Momentum builds for IInEX 2019 exhibition

First established in 2000, the latest edition of IInEX (formerly TIIE – Tehran International Industry Exhibition) will get underway next month in Tehran, Iran.

On 10-13 October at the Tehran International Permanent Fairground, the country’s leading show for machine tools, metalworking technologies, welding, materials handling, metals production and associated equipment, will host around 180 exhibitors. The show is entering its second year as IInEX, following the show’s rebranding in 2018.
For further information https://is.gd/topihe

CAMplete TurnMill V9 from ETG

The latest CAMplete TurnMill V9 is now available. Dedicated exclusively to Nakamura-Tome’s line of turning centres, the latest version includes enhancements to 3D rendering, simulation improvements, and additional post processing support. TurnMill is sold and supported in the UK via the Engineering Technology Group (ETG).

Improvements include the introduction of realistic 3D rendering, including metal shading, reflection modelling, advanced lighting modelling and edge drawing, all of which help to highlight important geometric features. Further related improvements can be listed as: enhanced highlighting mode to more clearly show selected objects in 3D; 3D SpaceMouse support that works directly with the driver control panel UI; and hardware driver support for a wider variety of video cards, allowing users to run TruePath effectively on their existing laptop.
Concerning simulation improvements, the addition of collision mode pausing and interpolation view allows the user to precisely examine all points of motion, even between programmed points.
The system’s post-processing support has also been the subject of development, with a revamped post-processing engine providing more flexibility than ever before for Mastercam and Gibbscam. In addition, intelligent decision-making limits wasted motion and provides optimal efficiency, while users can now produce full multi-tasking programs from single-tasking CAM projects.
For further information www.engtechgroup.com

£65m NMIS

Scotland’s economy secretary Derek Mackay recently visited the AMRC to gain a deeper understanding of what could be achieved with his government’s plans for the £65m National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS).

The Member for Scottish Parliament toured the AMRC to see what NMIS might look like when complete, and to learn from AMRC founder and executive dean Professor Keith Ridgway on how it has become a global centre for research and manufacturing excellence in less than two decades.
For further information www.amrc.co.uk

HK appoints new MD

HK Technologies has named a new managing director to help the company capitalise on its recent acquisition by ETG.

HK Technologies / In-Comm

Gareth Jones, who spent 11 years with In-Comm Training, has been recruited to help the additive manufacturing, EDM and laser-marking specialist increase sales by 20%. Jones will also be responsible for long-term strategic planning across the group, as well as using his ability to forge strategic partnerships throughout industry that might open up new markets. “The acquisition gives us a fantastic opportunity to cross-sell and add value to ETG clients and vice-versa, potentially opening up a whole new market for both companies,” he says.
For further information www.hkhtechnologies.com

Pelton wheel machined from one billet

As part of a collaboration project, Okuma and ModuleWorks have devised a solution that enables an entire Pelton wheel to be machined from a single metal billet. This procedure accelerates production and reduces manufacturing costs.

In short, Pelton wheels are the driving force of the hydro-power industry, extracting energy from fast-flowing water to generate electricity. However, manufacturing a Pelton wheel is a challenge. Due to the wheel’s complex design, the impulse blades are usually machined separately and then mounted to the rim, which is time consuming and adds to production costs.
To provide Pelton wheel machining on its MU-V series of machining centres, Okuma soon realised it would need technically sophisticated tool-path generation and simulation software to master the special technical challenges. For this reason, Okuma teamed up with ModuleWorks to find a way forward.
Surmounting the sheer physical limitations means the wheel is machined in two stages. One half of the wheel is machined before being turned 180° to enable the tool to reach the other half. The ModuleWorks triangle mesh roughing modules were used to cut the rough shape of the Pelton wheel.
For creating the bucket-shaped blades, the ModuleWorks adaptive roughing strategy uses consistent tool-path engagement and a smooth tool-path motion to generate a dynamic pattern and a high-performance roughing process that reduces the overall costs of producing non-prismatic shapes. For optimal finishing, ModuleWorks geodesic machining is said to deliver a high-quality finishing pattern and comes with features for producing rounded corners using a morph or constant step-over pattern. This capability enables Okuma to meet the high demands of the workpiece and ensure optimal energy transfer from the high-pressure flowing water.
ModuleWorks five-axis calculation strategies also extend the reach of the tool to provide enhanced tilting strategies on complex workpiece geometries and areas with deep grooves.
For further information www.moduleworks.com