RDS Precision selects Accretech

Given the intense competition between engineering subcontractors, it is often the businesses with unique selling points that stand out from the crowd. One such company is Washington, Tyne and Wear based RDS Precision Engineering. In addition to establishing a reputation for delivering on time and on budget, the busy company’s main differentiator is its highly developed quality ethos. To help ensure the premium quality of production output, regular investments are made in high-precision inspection equipment.

The latest addition to RDS Precision’s quality control department is an Accretech SurfCom NEX 041 CNC measuring station that provides the company with contour and surface roughness measurement capabilities.

Director Rob Bone says: “We use a selection of standard inspection equipment, such as CMMs and vision measuring systems. Also, given the demanding specifications and challenging dimensional tolerances of our components, we use specialised metrology equipment, like our recently purchased advanced Accretech CNC contour and roughness measuring system.”

The SurfCom NEX 041 is suitable for the measurement of contour geometries on parts that include ball screws and large bearings.

“We were previously using a shadowgraph to measure a family of parts with demanding angular contour specifications, and struggled to achieve the required levels of precision,” says Bone. “Now, however, we’re able to load each of these parts on to the SurfCom NEX 041, recall the relevant program and instigate a precise, fully automatic CNC measuring routine. Not only has the Accretech machine improved our precision standards related to these challenging components, it has also slashed the time taken to inspect them.”

For further information
www.accretech.eu

Scheme supports STEM graduates

The National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) will be offering 30 recent STEM graduates from across Scotland the chance to work with its engineers and researchers as part of a new scheme aimed at helping those who are struggling to find work due to the economic impact of the pandemic. This new scheme will provide on-the-job training and the opportunity to build in-demand skills. To bolster the programme, NMIS is also collaborating with SME manufacturing businesses across Scotland, giving some of the graduates the opportunity to work and learn with potential employers.

For further information visit www.nmis.scot

UK recovery taking hold

A major new survey reveals that output volumes and orders are improving at UK manufacturers, while investment intentions are significantly better than the previous quarter. According to the latest survey published by Make UK and business advisory firm BDO, Britain’s manufacturers are beginning to move through the gears as growth prospects become more positive for the rest of 2021.

While investment intentions remain negative, they are significantly up on the past few quarters, and Make UK hopes that the Budget announcement of a ‘super deduction’ tax break will provide a boost. In addition to upgrading its forecast for manufacturing, Make UK has slightly upgraded its GDP forecast for 2021 to 5.5%, from 5.4%. The survey of 314 companies took place between 27 January and 17 February.

The report is available at https://is.gd/nimova

Dagenham gets Transit Custom nod

Ford’s Dagenham engine plant will manufacture the latest advanced-technology diesel engines for the next-generation Ford Transit Custom range. Ford Otosan – Ford’s joint venture in Kocaeli, Turkey – will assemble the latest Ford Transit Custom range, beginning in early 2023. The announcement, with its anticipated incremental engine volumes, helps to safeguard jobs at Dagenham.

While Ford expects around two-thirds of its commercial vehicle sales in Europe to be electric or plug-in hybrid by 2030, diesel will continue play an important role in commercial vehicle applications in the years ahead – especially as the total volumes of Ford Transit and Transit Custom sales continue to grow.

For further information www.ford.co.uk

Connected metrology at the DMC

The Digital Manufacturing Centre (DMC) is further expanding its partnership with Renishaw through the addition of connected metrology solutions. This new agreement is critical to the DMC’s on-site machining and inspection capabilities, delivered via precision engineering specialist Produmax. The partnership will see Produmax’s machining and inspection services linked into the DMC’s intelligent, connected process chain, making for a key element in the realisation of a true digital twin and the real-world application of Industry 4.0.

Equipped with a new DMG Mori DMU 60 eVo Linear five-axis machining centre, Produmax will utilise a Renishaw OMP600 optical probe in conjunction with NC-Checker and NC-PerfectPart software from Renishaw associate company MSP, to ensure machine capability and enable complex part alignment prior to machining. A Siemens controller will proactively adapt machining processes to the subtle variations in net-shape components made through additive manufacturing.

During machining, a Renishaw NC4+ Blue laser tool setter will help the DMC achieve the high levels of precision required to deliver the necessary tolerances and surface finishes. Produmax will then analyse the parts using a Renishaw Revo five-axis measurement system to certify quality.

Revo’s multi-sensor capability and high-performance scanning provide Produmax with non-contact and surface finish analysis in a single CMM. The CMM will come equipped with Renishaw’s five-axis tactile scanning and touch-trigger probe, surface-finish measurement tools (SFP2) and non-contact optical fringe probe (RFP). This suite of technology will give the DMC and Produmax the ability to carry out a variety of measurement tasks in a single datum system and in one operation.

Headquartered at Silverstone Park, the DMC aims to realise the disruptive potential of additive and connected manufacturing.

For further information
www.digitalmanufacturingcentre.com\