World’s smallest digital boring head

Available in the UK from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC) is the world’s smallest digital fine-boring head. Developed by company principal Big Kaiser, the EWE Downsize, also known as the EWE 04-7, aims to improve the machining process, making workpiece production safer, faster and simpler.

Ensuring compact dimensions, the EWE Downsize does not have its own display to show diameter adjustment. Instead, the device connects wirelessly via an app that has been specially developed by Big Kaiser for use on smartphones, tablets and smart watches. Capable of running on both iOS and Android operating systems, the external app simplifies the monitoring and configuration of fine-boring heads to make operators more efficient and reduce the risk of costly errors. Tolerance zones are indicated by changing colours on the display of the remote smart device.
EWE Downsize has a length of 26 mm and an outer diameter of 19.6 mm, which makes it suitable for machine tools with spindle sizes of ISO 20, HSK-E25 and larger. The head covers a diameter range of 0.4 to 7 mm, and allows infinite length adjustment of the tool holder and a maximum machining depth of 16 mm.
Big Kaiser’s head of R&D, José Fenollosa, says: “The EWE Downsize is the vanguard for future developments in the field of micro-machining, demonstrating the strength of our in-house development capabilities in both analogue and digital solutions. This boring head is just one of many new and innovative products developed and manufactured by Big Kaiser, positioning the company to grow with Industry 4.0 and the digital transformation of manufacturing.”
For further information www.itc-ltd.co.uk

Curved panels for water park

Coventry’s new water park, The Wave, is clad in an oval-shaped structure with blue shingles, a reference to flowing water.

The £36.7m park designed by architects FaulknerBrowns, features curved aesthetic panels achieved via the metal-bending expertise of Barnshaws. Barnshaws was approached by contractor Billington Structures to deliver approximately 120 curved RHS (rectangular hollow section) and PFC (parallel flanged channel) sections in various sizes within a timeframe of four weeks. Billington Structures selected Barnshaws due to its expertise in mandrel steel bending.
For further information www.barnshaws.com

AMRC gets green light in northwest

South Ribble Borough Council and Ribble Valley Borough Council have granted permission to the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to build and equip a £20m state-of-the-art facility in a landmark location at the heart of the Samlesbury Aerospace Enterprise Zone, one of four zones that make up the wider Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Cluster.

The 4500 sq m facility, which will have a focus on vehicle electrification, battery assembly and lightweighting technologies, is being built with capital funding provided through the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP)’s Growth Deal. In addition, a £2.5m revenue grant from the European Structural Investment Fund (ESIF), matched with £1.6m from the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVM Catapult), will secure the creation of a high-performing technical R&D team that will work with manufacturing companies and their supply chains.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

Broadbent Stanley and Fermat in agency deal

Czech Republic-based Fermat Group has signed an agency agreement that will give Broadbent Stanley the exclusive UK rights to the full range of Fermat’s large-capacity horizontal floor and table mills, as well as its grinding machines.

WFT 11_Lipník Nad Bečvou 3.7. 2018
FOTO : PATRIK UHLÍŘ

Box-way, heavy-duty, horizontal boring machines from Fermat range in size from 1200 mm to 28,100 mm in the X axis, with up to 6000 mm in the Y axis. Similarly, the company’s grinding machines provide extensive capacity, with between-centre distances of up to 6000 mm and a capability to grind parts weighing up to 5000 kg.
According to Broadbent Stanley, the company will be focussing its sales activity for the Fermat product range on the oil and gas, rail, power generation, marine, and yellow goods sectors. “The addition of these products to the Broadbent Stanley portfolio means we are the only company offering European-built, heavy-duty, large-capacity mills and grinders in the in the UK and Ireland,” says Graham Thomas, managing director.”
For further information www.broadbentstanley.co.uk

Framo Morat increases process reliability and quality

Framo Morat GmbH, a specialist in gear wheel and drive technology based in Baden Württemberg, is relying on grinding technology from Junker.

“We’ve been working with high-precision technology from Junker for a decade now,” confirms Alexander Denz, head of industrial engineering at Framo Morat. “As part of our growth strategy, we continue to develop our core skills – for cylindrical grinding operations we are much better positioned in terms of quality and process reliability. The two ‘Lean Selection’ high-speed grinding machines from Junker play a significant role in this.”
Junker’s two cylindrical grinding machines have proven their high speed in single or multiple-shift operations. Framo Morat wanted an economical and, above all, flexible machine concept which could fulfil all grinding assignments – from one-off production to the manufacture of small or large volumes. The machines are equipped with CBN grinding wheels and operate at peripheral speeds of up to 140 m/s. Some of the benefits of these machines include longer tool service life and extended dressing intervals.
“We grind diameters from 8 to 80 mm for shaft components with teeth, and component lengths of 40 to 460 mm,” says Denz. “Our production batch sizes range from 200 to 2000 workpieces per year. The new machines give us more flexibility with the peel grinding process, as opposed to grinding with corundum, as there is no need to change the grinding wheel between different workpieces.”
Notably, the high-speed grinding machines also deliver better quality by producing the entire outside contour in a single clamping set-up. The integrated measurement devices in the collar and longitudinal position are key control and monitoring systems during grinding.
For further information www.junker-group.com