Faro roadshow

Metrology specialist Faro has named two further dates for the company’s latest technology days: Southampton on 13 November; and Huddersfield on 15 November. Visitors will have the opportunity to witness demonstrations of new 3D measurement and laser projection technologies. For instance, the new eight-axis FaroArm system will be put through its paces. The eighth axis is a fully rotational axis that is integrated into the portable Quantum FaroArm, offering a complete contact/non-contact metrology solution. Also demonstrated will be the new Faro Prizm laser line probe (LLP), which is designed to operate as a compact, tightly integrated solution with the FaroArm.
For further information www.faro.com

XYZ names showroom clearance event dates

XYZ Machine Tools’ will throw open the doors of its Sheffield and Nuneaton showrooms for customers to take advantage of its clearance events, where enticing deals will be applied to every machine in the showroom as part of XYZ’s regular process of renewing the models on display. The events, which take place on the 15 November in Sheffield and 22 November in Nuneaton, provide an opportunity to pick up an ‘as-new’ XYZ machine from the company’s showroom stock, with all machines having had limited use as they are used purely for customer demonstrations and are replaced on a regular basis to ensure the latest models are on display.
For further information www.xyzmachinetools.com

the metalworking metropolis

The ASEAN region’s largest international machine tool and metalworking technology trade exhibition and conference, METALEX, is set to take place on 21-24 November at the BITEC venue in Bangkok, Thailand. Described as Southeast Asia’s ‘metalworking metropolis’, over 100,000 visitors are expected to come and see the latest machine tools and metalworking solutions from 3300 brands. Among the major themes is Industry 4.0 and the benefits that are presented by connectivity.

Over 64,000 sq m of exhibition space will be taken up by some 4800 machinery and technology exhibits. Also at the event will be 15 international pavilions, the ASEAN Industrial Investment Forum, ASEAN Metalworking Summit and METALEX Congress. MTI will of course be taking its regular place at METALEX, where the friendly team will be busy handing out copies of the show issue from the company’s stand (AP26) and engaging with visitors keen on discovering the market’s easiest way of buying and selling machine tools and associated equipment.
For further information www.metalex.co.th

Mazak lasers and automation solutions on show

Yamazaki Mazak took five laser cutting machines and two automation solutions to the recent EuroBLECH 2018 exhibition in Hanover, Germany. The standout machine was a new model of the Optiplex 3015 6 kW DDL (Direct Diode Laser) laser profiling machine. Mazak says that the resonator enables fast cutting of stainless steel and aluminium, and is up to 15% faster than its 6kW fibre equivalent. Most importantly, the DDL machine delivers stable cutting for both thin and thick material due to the use of ‘Beam Diameter Control’ technology, along with intelligent monitoring andset-up functions.

Alongside the DDL was the FG-220 DDL 4kW, a new DDL version of the company’s tube and pipe cutting machines. The machine is designed for maximum productivity utilising high-speed approach piercing to improve cutting speeds on both thin and medium-thick material by up to 20% compared with CO2 lasers.

Also, on the stand were 10 and 8kW versions of the Optiplex Fiber III laser. Of note, the 8 kW version was equipped with a Mazak Smart Cell automation system, developed to complement machines in the Mazak laser portfolio.

The Smart Cell system has a compact layout along with an ergonomic design for improved access and ease of operation. The automation cell can be programmed offline and, when in operation, offers detailed reporting of production status and operation, automatic parts separation detection and dynamic kinetics to calculate weight and optimise speed.Most importantly, Smart Cell offers an Industry 4.0-ready solution for laser users.

The final machine on the stand was a 6kW Optiplex Nexus 3015 Fiber, equipped with a Fasani CST automation system.
For further information www.mazakeu.co.uk

Laser texturing software boosts productivity

Significantly greater productivity, ranging from 20-40% depending on the specific application, as well as improved quality, are among the advantages reported by early adopters of GF Machining Solutions’ latest generation of GF Laser Workstation Software.
Furthermore, initial results indicate that customers using the optional software suite supplied with Smartpatch technology, can increase texturing speeds by up to 30%.

These improvements in efficiency and quality are a direct result of the process intelligence that has been engineered into GF Laser Workstation Software 1.8.0’s Smartpatch technology, a patching solution that will enable laser texturing to become a more widely-used manufacturing process.

Laser texturing can be used to apply a myriad of different decorative and functional textures to workpieces by using a laser beam to remove workpiece material layer by layer via a non-polluting, and non-contact process.

The technology is proven to be a sustainable way of applying high quality textures, including complex geometries, to high repeatability, because the process is fully digital. This means that virtually any design, in a digital format, can easily be applied to a 3D workpiece surface.
Furthermore, since the cutting tool used in texturing is a laser beam, issues such as tool wear and breakage are avoided, and mean that laser texturing is a reliable, cost-effective and secure process.

However, challenges do exist with the technology and it is these that GF Machining Solutions has sought to address with its Smartpatch Technology.
For further information www.gfms.com/uk