts in near real-time.

The acquisition will expand the additive manufacturing capabilities in the Xcelerator portfolio of software.
Sunata software by Atlas 3D uses thermal distortion analysis to provide a simple, automated way to optimise part build orientation and generate support structures. This approach allows the designer, rather than the analyst, to perform these simulations, reducing the downstream analysis that needs to be conducted via Simcenter software to achieve a part that meets design requirements.
For further information https://atlas3d.xyz/

Latest apprentices

Sheffield Forgemasters has welcomed its latest intake of 15 apprentices, who are training for important positions across the business.

The latest recruitment of apprentices provides jobs across the company in roles ranging from machinists to associate project managers, as the company futureproofs the business with a younger workforce and new skills sets. This years’ intake will provide fully paid, four-year apprenticeships to the applicants, who were recruited from across South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
For further information www.sheffieldforgemasters.com

Cutting through contaminated metal debris

HE&M Saw has created a number of custom saws over the years, but none more unique than the bespoke saw it designed for a decommissioned plutonium manufacturing facility located in Colorado. With the capability to cut through large blocks of compressed scrap, the custom saw can also be dissembled and reassembled to allow for transportation into the required facility.

In the early 1990s, a plutonium manufacturing facility in Colorado was decommissioned. The facility had produced plutonium for nuclear ordinance since the 1950s. As part of the deconstruction efforts, over 800 structures were demolished, and 21 tons of weapons-grade materials were removed. The demolition resulted in 1.3 million cubic metres of waste that was compressed into 0.9 m cubes and buried underground. Today, the plant is completely gone. However, it was recently discovered that some of the buried material was contaminated and leaking into the environment, so it had to be dug up and disposed of properly.
For correct disposal, a saw would need to cut the 0.9 m metal cubes into pieces small enough to fit inside 208-litre drums. The cubes were deemed hazardous and radioactive, and could only be processed in a radiation containment facility. The facility was isolated within 0.9 m thick walls and only accessible through a service door. Unfortunately, a saw with this capability usually stands at 3.6 m high, far larger than the human-sized service door. As a solution, HE&M’s engineering team designed a saw that could be dissembled by the customer, carried through the service door, and then reassembled to cut the compressed cubes.
This project provided the HE&M team with the opportunity to think outside the box and design a saw that could cut the product, while also fitting within specific facility constraints.
For further information www.hemsaw.com

Composites firm doubles capacity

Composites and advanced materials company Bindatex has doubled its capacity by investing in a new slitting line.

The latest line will increase the company’s capacity to 30 tonnes per year, and create five new jobs in the process. Bindatex’s new line can cut UD, prepreg and composite materials to widths of just 3.175 mm. The Manchester-based business says it is the only firm of its type in the UK that can undertake slitting to widths as narrow as 1 mm. Narrow widths are said to pose a challenge for many composite cutting companies. Bindatex customers include thermoplastic and thermoset manufacturers
around the globe.
Managing director Chris Lever says: “We can meet orders of all sizes as our nimble operations can quickly change to address the varying needs of customers. Our close working relationship with clients builds trust and understanding of their business requirements, which we constantly strive to support.”
For further information https://bindatex.com/

Considerations when buying a circular saw

Selmach has set about identifying the most important points to consider when purchasing a circular saw for metalworking applications. Firstly, what metal is being cut? A high-speed saw (usually 3000 rpm) will be required for cutting aluminium. Slower speed saws (90 rpm) are generally used for cutting mild steel, and slower again (45 rpm) for stainless. Nowadays, most circular saws will have two or three speed settings on the control panel, which make them suitable for multiple cutting applications, i.e. both stainless and mild steel.

Notably, the wrong blade can lead to a bad cut, cause damage to the workpiece and/or saw (due to vibration), and will be noisy. Finding the right tooth pitch is therefore imperative.
The main types of blades commonly available include SHSS (high-speed steel) for cutting mild steel and TiCN (titanium carbo-nitride) for stainless steel. The latter, which will also cut mild steel, are twice the cost of SHSS blades but will last much longer. Cutting aluminium on high-speed saw will require a TCT blade.
With the right blade and everything set correctly, a circular saw should provide a straight cut with minimal requirement for secondary processing and deburring. Circular saws are most often used in the balustrade industry, and in window manufacturing, where perfectly square cuts are required on every piece with minimal secondary operations.
The Sterling saws from Selmach are popular due to their sturdy construction, double clamping self-centring vice, and their slitting ability. If the budget is tight, then the Thomas range is a good low cost, yet still professional option.
For further information https://selmach.com/